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The Calico Rock Progress
Calico Rock, Izard County, Arkansas
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Japanese freighter Raifuku Maru sank in North Atlantic heavy seas, drowning all 38 crew. Rescue ships Homeric and Tuscania arrived too late to help due to weather. Position: 4:43N, 61:39W.
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ENTIRE CREW OF FREIGHTER IS LOST AS SHIP GOES DOWN IN NORTH ATLANTIC
New York. Thirty-eight Japanese seamen, the entire crew of the Japanese steel freighter Raifuku Maru, were drowned in the North Atlantic when their ship sunk as the Cunard liner Tuscania and the White Star Liner stood by, unable to help because of the heavy seas.
All that is known now has been pieced together from the meager reports sent through the air from the stricken steamer and the ships that sought to aid her. "The highlights" of the tale are supplied in two of these messages.
"Ship 39 degrees low; now very danger. Please, quick assistance."
It was this message, with its quaint language of the Raifuku Maru's captain, that rang a "full speed ahead" signal aboard the Homeric and sent it plunging through the wind and waves on its futile race against death.
Hours later. Captain Roberts sent this message to his line's offices:
"The Homeric proceeded to the assistance of the Raifuku Maru at 4:47 a. m., Eastern standard time, and sighted the steamer at 10:54. The steamer sank at 11:55 in latitude 4:43 north; longitude 61:39 west. Regret was unable to save life. Proceeded on voyage at 12:05."
The Homeric, 45 miles off, and the Tuscania, 63 miles away, as well as the Scythia of the Cunard line and the Greek liner King Alexander, with two tugs from Halifax and Casno, set off for the rescue, sending reassuring messages to the stricken boat.
As the racing boats lunged ahead. tragic messages in the Japanese captain's broken English were picked out of the teeth of the half gale.
Ship meeting heavy weather and held starboard 28 degrees," came one at 6:59. "Smashed lifeboats. In board. In danger."
Eleven minutes later a garbled message came through the gale:
"Now in danger, but coming life. boat from 60 miles there," was the best the receiving stations could make of it. Then at 9 o'clock the last message:
Now very danger. Come quick."
The Homeric arrived first. A short time later the Tuscania hove into sight.
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Foreign News Details
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North Atlantic
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thirty-eight japanese seamen drowned; entire crew lost; unable to save life
Event Details
The Japanese steel freighter Raifuku Maru sank in the North Atlantic due to heavy seas. The entire crew of 38 Japanese seamen drowned. Rescue ships including the White Star liner Homeric, Cunard liner Tuscania, Scythia, Greek liner King Alexander, and two tugs from Halifax and Casno attempted to assist but arrived too late because of the weather. Distress messages were sent by the Raifuku Maru's captain, including coordinates and pleas for quick assistance. The Homeric sighted the steamer at 10:54 and it sank at 11:55 in latitude 4:43 north, longitude 61:39 west.