There was near me a little fellow who, a few days before, when the _Formidable_ had sailed, had said good-bye to his mother. I have six children of my own, and my heart went out to the lad, so I took him by the hand and told him to carry out my instructions. There was a log of wood floating near, and thinking that this was a favourable opportunity to try and save the youngster, I told him to jump and swim. The plucky little chap obeyed, but in that heavy sea and the bitter cold he missed his chance, and shortly afterwards he was swept away. It was very pitiful, but there was nothing for it but to take a heavy risk that night. I saw that there was not long to wait now until the very end came, and so I said to a chum of mine, who was standing near me, “Shall we jump now?” “I think I’ll wait,” he said. I looked around, I saw that there was nothing to be gained by waiting, and so I said, “I’m going. Good-bye,” for by this time it was every man for himself. “Good-bye, Bill,” said my chum, and there was a grip of the hand. Then I dived into the heavy icy sea and made a struggle for it. The water was bitterly cold, and in a very curious way I suffered intense pain, because the inflated collar prevented me from dipping my head to the breakers and they caught me full on. Very soon after I reached the water I looked back and saw the _Formidable_ disappearing. She had made a good fight for it, and had kept afloat for a considerable time after being struck by the first torpedo. When the battleship had vanished the sea was covered with men who were struggling for their lives; but soon the number was lessened, because in that bitter weather only the very strongest could live. One by one men disappeared, numbed and unconscious, while others, like myself, managed to keep afloat and alive. I was encouraged by the thought that there was a chance of salvation through the cruiser, and I kept on swimming towards her as hard as I could. For one long dreadful hour I was in that icy sea, battling all the time, until I got up to the cruiser and managed to make them hear my shouts. Lines were thrown overboard in the hope that survivors like myself could catch hold of them, and I managed to seize one of these and to hang on to it with the energy of despair until I was drawn up near enough to be gripped by some of the cruiser’s people--and once they got a grip of us they didn’t let go. I was hauled up on to the cruiser’s deck, and a good many of my companions were also rescued by her, so that with the survivors she carried to port and the men who were rescued by the trawler, and in other ways, a round two hundred of the crew of the _Formidable_ were saved. The rest perished.