LOSS OF THE PATHFINDER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2252, 11 September 1914, Page 5

LOSS OF THE PATHFINDER

■ i ■ SEAMAN'S STIRRING STORY MEN AWAIT LAST ORDERS" London, September 9.- ••■ ; Tho crew of the scout cruiser Pathl finder, which was lost by striking a, mine in tiie North Sea, were at the' ordinary duties of the ship when the crash' came. The vessel shuddered, and rose on end. Those i. in the forepart, where she was struck, had.no chance, and the others wero knocked down' by, the force of the oxplosion. A member of tho crew says: "Then came a, moment of > horror. All round us' was the blackness of night. Wreckage of all. kinds came down upon, ua out of the smoke and darkness. "I ran aft, where tho survivors were": busy obeying the officers' commands. Ihei vessel was gradually sinking, and; we made the most of the time, throw*, ing overboard anything that would giv.? us a chance of saving life. The boat* were smashed up. so. we pitched board booms, pieces of wood, and gratt' ings. Wo tvied to wrench off doors, but tliero was riot time. "In the meantime the smoke cleared, but we could see only the stern above the wator. "The soa, which was heavy,- was •strewn with wreckage. There was no • panic; the officers aud men were splendid. The stern began to tilt up, and we then awaited the final order. It camo: 'Every man for himself! . Officers and men jumped overboard and clunq; to the wreckage. Some wero injured, and many wore dazed by the shock ot the explosion. "A lieutenant and tho chief potty officer, who are both strong swimmers, swam among their struggling comrades carrying pieces of timber to enable tho helpless to save themselves. "In this way tlie potty officer, who himself was injured, formed a group of eleven, and kept encouraging them until help came. Ho tried to get them to join him in singing a chorus. Onn after another four of them sank out of our sight. When the torpedo boats tho remainder the potty oiticor was picked up exhausted."