Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14
Planes Searched Him. Chief Pilot Hshma,
Deaths Rubber Raft Md at-7He1nouutof
for Life Is a Thrilling Record Of the May Department.

Thursday: Much the same as wednesday.
as far the weather and so forth con-
cerned. did not sight anything.
Friday: Same as Wednesday, except it
cleared up a little more. There was period
Friday when the out about three hours.
saw the moon twice for just little while.
Fifteen sixteen times a day sharks would
come around. They did not bother me so much
at night. They would always come one at a
time. I could see their wakes at night by the
phosphorus caused by their passing through
the water. When the sun came out it was very
hot. had to pour water on my rubber boat
to keep it cool, for, if did not, the rubber
became so hot it got soft and started slough
ing. About noon Friday I heard a Kissing
sound and discovered leak on the right-hand
side Of my forward air chamber. / finally
managed to get the leak patched, but had q
lively time preparing the rubber to receive this
patch while holding the air in at the same
time. All rubber boats are supplied with q
patching outfit and hand pump This leak
was caused by the rubber expanding, due to
heat from the sun, found that if the sun
hit this cement which I used to make the
patch it would melt I kept this spot wet and
covered with signal flag
Nothing happened fer the rest of Friday or
Friday night, except the constant appearance
of sharks and spotted dolphin.
Saturday: 1t cleared up some and there
was fair visibility during the day. About $50
Saturday night I sighted a masthead light OF
a ship. About 10 minutes later I could make
out both of her running lights. She came
fairly close at hand, port side to, headed in
what estimated to be a Southerly direction.
She was clcse enough for me to hear her ma
chinery clearly. 1t was a small coastwiSe
steamer, with Diesel engine. When she got
to point which I thought would be the
closest one I fired my two remaining Very
stars, but these were unnotced I then threw
my Very pistol away, because 1 had no more
ammunition and it useless weight.
Il later found that this ship was bound fer
Buenayentura, Colombia, from Balboa. met
her captain ashore the following Monday. He
shook my hands with tears in his eyes and
seemed very glad to see me.
'On the night that / had fired my last
Very stars he had a colored native seaman on
watch. The next morning the seaman reported
to the captain that he had seen two falling
stars and thought it queer that they were
red The captain stated that if he had found
me- he would have turned right around and
taken me back to Balboa.
Il saw nothing further Saturday night
Sunday: The weather cleared. sighted q
plane about am. He was flying low and
too far away to see me. I later found out
that this was one of the Pan-American Air.
way planes making its Sunday trip from
Buenaventura to Panama. At about IL 80 or
HAS Sunday sighted land fer the FIST time
which I think was Cape Mario, Colombia
About 12:15 sighted ship and began rowing
SO as to place myself directly ahead of it. AS
the ship came closer I waved my red flag,
trying to attract their attention. The captain
Of this boat stated later that he and his first
mate had seen this flag, but took it to be q
cormorant sitting on log, Tapping his wings.
When / was certain they saw me I took
good. big drink of water from my canteen. I
was picked up at 1890 pm. by the s s.
Cerigo of the Hamburg american line, Capt.
Kari Nautilus commanding. The captain and
his first oficer had just finished getting their
noon position shooting the sun, which was lati-
tude degrees II minutes north longitude III
degrees 81 minutes west, which is approxi-
mately 30 miles of Cape Mario, Colombia The
ship maneuvered to get close to me and low
cred her accommodation ladder. 1 was helped
up the ladder by the first and second officers
The act Of rowing to place myself ahead of
the ship had made me very weak As a matter.
of fact almost passed out was given large
sized glass Of some kind of schnapps This in
distilled German drink OF high alcoholic
content When this schnapps reached my
stomach 1t pretty nearly blew the top OF my
head. ! was under this feeling for i've or ten
minutes, when my head cleared I found out
that the ship was bound for Buenaventura Co
lombia, and due in about 10 O'Clock Monday
morning.
II then tried to send radio to Commander
Carrier Divisions and to my own commanding
,siGS 2.sS = -