The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-25
Captive B YeoFs
tContinued from Page D

Associated Press decided to 60 alone with me,
 Mothers Words I had a hunch things might Do sticky SO I phoned my home. Those last words of my mother coming | across the Pacific rang in my ears | days later when I was swimming tn | the seq with waves breaking In my | face. the water strangling me. They | kept me swimming.
 We boarded the l0,000-ton Neth- | erlands line "Poeloe Bras" and Sail- | ad the night of March 6. There were | 2s2 passengers. Hancock and were the only Americans. All the otner American correspondents already had left Bandoeng,
 The following morning at o'clock Q Jap reconnaissance plane circled us. Our ships stern gun as well as 10 machine guns mounted on the deck rail fired away, but they could not shoot the plane down.
 We figured Jap dive bombers arrive within two hours. Lifebelts were issued. nfeboat places assigned. The ships bar opened wide up. Hancock and I purchased all pos. sible bottles of soda-water and slowed them in our lifeboat along with timed foods purchased ct Bandoeng.
 Then we sat in the saloon, pray ing for 0 change in the weather and trying to convince ourselves we would get through. But the sun shone brightly and nine Jap dive bombers appeared punctually at II o'clock.
 Our guns opened up again and kept firing until our ship went down. But that didn't do any good, The Japs machine-gunned the decks, lifeboats and swimmers in the water. Hancock and waited as long as possible, hoping the planes would fly away.
 Finds Llfeboat
 Finally ran to the rail. A plane swooped over as I jumped into the water. Alongside the ship was Q damaged lifeboat, half awash. l climbed In and pulled Q few others after me. We tried to push away. But the ship was settling SO fast the boat was washed back onto the deck.
 Then there was little scene that is etched in my brain. A woman leaned casually on the rail of the ships bridge speaking calmly to Q flying ofiicer named Van Ness who was in the washed up boat. Van Ness stepped out of the boat and joined the woman.
 I dived overheard Q second time and swan away with oil my strength. All my lifer had wanted to see Q sinking ship 90 down. l turned, reading water, to watch the Poe. loo Bras" dive to the bottom.
 Then I was amazed to see Han. cock braced against the forward rail. Why he did not jump I don't know, unless he was wounded by the machine.gunni plane that swoop. cd aS Jumped. The ships bow swung upward until the vessel was nearly perpendicular. Then the ship plunged.
 I never saw Hancock again, but Van Ness lived to tell me the tale later in the Sumatran Jungle. For that reason I've always hoped that by some freak of fate such as Q submarine miraculouSly appearing, or c flying boat, Hancock also might have been saved.
 Van Ness said he went down with the ship but shot back to the sur. face like Q bullet. A Nfeboat rescued him.
 2SO Miles From Coast
 swan for the only visible life- boat We were 2b0 miles from the nearest point on the Java coast. I caught up with the boat after 6 hard swim, but the occupants re- fused to take me in.
 We're full. No more room. Get away from the Side," they yelled. "0iVe an American c break" l pleaded. T cant swim to Java"
 They didn't reply, but just rowed away from me. I couldn't keep pace. That was the bltterest moment in my life, but, strangely, felt no resentment. The boat obviously was loaded to capacity.
 Drowning seemed certainty. The heavy swell made it difhcult to keep the water away from my face, al- though l was wearing Q lifebelt. But my mothers last words kept me swimming, conserving my strength, for I didn't know what.
 As the hours passed seemed to Dc two persons. One detachediy ob. serving and analysing the others actions and emotions. Also. as the . hours passed my confidence in res- ,, |, cue increased. fully expected some miracle to save me, IL did,