A MOMENT OF HORROR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 7

A MOMENT OF HORROR

LOSS OF THBJPATHPINDERi DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE. (Received September 10. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, 9th September. The crew of the Pathfinder was atj ! the ordinary duties of the ship when, the^crash came. The vesgel shuddered, and rose on end. Those in the forepart, where she was struck, had no chance, and the others were knocked down byj( | the force of the explosion. j A member of the crew aayß : " Theiv came a moment of horror. All round»| us was the blackness of night. Wreckage > of all kinds came down upon us out of}/ the smoke and darkness. MAKING MOST OF THE TIME. " I ran aft, where the survivors 'Wore busy obeying the officers' commands. The vessel was gradually sinking, andh we made the most of the time, throwing ' overboard anything that would give us, a chance of saving life. The boats wera; smashed up, so We pitched overboard)', booms, pieces of wood, and gratings. ■ We tried to wrench off doors, but there was hot time. ■ " In the meantime the smoke cleared, j but we could see only the stern abore the water, » "EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF." " The sea, which was heavy, , was strewn with wreckage. There was no panic; the officers and men were splen-, did. The stern began to tilt up, and wo then awaited the final order. It came : ' Every man for himself ! ' Officers and men jumped overboard and clung to the wreckage. Some were injured, and many were dazed by the shock of the explosion. " A lieutenant and the chief petty officer, who are both strong swimmers, swahl among their struggling comrades carrying pieces of timber to enable the helpless to save themselves. A BRAVE PETTY OFFICER. "In this way the petty officer, who himself was injured, formed a group of eleven, and kept encouraging them until - help came. Ho tried to get them to join him in singing a chorus. One after another four of them- sank out of om i sight. When the torpedo boats rescued the remainder the petty officer wai picked up exhausted."