The Washington herald., 1918-09-16
AIRMEN CLING 80 HOURS
TO A CAPSIZED SEAPLAN
American and Englishman, Lost in Channel,
Rescued by Trawler After Frightful Suf-
ferings-Ensign Stone Tells of CHASTITY
Experience
By DWc

paint came off with the salt and
nauseated us. Our limbs grew numb.
From time to time. wreckage from
torpedoed ships would pass. Once
two full biscuit tins came close
enough to swim for. but by then, in
our weakened state, We knew that
We would drown II We tried to get
them We did haul in a third tin
and broke IT open. 1t was filled with
tobacco. Every day we saw conveys
in the distance, and vainly waved our
handkerchiefs. We had no signal
lights to use at night Our watches
stopped. and We lost all track of
time. We realized how easy II was
for submarines out there TO escape
being spotted.
Brighten on One Ship.
"On Sunday night we spied mast
head light. and shouted. The ship
heard and began to circle US. We
saw her port light She showed red.
She headed straight toward us, until
within 100 yards. Then, when the
crew were visible on deck, the vessel
suddenly put out her lights and
turned away.
He thinks we're a Hun SUBJ said
Moore.
"'I hope he does said I. Then
they'll send patrol boats out to get us
We couldn't be worse off IL we were
Germans
But no rescue came. On Monday
afternoon, a seapIane appeared from
the east. 1t was flying only 500 feet
overhead. aiming down channel 1t
seemed impossible that she couldn't
sight us. for the air was perfectly
clear. But she passed straight above
without making any signal, flew two
miles beyond, and came back on her
course.
Her observer must be sending a
wire about u.s. I said.
Yes. That was why we got no
recognition agreed Moore. And now
she's decided to go back and report.
But that plane had not even seen
us! Our spirits fell. We had been
afraid of two things: being picked up
by a neutral ship and interned; cap
ture by an enemy submarine. Now
We even hoped that the enemy-that
anything-would get us. to end it all.
A ship would have to run us
down. 1 tried to laugh. before see
ing us
Too Weak to Stand.
I'VE sighted the trawIer about 6 p.
m. on Tuesday. She had Just been
chasing a submarine, and so did not
seem TO take us very seriously at
ilrst We waved at her for half an
hour before she changed course. We
were both too weak to stand up and
signal We could only rise on our
knees. Moore's hands were too
swollen to hold a handkerchief; but
had kept my gloves on, and was
able to do so. The trawler moved
warily around US. but finally threw a
life preserver at the end of a line
We yelled that we were too weak TO
grasp 1t. She finally hove to, low
cred boat, and lifted us aboard.
Then We collapsed. I remember
asking for a drink. and getting water
The skipper would only let US take
sips. But he left the bottle alongside
me. and ! drained it. He gave US
crackers, but we couldn't chew OF
swallow them. asked for peaches.
ana IT almost seemed that my dreams
of them had come true when he
showed things between my lips. But
they were only damsons, fed to us
one by one.
We felt no pain until our cloth
ing was ripped off and the blood
rushed into our swollen legs and
arms. Moore lost six toes from gam
creme In the hospital. My feet turn
ed black, but decay didn't set it. I
told the doctor there about sucking
the dice, and he pointed to some spots
on one OF my feet, saying-'Yes,
you've broken out in an ace and a
five right here
Look for the seyen op tbe otber
leg told him."
Every machine from the seaplane
base, and those from a station on
the French coast had searched con-
tinuously for the aviators after the
blue pigeon had homed, as did all
patrols and destroyers in the area.