The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-06
THRILLS IN EVERY STORY
Rescue Work At Burning
Of Jap Vessel
EIGHT LIVES WERE LOST
Many Saved From Drowning In
Icy Waters; the Suffering
From Shock
Associated Press Dispatch

Associated Press DlSpatcn.1
Seattle, Wash, May 4.-Forty three
of the siXty-five survivors OF the Jap
anese freighter Tokuyo Maru which
burned to the waters edge yesterday
off the Oregon coast with loss OF
eight lives, were in Seattle hospitals
today. suffering from shock and ex-
posure. The remaining twenty two
survivors reported themselves already
recovered from their experiences. On
ly one body of the eight dead has been
recovered
The survivors reached here late
last night aboard the United States
army transport Buford, known as the
Soviet Ark" which transported AL
exander Berkman, Emma Goldman
and other deported persons to Russia.
Officers of the Buford and survivors
told many dramatic stories today of
the fire and their escape from the yes
sci.
Some Rescued From Sea.
The twenty-t two survivors who re-
ported themselves recovered were the
only ones of the sixty five who were
able to get into the Tokuyo Marus
life boats. according to Buford Off
GERS. The others were rescued from
the sea by officers and seamen Of the
Buford in the transports small boats.
The Buford's crew first noticed the
freighter about 4:50 p. m. Monday,
according to the stories told today.
The transport was approximately
twelve miles south of the Japanese
vessel. AS the pail of smoke arising
from the fire grew larger the Buford
which had not received a wireless S.
o. S. shifted her course and approach
ed what proved to be the burning yes
sci. AS the Buford's course brought
her nearer, the Tokuyo Maru against
the horizon became a flaming mass
surmounted by heavy clouds of dark
smoke, the transports officers said.
When the transport reached the
scene, passing within 200 yards of the
Tokuyo Maru, two life boats filled
scores of other persons were seen
struggling in the icy waters A few
persons still were aboard the vessel
each group was cut off from the 9TH
er by solid wall of fire. The intense
heat of the deck finally forced them
all 10 jump overheard. The two Blu
ford boats were lowered and the work
of picking up the SURVIVORS from the
sea and the Tokuyo Maru's life boats
a heavy swell began running, making
the rescue work difficult and danger
GUS.
Did Not Receive S. o. S. Call.
Captain L. r. M Kerr, master Of
the Buford, declared his ship had not
received an S. 0. S. from the Tokuyo
Maru but was attracted to the strick-
en- vessel by sighting the column of
smoke. We had just been having
boat drill" said Captain Kerr, when
saw the smoke in the distance but
thought it was a cloud. went down
TO my room and started playing soil
talre when my first officer came and
told me | had best come up deck
again, that the smoke seemed to be
getting worse. When l got back on
deck saw it was ship on fire. We
received no S. o. S. call We were
t 1--WE We miles distant when We sighted
the smoke and fifty five minutes later
were on the scene. BY that time
many of the members of the crew of
tne Tokuyo Maru were in the water
mere were constant explosions and
with every explosion the flames shot
hundred feet into the air and bales
Oh COTTON were hurled 200 feet high"
Jap Captain Last to Leave Ship.
Captain Susuki, master of the To.
kuyo Maru, was the last to leave the
vessel. He was almost unconscious
When picked up by the Buford's life
BOAT. The rescue of the forty-three
persons who had jumped into the sea
was carried on in the midst of a rain
OF burning debris from the shin. with
terrlnc explosions sending fresh show
ers OF fire laden cotton and lumber
into the air. Shrieks and cries of the
struggling victims were heard on ali
SIDES and many of the survivors were
delirious when rescued.
All the casualties were among those
OF the Tokuyo Marus sailors VINO had
Jumped into the sea before the arrival
OF the Buford. The fire started in the
coal bunkers and was due to spontan-
eous combustion.