Brian David Williams at King Edward's School, Birmingham

THURSDAY 10th JANUARY
Today I am devoting my page to the epic story of the “Flying Enterprise” and Captain Kurt Carlsen. The 6,711-ton “Flying Enterprise” sustained a crack in her hull on Saturday December 29th and took on a port list of over sixty degrees. Captain Carlsen then ordered his crew and passengers to abandon ship but he himself stayed aboard the “Enterprise” which was drifting three hundred miles out in the Atlantic. He was alone on board until last Friday. The deep-sea tug Turmoil rushed to the rescue but was held up by bad weather. Despite a 50 mile an hour gale the Turmoil eventually reached the wrecked freighter and plans were made to tow the “Enterprise” to Falmouth stern first to avoid further flooding.
Several attempts to connect her and the tug were made but it was found impossible to do so without putting men aboard. Capt. Carlsen could not haul in a heaving line owing to the necessity of holding on with one hand due to the angle of list & the lurching of the ship. After five attempts the Turmoil’s mate, Kenneth Dancy, then managed to clamber over the taffrail. Further attempts to get towing gear aboard were made and at midnight the “Flying Enterprise” started undertow at three knots. It was expected that she would reach Falmouth on Tuesday last. It was arranged that Capt. Carlsen should be met by an envoy of the Danish Embassy to receive a personal message of congratulation from King Frederick of Denmark.
But then came the disturbing news that an Atlantic storm had sprung up delaying the “Flying Enterprise” when only 57 miles from Falmouth. She was riding lower in the water and because of the danger of the towrope breaking; the Turmoil shut off its engines and hove to. This was all to no avail for the storm got worse and last night the rope broke. It was quite impossible to get another line aboard. Soon it became obvious that the “Flying Enterprise” would not make it. Captain Carlsen and Mr. Dancy leaped into the sea together and after nine minutes were picked up by the British Tug Turmoil. Shortly afterwards the “Flying Enterprise” disappeared from view but her courageous captain is assured of a place in history!

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10