The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-05
JAPANESE CRUISER
ASHORE ON ROCKS
The Asama's Crew Is Landed,
but Vessel Will BE Total
Loss.
NEAR MAGDALENA BAY

SAN DtEdo, Cal. Fob. 4.-The Japa-
nese armored cruiser Asama was
wrecked on the coast Of Lower Cali
fornia, $50 miles south OF Barolome on
Sunday The point where the vessel was
wrecked appears to be little south OF
Magdalena Bay. the target practice
grounds Of the United States Pacific
fleet.
The United states cruiser Raleigh left
here hurriedly at o'clock this evening
to give whatever aid she can TO the
Asama. Until the Raleigh arrives at
Turtle Bay, probably tomorrow morn
ing, no definite word ~ expected here
from the scene as the san Diego and
Yorktown. which are In Mexican waters,
viii. no. go to the wreck. The Raleigh
was selected because she is the fastest
of the three ships. 1t has speed OF
- knots an hour,
From high official sources here it was
learned that the crew OF the Asama
had been landed safely. The vessel had
500 men aboard. The Raleigh Is eN-
pectod to bring the crew back. The men
are on the beach near the wreck now.
1t is presumed that they are supplied
with necessities of life. as they had
three days in which TO take supplies Off
the ship before she began to break up.
The vessel will be total wreck. This
also is admitted in official circles There
may be salvage of torpedoes and other
munitions, however
why the Asama did not send out
an - . $" call probably is solved by
her fear Of a hostile warship lurking
in the vicinity No radio station on the
coast received such a call, nor did any
OF the warships off the coast of Mexico.
nor any merchant vessel, so far as is
known Confirmation OF the belief that
the Asama did not make her necessity
known is found In the statement of
Capt. petano Of the American Hawaiian
! liner Kentucklan which arrived in port
tonight. He reported that his wireless
operators did not receive any call. and
they were on duty all the time
He passed Turtle Bay yesterday. He
! reported that there was a severe storm
/ Off Cedros Island. which means that
/ breakers forty feet high are running on
! Turtle Bay. II probably was this gale
4 that drove the cruiser ashore. The Ger
man cruiser Prince Eitel Frederick may
/ he in the Pacific, but this is not con
| iirmed.
The Asama was valued at about
/ S2,500.00O. When the British collier
/ Boyne arrived here Tuesday, two days
| after the Asama struck. she had on
| board a Japanese naval officer, who re-
| fused to talk for publication. He is
reported to have been the executive
officer OF the Asama. The Boyne has
| returned to southern waters and may
have gone to the scene of the wreck.
The place whore the Asama struck is
near where the Danish motor ship Ma
lakka and the lsthmian of the American
| Hawaiian Line went on the rocks in De
| ccmber The status OF the crew IL res
cued by the Raleigh would be simply
that of shipwrecked mariners and they
would he permitted to return to Japan
The Raleigh would probably take them
to san Francisco The Japanese officer
on the Boyne filed n report of the wreck
IN code to Toxic. This was on Tuesday
| Information of the wreck reached certain
official circles here that day, but it was
| suppressed.