The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-18
WRECK OF THE NORMANDY.
eERILoUS ADVENTURE OF lS kMEHI-
CAV COUPLE ON THEIR HONEYMOON
TRIP IRoUND THE WORLD

Eamoa-EEperienee OF NJ. Bewnu and his
wis. A-,ops the Nsisy,-L,hs . Chap
ter FROM ops OF Clark Rssssms Tales.
Prom N. Singapore srafs TYns, Dee H.
Mr. Harold NJ sewall and Mira sewsll. who
we're passengers BY the steamer Normandy,
arrived at Singapore last evening BY the Meth
srlsnds India Government steamer 1ndraEirL
Mr.. sewsll. who was formerly United States
Consul General at Samoa. and Is now on
pleasure trip round the world-his honeymoon.
in fsct-was interviewed bya reporter from
the Straits Times. to whom he told the follow
ing storyt
II am travelling for pleasure round the
world. and knew nothing OF the Normandy
until went on board at Manila on Tuesday.
the 18th OF November Ihad intended to take
the Spanish mall. but some English friends Of
mine told me that on the Normandy the Cap
tain had his wife on board. which l thought
would make It more comfortable for my wife.
spent the m ost OF my time In the interior OF
the Philippines. and did not return to Manila
until tn . night before sailing. On the first
night out q IRE occurred In the room OF
the FIRST offlcsr. who was severely burned
about his hands In extinRuishing It Az
ter being out for several days my
wifs's Japanese maid fell and severe
ly injured herself SO much that We
feared that she might not recover for time.
IL so iAr nau Deen very not inc engines
worked unevsnly. The Captain had decided to
keep the sea behind him by taking the Psls-
wan passage. and in that way avoided the roll
ing Of tho ship, When of DoTneo. Sarawak, 1
think 1t was. the course was changed. and the
ship headed across the China Sea for SinRa-
pore The ship then rolled violently several
times. rolling everything from the decks. The
heat was so intense that. after the first night
my wife and had taken up our quarters on
the skylight that we might have fresh air and
be as cool as possible.
On Monday We passed Victory Island. This
was the last land made by the Captain. as he
Informed me moment after the ship struck.
Monday night he told me we would make the
Horsburgh light about midnight and be in
Singapore ate o'clock in the morning. Whether
he got sight OF the sun or not that day do
not know: the day was overcast and It was
generally raining most OF the time believe.
however. that he did not get his sight that day.
As to the time ofthe final disaster cannot state
definitely. There appears to be difference Of
opinion on the ship. and my watch was not in
order. The third engineer statos that the ship
struck at i've min utes past o'clock: the first
oficer puts it at 10 minute. u 1 o'clock.
However. Just before the ship struck my
wife and both awoke. We were sleeping on
the skylight. noticed the ship was running
at half speed. and 1t was probably this change
In the speed which awoke u.s. We were COW
cred by an awning which was down on the
starboard side; but We could see under the
awning on the port side and my wife noticed
land on the port side before we struck. The
third engineer also states that. having come
on deck about twenty mirrtes to o'clock. he
saw land.
Shortly after We awoke. the speed was
changed to full speed; and In q few minutes
the ship struck. 1t seemed as II che ground
along her entire keel and then stopped.
left my wife and ran forward. where met
the Captain coming to his room on the after
deck. and heard him tell his wife In Dutch that
the ship was aground. He then told me the
same. and said that he had no idea OF his
position, and that the last position he had
obtained was Victory Island. He told me
night. He further stated that we could
do nothing then; that We would stay By
forward anil found breakers on both sides OF
rs. and land. or what appeared to be land. be-
full spsad but LAD no eject te ea
stern- The boats on the starboard and port
quarters aft were then swung out: there was
no assignment OF men to those boats. the Cap
tain and mate seeming TO pick their men there
swung out and left there ready Tor lower.
and everything made ready for provisioning
the boats. BY this time the sea was beating
heavily on the starboard quarter. shaking the
chip. and thought that she was beginning to
list and l feared that she would capsize In
they Wished to stand By the sh Hnq that tn.g
should put the women into the boats. SO that
they. at all events. would be safe in case Of the
ship capsizing. But they seemed to think that
y was best to stand by the ship. and said that
there was % water yet in the shipi that they
little water TO spare under the stern.
What caused the Captain to abandon the
but think it must have been through the
force Of the sea on the starboard quarter. and
coming into the engine room through the
engine room skylight things which | have
s snd Lear Learned from the Officers Of the ship We
and halt The Captains wife had packed up
FL her household articles and. in my opinion.
were put Into the Captains boat that the
Captain later lost his life; The mate told
boat The boats We're s'1 row lowered Mere IL a md
those on the starboard side were brought
the water was sno other. and were there pro-
ysioned. Into the Captains boat We put his
Japanese maid. The Captains boat had sew
srAl large trunks In It ana she was very heavy;
mere nse SOss fSgsds ne ship and
the Captains. the hrst officers, and the car
Rentsrs boats with several men In each. The
nsss maid were in the Captains boat; my wife
was In the first officers boat and some coolies
When the Captain and mate were ready to
leave. l Joined my wife In the mates boat;
and We were then very near the stern Of the
ship The ship rolling toward US. my fear
We could get her on ! called 10 the mate to
abandon the ship and come into our boat
three boats showed on. The mate. either
bseaus: our boat was sh0rthAndSd, OF be-
the ship, went back again to the ship
got several men. but while We waited there We
were several times dashed against the ship
and were In Imminent danger OF eApsizing. In
our boat. besides the first o1icer my wife, and
myself. there were the first aud third en-;
alneeFs. two LAscATs. and three Cinnamon. /
took nope OF my luggage With me. and the
only weight We had. besides the passengers.
were well supplied
Immediately after We left the ship We saw
nothing OF the other boats. and although We
tried to keep the light Of the ship in view. We
soon lost that Instead OF trying to attempt
landing In the darkness. Ne headed the boat
her head TO the sea and Keep her on the land
aaaal1 Z ant ala Ian ~. Ak