WITHOUT WATER

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1939, Page 7

WITHOUT WATER

BECALMED MEN SAVED SYDNEY, April 20. Thirty-four thirst-crazed and starving Arabs in a dhow were saved from death in the Indian Ocean by the Dutch freighter Meerkelrk. Officers told the story wh°n the Meerkerk arrived here yesterday from Rotterdam. Thev sighted th° dhow between Port Sudan and Karachi. .Its crew was making frantic signals of distress. The Arabs had ''een without food or water for four days, and on meagre rations for a week previously. They had b«en at 7 sea for a month +rv’uf» to sail from Muscat (Arabia) to Bombay. Off Regular Route They struggled feebly with each other ( '«r a bucket of water lowered from the ’Meerkerk. and spilled most of it. After they had each had a drink, the Arabs filled their waterbags. The Meerkerk loaded a snnplv of rice, fish, and other food into the dhow. “Thev were verv Hekv to meet us e« lack of wind had caused them to drift right out of the steamer lane. J said the chief officer. I “Without, food and wat°r they would | have oorished in a few days, as they j were drifting away from the coast.”