New Britain herald., 1917-04-30

rooms ana SlZZllng on the not boilers. It splashed up through the fire room hatches. By this time No. boat had showed off and No. 1 boat was wait ing. The third mate kept calling to me to leave the ship. I went to the rail and asked if all of my men were in the boat. I was told they were. The third mate and I then slid down the boat falls. In the boat I Gliscov- cred that Epolucci was missing, but they told me he had gone in No. 3 boat. so gave the word to shove off. This was not easy, for the sea was running high, but at last we man. aged ito get clear. We stood away and for while we could just make out the black shape of the vessel against the sky, and could see the men in No. boat, which was not far distant Then another squall blew up, with heavy rain, and everything was plotted out. When the rain stopped the Aztec was no longer in sight, nor could we sec anything of the other boat.
 Ninteen Packed in Boat.
 My boat was small and had all it could carry. There were eleven of my gunners the captain of the Aztec, tho first mate, the third mate, the third engineer, the boatswain, the wireless operator. and one messman-ninteen Of us in all. We were packed SO tight we could use only one pair of oars. There was not elbow room for more, and as the seas were running high. we had all we could do to keep from capsizing. Twice I think we nearly did. In an effort to steady the boat we got out sea anchor of can- vas and threw 1t over the bow. But 1t didn't work. Then I shifted 1t to the stern and ordered my men to pull against it. This helped us keep the boats head to the seas, but even so .our chances looked slim. so I or- dered, first the Colt automatic thrown overheard, and after that several hun- dred pounds of ammunition and all other articles. The ammunition, pro- visions and water, distress signals. etc.. had, of course, been placed in the boat early in the voyage to be ready for such an emergency.
 We were drenched to the skin. the wind was so cold it cut into us, and there were frequent squalls of hail and rain. The Captain was still suffering from the violent nausea caused by the gases he had inhaled at the time of the explosion. The messman was in his underclothes, and the third en- gineer wore only thin overalls which he had worn in the hot engine room. One of my men gave him his pea jacket, and we huddled the half naked messman close under our bod les to give him all the warmth we could.
 Covered 1,v, eER,,~>
 For about three hours we fought out there in the darkness and cold, but we were making no headway at all. We shipped lot of water and it took constant bailing to keep us afloat. This bailtng, moreover, was difficult because we were damned in so close together. Three times the seas broke over our heads. soaking us good and plenty, and twice nearly swam amping our boat. I believe that all that saved us was the morale and training of my bluejackets. Every man of the lot was as steady as a rock, and in all those hours not one of them so much as let whimper sr failed to put all he had in him into the execution of every command.
 After hours that seemed long to us, saw a little white light in the distance. It changed to red and then to green. The men were tremendously excited and wanted to let out yell. But for awhile I kept them quiet. We were not in shape for a submarine then. But there was lighthouse nine or ten miles away with a bright flashing light, and when the strange boat came between us and the light I saw 1t was not a submarine. We fired our pistols and burned one of our red Coston lights. But then we had to wait awhile, for that French patrol boat when it saw our light was just about as skittish as I had been at first myself. It went on by. After making q big circle, however it came back to within hailing distance and verified our helpless condition. Our red light was out, but the captain of our ship had with him flashlight, and he kept 1t turned upon our boat to show the Frenchme what we were.
 They hove us a line, which we caught with an oar. and then the only question left was how we were to get aboard. The sea had by that time increased to a point where it seemed a certainty that we would be smashed to pulp if we tried to bring our small boat alongside. So I ex- plained 1t to the men.
 Boys I said, we have made a good fight and the only thing for us to do now is to keep it up a little longer-possibly till daylight-on the chance of the storm letting down a bit.'
 'In about half an hour 1t did seem to let up a little. The French boat swung around and made a lee for us. and when we came in close along. side we left our boat like bullfrogs jumping off a log. Practically every man at once made a spring up for the Frenchman's side. I was last to go. and in my jump the boat dropped from under me. I hung on to the gunwale however, and a French sailor aaexIak hxxA Af.<