Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-12
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vsver.
A Bowline.on.C Clyde special to the
Herald says: John DE Winter, the
master Of the bark John X. Stanhope,
OF Rocklsnd, Me-. has just given
i Herald correspondent the following
thrilling story Of the loss OF the Nor
wegisn bark Rogaland, Of Hsngesund,
and Of the rescue Of the four sur
yiyors Of the wrecked vessel ~
sailed from Rockland, Me-" said Cap.
tain De Winter, " on August 20, bound
for this place. About 3 O'Clock on the
evening Of the 18th 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 oy
IN. despairing cries Of several men,
We shouted back in answer and hove
10. expecting that we should soon see
host null toward us. No boat APP
ne,red. however, but the cries con-
,ipued. At last we heard feeble
voice begging us for Gods sake to send
help qsickly, or it would be too late.
THE RESCUE.
"We launched q boat. manned by
the mate and two men, who pulled in
the direction from which the cries came.
Af,er a short time our boat returned
with two men--Svend IIolgesen, the
second mate Of the Rogaland; Seaman
Bord Hendrickson-a and boy named
Nilson, who had been picked up, in the
last stage OF exhaustion, floating on
rough raft built Of deals. They re-
ported that they formed part OF abe
crew Of the Inflated Rogaiand, and,
with the exception OF the steward,
Knudt Nilsson, whom we picked up after
nm anxious search on the following
morning, also floating on some deals,
we're the only survivors.
CLINoING ToA PLANK.
"Wben Helgesen was strong enough
10 tell his story he said that the koga-
land had capsized in a fearful gale on
the morning Of the 10th. The captain
and several Of the crew managed TO
cling to the keel Of the vessel, but the
furious sea soon swept them OIL and no
more was seen Of them. Helgesen and
The boy Nilsson were just sinking when,
with n last effort, they clutched at
plank which was drifting by, and,
hanging TO it like grim death, managed
10 Keep their heads above water until
several more plsnks and a bit of rope
Aoated in their way.
RIGGING A RAFT.
Although they were terribly weak
and bruised they were able to make
rude, loose raft on which they passed
that night. In the morning lIendrick-
son succeeded in joining them, and the
steward, who had also escaped from
drowning, followed their example aud
made second raft. All suffered much !
from hunger and thirst. On the llth |
they sighted a steamer, but were not
seen by its crew. About midday on
the 10Th another steamer bore down
toward them, eastward bound.
SIGNALLING A STEAMER.
"Ieaying the boy and the steward
on the RATS TO signal the vessel with a
jacket and an upright plank, lIelgesen
and Hendrickson Knocked four deals |
together and padded with bit ofbOard !
right toward the track of the steamer.
They shrieked out loudly and splashed |
the water in order to attract attention.
The officers, whom they could plainly |
distinguish on the bridge, as the raft |
was less than half mile distant from
the steamer, either did not see them or |
would not heed their cries.
THEIR CRIES IN VAIN.
"The poor fellows yelled themselves
hoarse, but their cries were all in vain.
The vessel passed by the little raft and
gradually vanished from the sight of
the shipwrecked men in the broad day.
light. This was enough to drive the
men to despair, and for a time the
blow was too much for them in their
weakened condition. But the sea was
calm, and somehow or other they gath
cred up enough strength to rejoin the
lad Nl.son, and drifted about, growing
fainter every moment, until we prOvi-
dentially heard their shouts and res
cued them"