New Britain herald., 1929-01-24
FRIED EFFECTS
HEROIC RESCUE


at $50 p. m. We sighted the Florida
dead ahead. -.7 ea..
This proved the accuracy and Of
hciency Of the radio compass with
out which the Florida could not
have been located. We took posi-
ton on the Floridas weather beam
Z quarter Of q mile distant with tho
weather overcast. light snow squalls
and threatening. -.
Chief Officer Harry Manning with
eight Rembcrs OF the crew. Junior
EngiAker w. J. Clark. Boatswain
Mate A. Wilson, Chief Storekeeper O.
Bracco, sailmaker J. Palts. Quarter
master w. Trettin. Seaman F. Kel-
lam. Seaman ]. Harobin and Mate
v. Waleck were lowered in No. l
lifeboat and proceeded to the Flori-
da.
Very Difficult
Getting alongside the Florida was
very difficult owing to her heavy list
and her lee rail being under water
sending out q tremendous surge.
Getting nearer Officer Manning
found all hands ready to abandon
ship. Maneuvertng the life boast AZ
close a. permissible to the Florida
he threw 4 line on board, keeping at
q distance Of about 80 feet and in
structed tho Florida crew TO come
of one ut = time. pulling themselves
through tho water by this line to the
boat where they were dragged on
board by the boat crew.
The bow oarsman spoke italian
and translated all instructions and
orders. Things went along In this
fashion until tho line carried away
due to a heavy surge.
Hauled Back
A man halfway over had to be
hauled back on board the Florida.
The lifeboat was again maneuvered
successfully and q line placed
aboard and thus succeeded In get
ting the entire crew OF and into our
boat. The captain was the last to
leave and informed Officer Manning
that there was mono left behind and
no pets on board.
The boat, then. loaded with Il
men, nine members Of the boat
crew and 80 rescued, turned about
and headed for the America which
was then in position to the lee
ward of the Florida.
Gale F'oro
The weather by this time had
reached gale force with violent rain
and snow squalls with q high,
II rough sea running.
Pull Alongside
The boat proceeded running to
leeward, the oarsmen, being assisted
by the able members of the rescued
crew. Meanwhile the America man.
euvered into position and the boat
reached the ships starboard side.
The ships side was strung with lad
GERS. Monkeyropes and cargo nets
and our highly priced two home
made breeches buoy which proved
invaluable in getting tn, injured men
on board.
Not a single man Of the l'lorida's
crew was able to climb up the ships
side unassisted, They were In a pitt
liable condition, half OF them being
near naked and the other half with
very little clothing. ,H
They were dazed and hysterical
from their long exposure. With the
rescued all hoisted and lifted safely
on board and rushed below for ur-
gent medical attention the boats
crew came up and the boat was cut
adrift. Owing TO the high sea rum
ming it was impossible to hoist the
lifeboat without prospects of severe
injury to members Of the crew.
Pulled Aboard
Chief Officer Manning had to be
pulled up and ON board by Mr.. King
and the first assistant engineer. Six
OF the Florida's crew were severely
injured and four were very i'll. One
man was lost overheard on sunday.
At 10 p. m. all was secured and
We proceeded toward New York
leaving the Florida In a sinking con-
dition without lights. l do not think
she could outlive the night In this
gale.
We now found out why it was 40
difficult to locate her. Duo to her
heavy list and the loss of her ruddar
her captain believed she would cap
size II he did not keep his engines
turning over slowly.
He was SCANNING at about three
knots. changing his position con-
stantly. As commanding officer OF
the America I want to recommend
that every member OF the boat crew
be presented with the treasury de-
partment gold medal which is pre-
scented for courageous acts OF this
nature. I feel that these men are
entitled to high decorations by the
United States government. 1t was
= splendid piece OF work.
New York. Jan. "a R-Triumph-
ant for second time In a battle with
the sea, Captain George Fried of the
United States liner America was
headed toward port today with the
rescued crew of the Italian freightes
Florida.
RESCUED full crew Florida. Total
81. Chief Officer Harry Manning in
charge. Whole westerly gale. Life
boats lost. Details later"
$50 Mile Race
Those staccato sentences of Cap
tain Fried's message to the United
States lines last night told the e.
sentials of the happy ending Of q
grim drama of the wintry Atlantic
which opened when the America be-
gan her $50 mile race with death
Tuesday.
The message recalled similar
communication sent by Captain Fried
almost three years ago to the day
when he told of the rescue of the
crew of the British freighter An
tnoe against heavy odds of sea and
wind.