Show Survivors of Torpedoed Tanker Tell Fell e How ow 20 Died in Flames WILLEMSTAD ISTAD Curacao Feb 21 IP UP The JP-The The The Norwegian NOM tanker on I s ard was torpedoed d this morning off the western western western west west- ern point of Curacao Island the Dutch agency Aneta said saM Sat Sat- The ship aflame amidships however howe was beached JACKSONVILLE Fla Feb 21 The UPI GT The sinking of the tanker Pan an Massachusetts off the Atlantic At At- Ian antic lantic tie coast Thursday afternoon by byan byan byan an enemy submarine was announced announced announced an an- by the navy Saturday after fter the landing here of 18 survivors sur- sur Ivors I They told a harrowing story of theIr heir escape and the death of 20 fellow ellow crewmen in an inferno of burning oil C Robert E E. Christie 52 2 year old old ear sea veteran who lost the I fIrst ship of ot his career said two j 4 torpedoes exploding in quick succession succession succession suc suc- cession turned the ship into a amass amass amass mass of flames and the sea soon was afire for tor half hatt a mile around us as the and oil spread Christie of Corpus Christi Christ Texas said three or four shells also exploded on us after we were were ablaze but the submarine was not seen by any of us the us-the the two lookouts died in the fire aboard ship and they are the only men who might have seen it it The survivors were picked up by CoUI Continue on 1 PUr Two Column grum Eight blent t i I SURVIVORS TELL TELLOF TELLOF TELLOF OF FIRE DEATHS Continued from Page One 1 a ship which Captain said was about five miles back wh when n the Pan Massachusetts was tor- tor He declared the men on the rescue rescue ship came to their assistance despite the danger of of- of also being torpedoed ed d laun launched hed boats and saved all who were alive that that is bravery J The survivors were landed here Friday afternoon but the navy withheld news of their arrival and of the sinking until today presumably presumably presumably pre- pre as a precaution for th the safety ot of the rescue vessel t The vessel is owned by the Na- Na National National Bulk Carriers Inc The Pan Massachusetts was the ship officially reported attacked attacked attacked at at- tacked in the current series of in north Atlantic coastal waters Others of the survivors told how some of the crew were burned to tc death on board before they could leap into the sea Some died Inthe in inthe in inthe the flaming oil that covered the water around the ship Faces Vere Were Seared The first nine to come ashore looked as if they had been through a furnace Their faces were seared some were heavily bandaged bandaged bandaged ban ban- and all had blankets wrapped around their shoulders Every man walked up the landing ramp without assistance and climbed into the ambulances that took them to a hospital Tl The Trie e other nine including Captain Cap Cap- tam tain Christie First Officer Alfred Carini 59 Long Island City N. N Y and Third Officer H. H L L. Dodge 58 Baltimore Md were taken to a downtown hotel They related that the f flames I a m e S 5 burned fiercely on the port sides side side but that a strong wind ind prevented spread of the blaze on the water on th the starboard side Flames Envelop Ship The ship was enveloped in fit inflames flames flames everywhere everywhere I could see a a. crewman related I 1 tried to open the porthole but the side of the ship was burning also Desperately Desperately Desperately Des Des- I threw on what clothes I could and made my way to the deck Men were shouting all around me Flames were shooting high into the air and the sea was burning burning burning burn burn- ing all around The lifeboats and rafts were in flames We Ve ran about looking for a place to jump I 1 picked my spot and jumped Flames reared up around me but butI I managed to fight my way to open water The water was like ice and I Ij got numb numb so so numb I could hardly keep afloat i iThen Then we sighted a ship and started yelling We didn't think we would be seen but we were The The- ship lowered a boat and 18 were taken aboard aboard iS 18 out of 38 One man was taken aboard stark naked Some were badly burned and in great pain |