Shipwrecked - Part 2

A continuation of the log kept by our Uncle, Jack Scovil who served in the Navy in WWII.  They have sighted a plane the day before.
AUGUST 29, 1942  Wind E.S.E. speed two and one half knots with sails and two men rowing.
0800.  ceased rowing and issued breakfast.  one and a half peaches and hard tack which was very hard to swallow.  Shifted weak men from lifeboat to rubber boats.  One man in rubber boat was very weak and ill.  Issued two oz. of water to him.  We suspected he had been drinking salt water.  It was awful tempting.  I almost did it myself a couple of times.
1600.  had supper  1 and one half peaches, 1 sq of chocolate and hard tack if you could swallow it with the little saliva you had left.
1800.  commenced rowing with sails.  Very cold and wet tonight.  Steering by moon and stars as there was no compass.  Light wind shifted a little more eastward.
AUGUST 30, 1942.  Ceased rowing and issued breakfast.  Sure is clear and no sign of rain.  We saw all kinds of fish.  The Captain had us to make hooks and spears to catch fish with, but our attempts were unsuccessful.  We saw big tuna everywhere and we could see them cooked in all sorts of ways.  The Captain again warned the men about drinking salt water.
0949.  the men in the last rubber boat said one of them, H.A. Middough, needed water.  They started to pull themselves along side to get water and before they got up there he died.  The Captain had a burial ceremony and it was something I'll never forget.  After he was through with the ceremony and they started to lift him over the side, the colored mess boy that was with us started to sing a Negro spiritual.  After he was lowered over the side you could see him floating around the boats yet.  Then we all stopped and said some prayers for his soul and thought we'd reach port before another death.
1600.  after supper  I got Middough's pants.  It was the first time I had on pants since our ship sunk.
AUGUST 31, 1942.  Conditions the same.
0700. ceased rowing
0800. had breakfast
1130. sighted land dead ahead, distance about 40 miles.  Everybody was afraid to say it was land because every morning the clouds on the horizon looked like land and we were always disappointed.  Everybody was estimating what time we'd hit land.  We hoped to get through some time today, maybe in the morning.
1400.  gave extra water to sick man in rubber boat.
1430.  gave him more water and again at 1500, I thought he was going to die.
1530.  had supper
1700.  we all got another slice and a half of peaches cause we figured we'd be in some time tonight.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1942.  Started rowing with four oars plus sails.
0615.  served breakfast.  Conditions are the same.  We are still a long way from land.  It will take us longer than we expected, the sea and wind are with us.  We hoped to land before midnight.
2300.  crossed the first coral reef.  We were awful lucky as it is claimed that it is impossible to find a clear spot.  The water in some places is only three feet deep.  We figured land to be very close.  We rowed with renewed energy but could never see land.  We rowed until we couldn't row any more and the tide was taking us toward the open sea so the Captain had us anchor with a bucket.  Felt pretty bad before we anchored, we only had forty miles more north to go and we would have missed the island, thats the way the tide was taking us.  I said a good Act of Contrition and thought my time had come.  Funny I wasn't afraid to die only regretting I couldn't see the folks and Pet (his girl, Shirley Mason, who later became his wife) again.
SEPTEMBER 2,  Served breakfast, commenced rowing toward the beach with six oars.  The beach is approximately four miles.  Looks awful close.  Figured we will make it in an hour or so.  We rowed and rowed and it seemed like someone kept pushing the beach away from us.  Everybody could see coconuts and oranges all along the beach.  The sea is calm and little wind and it's good rowing.  We reached the beach about  1030,  secured the boats at the waters edge.  I'm pretty sure all hands knelt down and thanked God for a safe landing before falling exhausted to the beach.