1959-07-18 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL," SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1959.

FROM

The waves close over the great ship that had

The man who

woke alone in

a sinking ship

the bridge of the Andrea Doria Cap- tain Piero Calamai watched the rescue operation move into its final stages. The ship -only a few hours ago the pride of Italy's merchant navy-was now hovering at an angle of 33 degrees from upright. But at least she was remaining afloat, heroically struggling against death as each minute ticked away.

the

Around the ship lifeboats plied a busy traffic. And Calamai, looking down on sloping decks, saw little dark figures, each a person, climbing over the side and down into the boats.

Screams and cries still piereed the night air, but now they were heard only occasion- ally.

Calamal unuld hear the splashes of those leaping from the ship into the oily, debris- Faders water, but these too were less frequent than before.

'See my family'

In the wheelhutise there were tumes of deathly kill when near- by everyone was away from the nerve centre of the ship, carry- ing out the captain's orders.

During one of these lulls Cop. tal Cplomer approached Second Oncer Hudano, took him by the urm, and said softly: "If you are reach saved maybe you

fantily... Ctenos and see my Tell them 1 did everything 1 could,"

can

On the bridge of the doomed, sinking liner Andrea Doria the few officers still left abaard held, their final conference before abandoning ship, "All passengers have gone" reported the captain's deputy. But, unknown to him, one other man was groping as if in a nightmare across the flooded decks below.

COLLISION COURSE

He hoped to find his parents waiting for him there, but the room was empty.

lifejacket around Tying him, he set out once again for cabin 100 wire he still hoped to Arsh his mother and father,

X

He made two further altempt. 10 Tench their cabin. First he circled ahead of the collision area and tried another stairway, way But again he found his blurked. Na either his nigther or father.

Amin and again he was told, They must be around some when,"

hal

ene bad

2012

his

Peter glumly repeated Badar, ingenugs young inquiry to Morris JC, a New dealer with man, did not comprehend the Orleans abtique

man's whom he

made friends the older intaning of words. "Look," he said, pointing during the voyage.

ping- about "How nearby The de France,

We've lost pong?" Keil suggested, tryling "we will be saved. the ship, yes, but I am sure if in cheer the boy up.

save one they can

10

they can

save twa." Cuptain Raid nothing f saved, you

sume

Colama "No, thank you" Peter said 1 enn or politely as he waited on. 100 can be saved, just continue to 551" isn't that right?" Badane asked.

The captain nodded and walked away.

AS

sndly

slowly the hours had

the reen on the shipped by, Andrea Doria gradually elfuged The rush to Genpe Rêgned to a general achactance towards leav- ing the ship at ull.

Women hung back, insisting that men go feat.

The crew

He made his way along the of the Buat Deek to the bow

the ship and then down to Foyer Deck und the corridor which would touch in Cubin 180.

The Fayer Deck, when reached it, was flooded water above

by ALVIN MOSCOW

In the distance, he noticed several lifeboats.

senior offers, Quict prevailed the ship. The bridge clock pointed to five in the morning.

The list was close to 40 degrees. The conference was conducted in low, sqft voices.

hardly breaking the aura of

Dangled

For some reason, he climbed

silence on the deserted, dying down the cargo net, stilp.

became

entangled, and dangled were the The senior officers reviewed until lifeboat from

extent of Tidewater Oll Company tanker the situation the flooding below decks, the list. Robert E. Hopkins, which had the expleted Coast Guard tug rived on the scene not long boats, how much time was left, before, came beneath the net. the abandoning of ship.

ta

Captain Magnini reported Captain Calamai that all passengers were off the ship, and that all accessible cabins had been searched.

The sleeper

been a nation's

nation's pride

chiel mate, The tanker'a

The captain wanted to remain down will his ship. Monsignor was the captain's Eugend Swift, in command of

arrival of the tugs. Notte, who and until the the lifeboat, reached up

the grabbed

imp body of The discussion went back and eoufessor, spoke a few words in

forth over the same points as him. Hudson, who seemed to be in a

it seemed apparent to all that state of shock.

the ship could not survive many The American sailor was the hours.

to leave th fast passenger

He was the only IAL this, be Wus relaying Andrea Daria.

taken abcard the information from the purser survivor officers, who in turn were relay tanker, which had sped 50 miles Steffi could see, the decks of the in reports from stewards, who to the disaster scene. As far as

were de Italian ship Matiny had made various checks."

