The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-01-10

message 10 MS Wlte saying,
Longing to hear from you. | am
Okay. Love to the children. Kurt. >"
The Rev. Mr.. Jensen said Mrs.
Carlsen had received the message
and had answered IT.
But the L. S. destroyer Willard
keith Seported: The weather is
WOrSening, TIE Enterprise IS list
ing 70 degrees ans rolling to IS.
The possibility of passing a tow
line in the next q hours is doubt
full. ~
Garrison and his lone companion,
First Mate Kenneth Dancy Of the
tow tug Turmoil, appeared 10 be
in their worst danger since the
750-yard toWline snapped. even as
victory was in sight, a day and a
half ago
The dauntless skipper gave no
sign that he wanted to end his
ordeal and abandon his cracked
and leaking ship, even while ad
hitting she was taking on more
water. AS the vessel lurched, dived,
rolled and pitched. Carlson and
Dancy huddled on the deck on the
starbOard side of the big funnel
,swathing themselves in blankets,
for protection against the cruel
wind and the fierce spray.
Her position was about 40 miles
from Falmouth. the destination of
the salvage tug, and about 80 miles
southeast of Lizard Point, the
southwest tip of England on the
treacherouS Cornish coast, grave
yard for many ship.
Moving in wide circles around
the ship were vessels CT a motley
standby fleet, including the little
Lizard Point lifeboat which often
heaved in close to the stricken
vessel. 1t was ready to pick up
the two men almost instantly if
they quit the battle-or if the ship
should sink.
The rescue fleet was on an emer-
gency basis, standing by to close in
should Carlson send up flares an
nouncing he had given up. About
100 men were ready to risk their
necks to save Carlson and Dancy.
Carlson and Dancy ventured out
to the starboard side of the funnel
in mid-morning, on the high side
of the sharply slanting deck, |
crouching there for protection
from the fierce wind and spray,
tensely watching for any sign that
the Enterprise might be about to
sink or break in two.
The Enterprise has been drifting
with her bow pointed little east |
of north, exposing her whole tilted
deck to the force of the storm
rising out of the west Boiling
seas were pouring into the ex-
posed port beam. the destroyer !
radioed. The wind was up to 43 !
miles an hour at 1850 p. m.
(7:50 a. m. EST.
The Keith said no one could be !
certain how much water was en- !
tering the Enterprise through the /!
cracked hull
THE crack is not visible and |
Capt Carlson cannot get below
decks to check on it, " the DESTROY
er reported by radio telephone this !
afternoon. "She certainly is taking
on more water.
However, she has had an awful
lot of water breaking ON her ex-
posed decks and that is probably
where most of il is coming in
now"
Carlson, wrapped in his blanket |
and perched precariously behind |
the funnel, worried about his wife
back in Woodbridge. N. J.
II wonder if there's no news
from my wife? Is there? he asked !
by radio. "It'S quite a while since
| heard from her. | should send |
her telegram
He dictated this one: Longing /
to hear from you, dear Agnes. Love |
to you and the children. Kurt.
He told her he was okay.
Only Wednesday night. Garrison |
insisted once again, with his in I
optimism. that the En- /
terprise would come through all
right. But today he confirmed |
that the Enterprise was taking on
more water.
She is deeper in the water.
without any question. he said
but he said it calmly.