U.S. Destroyer Crew Helps In Fire Fighting

Northern Advocate, 25 October 1941, Page 4

U.S. Destroyer Crew Helps In Fire Fighting

(Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 24. Rescue work by the crew of a United States destroyer when a British mer-chant-ship caught fire in the Atlantic is described in naval circles. The fight of the merchant ship's crew to save the ship was equally dogged. For 13 hours they fought a losing battle. With flames from the engine room, the bulkhead grew red hot and fire shot down into the stokehold making it impossible for anyone to remain there. The saloon deck caught fire and collapsed. The hatches collapsed and there was only one small island on the port side from which the crew continued to fight the fire. Blazing Furiously The engineers had to leave the engine room and the pumps ceased to work. The captain then sent out a call for assistance and ordered the crew into the boats. He and the chief engineer remained aboard to drop confidential papers over the side. By this time the whole ship was blazing furiously. The captain and chief engineer leapt into the sea and swam to a boat. Ensign’s Bravery A patrolling American destroyer searched the sea lit by the fire and the last boat was found at dawn under the counter of the burning ship, still made fast by a painter. Every man in the boat was fast asleep and all were rescued. ' While the crew were boarding the destroyer a native seaman slipped and fell into tlie water. He was too weak to swim against the rough sea and was rapidly diftfng when Ensign I. C. Savage of the United States destroyer, dived fully-clothed to his help. After 20 minutes’ struggle Ensign Savage towed him near enough to the destroyer for a line to be thrown and both were hauled aboard. At the time of the rescue there was a very rough sea and heavy swell running. It was raining heavily and was very dark.