The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-01-23
APPALLING LOSS
OF LIFE REPORTED
TRANSPORT SHERIDAN WITH
FOURTEEN HUNDRED
SOULS.
SAID TO HAVE BEEN SUNK OFF
JAPAN.
Uncomfrmed Rumor Heard in San
Francisco Just Before Ventura Left,
only Two Survivors Rescued.

If a rumor which had gained wide
circulation in San Francisco before the
Ventura left that port proves correct
prObably the worst disaster in marine
history of a century has to be reported
According to the rumor the government
transport Sheridan with over l,4OO Souls
aboard, had been lost off the japanese
coast. At the time of the departure of
the Ventura for Honolulu on the nlghI
of January 16 only two survivors of the
wreck had been rescued and, from the
statements imputed to them, there was
little chance of any others on the NeSsel
having been saved.
The report of the terrible disaster orl-
ginated on the Water Front few hours
before the Ventura left the Oceanic
dock. There was no time in which the
officers or passengers on the Ventura
could devote to ascertaining the cor
rectness of the rumor so the vessel !eIt
without any more definite facts being
learned.
The wreck is said to have occurred in
the Straits of ShimonOsaki, after the
vessel had left Nagasald. 1t was re-
ported in San Francisco that two surVl-
vors from the transport had been pick
ed up in one of the Sheridan's life boats.
They related the tale of disaster but
as the telegraphic advices must have
been very meager, little light was given
From what they said the vessel was
going through the Straits of Shimano-
seh and was wrecked and sank within
a short time with nearly all on board
The accident must have happened at
night when nearly all of the passengers
were asleep, for it seem incredible that
so many. lives could have been lost un-
less the most adverse circumstances
were connected with the wreck. The
date of the reported wreck was not
learned.
There is also a probability that the
vessel might not have been wrecked In
the dreaded Straits at all, but been
caught in a typhOOn. The typhOons
have been very prevalent in Oriental
waters for the last month or So The
Meade experienced two during her re-
cent trip to Manila.
While it is possible that the report
may prove incorrect or at least that the
loss of life may not be so great as was
reported, it would not be surprising in
the least, If the report of the Sheridan
having met disaster in the entrance to
the Inland Sea proves correct. The
government transports have met with
remarkably hard luck in making THAI
dangerous passage lately. The an
cock went aground so did the Warren
and the Sherman. All of them were
pulled off however, after sustaining
more or less damage and have since
been repaired and put back into COM
mission.
What gives color to the truth of the
report is the fact that the Sheridan was
overdue in San Francisco when the
Ventura left. She is said to have been
reported as leaving Nagasaki but moth
ing had been heard from her it is said
at either Kobe or Yokohama after that
time. 1t is not known now what regi-
ments or other passengers were aboard
the Sheridan. She probably had a
number of invalids on her and no doubt
some general officers. Definite news OF
the reported disaster will not be known
until next Tuesday, when the Gaelic
is due from San Francisco