HALF A SHIP

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 February 1940, Page 8

HALF A SHIP

CREW GO BACK TO WRECK

LONDON, January 1

The crew of the London tankei San Alberto. (7397 tons), which was cut in, half by a German torpedo, returned . to the surviving stern half, got. steam up, and attempted to sail it back to port.

This story of the sea became known last,jnig,ht., ; i; - • ' The' ship was attacked on Decem- • without, warning, and . the crew escaped in four boats 15 minutes before she -broke in two. The fore part twisted and sank immediately.. Two boats, with the captain in one, kept together in the driving rain squalls and rising wind and they ( , could see the other two through the rain, but could not reach -them.

Early that afternoon the captain determined that the after part would not sink, and he returned to what was left of. his ship. On■ examination it proved staunch, and the crew started to raise steam, intending, if possible, to tak& her ; back to harbour. By night-time the engines . were working again and there was electric light. A third boat had now come alongside, but the fourth was still missing.

The front part of the San Alberto’s remains were prevented from being torn to pieces by the seas because the . engines were -kept going t slow astrn, but every time she came head to sea great, strips of plating were torn .away, and the atteinpt to take her home .had to be abandoned. At 10 p.m... another, vessel’s lights were sighted. . SOS- messages were sent out and she was asked to search for ..the /missing boat, which she failed to find, and then ,to stand 6 by. 1 • This ship, the.. Belgian tanker, Alexandra Andre, made attempts next morning to transfer .the crew, but the seas, were running so high that the lifeboat" could get no closer than 20 feet.,/ After, two men. had jumped into thewater and been picked up • itwas decided to. wait for -the weather to moderate. ; . '. - ' '

WARSHIP TO RESCUE. i h - -■. ' ”W' The. next,, night, a searchlight was seefi' ori the. port beam and a; destroyer appeared." .. .The.'warship offered to attempt immediate rescue, but the captaiii" of'/fhe- Sah Alberto decided to await daylight in ispite of heavy seas,\d ! arkne i ss; ! a.nd the breaking up of the‘ r 'rerimant of' his ship,, which was slowly sinking by the stern. . ; . Early next’.morning lines were passed fo the warship and the crew were ferried over in floats. The crew of the .fourth boat were eventually picked' up by the steamer Maunder' and landed after five days at sea in an open. boat. . ;■.'/'

It is understood . that the boatswain * of the San Alberto, .-.Malcolm Bain, lost his life after assisting in launching two of the lifeboats.