Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1911 — Stowaway is in Ship’s Hold 12 Days [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Stowaway is in Ship’s Hold 12 Days

BALTIMORE, Md.—To have lived twelve days In the icy, inky blackness of a ship’s hold with nothing to Bat save raw potatoes, with only rats [oi* companions, and to hate been rescued only because the foremast light of the ship on which he was a stowaway refused to work, was the soulracking experience of Walter Purding, in American, who reached Baltimore on the Johnston line'steamer Ulstermore, Captain Gowan. According to his story, when the Ulstermore was about to leave Liverpool, he gained the consent of a steveiore to stow away in hatch No. 3. He said he chose the hatch because it contained potatoes, and he believed ihe ship’s cook would release him the Srst day oj, two at sea. But Captain 3owan procured his “sphds” somewhere else, and the cook came not. Hour by hour, Purding said, bis hunger and thirst became greater. He beganJto eat potatoes, hut in two days these palled on him and be could eat ao more. Thirst then attacked him. Seekihg to relieve his agony he lucked, the steel sides of the ship, which reeked with moisture) but with the dfrops. of filthy water came the lead paint and added" to his sufferings. When hunger began to weaken him

the weather became rough. Purding .says he was tossed about the hold like the potatoes until every fiber ached. The ship ran into the vicinity of ice' bergß. Hail fell on the sides of the ship and converted the stowaway’* quarters Into a veritable refrigerator. The prisoner said that the rats in the hold ifestled on his breast and he did not fight them because they kept him warm. They sought no blood or bone, but only the warmth-of his body. It was when the ship was 12 days out, when the foremast light refused to work and it was necessary to open hatch No. 3. to follow the wiring. Third Engineer Potter entered -the hatchway to be surprised by a figure’s hurtling by him toward the side of the ship. Dropping his lantern he wrapped both arms around the man and brought him up. After he was released it was with difficulty he was kept from jumping into the sea to slake, his fiery thirst Purding was given a bath and food.