SUDDEN SINKING

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31497, 11 October 1967, Page 17

SUDDEN SINKING

Men Jump Into Sea (N.Z. Prest 4ssn.— Copyright) JUNEAU (Alaska), Oct. 10. A stricken American freighter the Pan Oceanic Faith sank so suddenly last night that the 45 men aboard had to jump for their lives without launching life-boats, military spokesmen reported. The crew of a military airlift command Cl4O jet Starlifter, flying over the scene about 870 miles south-west of Kodiak, Alaska, said it had dropped four 20-man life rafts to the men in the icy water. The Starlifter and a Navy search plan from Adak, Alaska, continued flying over the area to direct the rescue by surface craft. The pilot of the Navy plane, which dropped additional life-rafts later, said several men were observed climbing into the tiny craft. The Coast Guard said one merchant vessel, the Steel Seafarer, had arrived in the area and was looking for survivors. There was no report as to whether any of the crew had been rescued. A Coast Guard spokesman said information coming from planes and ships in the stormy North Pacific area was almost nil.

A Japanese merchant ship the Keisho Maru was reported in the area and several other vessels, including the Coast Guard cutters Dexter and Stems, were expected on the scene.