SEAPLANE DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18088, 12 May 1922, Page 6

SEAPLANE DISASTER.

FIVE PASSENGERS LOST. PILOT'S TERRIBLE ORDEAL. An account of the terrible disaster which overtook a passenger hydroplane when travelling from Miami (Florida) to the Bahama Islands, the machine being wrecked and five of the occupants drowned, waa given by tha sole survivor, Bobcrt Moore, the pilot. Moore was picked up by a steamer and wag then, nearly dead. In lucid moments in the hospital Moore related how, when he waa but a few miles ' from Bimini, the propeller broke, and he was forced to descend 011 the fringe of the Gulf Stream, which scon carricd tne wreck far from land. The perilous position of himwdf and hie five passengers waa intensified by tha rough sea, which soon overturned the trail craft and threw them all into the waver. Of the three women aboard, one failed to come to the surface. A male passenger also disappeared, and could not bo found, although Monro dived repeatedly. Foe hours the men and the two women left kept up their courage by singing and whistling, but as night came on the wind rose. The women grew weaker, and were washed from the wreck time after time, only to bo brought back by the pilot, who was tho -only one who could swim. All next day they passed by numerous j finking craft, but nono stopped. Mrs. I Bulte, who lost her husband when tho craft overturned, died. Later in tho day I Mi' 3. Smith died in her husband's arms. I As night approached Mr. Smith grew | delirious, and Moore strapped him to the j wreck. JuHt before he died lie asked | Moore to promise him to tell his sons on shore how bravely and courageously I their mother died. "Tell them," he saicf, | "no man over had a more courageous wife. Ino child a braver mother." Moore suffered frightfully from thirst and hunger, but chewed the ends of his fingers until ho sucked tho blood to quench his thirst. He was unconscious when rescued. The most tragic part of Moore's story was how he and Lawrence Smith, the last passenger to dio, alternately laughed and cried as they tried to keep up each other's spirits. Finally, when Smith died, Moore was obliged to cast the body adrift to keep the boat from sinking. As Moore permitted Smith's body to slip into the water he stood up and offered a prayer: "I know not your religion, but in the name of the God of humanity 1 must cast vour body into tho sea. May I be seen in the eyes of God as doing my duty as l>est I know to do it. May God bo with you."