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191<br />

together in church. When three men were jammed by the ice while hunting seals, it was<br />

shared faith which inspired the courage oftoose fighting for their lives:<br />

RB: They got squashed up and they gOI on this great big pan of ice and the<br />

fog was so thick. You couldn't see one blessed thing, and they used 10<br />

ring the church bell. Now they do this for to lei them know they were<br />

thinking about them and praying forthem. 1<br />

This poem, composed by one of the men rescued on the occasion, and paying tribute to the<br />

community for their prayers, suppons this view:<br />

On Wednesday morning May 3rd 1944<br />

We left our home seal hunting,<br />

And rOOe three miles from !.he shore.<br />

We mel the ice, t'was very slack,<br />

Into it we did go,<br />

Expecting every moment to get a shot or two.<br />

About 2 o'clock in the afternoon<br />

We found we were jammed.<br />

We knew it was no use to try<br />

And get back to lhe land,<br />

So we poked into lhe water on<br />

The back of all the ice,<br />

And we rode on for the Barracks,<br />

And it's there we spent the night.<br />

When daylight broke next morning<br />

It was a dismal sight<br />

To look toward our island<br />

And to see three miles of ice.<br />

About nine o'clock that morning<br />

Two motors hove in view<br />

With food on aboard<br />

To save our lives<br />

Likewise two sturdy crews.<br />

About 4 o'clock that evening<br />

A little speck was seen.<br />

To our surprise we soon found out<br />

It was the T 14.<br />

She came right close in reach of us,<br />

The skipper gave a roar:<br />

"Put your boats into the water, boys,<br />

And I'll land you safe on shore."<br />

I'll tell you we made no delay<br />

For we had no time to lose,<br />

And pretty soon we were on board<br />

IMUNFLA 87-159/10636.

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