|
Themes: "Christ the Savior, Christ's Power, Sinner's Need and Helplessness MR
Men and women, in the routine of their lives are rarely tested to a point near the limits of their courage and endurance. Yet in each of us lies the question, "What if..." For most, the question remains unanswered. At 11:10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 1956, one thousand, seven hundred and six human beings were suddenly forced to answer that question. At that moment, the beautiful Italian passenger liner Andrea Doria was hit broadside by the Swedish liner Stockholm, whose reinforced hull was constructed to withstand the Scandinavian ice floes. The Andrea Doria was mortally wounded, left with a gaping hole in her side. Through the night, terrifying and tragic, emerged the spectacular story of the greatest sea rescue in modern history as recounted by William Hoffer in his book entitled SAVED!
Many amazing stories emerged from that night. But I want to tell you about a man who woke up when it was almost too late, a man who faced a seemingly unbridgeable distance, even though he could see those who wished to save him. He was the last man rescued alive from the sinking Andrea Doria.
Robert Hudson. a middle-aged passenger on the Andrea Doria, suffered from back pain. He had taken a sedative to help him sleep, and when he awoke, he was groggy. The light didn't work so he flicked on his lighter and saw that it was 5:10 a.m. He was not aware that the ship had collided with another. He saw an amber glow from the hallway and realized with growing terror that it was emergency lighting. He called for help, but nobody answered. He realized that the ship must be going down, and panic gripped him. He tried to make his way down the hall, but with a bad back, and numb leg, and injured hand and a ship tipped over at an angle of 40 degrees, it was a difficult trip.
It took him nearly an hour to reach the Promenade Deck. Chairs littered the low side of the deck and debris was everywhere. The water was just coming over the rail of the deck closest to the water. Suddenly he saw a lifeboat just three hundred yards off, manned by a dozen sailors. He screamed and waved trying to catch their attention. They saw him. They heard him, but they would not move the lifeboat in. In order to avoid being pulled under by the sinking ship, they had to stay far enough away, and they were not going to come to get him! Salvation was three hundred yards away, but it seemed like the greatest distance in the world.
Robert Hudson cursed, then he cried, then he prayed. An hour passed. It was now 7:30 a.m., and Robert was near delirium. Tears blended with the salt water that splashed his face. Suddenly, the sailors grabbed the oars and pushed in unison toward the stricken ship. In five minutes, they covered the distance of 300 yards to Robert Hudson. Two sailors leaned out and hauled Hudson aboard, and without losing any time, they strained to get away from the suction of the sinking ship. They finally broke away and shot back out to safety. Hudson was the last person rescued and at 10:00 a.m. the bow of the once beautiful ship slipped underwater.
Robert Hudson is very much like people in their sins. Three hundred yards separated him from safety and life. But if you die without the Savior, the distance will never be bridged. He was helpless to be saved because he almost waited too long to take his only way of salvation.
Other pages in this section
|
Jim Batterton
