CREW LEAVES SHIP

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28784, 3 January 1959, Page 11

CREW LEAVES SHIP

Take To Rafts

INZ Press Association— CopyngM i SAN FRANCISCO. January 2. A Japanese vessel, identified as the Seifaku Maru, was reported in distress tonight in the Pacific, north-west of Midway Island. The United States Coast Guard at San Francisco said .the vessel had reported her crew. of 24 was abandoning ship. The Japanese vessel gave her position as about 135 miles northwest of Midway. The distress message asked for assistance by aircraft of the United States naval air station at Midway.

The Navy was seeking to have three other vessels in the general area go to the help of the Japan, ese vessel The other vessels were the Argentine Maru, the Barbara and the Tozai Maru, the Coast Guard said.

The United States vessel, William Luckenbach, received a message from the Japanese vessel say T ing her number two engines had stopped and were flooded, the Coast Guard said. In Honolulu the Coast Guard said the Seifaku Maru was reported heeled over in 20 to 40 foot seas. Winds were reported to be 50 miles an hour The Honolulu Navy Search and Rescue Centre said the 24 man crew of the Japanese vessel had ooarded life rafts dropped by a Navy plane from Midway. Rescue ships were on the way The Navy spokesman said the ship was sinking when the life rafts were dropped.