HEROIC CREW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16210, 7 December 1926, Page 9

HEROIC CREW

STAYS WITH SINKING SHIP HAMILTON. Bermuda. Oct. 26. Tales of heroism on the part of the engineer and firemen and the radio operator are related by the 12 survivors of the crew of 35 of the British freighter Eastway, which went down off Bermuda in Friday's -hurricane. 11. James, the radio operator, was at his post, repeating his wireless calls for help when the ship went down. Likewise, the engineers and firemen- refused to make an attempt to enter the single remaining lifeboat and went to the bottom with the craft. The 12 survivors who were picked up by the British schooner Luciline have been brought to St. George's by that vessel. They say that the storm struck the Eastway early on Friday morning. James immediately started his SOS call and shortly afterwards answers were received from nearby vessels, saying they were going to the aid of the freighter. CAPTAIN WASHED OVERBOARD. At 4 o'clock in tin; afternoon the master of the Eastway was washed overboard and disappeared. At 6 o'clock iu the evening, the coal m the hunkers shifted, giving the vessel a heavy list. All but one of the- lifeboats were smashed by the tempestuous waves. In this boat the 12 rescued men sought safety. The steamer wallowed in the heavy seas until 7 o'clock, when she plunged to the bottom without the men in the engine-room and stokehole or the wireless operator making any attempt to reach tho small boat. The rescued men say they had been for 17 hours without water and but little food when the Luciline picked them up. they report that wlulo they were at the'mercy of the waves they were passed at close range by a steamer which ignored their rockets and other signals of 'distress. *-»