FACING DEATH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15189, 9 April 1917, Page 3

FACING DEATH.

A SUBMARINE HORROR. SURYIVOE IN WELLINGTON. An interesting arrival in Wellington is Mr William Jerrard one of twelve survivors out of 800 men on board the Gladiator when she was sunk in the Mediterranean by a German submarine last year. To a Post reporter he gave some interesting details of his experiences. The Gladiator was on her way to the Dardanelles, and was just nearing her last port when an enmy submarine was sighted about 300 yds away. The submarine was between the Gladiator and another British liner, and those on the Gladiator signalled to the liner acquainting her captain of the peril. The liner immediately made off, and, doubling her watches, reached her port of destination twelve hours ahead of her scheduled time. Meanwhile, at a distance of a little under 300 yds the submarine discharged a torpedo, which struck the Gladiator fairly amidships with a terrific crash. Those on board were given time to get to the lifeboats, fourteen of which crammed full of men, were launched. Then the fearful brutality of the Huns ecame apparent. The submarine commenced to shell the lifeboats, and soon they were reduced to matchwood, and the sea was strewn with dead and dying and wreckage. It was an awful sight. Struggling in the water, Mr Jerrard and some of his mates had almost reached the limits of their strength when a huge boom from the wrecked Gladiator drifted past. Twelve of them managed to grasp it. The Germans continued to shell the pitifully small party of survivors, many of whom were severely wounded. After being in the water for five hours the men„ in the last stages of exnaustion, wer<T* picked up by a liner outward bound, and were conveyed to Sydney. Both on the liner and in the Walker Convalescent Home in Sydney the sufferers were treated with the utmost kindness. Mr Jerrard left Sydney and went to America, where he delivered a series of lectures. Mr Jerrard has had a most adventurous career. He was at one time in the American Navy, and on the late Admiral Dewey’s flagship was the only man wounded at the Battle of Manilla, He was also on the Californian when she received the wireless call for assistance from the sinking Titanic. Subsequently Mr Jerrard entered the British Navy and was engaged a good deal on semaphore work. He has come to reside in Wellington, and intimates his intention of assisting in the work of the Central Mission.