89 CHILDREN LOSE LIVES

Southland Times, Issue 24239, 24 September 1940, Page 5

89 CHILDREN LOSE LIVES

Attack In Mid-Atlantic

SURVIVORS’ ORDEAL IN HIGH SEAS

(United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 23,10 p.m.) LONDON, September 22.

As a result of one of the most appalling sea tragedies since the outbreak of the war, 89 evacuee children found a grave in the storm-swept Atlantic. The attack occurred about 10.30 p.m., when most of the children were in bed. The torpedo struck the ship in the part allotted to them, killing many outright. The remainder were bundled to the deck scantily clothed for the ordeal of many hours on the rafts and in the lifeboats, some of which were waterlogged with the high seas raging. Many, separated from their parents and escorts, slipped to death from the arms of strangers who vainly sought to shield them from the storm.

Only 13 of 102 children survived the ordeal. The ship carried, besides the evacuees, 101 passengers and also a crew of 209, of whom 294 perished. The last woman to leave the sinking ship actually stepped off the deck into the sea, where fellow passengers helped her to a raft. All the survivors paid tribute to the Navy. One said, “When we were taken on board they took off our shoes, and gave us their own warm socks. We were given a hot bath, brandy and sailors’ clothes while ours were being dried.”