Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-14
FLOATING INTHE GREAT OCEAN
The Thrilling Experience of the Survi-
vors of the Nreoked ROgaIand.

vOrs of the Wrecked ROgaIand.
BOwLINE.ON-CLYDE Sept. l1.-JOhn
de Winter, the master Of the bark John
h. Stanhope, of Rockland, Me-, has just
given a correspondent the following story
of the loss Of the Norwegian bark Roga-
land, of Hangesund, and of the rescue of
the four survivors of the wrecked vessel:
II sailed from Rockland, Me-" said
Capt. De Winter, "On Aug. ?, bound for
this place. About 9 O'Clock on the even
ing OF Aug. II we suddenly ran into a lot
Of Wreckage, and presently fell foul OF the
top of a ships house. Two hours later
we were startled by the despsiring cries
OF several men. We shouted back in an
swer and hove to, expecting that we
should soon see a boat pull towards us.
No boat appeared, however, but the cries
continued. At last we heard a feeble
voice begging us for Gods sake TO send
help quickly or it would be too late.
1--WE launched a boat manned by the
mate and two men. who pulled in the d.
recuon from which the cries came. After
short time out our boat returned with
two men, Syend Helgesen, the second mate
OF the ROgaland; Seaman BOrd Hendrick-
son, and a boy named Nilsson, who had been
picked up In the last stage of exhaustion,
floating on a rough ratt bunt Of deals.
| They reported that they formed part Of
the crew Of the Inflated ROgaland, aud
with the exception OF the steward. Knudt
Nilsson, whom we picked up after an anx-
t0us search the following morning, alsO
floating on some deals, were the only
survivors.
CIV ben Helgesen was strong enough to
tell his story be said that the ROgaland
had capsized IN fearful gale ON the
morning Of the 10Th. The Captain and
. of "a rnI -. IA
the keel Of the vessel, bat the furious sea
soon swept them off, and no more was seen
OF them. Helgesen and the boy Nilsson
were just sinking when, with a last effort,
they clutChed at plank which was DRIFT
ing by, and, hanging to IL like grim death,
managed TO keep their heads above water
until several more planks aud bit Of rope
h0ated in their way.
Although they were terribly weak and
bruised they were able 90 make "A rude,
loose raft, on which they passed That
night. la the morning HendrcksOn sue
oeeded in joining them, and the steward,
who had also escaped from drowning
followed their example and made O second
raft. All suffered much from hunger and
thirst. On tue 18th they sighted
steamer, but were not seen by It's crew
About midday on the 18th another steam
er bore down toward them, eastward
bound.
Leaving the boy and the steward on
the RATS 20 signal the vessel with a Jacket
and an upright plank, Helgesen ana flen-
drlckH0n knocked four deals together and
padded with "a Olt Of board right toward
the track Of the steamer. They shrieked
ont loudly and splashed the water IN
order 10 attract attention. The officers,
whom they could plainly distinguish ON
the bridge, as the raft was less than half
u mile distant from the steamer, either
did not see them or would not heed their
cries.
"The poor fellows yelled themselves
h0arse, but their cries were all In vain.
The vessel passed by the little craft ana
gradually vanished from the sight Of tho
shipwrccked men IN the broad daylight
This Was enough 90 drive the men TO de-
spair, and for a time the blow was too
much Tor thcm In their weakened cond-
ton. But the sea was calm. and some.
how or other they gathered up enough
strength 20 reion the lad Nilsson, and
drifted about. growing fainter every mo.
mont, until We proyidentially heard their
shouts and rescued them.n