The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1917-08-30

to them in strange land, thirty-two survivors of the s. s. Kotohira Maru, en route from Mororan, Japan, for San Francisco, which was wrecked on Amchitka island, July 27th, reached port this morning on the s. s. Santa Ana.
 Chief Officer K. Masuda, highest of fcer among the recued, men, stated this morning that he feared for the safety of Capt. Haruhiko Shiouga and the seventeen men in boat No. 1, who were last seen August 1st. On this date the boats attempted to leave Am chitka island but storm came up and No. 2 and No. 8 boats beat back to shelter but the captains boat could not make it and was last seen bound east.
 The statement of Chief Officer Kin saku Masuda regarding the wreck has an interesting Japanese tang to it and gives the story of the accident and what followed in plain way, without hint of the hardships of many days at sea in an open boat. He says:
 "We departed from Mororan, Japan, for San Francisco, U. s. A., with loaded various cargo in July 20, 1917.
 "My ship aground Amchitka island of Aleutian group hours and 40 min utes, July 27th, because We have had stormy and foggy weather through July 20th to 27th and could not ob- servatiOn.
 "Went island with two life-boats, by captain and chief officer, as soon as all crew was safety. Catched two boats more, eatables, etc, from ship tomorrow. We preparation going foi Unalaska island.
 "All's well and separated-NO. boat, seventeen by Captain; No 2 boat, twenty men, by Chief Officer and No. 3 boat, twelve men, by Sec ond Officer On lst August started all three boats for, but stormy weath- CT. so returned No. 2 and No. boat. No. boat couldn't returned, account strong current and wind. We lost Captain boat, 2nd August.
 "No. 2, No. 3 boat started twice at morning 4th of August.
 "We lost No. boat at noon today, that is difference in speed.
 "Westerly and southerly wind; very rough sea all way, and all men could not sleep through this navigation.
 Morning 18th August, saved by a fishing boat and arrived at Unalaska.
 "All men is safely-this navigation used fourteen days.
 eve very much thanks for MT. United States Marshal and family and Mir. Custom Officer and family, fishing boat men, and other people of this land very kind to us.
 "When we arrive back Japan, speak to government and all people.
 "K. MASUDA, Chief Officer,
 "Jap. S. s. Kotohira Maru."
 With the First Officer in Boat No. 2, which was taken to Unalaska by the fishing boat owned by U. $. Com missioner Nick Bolshamin, were also Fourth Officer Suburo Matsumoto, Steward Kunimato Oishi, quarter master, four sailors, an oiler, six fire men, two coal passers, the cook and cooks boy, and young Tokhei Yama- shita, a sailors apprentice, who is only 16 years old. One of the sailors, Ha- saichi Hamaji, and Mitsugi Etc, an oiler, are only IT years of age.
 While the boat occupied by the Chief Officer and his men was making Una laska, the third boat, in command of Chief Engineer c. Hamaguchi, with Second Officer M. Miyazaki, and Third Officer P. Hashiguchi, with the car penter, two quartermasters, two oil- CTS, two firemen, cook and cooks boy, made a slower trip and suffered from storm after storm as they tried to get through the channels into Bering sea in an effort to reach the same port.
 By some mischance they sailed right by Unalaska after going into one bay which looked like the right place. Then, by night, they sighted Scotch Cap and Cape Search lights and made their way to the former, where they were cared for by the keepers.
 The log kept by the officer in charge of Boat No. 8 is also an interesting