Show W. S. Mann Relates Terrifying Experiences of Niece in South Seas Former Vernal Only One Of Four to Typhoon A clipping from the Los Angeles News of 28 brought into the office this week by W. S. Mann tells the story of a tragedy In the South Pacific ocean in which his the former Fern Mann of who is now leu vernal about four years ago with her and Alfred and settled in Los Calif where she married Chester On August 12 they set sail with another couple for the islands of the South Pacific The following from the Los Angeles News tells the remainder of the has What Help O This prayer on the log of the 28 foot sloop Winy cabled to Los Angeles the In today from faraway Suva Fiji islands of the South told a story of starvation and shipwreck suffered by four It was also a message of doom for the friends and of Chester Thompson I of Los and and Dalton Arthur Condley who sailed so gaily away from Los Angeles harbor on the morning of August entry in the Jog regarding Chester Thompson's death was believed to be in the handwriting of His body with that of was found on board the Wing On with sails torn oy a It was grounded on the beach of one of the Fiji I Meets Typhoon log recorded the departure of the Wing which was owned by a sailor who had made several Pacific The ship put out to sea August but returned to replace a los sea finally clearing port for a south- sea August in November the log recorded meeting a typhoon which put the ship in some Food supplies gave and on November Thompson the entry of Thompsons this brief explanation was logged under date of November 8 We burled Chester ace at a. m. He ol He was too far gone at any rate to any of the remaining can of apricots we last entry was made No- vember 12 and it was believed Condley died that day or The two women clung tenaciously to life through the days of Only Survivor the boat drifted aground on a reef opposite the Labasa plantation on one of the Fiji islands where it was found by another Thompson was the only survivor of the She was near death from shock and condition of Cond-lcy's body indicated she had died only a day or two before the little ship was Her body and that of her husband buried on the In Los Angeles parents of Thompson were informed of their daughter's condition was considered very a telephone message from her parents in Los Angeles received by W. S. Mann here Sunday reported that they had contacted doctors on the island who said the girl was believed recovering and will return to Los Angeles as soon as she Is Thompson's two aged one and two are be- Ing cared for by the Courso of Boat When the Wing On sailed last her destination was given as the an island 1500 miles east of the No word was received from the two couples aboard the boat after It left Los They had a radio receiving but no Part of their equipment was a diving bell made from a water heater and supplied with air from a paint spray With on Page W. S. MANN RELATES OF IUS NIECE From Page it they expected to hunt for Apparently they followed a true course into the South for there is no record that they touched at any But the early spring months in the South seas is the period of typhoons and it was obvious to mariners that the Wing On was carried far off its possibly tossed on the A it was would have less chance than a match box in high The provisions must have been washed for the condition of the two bodies and of the lone survivor indicated starvation had been their lot when they sought riches and |