MEN OR DEBRIS?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17567, 18 June 1925, Page 7

MEN OR DEBRIS?

SEQUEL TO WRECK. LINER CAPTAIN REPLIES. NEW YORK, Xav 2. Notwithstanding assertions to the contrary by a leu- passengers who* landed from the Homeric on her arrival here last night. there is no reason whatever to doubt that Captain John Roberts did everything humanly possible to help to rescue the ill-fated crew of the Japanese, freighter Rqifuku Maru, which sunk with all hands off Halifax, Novi a Scotia. Mr Amos Rinchot, brother of Governor Pinchot, Pennsylvania was one of those who proclaimed. “ No heroic attempt was made to save the JapaSome of the unfortunate crew, le said, drifted down to within 150 yards of the great liner's stern, yet no attempt was made to save them. It is admitted that it was impossible to launch the boats in such a tremendous sea, but it is thought that rafts might- have been thrown overboard to give a chance to the drowning MEN OR DEBRIS? M hat Mr Pinchot took to be men was declared by oilier passengers to be simply debris. Mr G. J. Heatlierton, of New York, said: "The water was covered with wreckage, and many of the passengers exclaimed from time to time: “There’s a man floating; 1 see a head,’ and so on. As the wreckage drifted nearer to the stern of- the Homeric we could sec that some of the objects that looked like human heads were only sacks. I am perfectly satisfied that every move th e captain made wa.s a right move.” Mr A'. Bliss, of .Scranton, Pennsylvania. warmly confirmed this account, and added : “ The captain would have been a murderer if be had sent a boat out in the mountainous sea.” CAPTAIN'S STATEMENT. Captain Roberts himself made the following statement:— “Mo had three boats over the side on the davits and manned when the ITomerio arrived alongside the Japanese freighter. If there bad been anybody clinging to the wreck--Bge alter the Raifuku Maru- went down 1 would have ordered those boats to b c launched, although .1 doubt if they could have lived in the terrific seal kicked up bv the gale. “ But 1 saw no one clinging to the wreckage, and therefore gave no order to send the boats away. There was nothing to be accomplished when there was no one to The following testimonial, signed by 123 passengers, was presented to, the captain : ; April 22, 1923- Guptain Roberts, S.S. Homeric. AA T e, the undersigned passengers of your steamer, desire to express our appreciation of your efforts in endeavouring to rescue the crew of the Rajfuku Maru, and to share your regret and sorrow in unti. the terrible conditions prevailing at the time rendered your efforts unavailing. The consensus t>f opinion of all shipping men questioned both British and American, is that the situation was handled, with., the splendid seamanship and judgment traditional with the AY bite Star officers.