GRIM ORDEAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 28 November 1939, Page 5

GRIM ORDEAL

ATHENIA DISASTER AUCKLANDERS RETURN HOURS IN OPEN BOATS HUSBAND & WIFE PARTED Four anxious days of uncertainty as to the late of his wife were described on Saturday by Mr. T. E. Tomlinson, of Auckland, who, with Mrs. Tomlinson, was on board the liner Athenia when she was torpedoed just after the outbreak of war. Subsequently Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson were reunited in Canada and they returned to New Zealand by the Monterey.

“We received advice Dy wireless at about 11 o’clock on the morning of Sunday, September 3, that Britain had entered the war," Mr. Tomlinson, said. “At about 7.30 p.rn.. when we were some 400 miles out from Liverpool, the Athenia was torpedoed.

The Lights Fail “I was at dinner at the time. Mrs. Tomlinson was not well and was in bed in the cabin. Suddenly there was an explosion and the lights went out. The darkness caused a certain amount of confusion and I deemed it the wisest course to stay still for a few moments. With me stood on American woman at the same table.

"By flic aid of matches we then groped our way to the campanionway,” Mr. Tomlinson added. “I went to our cabin but found that my wife had already left, apparently without her lifebelt and sufficient clothes. I ran up on deck but could not locate her at our lifeboat station or at any of the others. Then I saw her in a lifeboat which was pushing off. She had a lifebelt, but was dressed only in her night attire and I threw her a mackintosh which I had snatched up.

Night in Boat

“That was about 7.45," he said. "I did not leave the Athenia until 9 o’clock, when I found a place in a lifeboat containing between 150 and 70 men, women and children. The weather was fairly good, although there were occasional rain squalls and the sea had a lumpy swell. “Tilt ensuing hours in the lifeboat were dreadful. After an hour even the most hardened among us were seasick. There were also a number suffering from injuries. Most terrified by the experience were probably a group of Polish emigrants. “At about midnight we sighted the lights of the Norwegian ship Knut Nelson and started to pull towards her. We got close by at about 2 a.m., but the greatest difficulty was experienced in drawing alongside. Eventually we were taken off the lifeboat in bo’sun’s chairs, a dangerous and, fpr the women, especially, a terrifying experience."

No Sign of Wife

Other survivors were already on the Knut Nelson and Mr. Tomlinson eagerly searched the ship for his wife, but found no sign of her. The next boat which came alongside was smashed by the ship’s propellers and only about four were saved. He had not seen the boat approach and feared greatly that his wife might have been among those who were lost. On .the voyage to Galway the 200 survivors were treated in a wonderful manner by the officers and crew of the Knut Nelson, Mr. Tomlinson said. They gave up their berths and provided clothing for those in need. The cook seemed to work 24 hours on end providing food and drink. Galway was reached about 8 a.m. on the Tuesday and the survivors were most hospitably received by a special citizens’ committee under the Catholic, bishop. Immediately Mr. Tomlinson started making inquiries, but two more long and anxious clays passed before his fears were allayed. On the Thursday he learned that Mrs. Tomlinson had been picked up by the Southern Cross, a Swedish millionaire’s yacht, and later transferred to the City of Flint, which was on its way to America.

Only Money Saved

In the Athenia, Mr. Tomlinson lost everything he had with him excepting the wallet containing his money. After some trouble he was able to arrange a passage to Montreal in the Duchess of York and sailed under convoy from Liverpool on September 15. Ilis adventures were not yet over, however, for that night a submarine pursued them. An accompanying destroyer quickly took up the challenge and its third depth charge {apparently accounted for the submarine.

Three weeks after the torpedoing, on September 22, Mr. Tomlinson joined his wife in Canada and was glad to find her being well cared for by business friends. Dressed only in her night attire she had had an arduous time, for 12 hours passed before those in her lifeboat were picked up. On the City of Flint she had welcomed the loan of a pair of dungarees from a sailor. Wonderful Help. Even then their troubles were not at an end lor they were unable to secure an immediate passage to New Zealand owing lo heavy bookings. The one stroke of luck that came their way was that the shipping strike at San Francisco broke out four hours after they had left port when there was no danger of the ship being .all'ected.

“The women were wonderful,” said Mr. Tomlinson in praising the courage shown at the time the Athenia was struck and atferward. He also paid a tribute to those who assisted the survivors not only at Galway and on board the rescue ships but also in Canada. In the case of .Mrs. Tomlinson, for instance, one firm had fitted her for a now pair of glasses without charge, another had supplied her ,with free clo'hes and (he Canadian Pacific Railways provided free travel and meals across Canada.