YOUTH SURVIVES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20659, 9 January 1942, Page 5

YOUTH SURVIVES

REST ALL PERISH 3 WEEKS IN OPEN BOAT After three weeks adrift in an open boat ari 18-year-old Scots apprentice; John Ross, arrived safely in Durban. The account of his adventures makes one of the most dramatic chapters of the history of the war at sea, states a Durban message to the Johannesburg Star. Mr. Ross, who comes from Kincardine, Fyfeshire, is the sole survivor o'f 32 sbarnen who were adrift for 21 days in the Atlantic off the West African coast.

It is a strify of grim determination and high courage in the face of the most incredible hardships and nerveracking experiences. “We were homeward bound in convoy,’’ said Ross, “and were eight clays out from a West African port. I was asleep when there was a terrific bang and, realising that, we had been tor-: pedoed, I scrambled out to the boat deck.

“While I was there we managed to lower two boats on the starboard side —the captain’s boat and the chief officer’s boat. In the dark, however, the captain’s boat was badly launched and the tackle got all mixed up, so most of the crew piled into our boat, which was safely lowered. Boat Crowded. Up “Badly overloaded, we spent the whole night baling for all we were worth —the boat was so full that there was little freeboard, and the slight sea running kept filling us. While in the vicinity of the ship, which sank in ten minutes, we picked up a number of others who were clinging to odds and ends of wreckage. “In addition to the men in bur boat, there were eight men on the raft, which we managed to keep close to us. Next morning we found that three men had been killed in the explosion—the second engineer and two Chinese firemen.

“Soon after dawn we found fwo more boats —from another ship which had been sunk in the attack that got us—and we divided up the men riiore equally. We took ten from our boat and the eight men on the raft and put them in the two other boats.

“We kept together for a few and then decided to separate and see if we could not reach the coast or be picked up. A strong north-east wind prevented us beating back to the coast. ...... .

Death Their Companion “The great heat—it was towards the end of March we were sunk —made conditions in the boat very bad. Apart from the shadow thrown by the sail, which was. often down, the drily shelter was a little canvas hood in the bows, where the men who were steering slept during the day. v “We had a very small water ratirin, and to try to keep cool We dipped out heads in, the water from time to time. As the. days went by those in the boats became mdre and more listless and weak for want of food and Water.

“In our boat we had the captain, chief officer, chief engineer, chief radio officer, carpenter, boatswain, four European sailors, another apprentice, and myself—the rest were composed of Chinese firemen and sailors,. “About 10 days after separating from the other boats the Chihesfe heghh; .to show the first signs, of Wehlieiiing. They began to lump overboard. None of the Europeans that died left the boat, and as they died those who were strong enough burled them by dropping them over the side. . ......

“Naturally, the sharks soon began to come swarming round. The grating of their fins as they passed under the boat had a horrible significance, and some of those we saw cruising round were fully 12ft. long. Sole Main Left Alive

, “Day after .day. went past, arid steadily the number of us left ih the boat grew less., Three days beforg 1 was picked Up was only th£ captain, an ordinary seaman, arid myself left alive. in the boat. Then the captain died and the seaman and I huried him. . ~A . “The next day the. ..seaman, who still had some strength left, jumped up and threatened to throw me iritp the sea. I picked up the boat ake and he. left me aloine. Next morning early, however, he suddenly jumped overboard, leaving me alone in the boat.

“During the last couple of days I had been living on the dregs of the milk tins, mixed with a little shit water. With the last man out of the boat I began to fish. I thought I might catch something, and it was something to do. , Picked up by French Ship “About midday I suddenly felt a trious sensation, I looked round and saw a ship about two to three miles off, bearing down on me. I struggled to the mast—it was still stepped—and, hanging on to it, waved to them as best I could. . , “When the vessel came up to the boat I found that it was a French ship bound for Madagascar. They put a rope round me, for I was too weak to climb up the gangway, and I was taken aboard and a doctor gave me some tea. ...... “I then found there were only, three people who could speak English a stewardess, the second officei, and one of the passengers. It was several days before I regained strength enough to be able to walk without assistance. . , . . i “When I recovered I found from the date when I was picked, up that our lifeboat had been adrift for 21 days. For more than half that time it had just been drifting about at the mercy of the wind and sea. “Once fit again, I was put to washing dishes for my keep. We sailed with our lights out every night, but from the time that'. I was picked up till we reached Madagascar we never Sa *d waT landed at Tainataveand prie of the British families oh. the island took me in. Bor the best part of fly? months I stayed there before getting the chance to leave.”