The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-13
EXPOSURE NEW
MENACE FACING
SHIP SURVIVORS
Pneumonia Threatens to
Add to List of q Dead OF
Wrecked Freighter.
RESCUE SHIP AWAITED
AmbuIanCes Ready to Re-
Ceive 81 Saved From Rock
After Gale Wreck.
BV iuitcd Press

BV initcd Press
ABOARD u S. S. PEARY, en-
route to Manila, P L, Nov 49, -
Pneumonia developing from five
Gays exposure to the elements in a
raging tropical storm today threat
ened to add new casualties to the
list Of four persons who persisted in
the wreck of the British freighter
Silverhazel.
The Peary ploWed toward Manila
from the wreck scene off the rocky
southern coast of the Island of Luz
ZOn.
The Peary's physician, DR.. Edgar
Nefflin, said others snatched from
death in the pounding seas after a
five days isolation on a small.
storm beaten rock also might de-
velop pneumonia before the ship ar
riVes in Manila.
Order Ambulances Ready
AmbulanceS were ordered to be at
the dock when the Navy craft ties
up, They will rush all pneumonia
victims to hospitals for emergency
treatment.
First to develop serious pneu-
monia symptoms were r. Pickers-
gill Sunderland engine room cleo
trician, and Radnee Bin Atoy, Hindu
seaman. After spending four days
on the rock which broke the Silver
hazel in half, and subsisting only on
Dry biscuits, the Hindu was afloat
for Is hours before he was saved
from the sea
Nursing colds, scratches and
bruises, extreme fatigue and ex-
haustion, other survivors, including
all white passengers and crew mem
bers Of the wrecked British Silver
Line freighter were recovering rap
idly.
Find Conditions Comfortable
Those aboard the Peary found
conditions most comfortable. The
% survivors were as cheerful as
could be expected after losing foul
of their number to the gales and
pounding 20-foot combers which
stood of rescue attempts two days.
AT the wreck scene, the Bulmer
still searched through an increasing
storm for Capt. H. A. Lenhard.
master of the wrecked vessel, and
Hindu seaman. Although no hope
was held that the pair would be
found alive, naval officials hoped
their bodies might be recovered.
Aboard the Peary were the bodies
of Mrs. Neil Williams of Pasadena
Cal, and Bernard Charles Mac
Pherson, l8, apprentice seaman
from Gloucester, England
Try to Forget Horror
Despite the air of tragedy which
hung over the destroyer, the sur
Vivors sought to put the horror of
their experience from their minds
They borrowed pajamas, under
wear and bathrobeS from members
OF the PearyS crew and were enter
tanned with motion picture, moon
light end pretzels.
conversation turned to acclaim
of the disasters heroes.
First tribute went to the Navy
and the splendid seamanship which
Kept the death toll to a minimum
despite the feroclty of the storm
and the odds against survival.
The SilverhaZels chief officer, N
H. B, Blove of East Molesev. Eng
land said he was on watch when
the ship rammed the 1O-foot rock
and broke in half
Nothing to Say"
There's nothing to say" he said
we simply struck rock and
stayed there for five days. We are
deeply grateful to the United States
Navy for our rescue and also to the
merchant ships which stood by"
The wrecked vessels fifth en-
gineer, j. Harding OF Aberdeen
Scotland. and Apprentice Seaman
G. H. MatheSon, near collapse from
exhaustion, were paid high tribute
for their part IN reScuing Mrs.
George BlSsinger, one Of the four
women passengers
Matheson and Harding kept her
sfloat after she had lost conscious
ness. While they struggled in the
waves, the Peary's boatSwains mate,
Thomas H. Ponder of Canton,
Ga. tied rope around his waist
and swung overheard.
Has Miraculous Escape
MiIaculouSly escaping being bat
tered against the ships rolling side.
he slipped down the rope and took
Mrs. BiSSinger aboard.
The Silverhazers officers spoke
numerous praises of the courage of
the women passengers and of the
manner in which the Peary once
approached within 500 yards of the
Silverhazels wreckage.
The rescue mission marked the
first trip of Lieut.. Commander E. H.
Jones as the deStroyerS commander.
Previously he was commander Of
the U. S. S. Panay of the Yangtzc
River patrol.