New-York tribune., 1918-10-31
Hanging ON Straps
Delights en- Men
Who Escape U-Boat
Survivors Of Norwegian
Vessel Refuse to Use
Car Seats

Ten mon in scagoing dungarecs chung
20 straps Yesterday afternoon in a
crowded car bound for Brooklyn. Their
lips we're cracked, their eyes bloodshot
and salt water sores showed on their
wrists and arms. But their feet were
planted firmly and they swung with
the knack Of long training to the heave
of the car.
"Scats up forward gents" advised
a conductor, thrusting a way through
the mass of them.
"Young man said stocky, mus
tachcd member Of the group, "you don't
know what il is for man to stand
solid on two feet after he bane settin'
uneasy for two weeks up to his knees
III salt water"
The speaker was T. FRITZ, FIRST mate
Of the Norwegian clipper bark, Sti-
finder, sunk by U-boat northeast Of
the BcrnWdas, and he spoke with
auth GRITTY, for he and his nine fellows,
who swung beside him from straps,
sole survivors Of the Stiiindcr, had
rowcd 1.500 miles in just such plight
as he casually mentioned to the B. r. T.
CONDUCTOR
/. was September 27 when the
standing stiff in the offshorc breeze
with the weight of 63,357 cases of oil
she was carrying tc Freemantlc, at
the mouth of the Swan River on the
west coast If Australia. When the
blue loom Of Atlantic Highlands van
ished astern the Stitindcr would sight
no land again until the "tablecloth"
futtcrcd her a welcome for Cane
Town.
18th Not Lucky to Mariner
Cleaning like q gull the bark wal.
lowed down the parallels heading south
and cast and the afternoon of October
I3 found her northeast of the Ber-
mudas, 800 miles from New York and
not far, in q mariners large manner of
speech, from where Genoese navira-
tor vndcatcd his dreams just 426
years before. But the 18th had no luck
for the Stifindcr.
A shot across her bows was the first
notice that other ships were on the
ocean. it came from U-boat and was
promptly beeded. Only a few minutes
did the skipper Of the ocean bush
whackcr give for the officers and crew
TO tumble into their boats and pull
away, for the waters off the Bermudas
arc not the place for U-boats to be
lirinC salutcs.
FRITZ, the first mate. and eight men
were in tho larger boat. Gustaf Bjork-
lund, the captain, and seven men we're
N the smaller boat. The men of the
u-boat sank the Stihnder before their
eyes and submerged.
The tiny boats raised their rags of
sails and stood off together for the
northwest, the only signs of life in all
their lonely. restless circle. At dawn
they were still within sight of one an
other. though the captains boat had
dropped astern. Then came blow from
the northeast
Sails had to be lowered and with
them gone the keenest eye on the
mates boat no longer could descry the
captaiIls They never saw the other
boat again. For forty-eight hours the
crew had all they could do to keep the
mates boats head to the wind, and
waves combcd over the CunWales. pene
tating to their drinking water.
1t rained almost constantly and
this enabled them to wet their lips
and tongues frequently.
Day after day they pulled on. rails
ing the sail when the wind permitted
lime and again the men were on the
rolnt OF mutiny, ready to give IN
Soaked, starving and mad with thirst
their spirit was broken. They rowed
or trimmed the sail and bailcd' dav
after day, sometimes running also nj
night. but more often lying to with a
sea anchor.
In all the weary procession of davs
they sighted only one vessel and that
vas so far away it was only a smudge
of smoke. Monday afternoon they
comprehended vaguely that the mate
was shouting more loudly than usual.
Looking where he pointed thoy saw
the blue buttress of Atlantic High
lands. They were within ten miles of
land.
After being examined by naval au-
thorities and the Norwegian Consul
they were sent to the Breakwater, a
Norwegian sailors home, where they
were outiittcd anew and collection
| was taken up for them.