Salt Lake Telegram | 1952-01-01 | Page 1 | Survivor Tells of Rigors at Crash Site

Heros Hero's Story Survivor Tells Of Rigors Al AI Crash Site SHe Editors Editor's Note Note Navy Navy Lt William was one of the heroes of the crash of a C 46 airliner Saturday Saturday Saturday Satur Satur- day night five lve miles northwest of or Salamanca N N. Y He rallied the survivors Injured as they were and andor or organized a makeshift camp where all but two were able to survive the rigors rigor s of 11 41 hours isolated in snow and dense woods Here is his stor story By y Lt William illiam SALAMANCA N. N Y Jan 1 UP UP-I UP I was sitting with George Albert on the left side of the plane two seats from the door When the crash occurred my head and shoulders were shoved hard into the seat scat in front Vas Was dazed but got out along with the others who were able to move and began helping the injured out of the wreckage Thick Underbrush The trees and shrubs were so thick around the plane that they made jt jl very difficult to carry the injured We Ve were afraid that the plane might ignite if we lit a match or fire So we made our makeshift camp about 15 yards away I found a parachute in t the h e wreckage and we made a shelter out of it It kept the rain which fell Sunday off those inside Sunday the day after the crash crash Albert Albert and I decided to try and find help We Ve followed a stream figuring that it would lead us to some kind of tion I guess we started in the wrong direction We Ve walked about two miles and didn't see anything We e couldn't start a afire afire afire fire because of the rain and our See Page 2 Column 1 CRASH HERO Co Continued from Page One feet were cold so we decided to togo togo togo go back to the camp Box Lunches Ruined At camp I searched the wreckage wreckage wreck wreck- age for Cor the planes plane's flares but couldn't find any The box lunches which were on the plane were ruined being thrown all allover allover allover over the ar area a. a We re ate holiday packages when we got hungry and melted snow in a thermos jug for water Monday we found a package of coffee and made some for the four persons who were either pinned in the plane or couldn't be moved because of broken limbs The first indication we had that we were being saved sayed came when we heard sirens this afternoon afternoon after after- noon We Ve were very happy people people peo- peo people to know that aid was coming