ALL-NIGHT SWIM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13897, 21 January 1916, Page 6

ALL-NIGHT SWIM.

♦ \ IN, THE MEDITERRANEAN. . WRECKED OFFICER'S SUFFERINGS COMPANIONS SINK O'NE BY ONE. 7~PARIS, Nov. 20. The remarkable escape of M. Sylvain Escoft'y, a French officer passenger who was iu the steamer Calvados, torpedoed ; in the Mediterranean by a German subj marine, is narrated ■in a letter to his brother, which is published in the Gaulois. Writing from the Principessa Yolanda, an Italian steamer which, rescued him, M. Eacoffy says : On November 3 we were on tlie way to Oran, Morocco, when suddenly wo heard the distinct report of a gun. The captain changed his direction and made for the nearest land. The sound .of nr:ing came moro distinct and the fehots came nearer. Then 1 realised that we were being attacked by a submarine. The Calvados stopped immediately. In a minute I undressed and put on a lifebelt. I had in my section a young corporal named Galteja, of Boutfarik, whom I knew to be a courageous and. good swimmer. I told him to do as 1 had done and he let himself overboard. When he reached the water I threw over a plank and! went after it. Together we started swimming, pushing the plank before us. When wo had gone about a mile tho submarine came alongside of us, facing the Calvados. A moment later we saw our steamer torpedoed and bodies thrown into the ah*. We continued to swim and made lop land, where we hoped to arrive- the sarno night. We did not progress quickly, for the plank was heavy and four natives had joined us. An hour later one asked me for a cigarette and a Chechia, a sort of red fez worn by the Zouaves. I looked at him, and saw that hia mind was wandering. "You won't give me a cigarette," he said. I "Well, then, I'm off," and ho let go of the plank and sank. 'One after another all the natives followed him. It began to get dark, and finding it impossible to make headway i we let the plank drift and kept our feet moving so as not to get them numbed. I never did so much pedalling in my life. About eight o'clock next morning my comrade the corporal said, "We can't go on like this for ever. Land is only a couple of miles off; I'll go and look for help. I shan't be long. 1 swear to come back with a boat." He had not gone 200 yards when 1 saw him disappear. I was alone, but I 1 did not give up hope. An hour later I saw a steamer coming in my direction. I 1 raised my arms in the air and shout. jed for help. At last they heard me and ! put out a boat. I was saved.