LIST MADE IT DIFFICULT
On the starboard side the ship’s list made things difficult. People had to climb over one boat into another and some who had gotten into one of the “near” boats, No. 11a, refused to budge.
The result was that this boat became firmly embedded on its chocks, weighed down by nearly 90 people.
Chief Officer Copland came running across. Sweating and straining, the black dust from the explosion streaking their faces, he and the men struggled painfully to raise 11a. They got up at last, the boat swung clear, and slowly it began to inch towards the water.
Suddenly the tremendous weight proved too much for the tired men straining at the pulleys. Abruptly one let go, and the others could not hold it. They lost control and the stern of No. 11a went plummeting towards the water.
Almost 90 people were hurled violently towards the stern. One woman was flung into the sea. It all happened in seconds. Oil and water swept into the boat as it hit the sea. When it finally got clear, its occupants were thigh deep in the water.

THEY REFUSED TO HELP
Boat No. 4, with Assistant Purser Taylor, got away with almost 60 people in it, but sadly undermanned. In addition to Taylor there were storekeeper Mac Cuaig, Quartermaster Mc-Lean (who was in charge), and a young steward who had never handled an oar before in his life. There was an engine room greaser- but he had four ribs broken by the explosion.
As No. 4 rocked away from the Athenia, its gunwale close to the water, neither McLean nor Taylor had any idea how long the ship was going to last, but they were anxious to get a reasonable distance away so that if she suddenly did go down they would not be sucked down after her.
Every oar that that could be used should be in us. McLean asked two men – both honeymooners, with their brides in the boat – to give a hand.
Both refused, they appeared to have lost their nerve, and lay in the bottom of the boat with their arms round their wives.
Taylor tried to sting them into action by shouting insults and once or twice it looked as if his policy might succeed. One of them made a half-hearted attempt to rise but his wife held him back shouting: – “don’t leave me- don’t leave me!”

THEY STARTED TO SING
By two minutes past nine only two boats were left. One was No. 7a, held firmly to its chocks by the list when had now grown to 12 degrees. The waiting people were singing “abide with me”
All around was the dark sea. Above, the blinding arc lights swung at the mast heads, casting a cold light upon the decks and heightening the shadows which chased back and forth with the movement of the wind.
Captain Cook, the Athenia’s master roamed the deck in civvies. (He had changed so as not to disclose his identity in the event of capture).
He was urging the men at the launchings to greater efforts, helping and advising them. In the radio room Chief Radio officer Don was still tapping away constantly giving the Knute Nelson a bearing, trying to contact other ships.

(Comclusion)