TRAGEDY AT SEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20811, 2 September 1929, Page 9

TRAGEDY AT SEA

LOSS OF THE SAN JUAN. COLLISION IN DENSE FOG. SIXTY-EIGHT PEOPLE MISSING. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SAN FRANCISCO, August 30. The revised figures to-day reported that 65 passengers and 45 of a crew were aboard the San Juan. The estimates show that 40 were saved. It was later reported that the loss of life was estimated at 74. , The San Juan foundered five minutes after the crash in a dense fog.—Australian Press Association—United Service. RAMMED BY A TANKER. . LEAP FOR LIFE. VANCOUVER, August 30. The steamer San Juan, the captain of .which was Adolphe Asplund, was rammed •by the tanker Dodd south of Half Moon Bay, 12 miles from an isolated mountainous shore. The tanker saved 27, but was badly injured, and had to leave the scene for the shore. A lumber carrier reported having found tea others. The fate of the remainder is unknown, for they had to leap for their lives as the ship listed. Many were asleep and went down with the ship. The San Juan was an old boat. Captain Asplund, who was 65 and retired, took command of the San Juan when the owners asked him, as a substitute for the usual commander, who is on vacation in London.'—Australian Press Association. CAPTAIN LOSES HIS LIFE. '. WIRELESS ROOM FLOODED. SAN FRANCISCO, August 30. A wireless message from the rescuin'* • ship stated that Captain Asplund went down with the San Juan, which was attempting to describe, the wreck when •the wireless room was flooded. Two Coastguard cutters are en route to the scene of the tragedy, while other vessels on the spot are searching for survivors, but it is feared that at least 50 have been lost.; —Australian Press Association. FORTY-TWO SURVIVORS. SAN FRANCISCO, August 30. Late on Friday it was definitely stated that 42 survivors of the San Juan had been picked up. There arc 68 missing.T—Australian Press Association— United Service.