8 DAYS ADRIFT IN OPEN BOAT

Evening Star, Issue 19666, 20 September 1927, Page 4

8 DAYS ADRIFT IN OPEN BOAT

FRENCH SAILORS’ ORDEAL The survivors of two thrilling experiences at sea were landed at Liverpool recently by the Furness Withy stcamci Nbva Scotian from St. John’s, .Newfoundland. . A, story of great hardship was told by two French fishermen who were picked ui) in an open dory iu an exhausted condition after eight days of hunger and thirst. They were Jean Menguy (33) and Louis Lebretou (37), fishermen, of Granville, near St. Malo, members of tho three-master schooner Theresa, from Granville, ’they stated that on arrival at the fishing grounds the crew went out in pairs m dories. Lebreton and Menguy were in one dory, which was carried away by the strong tide. A thick fog came on, and lor ehdit days thev drifted m the open boat with only a small pannikin of water and a few slop’s biscuits. Luring three days of very rough weather their small craft was swept by waves, which drenched them, and at night the freezing temperature added to then misery and discomfort. Constant baling and tho need for keeping a look-out for passing vessels lejt the men little time for sleep. When tho weather moderated the men had a somewhat easier time. They noted tho passage o time by cutting a notch m the side oi the boat each day. Though eating only half a disciiit a day and drinking a email quantity of water their supply of water became exhausted after three davs, and the last biscuit had been eaten throe days before they wore picked up. Throe days before the IS ova Beotian picked them up, 170 miles from tho Newfoundland coast, they sighted a vessel, but failed to attract attention. When the Furness Withy liner lound them they were lying in the bottom of the’ boat overcome with exhaustion, and had to bo hauled on board by ropes. The ship’s doctor of the Nova Scotian, Dr I). McCarthy, put. the men to bed for three days and fed them with care after their privations. Admiral Sir James Startin, K.C.8., a passenger on the Nova Scotian, organised a. collection among the passengers on behalf ol tlie men, both of whom are married. A sum of 5,000 francs was collected. At Liverpool the men were given into the care of the French Consul, who will arranffe for their return home. Also on board the Nova Scotian was a party of some fifty members of tlio Hudson Hay Company's steamer Hav | Rupert (4,000 tons), which louiidered off the Labrador coast on July 22 idle, striking a rock. She was jrom Aidiossan for Montreal, and earned a crew ol ninety-two, with thirty passengers. Site was visiting various trading ports, leaving provisions and collecting skins, it wins about 7.15 that she struck the rode, which everybody at first believed to bo an iceberg. The ship was lound to be holed and surrounded by rocks. Libeboats were lowered without any panic, tho captain, Thomas I'. bmilej, calmly smoking Ins pipe while directing operations. The six hlebqats, with the three women and six children m 1 - first were rowed to the uninhabited Farmyard Island, six miles away. S.O.S. messages, previous y sent out, had been answered by a Newfoundland (Jovernment passenger steamer, o Kvle. The captain bad returned to the ship to keep in wireless communication while the crew rigged tents ashore and lighted .fires. Provisions rfhd live stock, iilclnding pigs, poultry, and sheep, were brought ashore pending the arrival ot the Kvle. Those ashore amused themselves'with banjoes and playing cards. Tho Kyle landed them at tst, John s, Newfoundland.