DEATH AT SEA AND PRIVATION IN BOATS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 217, 14 September 1939, Page 7

DEATH AT SEA AND PRIVATION IN BOATS.

ATHENIA DISASTER.

Survivors Tell Grim Tales

Of Experiences.

HARROWING VOYAGE HOME. United l'ress Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) XFAV YOHK. September 13. American survivors of (lie Alhenia disaster, who arrived fit Halifax in the American vessel City of Flint (4963 tons) to-day, corroborated the fact that- the liner was shelled .after being torpedoed.

American newspapers are publishing lengthy and grim accounts of the torpedoing, with stories of death at sea and privation in open boats.

Some of the survivors make, the charge that the submarine also tried to upset lifeboats. Mr. C. O. Bo wen, of Vancouver, said: "The submarine came up under us and tried to upset Xos. 1 and 4 lifeboats. It later pulled away and fired at least two shots at the Athenia." No Warning Given. Mrs. McMillan Wallace, of Ontario, who was an eye-witness of the torpedoing. said that no warning was given.

"A boy. in the crow's nest, shouted." she said, "and when I looked over the side I saw a periscope about an eighth of a mile away. There was a white streak of foam and then I heard a crash. I could not get a lifebelt as the stairs had been blasted away."

Many of the 223 survivors were near collapse after a rough nine-day voyage across the North Atlantic on a freighter built to. carry six passengers, and the women's hands were blistered from hours of rowing.

Miss Mary Huinlong, of Texas, said: "When the sea became rough 011 the night after the rescue, passengers started screaming at every noise, and became hysterical in the holds. . Some were shouting that we were being torpedoed." "Dear God, She's Gone." Mr. John Havwortli. father of a 10-year-old girl who died from head illjuries aboard the City of Flint, was the first aboard when the vessel arrived. His wife ran lip and said: "Dear God, John, she's gone." The two clung together sobbing, and then were lost in the crowd jamming the decks.