Hait there Jari heen 1.0 systematic search.

Some serted. fnto live had looked steruds

others cabins at their stations: had not.

he with He his ankles.

'I stay...

Probably at the very moment

In the wheelhouse of the that the staff captain was re- porting that all cabins had been Andrea Doria, the officers ex- cleared, Rolxrt Lee Hudson prassed their opinion to Captain Calamai that the ship had to be woke up.

[udion Wak ALM American abandoned. stated through the deserted

had no chulics he sailor, but he pint where corridor to

hit aboard the Andre Dorin. would see A seetion of

Wits Un the payroll American steamship company. rents cabin.

and had Injured his back on a previous journey.

A heavy girder and smaller had lo cajole, coerce, and wreckage "blocked the doorway. force reluctant Beyond, Peter thought he saw physically Daxxenet, Bome men as well the night sky where the out as women. lo trust their lives heard wall of the cabin should to a ladder, a rope, or a carge have been. nef.

the

up

Fren various lifeboats, sallory climbed up the decks of sinking survivors.

ship

10

Deserted

Yel. to this thirteen-year-old boy, this was not proof that bis parents were dead. He continua his search on the decks above crowded with people.

him

OT

He

201

Hi: company had arranged for from to travel home Gibraltar in the Andrea Duria. He had been given a berlin the men's ward of the ship's hospital, There he had slepi whole per Tully through the

. round

Ong of linee reluctant to go was a 13-year-old boy, Peter Theriot. His parents had been travelling in suite 180, one of the four specially designed luxury pulles, but had been able to book only one of the suite's

two bedrooms, Peter was given

a solitary single cabin Soft,

away from that of his parents.

Finally,

with the rapidly emptying, he was per suaded to leave with a couple who repeated what he lad been told so many times be- fore.

that his parents must have already left the ship.

Silence...

Now he woke alune in the Hitch black hospital room. He had the odd sensation that he had been steeping on the wall.

of It was like the start weled, vivid dream.

He climbed uphill across his bed, casing himself off the bed unil his feet louched the floor.

He groped his way to the corridor nut looked down the lone, empty hallway. All was greatly, still and deserted and it took several moments for him le realbe where he was and what must have happeni

noi com-

Peter doubted that Al 10 o'clock, after they had but his mini could finished playing at the ship's Pretend any alternative.

10

horse rnecs, Peter's father, bus- Only when he was in a life ness manager of the San Fran boat on the way to the He de elsco Chronicle, escorted Peter France did Peter Theriot, look

the boy's cabin ant said it back at the domed liner, good-night.

Then Mr Theriot across a foyer to his own cabin, where he and Mrs Therloi relized half an hour later.

see the true location of

walked plul of collision.

The collision barely awakened the boy. He rubbed his eyes, put on some clothes, looked out

into the corridor, saw nothing

and went back to his bed.

He failed to see that the foyer was heaped near 11 cabin

with rubble,

the

Then he realised he would

It seemed to him he was alone

in an empty, kinking ship,

In a dream?

Waler was rising in the cross

never see his father and mather corridors to the high side of

Thu A-Deck.

low slue of again,

WUS unier waler. With the decks at inst cleared A-Deck

of passengers, Captain Calmal Hudson looked down

ut his

used, the office for the crew body clad in white pojamos and to abandon ship, asking for seriously wondered whether he wus dreaming or hud setually volunteers to remain on board until the arrival of the Coast awakened to this. Inter ho Guard tugboats,

Was

When to wolro realised his whole cabin

Forly stayed at first, but this filting; and the ship's engines number dwindled as the men had stopped. He dressed quickly were released. The ship became and went in search of his all as an emply graveyard.' parents.

Ploking his way over the Finally 12 men remained un The sculor rubble in the foyer be reach- the Andrea Doria,

Hud- "Is anybody heret"

screamed, and he heard

Boti

Fin voice travel down the Darcidar, silent, emply "Help!" he called at the top

of his voice, but there was no answer.

