The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-21
FOUR RESCUED
 MEN TELL STORY
Continued from Page D


 "A couple of minutes later the sub popped up beteen the two life boats and the crew came on deck. The captain shouted: Where eez ze captain" We told him to go to hell, that our captain went down with the ship. Then they went be- low and closed the hatch and sub merged"
 The Carleton crew had taken off in two lifeboats-18 men command ed by Capt. Eearmont in one boat, which never has been reported, and 16 men in the other boat, command ed by the first officer, George Rob- inson, one of the survivors.
 Nightfall and the heaving ocean separated the boats ill few hours and then began an ordeal such as few men ever have lived to relate.
 The rationS were Set-two sea biscuits and a pint of water per man per day. The lifeboat was headed for Ireland and the men tugged at the oars throughout the afternoon of December 20 But that night all but two oars were lost, along with the sea anchor
 All Bailed Out.
 The next day it turned colder On the 22nd heavy seas began breaking over the boat and all hands were put to bailing. The next day, or the 24th, Pearson wasn't sure, the cook and two 16-year -old hands be- gan to weaken. The youths, Ar thur Clark, cabin boy, and Tommy George, mess boy, cried for water. The cook, whose name Pearson couldn't remember, went mad. He cursed the winds and the sea. He drove his fists into the comberS that swept by the gunnels and pulled out the bilge plugs. When his mates replaced the plugs to stem the in- rushing waters, he jumped over- board.
 We hauled him back and I was told to watch him, but I went to sleep and when I awoke he was dead" Pearson said We slipped him over the side that night. The chief said a few prayers. Some body said, God rest his soul.'"
 Time began to lose its meaning but Pearson remembers that the next day they wished one another Merry Christmas" The seas abat- ed and everyone felt better.
 Go Mad, Die.
 Then four Negro firemen began crying for water. Robinson refused to give them more than the ration so they scooped up sea water with their hands and drank it. That night they chanted Spirituals in cracked, weird voices, prayed, went mad and died. Their bodies were slipped over the side one by one with the same brief ceremony.
 The 16-year-old boys died the next morning, in their sleep. On New Years eve, as Pearson re- called, two others died, the third officer, Art Bedger, 20, and 8 young apprentice. They were buddies.
 "Bedger was aft and his buddy was forward" Pearson said. ''Bedger started for the bow. He tottered and the apprentice went to meet him. They collapsed together and died in each others arms"
 The wireless operator, Paige, died peacefully New Years Day. Then the fourth engineer died, also quiet | ly.
 The last to go was Able Seaman Jerry Murphy of Liverpool.
 He just sort of passed away as if he were tired and didn't want to stay any longer" Pearson said.
 The four survivors then lay in the boat awaiting their fate. Able Seaman Patterson, the only one of the four not confined to bed today, stood the ordeal best. He said, T made up my mind the first night in the boat that I was going to get through this mess"