The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-29
sARGAsso's DEAD SEA.
Terrible Experience Of Captain Jan Andreason Of Copenhagen--His
Ship Caught In the Dangerous Sea Grasses.

penhagen sailed away to the westward
in the spring of 1882 he never dreamed
that the mighty seaweed sea through
which Columbus passed in safety could
make prisoner Of his good bark Narka
and hold it in the clinging masses Of
floating grasses for six months and
finally force commander n crew to
abandon the vessel to a v their lives.
Captain Andreason, like most Danes,
had sailed the salt seas for many years.
Voyage after voyage in the ATTITUDES
and longitudes where he was finally
wrecked a been made without in
cident. At last his ship was captured
by the seaweed and is either still float
ing there, q derelict, or has gone to
the bottom Of the ocean.
For four centuries the geographical
position and abundance of the plants
of the Sargasso sea have remained SUBJ
stantially unchanged. Variations Of
the formations have been marked, but
the great mass n it's leading fea-
lures are always near the same spot.
The Sargasso sea is made up OF masses
of wide extent in some places n or
scattered sprigs in others. Some writ
ers liken it to submerged prairies or
meadows; others have passed over and
through hat portion where denses
masses are not found. The swirling
currents open and close these masses
30 that apparently open water fronts
the ship. Then when once well in the
eddy the masses close, become denser
and cling to the ship with a grasp Of
the devilf1sh.
Two banks of this weed are found
east Of the Gordon Of islands which
hedge in the Caribbean sea n Fulf of
Mexico. The larger lies between the
parallels 20 and As degrees west longi-
tude and 81 to 80 north latitude, with
smaller scattered masses extending for
several degrees beyond these limits.
The smaller bank Is not so clearly de-
fined, but is described as extending far
from northeast Of Porto Rico to the
latitude Of Bermuda. 1t is the great
enter Of the eddy of the North Atlantic
system Of currents Of which the gulf
stream is Sc important a part.
1t was a pleasant spring morning
when the Narka sailed ava to the
west. Captain and crew had sailed
together on many q voyage n were
old shipmates. Success had crowned
the efforts of the men composing the
crew of the freighter. She was destined
to America with a cargo of goods
which the officers and crew hoped
would produce gold to add to their
fortunes. Their vessel was a good one
we'll manned and handled. She had
ClOSSCu III oSCo11 OClokC, q
well in all kinds Of weather and had
tossed her f~gurehead saucily in the
teeth of many a gale, coming out win
ner in the contest. So everybody on
board felt that the trip would be moth
ing more than the usual passage across
and back after %disposing Of the cargo.
A large quantity Of canned goods was
when the vessel was dismantled
fact which in the end preserved the
lives of the imperiled men.
No incident marred the outward pass
age. The little vessel held steadily to
her course n made port in safety.
obtained. Then a cargo Of canned
meats, fruits, etc., was shipped and
the Narka turned her prov to the east
once more. A little more than q week
after leaving port the vessel a right
into a furious northwest gale. Officers
and men feared this but little, for the
ship had weathered many an Atlantic
storm. They shortened sail and eased
her off, still beating up against the
storm and making fair way on their
course. But for once the little ship was
overmatched.
That storm has become historic. 1t
swept down the North Atlantic coast,
carrying death and destruction in it's
path. Many a staunch liner was caught
in the terrific hurricane, many a
freighter had all her spars go over,
and many q vessel went to Davy Jones,
leaving little trace of the departure.
The Narka fought valiantly, but her
sturdiness and the skill Of her COM
mander and crew availed nothing. Two
days she battled with the furious ele-
ments. Two days Of fierce fighting
found her with every spar gone, strip
nod NJ hor co{1o hon hnotS uy{tn tho
exception Of the yawl, smashed by the
topping masts and her rudder broken
short OFF.
Helpless, a dismantled wreck, the
ship drifted before the wind. The fury
of the storm had spent itself and
there was hope that she might be pick
ed by some more fortunate vessel. She
IA in the course Of the ships and her
brave but exhausted crew had good
reaso still to hope for ultimate safety.
She had fallen off from her course dur
ing the storm, and was making way to
the southwest. Then the winds ceased,
as the storm had been set in. Still she
drifted away from her course. She
had fallen in with the mighty currents
and was the sport of the waves. Dis
tress signals were set and the weary
men sought repose. But no sail was
seen, no helping hand reached out to
rescue the imperiled sailors.
For nearly a week the little ship was
tossed about, with no signs of rescue.
The men bravely held up, still hoping
for the coming Of a sail. The watches
were set and not q portion of the hor-
lion escaped the vigilance of the watch,
But all was unavailing, for they were
rapidly drifting into the seaweed sea.
where no ships would venture to give
them aid. Heat began to be q serious
Aaddition to their woes. Water rations
were reduced, for they could not tell
how long they might float thus, and
provisions must be husbanded for their
safety. Then n mornig the forward
lookout hailed: