The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-02-01
crews CRAzED
BY SUFFERING
U-Boat Victims Lick Boats for
Moisture and Seek Death
in Sea.
UNSATISFACTORY DEEDS
Heroic Acts Of officers and Men Be-
longing to All Branches Of Sea
Services, Naval and
Mercantile. -

London.-Much has been written
about the hardships endured by inc
crews Of vessels sunk by German sub
marines. Here are some particulars
dealing with the plucky deeds per
formed by officers and men belonging
to all branches Of the sea services
naval and mercantile.
The first case il that of passenger
steamer which had been torpedoed ON
Monday, without warning, as usual,
in the Atlantic, 800 miles from land
The chief officer took charge Of No.
2 lifeboat, which had on board 81 per-
sons, including two women and baby
| four months old.
Bad weather prevailed all that day |
| and throughout the night, increasing |
the plight OF the miserable people. Pro
visions, too, were scarce, but what ex-
listed was taken charge Of by the chief
officer, who doled out half Upper
(half-pint) Of water to each person
night and morning.
They had been barely twenty-four
hours In the boat when the horrors OF
the situation were added to by mad
ness. ON the Tuesday the cook lost
his reason, and on the Wednesday he
died. That night witnessed the insan-
ity Of the storekeeper, who had TO ne
dashed down. On Thursday he TOO
died. On Friday an A. d. expired.
II Water Begins 20 Get Low
The water was now beginning TO
give out and the boats company SUI
fered from intense thirst
fireman was found dead In the
bottom Of the boat ON Saturday morn
ing, and the third-ciass pantry boy
! died during the day.
a on Sunday the cattleman tried 70
MI lump overheard three times, and sue
" ceeded at the fourth attempt. The sur
: yiyors were In too feeble state To
save him, although they turned the
e boat round and searched for him. The
water give out on Sunday.
There were occasional showers o.
rain, but everything was saturated
j. with salt. and the little water they go
n was undrinkable. They licked tn
- woodwork, hoping to gather up tn
rnindrops
v Then they broke up the water kei
:, and licked the inside, which they foun
~ saturated with moisture, and delicious
At3 p. IN. on Monday land was sighte'
- but II was long way off, and by IN
n. time they drew near darkness ana
Il heavy northerly swell made landin
AZ impossible. They lay to, and durin
'ss n souall their mast carried away at III
~ heel, but that did not matter much, it
IL acted as a sea anchor.
.-- AT daylight on Tuesday they wei
sighted by couple Of fishing boat
which towed them into port. The bar
lived for some time after being lande
The linen keeper died as he was beir
lifted from the boat. Two of the ere
refused 10 leave the boat, having goi
mad. A trimmer died from gangrel
two weeks later.
The chief officer remarked: Il wou
like to testify to the excellent behavi
OF the boats crew throughout our =
Rod OF eight days hardship and
posure."
The second case deals with Br
fish oil ship which had been torpedo
without warning. The torpedo stru
II between the two forward tanks. a
IL was burning furiously. Its engi1
were still running, because 1t had be
impossible to reach the engine roo
after the explosion on account OF
heat. Visible for miles through
darkness, it looked like some fiery p'
nant flung across the face of the mig
All the holds had caught and a C
tinuous stream OF oil kept feeding
fire.
Crouched up in the peak, which v
the only part not yet alight, were abb
thirty Chinese, all who remained
the crew. Death by fire or by wa
was only matter of time; that seen
to be a certainty.
Sighted by Patrol Boat
The lieutenant in command Of q
troll vessel saw a ragged sheet OF fla
and altered course forthwith. To
tingutsh the flames was impossi
and the rescue of the survivors In
oilers peak, but there was no more
ties.
He ran his vessel close past the
er's stem and as she passed RATS
boats and lifebuoys were pitched o.
board by the crew of the patrol 8
The Chinese were told to jump o.
board. This was repeated three tin
BY that time all boats had been
cred to pick up the men in the wa
There now remained nine men In
oilers peak, but there was no more
saving apparatus on board the pa
vessel. The lieutenant decided 1t
necessary to place himself along
the ship and take off the remainde
the crew. A speed Of eight knots
ing maintained, this was done. I
remained alongside, locked to
steamers wlndward bow, for pc
sufficient for all nine men to 10
themselves on board this ship, w
sustained slight superficial damag
,uuord rails and upDer-deck tittl