The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-24
HANSEN ALIFE SAVER
CAPTAIN OF THE CYPRIAN's RE
CORD AS A SEAMAN.
LAID BY ONE WRECK IL DAYS.
WAS THEN ON BRIG ARCTIC HOUND
OVER FROM WILMINGTON.

He Went with Two Sailors to the
Distressed Vessel in "A Small Boat,
and Saved Several Lives, IncIud-
ing the Commander, His wife and
Daby-Hnnsen Holds Medals From
the United states and Norway-In-
cidents During % Years of Active
Life ON the BiIIOvs-Matters of In
terest to shippers and Mariners.
Before sailing the past week on return
passage with cargo of naval stores for
Gutujewski, the new port Of st. Peters
burg Capt. II. Hansen of the Norwegian
bark Cyprian was presented a gold watch
by the Savannah Pilots Association as
token Of their esteem. an account of
which appeared in the Morning News
This calls to mind that during the nine
teen years Capt. Hansen has been visit
ing this port his record for life saving has
been crowned with many brilliant and
daring achievements. During the twenty
four years he has been running here and
to Wilmington. N. c., he has saved many
lives.
Talk with any true seamen and he will
show little modesty in relating his
achievements on the pillows. Ordinarily
a seaman does not display the medals he
has been awarded with the same pomp as
the average athlete, but his pride and APP
probation are none the less.
Capt. Hansen holds medals for life saw
ing from both the United States and Nor
way. The daring he displayed in the con-
duct for which this government honored
him has probably been excelled by few
seamen of any country IN the world. II
was several years ago that Capt Hansen
passed on voyage from Wilmington TO
Hamburg an American bark which had
been disabled in a storm that did not
abate for twenty days from its beginning.
Hansen was In the Norwegian brig Arc
tic, laden with cargo Of naval stores and
cotton. The distressed vessel had been
dismasted with the exception Of her lower
mizzenmast parts Of her houses were
gone, and she was adrift at the mercy of
the seas.
After having laid alongside the wreck
for twelve days, during which II was al
times in sight and at others lost, Hansen
awoke on the morning OF the following
day to find dashed about the rigging Of the
wreck the forms Of human beings, but
with the hcdYy mist tndi clOuQed the sea
and the distance the Arctic was for her
own safety, he could not tell whether the
unfortunates were dead or alive. True
seaman that he was he determined not TO
leave the wreck as long as there was q
chance to save lives No other consider
alton would have kept him alongside a
wreck during a storm OF such violence
that at least twenty other vessels had
passed without Offering assistance. Lives
were what the brave Hansen sought and
not salvage.
During the stop the lads Of the Arctic !
had watched the wreck eagerly for some
thing 10 appear about II that |
would be The signal for action The ap- |
pearance Of the survivors IN the rigging |
was that signal The Arctic was already \
too near the wreck for her own safety. /
and the only way 10 find out about the /
distress and relieve IL was TO so there.
when "A boat was lowered Hansen vol /
unteerod 10 he one Of \
party % 60, ana called Tor two \
volunteers 40 accompany him. The 4
reapOnse Waa immediate. Meantime the 4
boat was made really and tho trio, their
hearts llrhfcncd by fne pfOapeot Of re-
lleyinR f1e distressed, r0Wed straight for
fho wreck The eon was hDlaieroua nnd /
fhe fflY peHloua one. when The wreck
wac reached Hansen beaded che tAfee m
boarding her
"The spectacle was one Of the most