BR TO PATRICIA RUSSELL, [3 OCT. 1948]
BRACERS 52622. AL(TC). McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

… It was very nice to hear your voice and Conrad’s. Don’t worry about me, I am as fit as I have ever been in my life.

I will try to relate everything.

The weather was stormy, heavy rain and a gale of wind. The sea-plane had just touched the water of the fjord when there was a violent jerk and I found myself on the floor with some inches of water in which hats, coats, etc. were floating. I exclaimed “well, well!” and started looking for my hat, which I failed to find. At first I thought a wave had broken in at a window; it didn’t occur to me it was serious. I was in the very back of the plane, the only part where one could smoke; this turned out to be the best place to be. After a few minutes the crew opened a door and got the passengers from the back through to an open window, and shoved us one by one into the sea. By this time their haste had made me realize that things were serious. I jumped clutching my attache case, but had to let go of it to swim. When I got into the water I saw there was a boat close by. We swam to it and were pulled on board. When I looked round, nothing was visible of the plane except the tip of a wing. The swim was about 20 yards. I saw nothing of what happened at the other end of the plane; I imagine they jumped through another window. I gather the people killed were stunned when the accident happened. One of them was a Professor concerned in arrangements about my lecture.

I pointed out my floating attache case to the people on the boat, and last night a policeman brought it. The things in it were all right, except that the silly books were somewhat damaged. No other piece of luggage was rescued.

The people who had come to the airport to meet me were very solicitous, and drove me at breakneck speed to the hotel, where I got my wet clothes off, went to bed, and consumed large quantities of brandy and coffee, after which I went to sleep. The Consul brought me socks, shirt, etc. and the Vice-Consul lent me a suit. My own will be wearable to-morrow. Then came an avalanche of journalists. One from Copenhagen asked what I thought while in the water. I said I thought the water was cold. “You didn’t think about mysticism and logic?” “No” I said, and rang off.

I was not brave, only stupid. I had always thought a sea-plane would float. I did not realize there was danger, and was mainly concerned to save my attache case. My watch goes as well as ever, and even my matches strike. But the suitcase, with a suit, shirts, etc. is gone for ever. I am writing with a beastly pen, because mine is lost.…