The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-09-16
Woman, Children
Tell of 10 Days
On a Small Raft
Missionary Relates Awful
Experiences After
Being Torpedoed.

NEW YORK. Mrs. Ethel Bell, q
slight gray-haired woman, who until
recently was a missionary in French
West Africa, told here how, with the
help of prayer. she shepherded
four children for 10 days and nights
on storm-tossed eight-by-ten-foot
raft shared by IA seamen in the
South Atlantic.
Mrs. Bell, whose home is in To-
ronto, Canada, told her story before
a small, attentive group in the board
room of the Christian and Mission
airy Alliance of New York, in the
presence of her two children, May,
IA years old, and Robert. II, who
were with her on the raft.
The two other children she cared
for after the merchantmen carrying
them home from Africa was tor
pedoed and sunk one Sunday after
noon-Carol Shaw. seven, and her
brother Richard, IS, Of Pawnee
City, Neb.-are still in a hospital in
the British West Indies recovering
from the ordeal. Mrs. Bell said.
They lost their mother and sister
in the sinking
Mrs. Bell, in clear voice charged
with religious fervor, told of the ex-
perience which almost ended dlsas-
trously when a United Nations de-
stroyer which rescued them shelled
them by mistake at first and almost
killed them all, believing their raft
to be an enemy submarine.
Sharks Snap at Them.
Mary and Robert Bell, who ap-
reared to have recupcrated COM
pletely from the almost three-Week
trip on the crowded raft, interrupted
Their mothers story from time 10
time to tell about the sharks that
snapped at tucna if they lolled in
their sleep too near the eGge Of the
raft.
III vas lovely Sunday afternoon
when | heard the sudden crash of
the torpedo hitting the ship Mrs.
Bell said. Il helped my children
into lifebelts, and we prepared to
leave the ship. A second torpedo
struck. Everything crashed around
US, and the air was full of flying
iron and steam.
I'VE got into a lifeboat, but a
sailor warned US to abandon it, be-
cause it was damaged Mary and
! got out, but before we could get
Robert out the boat fell and he was
thrown into the water, along with
other men and women.
We all went into the water after
them / remember plunging into the
green depths and then coming up
again TO see the heads Of my two
children bob to the surface.
"A life raft picked us Zip. The raft,
built 70 accommodate eight or ten
persons, was crowded with 10 Of
US, including Carol and Richard
Shaw We we're crampcd and I'M.
comfortable, but the crew worked
efficiently They rugged mast and
sail, and we set out for land
Conserve Rations.
THE issuance Of rations was the
high point Of the day for us. There
was only pemmican (dried seal
meat and water, and we had to be
careful not to consume the supply
too quickly.
The captain Of the ship, pas
senger on the raft, died from ex.
posture during the second week, Mrs.
Bell said. A few days later a United
Nations plane saw them, circled low
and dropped two packages contain
ing food.
ION September 18 we saw some
warships, and then destroyer start
ed to approach us. About a quarter
of mile away il began to shell us
heavily. We tore down our sail and
waved II, and the destroyer stepped
firing. Then we were taken aboard.
Later we were landed in the Bar
BADGES, and passed about month
in hospital recuperating."