SEA TRAGEDY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19450, 27 March 1933, Page 7

SEA TRAGEDY

TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS OF SURVIVORS. United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, March 25. Terrifying experiences were related when the thirteen survivors of the Kinsen Maru reached Geelong in the Hide Maru. The castaways were picked up after nearly three days in an open boat, despairing of rescue. The men had made a sail out of their clothes and lifebelts, and had begun to steer for the Queensland coast. Many large sharks were seen near the boat. How Captain Yeraba remained on the bridge, and went down with the ship was related by T. Osata, second officer: “I saw the captain lashed to the bridge by a rope. He waved to us as the ship heeled over and sank. That was the most saddening thing of all.” The chief officer had his right foot broken when a wave crashed over the Kinsen Maru, and he was unable to save himself when the ship foundered. Describing experiences in the badly leaking boat, Osata said:'“We were forced to work so hard that at times we thought death was preferable to shivering. We waited for a rescue 6hip, at the same time fearing death from the intense cold. A ship was sighted early one morning, but passed by."