The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Page 13

Plane Survivors Sang, Prayed Awaiting Rescue From Wilds GANDER AIRPORT. Sept 23. (CP) In a quiet, at times sob-choked voice, Helen Ruth Henderson ot New York today told of the harrowing experiences of 18 survivors of the Belgian airliner crash into a bush-covered hillside, 25 miles' southwest of here last Wednesday. Carefully avoiding any mention of the 26 who lost their lives in the crash. Miss Henderson, 47-year-old executive secretary of the International Girl Scouts' Association, told how the survivors had sung, talked about music, and prayed for good weather while awaiting rescue.

Spirits Were High. The spirits of the survivors were high despite their multiple injuries, the shock of the crash and the chill weather which blew down on them in the swampy damp bushland. Brushing back her straight blond hair from the bruises on her forehead and face. Miss Henderson from her hospital stretcher told of the things that happened from the time the crash occurred. She smiled broadly when she said she could not remember what happened immediately before or after the crash.

"I knew we had crashed. I was conscious of something falling 6n me. Then John King who was sitting across from me said 'get out of here quick'. "I unfastened my safety belt and got out, and then King went back and the stewardess. She told us to go back further from the plane." Miss Henderson could not recall whether the plane exploded immediately it hit or some time afterwards.

When the flames from the plane had died down and It was safe enough to close to it some of the survivors man-axed to pick np clothes In suitcases which had been undamaged. They proved to be tremendous help against the cold. Shortly afterwards some of the youthful survivors, who were able to walk, went scouting but came back without seeing anything. Earlier reporters had heard some of the story of those hours in the woods from Jeanne Rook, stewardess, Charles Kron-engold of New York, Jean Polaks of Brussels, King, son of the Chinese ambassador to Belgium, and Leo Tonglet, a Brussels businessman. Crashed at 5.35 a.m.

In the trim dining room of the Sir Frederick Banting Memorial Hospital whre the reporters gathered for the intprviews. King Mtd he estimated the crash time about 5 35 a.m. last Wednesday. That afternoon the survivors got together as a group for the first time and formed a around a fire built by the less seriously injured. Continuing witK her story.

Miss Henderson said: "We sat around giving encouragement to one another. We were, all in very fine spirits considering the circumstances. Dawn brought with it better weather than we anticipated and served to improve our morale, but by afternoon we were i getting King, la, r-uene i-erier, 11-year-old son of Gilbert Perier, president of Sabena Airlines, operators of the ill-fated craft, and Philippe Henricot. 16, set out to try and reach Gander. They walked for almost two das In their bare feet, having lost their shoes in the crash, and returned to the scene Just shortly before a rescue party of Americana arrived.

Miss Henderson said she know the crash had occurred near radio beam because commercial planes could be heard flying over on their regular schedules. "It was discouraging to hear them pass put of sight then one of the "planes didn't continue on its course. It circled and circled and came lower and lower and we knew we had been found. "We were thrilled beyond words. We thought the plane could see us under trees and would know how many of us there were, but 'they only 'saw those walking around the site of the crash.

"From then on it was a matter of waiting for the rescue. The survivors boiled water and drank it from a silver pitcher which had been thrown out of the plane, "There' was a silver cream Jug as well for those who a smaller size. We had 'all comforts of she. said "When the search plane dropped food and medical sap-plies. Miss Rook gave each of the survivors a sulpha pill and water and they ate the food sparingly because not, very much had been dropped at that time and they didnt know when the weather might' eloae In again.

"A message was dropped saying that a rescue party was on the way. We again went through that night around the fire and the next day two hunters cam along and made us some tea. Noise In the Brush. "The hunters left, saying that they were going to signal the planes and return. They did not come back but late in the after noon a noise was heard in the brush and we thought the rescue party had arrived.

"Coir hearts sank when we saw it was the three youngsters who had set out for help and who were staggering back to camp exhausted. Within a matter of hours, however, Capt Samuel Martin and a party of 15 American sol diers arrived." At this point Miss Henderson's voice broke as she said it was. "a great comfort to me as an American citizen to see them coming in the bush to help "Capt Martin took charge and treated the people1 like intelligent people. He told them what supplies he had and what he could do. He put soldiers to work building big fires- to keep the survivors "To those suffering he gave morphine.

