SHIPWRECKED SAILOR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 88, 7 August 1942, Page 5

SHIPWRECKED SAILOR

SAILED SEAS ON SETTEE VICTIM OF U-BOAT SINKING They thought there was something fishy about Harlcy Archie Olson's story when lie was rescued— bronzed, sleek and healthy—after 29 day si alone 1 at sea on a raft. So, when the rescuc vessel arrived at Key West, Florida, U.S.A., with the radio operator whose ship was torpedoed on April 19 last, the Federal Bureau of Investigation detained him while checking his talc. But they found that his storyone of the most amazing to come out of the Battle of the Atlanticwas true, and Mr Olson, stopping in New York on the Avay home to Portland, told all about it. "I didn't lose 1 any weight, I was never afraid of sharks, 1' had plentj to eat and drink, I enjoyed sunbathing by day and slept comfortably at night. Not Half-Starved or Mad "I had more trouble explaining why I Avasn't half-starved or halfmad from thirst or something, than j I did Avliile waiting on the raft to be picked up. "They thought I was a 'plant.' They thought I was placed on the raft by a German submarine. I was held in Miami until my fingerprints were checked in Washington and until they learned I was an American citizen employed by the steamship line." After the torpedoing, Mr Olson leaped overboard, sighted a life-rait, and clambered on to it. Soon he spied another, then some wreckage, 111 en part of another raft. Pooling the best of his findings, lie chose the most seaworthy ral't and loaded it with food, water, canvas lor covering and sails, and an old settee. "By day, he: lounged on the set ice fishing with a not made from ban-" I dages in a first aid kit, or .just drowsing. JJy night,'he 'Covered himself with canvas and curled up on the set lee. "Gentle waves rocked me io s'e -p" he said. "I guess I was pretty lucky, all rrglit.''