New Britain herald., 1914-05-01
SIBERIA ASHORE ON
 SAMASANA ISLAND
Wireless Messages to Japanese
 Coast Call for Assistance.
MRS HARRISON AMONG PASSENGERS

Manila on Wednesday.-Kanto
 Maru Rushing to Aid of Distressed
 Vessel.-Pirates' Work Suspected.
 Tokio, May 1.-Wireless calls for assistance from the Pacific Mail steamer Siberia, from San Francisco April for Manila, heard on the Jap anese coast today, intimated that she was in grave peril off the coast of Formosa.
 The exact nature of the accident has not been determined, nor have any details been received here up to late hour tonight.
 An early report said the liner was sinking, while a later message con- veyed the information that she was ashore six miles off the southeast mainland of Formosa Island.
 Rescue Ship Dispatched.
 The Japanese government dis patched the steamer Kanto Maru from Formosa to the succor. of the Siberia as soon as the news of her trouble was received.
 Among the passengers on the Si- beria are Mrs. Francis Burton liar rison, wife of the governor general of the Philippine Islands, and Mrs. John B. Renters, wife of the newly appointed British consul at Manila.
 The Siberia left Yokohama April 27 and Nagasaki April 29 for Manila. She had a passenger list of seventy one persons in the first cabin, about fifty in the second and four hundred in the steerage. She is in command of Captain Feeder and carries a crew of about 200 men.
 At a late hour tonight a report was current in Tokio that Chinese pirates may have been connected with the accident to the liner. This fear was held at Tao-Pe-Fu, the capital of Formosa, whence it was conveyed in cablegram.
 Calls Have Ceased.
 The gravest anxiety prevails owing to the fact that the wireless calls for help from the Siberia have ceased. A. A. Williamson, the American con- sul at Tamsui, Formosa, telegraphs has gone down.
 When the first wireless calls for help were heard the nearest ship was six hours away.
 The Japanese navy department was inclined tonight to discredit the re- ports of pirates, and expressed the outcome of the recent footing of British steamer.
 Message Came Direct.
 The first wireless message was re- ceived direct from the Siberia early this morning at the Japanese wireless station at Osevakai, off the coast of Kiushiu Island. It conveyed the in- formation that the steamer had met with an accident and was in distress. This message was mutilated and no further definite information could be gleaned from it.
 The plight of the Siberia was com- municated by wireless also to the Steamer Minnesota, of the Great Northern Steamship company, which was making her way to Nagasaki, as we'll as to the British cruiser Mino- taur.
 The position of the Siberia was giv- en by wireless as longitude 121.10 east, latitude 22.40 north. This To- cation is about six miles to the east of the narrow cape which forms the southern extremity of Formosa Island.
 Has Wireless Outfit.
 The Siberia is of 5,655 tons burden and was built at Newport News, Va. She is supplied with wireless outfit and it is probable that the news of her serious situation was sent by this means to Nagasak.
 The Siberia left Nagasaki for Manila by way of Hong Kong on April 29.
 A wireless station on the Japanese coast picked up distress signals sent from the Siberia by wireless to the liner Minnesota of the Great Northern Steamship company, which was mak- ing her way to Nagasaki.
 The Siberia was communicating her plight also to the British cruiser Min Otaur.
 Ambassador Makes Appeal.
 George w. Guthrie, the American ambassador to Japan, as soon as he heard of the condition of the Siberia requested the Japanese foreign office to send warship to her aid. He was informed that the government, hav- ing already learned of the accident, had sent the Kanto Maru to the res- cue from Formosa. The Kanto Maru got under way shortly after 8 o'clock this morning.
 Embarked at Yokohama
 Mrs. Harrison came to Japan from Manila for a short visit. She en- parked on the Siberia at Yokohama.
 The Japanese navy department has received and made public the follow ing despatch: "The governor general of Formosa cables that a Japanese cruiser, on her way to the Okinawa Islands, off the island of Kiushiu re- ports that the Pacific Mail steamer Si- beria met disaster this morning in