Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-04


Cyvbo Has Been Shipwrecked Three
Times)
,,ons He was shlpwrecked first in tne
black Sea. then In the middle OF the Az
lantic ocean. and the third time among
inc icebergs which surround the Nottn
Pole. ,...... hin,
oUncle Chris" az those who know niin
hos, are wont 10 call him. was born N
I,t,tst,a1a Norway. i'm 1873. aud was
Given a common school education N me
home of his nativity When about IL
,,ears OF age he conceived a desire ior
GOING 10 sea. and, after completing MS
errangements therefor he shipped on
hoard the vessel Seventeenth Of May SO
named because May nth is the lndepend-
ence-Day OF Norway. The Vessei pneu
between Scotland and Sweden, and ira
Yelled considerably i'm the North sea.
When Uncle Chris had been aboard OF
her about eight months she spf uhs
aleak In the middle OF the North sea- anu
filling very rapidly, sank before ASST
ance could reach her. The crew We
serted her IN small boats, and encouh-
rered a severe gale OF wind, which they
however. weathered without loss or me-
Thev were picked up by the English yes
sci Albatross. which was itself short OF
provisions and water, and, after plying
about for some little time IN the roush
sea. the Albatross put into Christians
End. Norway ana Mr.. Evensen ana MS
shipmates went to their homes.
WRECKED IN THE ATLANTIC.
Mr. Evensen remained at his nome du-
ring the winter but, having gotten n
taste Of the sea. returned TO IL as soon
as navigation opened, and shipped on the
Lady Peel. OF Norway an old Enghsh
vessel. which was plying between Canada
and Norway with lumber. She made
tive voyages TO Quebec after the hero OF
this story Joined her, and 1t was on the
return trip OF the second voyage that
she encountered a gale. beside which.
Uncle Chris" says. the Storm OF last
Tuesday night was simply breeze. The
wind blew with such fearful velocity
that nothing could live before II. IL was
impossible 10 sail before the wind. and IL
was but a short time before the deck
was swept clear of everything. and the
ship was unmasted. She was thrown
here and there by the gale, first on her
beam ends and then on her sides, until
II became apparent that she must sink
sooner or later The men were all dashed
% the mizzen-mast and were almost
frozen stiff.
They remained in this perilous situation
Tor two days and two nights with
nothing TO cat or 70 drink. and their suf-
fering was so intense that Mr.. Evcnsen
proposed to the man dashed nearest him
TO the mast to jump overheard and end
their misery. At last, when the storm
was over and the fearful wind had sub
sided. the men released themselves from
the mast and began TO move about the
wreck which still hoated They hadn't
a thing left on which TO hang a distress
signal nor did they have a piece OF cloth
out OF which 10 make a signal. After
a search through the hold they found 4
piece OF sheet which had blown OF the
captains bunk. and this was hoisied as
best Il could be. and finally. after two
days longer, attracted the attention OF
an English sailing vessel. which bore
down upon them and took them on board.
The sea was stin very rough, and the
vessel could not come alongside OF the
drifting hull, so ropes were thrown 20
the unfortunate seamen, and they were
hauled on board the rescung ship by
that means. The crew. after about four
weeks, were taken into Dover, England
where they were taken In charge by the
Norwegian Consul and fitted ont with
clothing and other necessaTies OF life.
The gale had stripped their clothing from
their backs while they remained dashed
20 the mast on board the lady Peel and
when they appeared at the consulate
they were In an almost naked condition
HE WAS A JONAH.
Uncle Chris was placed on board a
vessel bound for Christiana and shipped
home and IL so happened that this vessel
was commanded by Captain Johansen.
who was first mate OF the Seventeenth OF
May when she was wrecked When he
recognized his former ship-mate coming
on board he threw up his hands in hor-
ror and declared that Uncle Chris would
prove the Jonah OF the expedition. Sure
enough. when the vessel was about
twelve hours IN the North Sea she en-
countered fearful blow. and was carried
some distance out of her track She
managed. however 10 weather the gale,
and after beating around the sea for
about ten days landed in Christana.
Mr.. Evensen then shipped on the bark
Sophia and went 10 Alexandra. Egypt.
lie crossed the BLACK sea TO Odessa. ana
was returning through the Mediterranean
when another gale was encountered.
Uncle Chris was at the wheel with HIS
hunk-mate. and the sea was rolling ex-
ceedingly high. The wind was blowing
great guns. and Il was expected that the
ship would so down every minute. Mr..
Evensen took the preeaution to strap
himself 10 portion Of the wheel, but
his messmate didn't DO so. Thoy hadn't
been at the wheel very long when an
immense wave. almost mountain high,
broke over the vessel. and washing Tire
wheel-house away. caught both ssamen in
its grasp. Uncle Chris WAS thrown vso-
len,ly 20 the deck. hut his straps he'd linn
on board His companion Jared not so
well. however. He was washed over
board. and though iife-preservers We're
thrown him. he was unable TO save him
self, and was drowned. The ship lived
through the storm and made her port
safely.
STRANDED ON AN ICEBERG.
After remaining at home for some little
4ine. Mir Eyensen embarked on fishing