SINKING OF THE SAN JUAN

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1929, Page 9

SINKING OF THE SAN JUAN

OVER SIXTY LIVES LOST

COLLISION WITH OIL TANKER 42 SURVIVORS PICKED UP By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press Association. . ' Vancouver, Aug. 30, The steamer San Juan, the captain of which is Adolphe Asplund, was rammed by the tanker Dood South of Half Moon Bay, twelve miles from an isolated mountainous shore. The tanker saved 27 men, but was badly injured itself and had to leave the scene for thy shore.

A lumber carrier reported having found ten others. The fate of the remaining 74 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, aged' 65, who had retired, took command of the San Juan when the owners asked him to act as substitute for the usual captain, who is on vacation in London.

Early estimates showed that 40 were saved, blit according to later reports the loss of life is estimated at 74. The San Juan foundered five minutes after the crash in a dense fog.

A wireless message from the rescuing 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 and other vessels on the spot are searching for survivors, but it is feared that at least 50 have been lost.

Late on Friday it was definitely stated that 42 surviyora of the San Juan had been picked up. There are 68 missing.