Evening star., 1941-08-19
By MARIAN McCHL.

Norwegian tanker was just about
the end of my efforts. I could not
have done much more. The excite
ment from the torpedoing of the
Maasdam, the strain from the sink
ing of the lifeboat and the exposure
from the cold sea water, had all
taken their toll.
Already on board were six of our
nurses who had arrived without
miShap from the MaaSdam In an
other lifeboat Four of these were
in condition to help the three of us
who had been in the lifeboat which
filled with water. One of them took
me to a cabin and hurriedly stripped
off my wet clothes. I tried to help
but my fingers just would not work.
My forethought to put on two slips,
two sweaters, and three blouses with
my suit only added to complications
now.
MY but you're cold" she said and
then began to slap and rub my body.
Too Cold to Drink.
I had been shaking with cold in
the boat and now this contact with
warmth made me shake worse.
Some one handed me bottle of rum
but I shook so hard I could not
manage it. They helped me. AS
drank the rum it left an internal
line of warmth as it went down.
Wrapped in a blanket, I half sat
and half lay on a corner settee. I had
never known such complete ex-
haustion as I knew it now. / won-
dered if I would ever be warm again.
I asked for another drink of rum.
A sailor brought me sailor
jumper, sailor trousers, socks and
shoes. He said, You'd better put
these on" I knew somehow I had
to get dressed but right then it was
tremendous undertaking. Just
then the nurse who had undressed
me came back and she helped me.
The steward came in and handed
me a kaiki life jacket. He asked
me If I had any kind of coat. 1t
was necessary to get us all dressed
again in warm clothing.
The tanker was now lost from the
convoy. 1t had taken about two
hours to rescue us. Now the ship
was in a bad position, alone and
with the protection of only one
destroyer. Later we learned ths
captain would suffer serious conse-
quences if he did not regain his
position in the convoy.
Two Didn't Make It."
All on board knew the danger that
night. 1t meant we might be tor
bedoed any time I thought, IF
we can only be safe through tonight.
If we don't have to go to the life
boats again tonight"
The steward came back with an
overcoat over his arm and tray
of coffee. 1t was difficult to swallow
but the warmth from the drink felt
good. The steward made me promise
I would drink a cup Of coffee and
then take some more rum.
One of the Marines came in and
sat down beside me. He had on
sailor clothes since he had been in
my ifeboat and had been wet, too.
He said, your cabinmate and your
housemother didn't make it"
Without looking at him I an
swered, II know"
He poured himself cup of coffee
and we slipped in silence.
The captain had given over his
suite to the survivors. The nurses
were urged to go upstairs and try to
get some rest The hall was full OF
wet clothes and large paper boxes.
Cartons of new life jackets had been
brought up from the storeroom to
outfit us with dry jackets. Some one
put an arm around me and helped
me up the stairs.
The nine of us didn't talk at all
about the loss of the two women.
The issue seemed to be definitely
avoided. You could see, though, it
was on every ones mind.
Full Speed Ahead.
There were beds for some. I lay
down on the floor beside another
nurse, our heads cushioned on our
arms. I was still shaking and was
afraid I would disturb her. She
did not say word.
The captain from the Maasdam
came in and sat down in chair
across the room. He was dressed
in a dry suit which was much too
short in the arms and legs for him
Some one asked him If he thought
we could find the convoy again.
He said, "We are going full speed
ahead and if we can make II knots
we can do it." I felt sorry for him
and wondered how captain feels
when he loses his ship. A steward