PANIC-STRICKEN LASCARS

Evening Star, Issue 18020, 14 July 1922, Page 6

PANIC-STRICKEN LASCARS

CAPTAIN GARB’S PROMPT ACTION

In the story of the sinking Egypt the name of Captain ,D. G. Carr, of the 120th Eajputanii- Infantry, will find its place as that of one who in a time of extreme peril, by his courage, presence of mind, and prompt action, was instrumental in saving the lives of several of the women passengers and stewardesses.

1 saw Capt'«a Carr yesterday .afternoon (writes a correspondent of ‘ The Times ) in his mother’s pretty villa at Finchley. A, man of middle height, fair complexioned, with frank, clear blue eyes,_ ho was Hie picture of a fine young Englishman—he is only twenty-nine. A restlessness of manner and a nervous rapidity of speech alone betrayed the effects of his grim experience in the sinking ol the Egypt. “ I came homo on leave in December,” stated Captain Carr, “and I was returning to India, on board the Egypt. At the time of the collision on Saturday evening there was a thick fog. The sea was calm, but a heavy ground swell was running. There is no doubt at all that the Egypt was at the ‘stop’ when the collision occurred. I had just dressed for dinner, and bad gone into the smoking room. At 7 o’clock there was a fearful 'bump on (he port side. I ran out and saw the Seine drifting away from our ship. The force of the collision made the Seine spin round like a top. _ I realised at once that wo had been heavily struck. The blow came between the engine room and the third hatch; and tlio Egypt immediately took a list to port. A saw that there was danger in the situation, so the first thing I did was to change my coat, put on a lifebelt, and lake off my shoes. I went from tho saloon deck to the promenade deck to see what the organisation would be for saving tho passengers and crow. The ship’s officers were at their posts, and evidently tho second officer, Mr Cameron, had been detailed to go off in one of tlio stern boats in search of the Seine, and two or three elderly second class passengers got off in the boat with him. REVOLVER FIRE IN THE AIR.

“ With the ship listing to .port most of the passengers assembled on. the starboard side. The women wore wonderfully brave. They were naturally frightened, but they quickly recovered from the first shook of the collision mid calmly and quietly obeyed the orders given to them. But the lascars were in a state of panic. When I speak of tho lascars it is necessary to discriminate. There were the lascars who formed part of tho crew, tho lascar firemen, and the Goanese stewards.

“ It Am these Goanese stewards avliq Avent into a panic. When the first boat Avas loAverod they jumped from tho deck and chanced Avhether they could get into it or not. One of tho boats on tho port side Avas capsized ; but as I Am on tho starboard side I did not seo it. But I saw some of the boats go away practically full of natives while there Avcre stilt Avomcn on board. That Avas in no way the fault of the ship’s officers. Every credit is due to them for doing all they could to keep tho lascars away from tho boats. With the heavy list the boats on tho port side were almost touching the Avator, and it was difficult to get into them; and for the same reason all the boats on tho starboard side could not be loAvored.

" The .last boat v/hich it was possible to lower was forward on the starboard side. Some frenzied lascars rushed for it, and eventually succeeded in lowering it into tlio wafer, and other lascars jumped; into it. There were still women on tho dock, and I saw at once that some action must be taken, for the lascars were pushing off the boat. I jumped from the dock into the boat, and prevented them. "They refused to obey my orders, and their attitude was so hostile and menacing that I was compelled to threaten them with my revolver. It was, I believe, the only revolver in the possession of either officers, passengers, or crew. Mrs Moore had had the- luck to get into the boat as I jumped for it, and I had to protect her also. On© or two of the lascare again tried to get the boat away, and to frighten them into submission I fired two 'or three rounds over tfoeir heads. One of thorn was slightly wounded, and several others foil in sheer funk. They were now thoroughly cowed, and they crowded together in the bow of the boat. “With the assistance of tho quaitermaster on the deck above I was able to get all 'the Ladies Standing near that side of the ship safely into the bout. The only British sailors of the crew who came into that, boat were two whom I ordered to come in, as it was necessary to have two nautical men to handle her. RESCUE OF THE CAPTAIN. “ While wo wove getting in too last of the women—tho stewardesses —the Egypt

turned on her side and began rapidly to sink, stern first. It was not longer possible for Captain Gollycr to remain on tho bridge. But he did not desert his ship. Ho clambered over the bulwarks on to the part of the hull which was still above water. As the Egypt went down the swirl of a great wave swept him off the hull into the water towards our boat, which was also carried away from the sinking ship, and we were thus able to rescue him. His escape from death was the act of Providence.

“ Our lascars, still cowering in the bows —they were all saved—-were still toa stricken with fear to he of any help to ns in. navigating the boat, and it was only by Captain Collyer’s stem threats that they were kept in hand. Our boat, which was constructed for fifty persons, was carrying seventy souls, and wo were packed in her like sardines. IE I had not stopped tho lascars they would have got away in the boat alone. No one lost his life through my action, but the women would never have got into the boat if I had not jumped in when I did. As I have said, tho ship’s officers did all they could, and Mr Cameron, who was ordered to go in search of the Seine, was the only one who did not go into the water.

“ Wc cruised about for over two hours looking for possible survivors, and eventually "rescued iten or twelve people—it is difficult to remember exactly how many. The women Averted wonderfully to revive the passengers taken exhausted from the Avater. Mrs Moore and Mrs Soulhby were particularly devoted workers. They tore up most of their clothing to use as towels, and reached land Avith nothing but their evening govviis. “ 'When Air Beveridge, the P. and 0. agent, arrived everything possible was done for our comfort, and all the passengers Avero grateful to him. for the-’ar-rangements he made for the journey from Brest to London.” AIRS AIOOEE’S STORY.

Airs A. J. Moore, ono of tho passengers of the Egypt, discussing Jier experience? with a, representative of ‘The Times,' spoke highly of the courage of the while crew, the calmness of the passengers, and of the manner in Avhich the captainof tho ship (Captain Collyer) stood to his post until the last. Airs Aloore was equally emphatic as to tho panic displayed by tho lascars.

She spoke of the magnificent conduct of Captain Carr, and told lioav he restored order among the lascars in the last boat to leave the ship by firing his revolver in. the air. It Avas entirely oAving to his presence and tho manner in Avhich he overawed Oho lascars that the women passengetr. were able to get into tho boat. Airs Aloore also related how Captain Collyer, just, before the Egypt sank, Avas SAveptmto the water by a great Avave, and was with difficulty rescued by Captain Carr. Airs 'Aloore told many tales of the bravery of both the passengers and tho crew during and after (he collision. All the Avomen behaved splendidly, and tho heroism of the nun, Sister Ilhoda, who went down, with (he ship while still at prayer, has already been told. Airs Evans, a stewardess, also shoAved great courage, and Avas of tiro greatest possible assistance. Miss Henman, a nurse, Avas in tho water for nearly an hour before she aa-os picked up by this boat. She Ayas a good swimmer, but was exhausted Avhen rescued. Her first thought, however, was for others, and she asked her rescuers to look after the others before paying any attention to her. Mrs Parker, who Avas in charge of a patient, faced death with a cigarette in her mouth.