ABOARD THE WARILDA.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1918, Page 3

ABOARD THE WARILDA.

■EXPERIENCES OF SURVIVORS. LONDON, August 14. Sergeant A. Svensson, a Melbourne printer, is convalescing in a London hospital after his terrible experience in the sinking of the Warilda. He was shot in the chest and abdomen at Yil-lers-Bretonnoux, on July 4th., and though the wounds are healing, he has been unable to move from his bed since. Ho was carried on board the Warilda and placed on the lower deck. Telling bis story of the tragedy, he said:

“I was awakened by the roar of the explosion. Tile other patients rushed upstairßj leaving two of us helpless in our bed. We waited for what seemed half an hour, but as the rescuers did not arrivCj wc decided to try and escape. We got out of bed and tried to stand but we both fell on the floor. We crawled to the stairway in the darknesss and dragged outselves painfully towards the top. After many stoppages to recover and strength we mounted twelve or fifteen steps, when a ship’s officer offered to help us, assuring us that the ship would not sink. I fold him to carry the other patient, and we" reached the top, where we lay exhausted on the deck. Tho vessel was then slanting towards the stern. An orderly wrapped mo in a blanket, and later lowered we in a chair aboard a destroyer. I was placed on a couch in tho wardroom, tho sailors bringing me cocoa and clothing. The destroyer cruised about until daylight;, picking up boats and dropping depth bombs. The exertion of climbing up the stairs re-opened my wounds bill otherwise I am not seriously affected.-

Private E. 'Scanlan, No 4132, of Newtown, Sydney, is in the same hospital He told a racy story: “I got knocked at Brettonoux, a piece of shell getting within half an inch of my heart. I was lying on my back for fifteen days when T was taken on board the Warildo. The torpedoing put tile wind up on me worse than the. Roche shells. I forgot that ] couldn’t walkj and struck out for the stairs, climbing up them quicker than a ’possum. I rolled myself up in a blanket on deck. Then I remembered that I had left a bag with my cigarettes beloy. I felt that I must have a fag. so I climbed down again into the darkness. I got tlic bag, and when the destroyer arrived" I swung myself aboard on the end of a rope. I was never more active in my life. The destroyer started rushing around, dropping depthbombs, frightening me worse than being torpedoed. A man must be game to take a berth on a destroyer,” added Scanlan. “The army won’t get me across the Channel again. I wouldn’t face the duck-pond for a fortune.” “What about the little trip home te Australia?” he was asked. “Yes,” lie replied, “put me down for the first, boat!’’ “You arc.going to send my heroicstory to Sydney ?” he guessed. “Well, if you knew how I was scared yon wouldn’t,” he added.

Despite his protestations, there is no doubt that Scanlan is a typical Aus tralian daredevil. The majority of Australians lost occupied the ward wrecked by the explosion. The rescued included strong swimmers, who were immersed for a long time.

j Charlotte Trowcll, A. W.A.A.C., whr I wn s rescued, stated in an interview | that she was pulled aboard the boat by an Australian and an American, win insisted on wrapping her in their blankets. She tried to save a lady pas senger, and seized her hv the hair hid her feet- became entangled in the ropes and it was impossible to extricate her The lady collapsed, fell back, and was lrowned. Tlie wounded tften assisted in saving the girls. Their heroism and solf-sacri-fice -were unforgettable.

j HOME ECONOMY. MAKING BEST COUGH SYRUP j (By a Qualified Chemist.) There is much talk nowadays of ■ economy and retrenchment. The cost of living lias gone up, and up, and up. Cough and cold mixtures take a‘lot of money, particularly where there is a family. An ordinary cighteenpenny j bottle of cough mixture goes nowhere I A dose or two, and the mixture is

done. Wise mothers and fathers now make their own family and cough syrup. In thousands of homes much money isaved in this way. Take a bottle of HEENZO (Hcnn’s Essence), a little sweetening and and mix as per simple directions on the label. These make a pint of the finest cough remedy. That means seven to eight ordinary-sizo bottles twelve shillings’ worth for 2s. HEENZO (Hean’s Essence) contains all the necessary medicinal ingredients. You add the sweetening and water yourself and save all unnecessary expenses. HEENZO (Hean’s Essence) is sold by ! of price—2s.— from Hean’s Pharmacy all chemists and grocers throughout ‘ the Dominion, or post free, on receipt . Wanganui. Be sure you get HEENZO.