STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1918, Page 3

STRANGER THAN FICTION.

STORY OF SANDERS V?0~ When the cablegram was published highly eulogising the bravery of the late Lieut.-Commander W. E. Sanders, V.C. (whose parents reside at Takapuna), many wondered what particulai daring deed had earned such high encomiums. The folowing story, * which appears in the Sydney “Bulletin” of April 23rd, relates what is stated to bo an official story, only the name of Saunders is used instead of Sanders. “Saunders, a naval officer, was out i in the North Sea or somewhere looking I for Hunmariftes, and didn’t notice the one which torpedoed the craft he was on. He was thrown into the sea by the explosion, and while swimming round discovered he was the only sur--1 vivor handy, and that he had touched a rock. Next thing he found was that ; it wasn’t a rock but he was astride the implement which had blown him up. It had come from below to see what had taken place. Saunders pulled his revolver from its waterproof easing and crawled over towards the hatch, way. Presently the narrow lid was ; lifted, and a figure in oilskins started !to emerge. Saunders shot the figure dead. As the body pitched- forward, half on deck and the other half dangling downstairs, he banged the lid on it and held it that way. The result of this manoeuvre was that the Huns below could not submerge the vessel without the certainty of being flooded, because the lid was up. They could not pull the dead man in because he ’ was a fixture. They could not dim! up the ladder and give battle to tin enemy, because tbeir dead shipmate blocked the orifice in advance, and any way they did not know whether tin enemy up above was a new brand o sea serpent or a regiment of amplii liious cavalry. Meanwhile the freezing Saunders sat on the ex-Hun waiting foi what was going to happen next Eventually it was a patrolling destroy gr. 'Hie prize was towed into port.