PRIVATION AT SEA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20042, 14 September 1939, Page 5

PRIVATION AT SEA

ATHENIA SINKING STORIES OF SURVIVORS SHELLING CORROBORATED SUBMARINE’S ACTIONS 'FRIED TO UPSET LIFEBOAT (Eloc. Tel. Copyright-—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 14, Noon.) NEW YORK, Sept. 13. American survivors of the Athenia who arrived at Halifax aboard the City of Flint to-day, corroborated the statement that the liner was shelled after being torpedoed.

American newspapers publish at length grim accounts of the torpedoing, stories of death at sea and privation in the open boats.

Some survivors say that the submarine also tried to upset lifeboats.

Mr. C. O. Bowen, Vancouver, said: “The submarine came up under us and tried to upset Nos. 1 and 4 lifeboats. It later pulled away and fired the last two shots at the Athenia.”

Mrs. McMillan Wallace, Ontario, an eyewitness of the torpedoing, said it was without warning. “The boy in the crow’s nest shouted out," she added. “I looked over the side, and saw the periscope 200 yards away and a white streak of foam, then I heard a crash. I could not get a lifebelt, as the stairs were blasted away.” Many Collapsed Many of the 223 survivors were near to collapsing after a rough nineday voyage across the North Atlantic on a freighter built to carry six passengers.

Women’s hands were blistered from hours rowing. Miss Mary Humlong, Texas, said:— “When the sea became rough the night after the rescue, the passengers started screaming at every noise and became hysterical. In the holds, some were shouting ‘we are being torpedoed.’ ” Mr. Joyn Hayworth, father pf a 10-ycar-old girl who died from head injuries aboard the City of Flint, was the first aboard. His wife ran up and said, —“Dear God. John. She’s gone.” The two clung together sobbing. and then were lost in the crowd jamming the decks. GREEK STEAMER MINED GREW RESCUED (Reed. Sept. 14, 12 noon) COPENHAGEN, Sept. 13. The Greek steamer Katingo Hadjipatera grounded south of Falsterbo after the explosion of a mine. The :rew was rescued.