Out of Gloucester


 

January 27, 1926

Thirteen Days Adrift Before Rescue Came
Smith and Mitchell Subsided on Sandwiches and Jug of Water Return Home After Being Carried Across

Thirteen days adrift with only a few sandwiches and a jug of water between them and starvation, was the experience of Frank S. Mitchell (Kitty Cat), of this city and Capt. Charles Smith of Milton, who arrived home from Europe yesterday on the liner Regina out of Liverpool.

The men, it will be remembered, left this port on the night of December 6 for a point 25 miles East of Thacher’s island. The engine of the boat went dead that night and the boat began to drift to sea on the wings of an easterly wind. The craft , a 20-foot motor boat, was seaworthy and to this fact the men no doubt owe the fact that they are alive today.

For 13 days the boat and the men drifted, and after their supply of sandwiches, which had been carefully rationed, was gone, the men gave up all hope.

They burned most of their clothing, in an effort to attract passing ships at night. According to Smith a three master hove down to them, but after speaking them, passed on without offering aid.

Hungry and thirsty after being five days without food of any kind, along came the English tramp steamer Newby Hall, the craft being out of the regular path of shipping, and picked them up.

After the men had been fed and warm clothing given them, they soon regained their strength and told their story of being 13 days adrift in the boat.

The Newby Hall landed them at Gibraltar and the men made their way to Liverpool, after they claim, the American consul refused to give them their passage home.

At Liverpool the men claim they were again refused aid by the American Consul. But somehow or other they managed to pay for a third class ticket from Liverpool to Boston and returned home in comfort.

 

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