Time was precious and these preparations would have taken too long. I
thanked the Government then for its very generous offer, and I want to
say now that the kindness of the Uruguayans at this time earned my
warmest gratitude. I ought to mention also the assistance given me by
Lieut. Ryan, a Naval Reserve officer who navigated the trawler to the
Falklands and came south on the attempt at relief. The 'Instituto de
Pesca' went off to Montevideo and I looked around for another ship.
A British mail-boat, the 'Orita' called at Port Stanley opportunely,
and I boarded her with Worsley and Crean and crossed to Punta Arenas in
the Magellan Straits. The reception we received there was heartening.
The members of the British Association of Magellanes took us to their
hearts. Mr. Allan McDonald was especially prominent in his untiring
efforts to assist in the rescue of our twenty-two companions on
Elephant Island. He worked day and night, and it was mainly due to him
that within three days they had raised a sum of ?1500 amongst
themselves, chartered the schooner 'Emma' and equipped her for our use.
She was a forty-year-old oak schooner, strong and seaworthy, with an
auxiliary oil-engine.
Out of the complement of ten men all told who were manning the ship,
there were eight different nationalities; but they were all good
fellows and understood perfectly what was wanted.
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