V.
392
*THE STRAITS BUDGET", August 21st, 1913.
ON THE PARACELS.
A NEW JAPANESE STEAMER STRANDED .
Maiden voyage interrupted.
C.
40880
RECE
REG: 27 NOV 13
When the N.Y.K. steamer Hitachi Maru (Captain
Yamawaki) arrived in Singapore on Monday news came with
her of a disaster which has befallen the Matsura Maru,
the new Mitsui Bishi-Goshi Kaisha boat. More than the
mere news arrived, as a matter of fact, for there were
on board Captain Keith, of the Matsura, and his offi-
cers and crew, numbering eight Europeans and forty
Asiatics.
The unfortunate vessel has stranded on the
north reef of the Paracel group of islands in the China
Sea, where she was sighted by the Hitachi Maru.
had been flying signals of distress for about six
She
hours before a ship hove in sight. Captain Yamawaki,
when he did arrive upon the scene, lost no time in
getting out his boats, and it is a matter for relief
and congratulation that no lives have been lost.
The vessel ran on the reef about four o'clock on
the morning of the 14th instant, last Thursday. There
was no gale blowing but, at the time, it was very dark.
No
dia