After a time we felt a thrill, as we saw the lights of an approaching steamer. It moved cautiously about, sending its boats hither and thither, wherever it saw signs of life, picking up poor, drowning ones who appeared on the surface of the water. Now they were approaching us, and our hearts beat high with hope. But, alas, they did not see us, and soon drifted away, leaving us alone in our misery.
Hour after hour passed, leaving us still clinging to the wreckage. Finally a larger piece of drift approached us, having on it one lone man. Calling to him, he told us that he had been injured, and was suffering, and in despair. Swimming to him I dragged myself onto his raft, and tried to comfort him. But this was sorrowful work for not only had he been injured, but he had lost his wife and three children and he said he did not want to live. He was so weak that he could scarcely hold on, and it was with difficulty that I kept him from sliding into the sea.
We had now given up all hopes of being picked up till morning light, and, like Paul, “we wished for the day,” My limbs were stiff and sore from the cramped position I was obliged to maintain, and agonizing pains shot through my whole body, as I shivered with the icy cold and wet. The minutes scorned like hours as we clung to the wreckage through the long hours of that night of horror. But finally it passed, bringing the first gleams of the approaching day. The big steamer began to cruise around on its search for victims. Standing up, I place I my hat, which had been on my head the whole time, on the end of a long pole. Waving this with all my strength, I called at the top of my voice. Oh joy! They had sighted us, and were sending a life-boat to us.
ML 12/02/1951