Left for Dead

The men from the wreck were spread out over three miles, as the ship continued to move forward as it sank. Many were critically injured, with severe burns, concussions, or broken bones. About half of the men had life jackets. McGuiggan had jumped from the keel of the boat into the water, swimming in “frantic breaststroke” to try to clear the oil away from his mouth (66). He helps a man who can’t swim, and tethers himself with his life jacket to a group of men. He watches a man scream and disappear as he is taken by sharks. Kuryla ends up in a group of sixteen men, who share four life rafts. McCoy is also in this group and leads men in prayers. He thinks desperately of his mother.

Miner swam underwater as the ship sank and emerges in a group of men. He reassures everyone that an SOS was sent. Moseley, in the same group, thinks with remorse of the young boy who fell down the hatch. He tells himself he will live. Twible, in the same group as Miner and Moseley, orders a head count. There are 325 in their group. Those covered in oil find that they are protected from sunburn, and others smear themselves with it.