Watery Grave For U.S. War Dead

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1948, Page 7

Watery Grave For U.S. War Dead

HALIFAX, January 14. When 27 survivors from the burntout funeral ship “Joseph V. Connolly arrived here to-day, Captain Benjamin Bostelmen told the story of an unavailing fight against fire which started in oil in the engine-room, and spread with terrifying speed to the cargo of coffins in which American war dead were to have been sent back from Europe. . “The crew battled against the fire furiously before I gave the order to abandon ship. The heat of the flames made it impossible to stay aboard. ■ We kept our four life-boats close to the “Joseph V. Connolly” and after nine days it looked as if the fire had subsided. We attempted to return to her, but as we drew near the flames flared up worse than ever. ‘Soon afterwards we sighted a ’plane, which dropped food and gave our position to the rescuers.” RUSSIAN SHIP MAKES PORT. TOKIO, January 14. The Russian ship “Dvina” arrived in Kushiro harbour, Hokkaido, yesterday. She had a list of 27 degrees. According to the captain, heavy winds had caused the cargo of cast iron to shift, putting the ship in, trouble. She was undamaged, but required oil and V'ater before sailing.