Unless you had been out there lying 'in pain, you cant understand what a comfort that meant "The mothers of those CPs who helped us would be proud of them if they could have seen them in action." The weather was foggy on Friday but broke later and U.S. Coast Guard flying boats dropped food, medical supplies, blankets, sleeping bags and a walkie-talkie. It was decided that many of the survivors could not stand a trip down the river on rafts, and late Friday the word spread that the rescue was to be effected by helicopter. One of the two helicopters flown in from North Carolina was assembled and was ready for use Saturday. The rescue began just after the main ground party of SO or 40 men reached the scene of the crash.

Veteran Guide. Among the men was Jim John, a veteran guide. Miss Henderson said "I'm going hunting with him just as soon as I can get back to Newfoundland." Miss Henderson was one of the eight brought out Saturday before darkness. In concluding the interview she tried to remember iilllliiSSiSIil IHEH III Hulse and Playfair service) are pre erred service because the most careful, thoughtful planning and work go into every funeral conducted by this leading Ottawa establishment. And Hulse and Playfair have the equipment to give you the utmost in quality and beauty.

Our fleet of seven Packard cars is available to any family using our facilities. Our new, and beautiful home and chapel are at all time available. Call us anytime we are: always ready to serve with the best equipment and the most skilled Hulse and Playfair are deservedly preferred in Ottawa! iiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiii 7 ttarrimtt illinium 4ii A lV-N. (In -r-x V4 9 mm r.i WRECKAGE OF GIANT AIRLINER WHERE 28 DIED This is all that remains of the Belgian trans-Atlantic airliner which crashed In the woods near Gander, Newfoundland, killing 26 of the 44 persons aboard. Two men at right (arrows) watch the photographer's 'plane.

This picture was taken by John Rooney, Associated Press staff photographer. The Show's a the Airfhor is 0 'V 1 I tat-, COAST GUARD HELICOPTER AT. CRASH SCENE IN NEWFOUNDLAND A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rests on the plateau near -Gander -Lake not far from tent erected by rescue teams to aid in caring for survivors of the Belgian trans-Atlantic airliner crash. The helicopter flew the rescued passengers to Gander Lake, five miles away, and transferred to a Navy 'plane whfch took them to Gander airport the songs that had been sung.

She said she had sung the Dox-ology and some popular songs but could not remember their names. They had talked about naming the crash scene St Martins in the Woods In honor of Capt Martin. STOCKTON, Durham, England. P) The 3,000,000 aircraft salvage plant at nearby Eaglescliffe is being taken over by the Nuffield Organization for manufacture of motor vehicles and power farming equipment GIRLS WIN A bazaar, sponsored by theSt Gerard's Playground came to a close on Saturday, Sept. 21, with a draw for two bicycles.

The winners were Miss F. Seguin, 629 McLaren street, and Miss M. Beausoleil, 021 Rochester street Lot's do it Ottawa Vet Weljs Dutch Girl After 'Red-Tape' Difficulties If there's any foundation to that old saw about true love and its tortuous route, then a 23- year-old Ottawa army veteran vho has spent the last year writ-ng frantic letters to Holland, lending cables, and dodging in and out of Canadian immigration i iff ices, is well on his way to a lasting marriage based on a buf feted, but hardened, devotion. For the matrimonial difficul ties encountered by Roy Parker, 16 Herridge street, Ottawa, make minor financial or in-law brow- creasers of other young couples Isok ridiculous. Arrives With Bride.

Roy arrived in Ottawa yester-( ay afternoon with his bride, for-nerly Maria Jacoba Loomans of ltlaricum, Holland, whom ho larried in New York Saturday. But it took 11 long months of regotiatlon to bring his fiancee within marrying distance and for time it looked as if he would lave to return to Holland before tie ceremony was performed. Roy's main difficulty was that tough he saw "Marieke" almost every day during the two months he was stationed at Blaricum, 29 miles from Amsterdam, it wasn't until he got. home that he decided he wanted to marry her. "I was afraid to ask her while il was in Holland," he explains, "I didn't want to rush into anything and thought maybe I'd been away from home too long ahd was just lonely, but He arrived home last September; wrote her in November asking her to marry him and received her answering cable bne Week later on Nov.