He stumbled down the corri-

ed the corridor loading to his officers, including Staff Captain parents' cabin, but a smashed Maganini, Chier Officer Oneto, der with the sensation that he wall blocked his way.

and First Officer Kim, held was walking more on the walls Gocking another route, he their final episference on the than on the floor, climbed two decks up and asked bridge.

,

He groped to the his way up the stairs open deck and breathed deeply for help among the people on the Promenade Deck

The younger men sat at of the salty, early morning air. but

distance from the everyone seemed too busy and respectful distraught to make much sensa to him.

Peter roarned to his cabin

From the empty high side of the stern, he slid down the deck to the starboard side. But the last of the crew already had is gone forward to the bridge.

Hudyon daw the empty ropes and cargo not over, the side of

The book, Collision Course,

which this Merter for his Hfejacket. The floor was from

covered with oit and water as adapted, will be published be found his way to his shin.. Brljelp by LangmsEL

"There is nothing more to the done," Captain Magagnini con- cluded, it is scrselfers to play less risk of life. We can wail board, Commandante, a serve- for the tugs in the lifeboats,"

10

The officers, each holding on to something for support, silently waited for the com- mander's decision. I was their prerogative to suggest, his decide.

"You go," he sold gently." will stay."

they protested but They understood; he wanted to

FOUR D. JONES

JONES AND HIS TWO VAXS MAKE THER WAY TO THE PASS

JC. ISG

CA

I WONDER WHO'S BEHIND.

THIS NATIONALISATION BUSINESS?

IT MUST BE SOMEONE WHO

HAS A GRUDSE AGAINST THE

LAW TO DO A THING

LIKE THE

FERDINAND

BRICK BRADFORD

SO LONG,

'CASBY

-BRICK, YOU'RE WANTED ON THE RADIO! SOME QUICKLY/

The chaplain had come to the bridge after the chip ind been The emptied of passengers. captain listened to his spirtual adviser and to his officers who interjected suggestions.

But st 12B hts frlend Megagnini who forend the issue when he said firmly. "It Is useless, but if you stay, we will stay with you."

He climbod ever the alde and became entangled in the not

Hfeboat No. 11. and down the Jacob's ladder to

་ ་

ragged as if he himself were as trar death as his own ship.

His spirit was gone, his voice

They let the ship in roversa hardly audible, and is his grey order of rank. Stan Captain eyes his men saw a madness so

17st and reached the lifeboat terrible that for decency's sake Maxagnini, second-in-command, each averted his gaze from the looked up to see Captain Calp- captain's face.

mai leaning against the deck ralling alone on the vast ship.

Tragic

tragic.

There is nothing so these men of the sea knew, os a shipmaster losing his chip, whatever the cause,

Captain Calamai agreed to go. Som what weak and unsteady upon his feet, he was led down To those men who saw him to the boat deck and to the at this time, Captain Calimal ladder midships at the position seemed to have aged ten years of lifeboat No. 7.

huum since the In the six collision.

Ila bront chest, straight back

determined mien go and

CHARLIT/COME AN HAVE A SHUFTY AT THIS

LITTLE LOT

WHAT ABUT YOU GOING UPT YOU'D - BETTEN REST!

NEVER MIND ME!

I'M FEELING PING NOW.

GET TO TH

A RADIO, BRICK!

hind

THEY DON'T RUALLY THINK THEY GAN SET AWAY WITH THIS DO THEY?

HERE...

Just as the sun peeked over the horizon, bringing the first silvery rays of dawn at 5.30 nam, the men climbed over the side

by MADDOCKS

ALLO, YES BOSS, RIGHT OKAY MATE, LITTLE BLOKE WITH A TRIANGULAY THAT,

IVER, YES IZL DO

THAT, BYE.

The Old Man-and now he ilterally looked like an old mat seemed as if he were about to topple over the side because of the anzig of the deck. He made no move to Trave the ship.

"Come down," the staff esp- tain shouted.

Captain Calamal waved his hand as if t brush away the lifeboat. "Ga,

away. 10 remain."

(Continued on Page 7)

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