DRAMATIC RESCUE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 November 1937, Page 5

DRAMATIC RESCUE

CREW OF GREEK FREIGHTER SURVIVORS ATTACKED 15V SHARKS STORM JN NORTH ATLANTIC [United Prow Afeociation—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 16th November. 9.15 a.m.) NORFOLK «.Virginia). Mill November. The coastguard cutter Mendota rescued 15 survivors from the Greek freighter Chandris, which sank in a severe storm off the North American coast. Two of the survivors, wearing lifebelts, flailed the water for hours on end to ward oft' sharks, which devoured the carcases of cheep and goats from the steamer An amphibian plane piloted by Lieutenant Burke guided the Mendota until lack of petrol forced the plane to fly back. Smoke Hares from another plane led the Mendota to a lifeboat containing the other thirteen survivors. Lieutenant Burke reported sighting five bodies, four of which were recovered. Lieutenant Burke, interviewed later, said: "We had been flying over the scene for two hours when we saw five dead bodies floating. We then sighted two men wearing lifebelts. One waved feebly to us and the other was bobbing up and down and kicking his feet. He seemed ta have lots of "pep.” Then we were horrified to sec sharks fifteen feet away going toward the men. The "peppy” one seemed to sense the danger and attempted to keep them off. "Everywhere we looked there were sharks and more sharks. We dropped smoke bombs and zoomed over the men to attract the attention of the Mendota and also frighten the sharks. We had about decided to chance a landing ar.d attempt a rescue when the Mendota launched a boat. It w'as a horrible and gruesome sight. "It is not known how many of the missing were eaten by sharks. I did . not see any. but another pilot said he saw sharks tearing bodies. Many empty lifeboats were floating there. Owing to the high sea it would have been dangerous to land, but we would have chanced it if the Mendota had not out-raced the sharks.” The survivors now total 21, six having been previously rescued. Three others are known to be dead, from drowning or exposure. The captain is missing. The Chandris sank ten minutes after being abandoned. SENSATIONAL STORY PANIC AMONG CRFAV i DEMAND FOR S.O.S. (Received 16th November, 9.20 a.m.) NORFOLK (Virginia). 15th November. Borton Blaaskas, third engineer of Chandris, told a sensational story of the crew’s panic before the disaster. He said: “The vessel was leaking badly owing to three days’ battering by mountainous seas. The crew demanded that the captain send an S.O.S. hours before the first signal was sent. The captain ordered them to return to the \ pumps, evidently believing that the vessel could ride out the storm. Finally the pumps were swamped. I went to the radio room and demanded an S.O.S. to be sent. The operator refused without the captain’s orders, and I drew a knife and compelled him to obey." ■ Other seamen stated that a berserk member of the crew attacked the captain and bit his face.