28. It all started when Roy, a sapper with the RCE, was stationed at Blaricum after VE-Eay. "The citizens looked on us as liberators and they all wanted to db everything they could for- us. Cne man, a cigarette manufacturer, invited me to visit him and sie his horses and that's where I met Marieke." Accomplished Linguist? Marieke, who studied English in London, German in Berlin, a id also speaks French, was more home with the English language than his host, so it was she who showed him the. horses.

And thus started a romance. He met her parents that first evening; they went to movies, to meerts and on long alks and when, two months later, his turn came for repatriation, they bade each other a tearful farewell afraid they might rot see each other again. Roy returned to Canada, started work as a bus driver with the CjER, thought things over and wrote Marieke a long letter, asking her to marry him. Her affirmative answer which should have brought him only Joy also carried with it an 11-month-long head- I. ssIbssbssSsbbbsssbbshhm From Gilbert and Suixivan down through the years to Rodgers and Hammerstein, many; of the greatest successes, in show business have been written by two men working together.

From apple growing to zinc mining, many a record of business success has been written by an able management working in close and constant co-operation with The Bank of Nova Scotia. "Whether it's an established business or a new one just starting out, youH find that this bank has the knowledge, the experienco and the facilities that will help you to solve every financial problem Just call the manager of the nearest Bank of Nova Scotia branch and say i "Let's do it together." THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA I ache. How was he to get her to Canada? I First he wrote the Canadian Minister to The Netherlands, say ing Marieke was an old friend of the family and asking that she be allowed to come to Canada for a visit But with tight immigration restrictions, that was no good. Then Marieke went to work in the Canadian Legation in The Hague, hoping that she might be able to pull some wires there, but again, it was no soap. They sat down, she In Holland, he in Ottawa, and tried to conjure, up a possible angle.

It was Marieke who first saw that she might be able to reach the United States, even though it was impossible to come to Canada. She had relatives in New York and in July of this year succeeded in getting a visitor's visa to the United States. Roy went to the American consul in Ottawa and discovered that he could marry her when she had been in New York three days and that once they were married, she automatically became a Canadian citizen and, of course, would have no trouble crossing the border. She sailed from Holland September 7 aboard the new passenger liner Westerdam, arrived in New York September 15 where she was met by a delirious Roy and they were married last Saturday at her uncle's home. Tonight Roy's mother, Mrs.

L. H. Parker, is holding a big reception for them so that Marieke can really meet Canada. "I know I'm going to love it the brtde smiled. "It's been a long, long trail but well worth waiting for." Corn Prices Drop tiirBy Ward Market Although there was a fairly good turnout of vendors on By Ward Market this morning, buying was slow as the attendance was cut down by rain.

Good corn was selling at 20 to 25 cents a dozen, a drop of a nickel. Pink tomatoes were being offered at 50 cents for a six-quart basket while red tomatoes were selling st 40 cents. Beans' were being sold at 20 cents for a three-pound bag, and there was a good selection of melons selling at 10 to 40 cents, depending on size. CLOSED Courteous Service added to good (ood, well cooked and attractively presented, makes dining a pleasure at the TEA GARDEN 145 Sparks Street aiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiMiiHiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimmiiiniiitmtiiiininni 1 OPEN ALL DAY I THIS WEDNESDAY 1 Thursday and Friday I in observance of the Jewish New Year. C.

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Telephone 2-1224 Trouble Dept. Telephone 2-1444 (24-Honr Ssrrlca) Ottawa Hydro-Electric Commission i09 BANK ST. (Cor. Albert) kiiiiiiiiiiiHmmiHiiiimiBimiHiitiiMHHiniiMiiiiHMinmmmnmH THE OTTAWA JOURNAL, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. IH, 1J.