The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-04
over 700 DROWN.
Danish Emigrant Steamer Goes
on Reef.
OFF the Coast of Scotland and
Sinks Quickly.
BUT FEW WERE SAVED
Out of Nearly 500 Passengers
Bound for America.
Boats We're Launched But Soon
Went to Pieces.
SOME DRIFT TO LAND.
Stories of the Disaster as Told
by Survivors.
BUT FEW WE'RE SAVED
Out of Nearly 500 Passengers
Bound for America.
Boats We're Launched But Soon
Went to Pieces.
SOME DRIFT TO LAND
Stories of the Disaster as Told
by Survivors.

London. July 4.-The German
steamer Energie. bound from Phila-
deIphia for Flushing. which passed
Butt of Lewis this morning, signalled
that she had on board castaways from
the Danish steamer Norge which
foundered June % off the west coast
OF Scotland.
More than 700 Danish and Norwe-
gian emigrants, bound for New York,
were undoubtedly drowned. Out of
nearly 500 passengers on board the
Danish steamer Norge, which left
Copenhagen June %, only 101
are nkonwn to be alive. and for
the rest no hope is held out.
When last seen the Norge was sink
ing. where it struck on the islet of
ROckall. whose isolated peak rises
from a deadly Atlantic reef, some 29O
miles off the west coast of Scotland.
Early on the morning of Tuesday
the Norge, which was out of its course
in heavy weather. ran on to the Rock
all reef which in the distance looks
like a ship, under full sail. The
Norge was quickly backed off, but the
heavy seas poured in through rent
in its bows
Ran on Deck.
The emigrants, who were then
awaiting breakfast below. ran on deck.
Except that the hatchways were
scarcely built for these hundreds of
souls and became cIogged, there was
no panic.
down by the head Eight boats were
lowered and into these the women and
children were hurriedly put Six of
these boats smashed against the side
of the Norge and their helpless in
mates were caught up by the heavy
seas.
Two boatloads got safely away from
the side of the sinking ship and many
of the Rn1inyrr who left Or1
board seizing life belts. threw them
selves into the sea and were drowned.
Captain Gundel, so say the surviv-
ors. stood on the bridge of the doomed
vessel until it could be seen no more.
Beaten of With Oars.
The Norge foundered suddenly and
some 900 terrified emigrants were
thrown into the water or drawn down
with the sinking ship. Those who
could swim tried to reach the boats
but these were already too full and
their occupants beat OFF the drowning
wretches with oars.
The boats kept together for some
hours. Practically all their occupants
We're passengers who wer not used to
pied by the survivors landed at Grfms-
by.
One account says that three boats
were successfully launched. the
two others holding about ten persons
each The lifeboat made faster prog
ress and fell in with the Saliva. What
became of the other boats is not vet
known
Ire rescue of those on the lifeboat
took place at O'Clock Wednesday
morning. the survivors consisting of
bwenty men. one of them a seaman, six
women and a girl.
Fought for the Boats.
One of the survivors said that when
he got on deck the Norge was half sub
merged and was rapidly getting lower
In the water. Half mad with fright
In the boats. They fought their way
TO the big lifeboat and an officer stow
ed in the six women and the girl and
then told the men to get in.
The officer then took charge and got
the boat away from the side of the
Norge. Seeing that the boat was al
ready overloaded the officer. with great
herOism. jumped into the water and
tried to board another boat which was
not so full He failed and was drowned.
In the sea by this time was a mass of
struggling men, women and children.
gasping and choking from the effects of
the water The boat rowed clear of
this seething inferno and just as it
drew away the Norge went down.
Tide Drifted Them Away.
Peter Nelson, one of the survivors,
described as a young American. said:
For some hours we rowed in COM
pany with the other boats. but the
strong tide drifted us away from the
others and nothing has been seen of
them since. The Saliva picked us up
and we were well cared for on board
the traveller. All of us lost our entire
belongings. We mad no time in that
derce fight for life to think of anything
but the getting of seats in the boat"
May Be Washed Ashore.
The only hope except for those known
to have escaped is that some few of
the emigrants might have been washed
up on the barren rocks. Their chance
of being rescued even then is practical
ly nil. for vessels sailing the North
Atlantic give Rockall wide a berth
as possible
The news of the disaster, which it is
feared in its death record is greater
than any previous tragedy of the AT
lantic, came with the arrival of the
steam trawler Saliva at its home port
the quiet fishing town of Grimsby. The
Saliva has been on a fortnight's cruise
around the Hebrides.
BY a lucky chance it steamed further
west than is usual for Grimsby traw-
Iers and fell in with the survivors of
the Norge who for "a hours had been
tossed about in small boat on the
rough waters of the North Atlantic
The survivors were taken aboard the
SALIVA and were landed at Grimsby
last night.
Passengers Story.
The steam trawler Saliva put into
(=rfusby with II rescued Scandinavians
aboard. Only one of them could speak
English He said:
1--WE left Copenhagen June p. There