Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-04
DISASTER ON THE SEA
Danish Ship Norge Driven
Upon a Reef.
700 PERSONS DROWNED
IMMIGRANT VESSEL GOES DOWN
IN NORTH ATLANTIC.
Struck on Isle Of Rockall-Boatload OF
Survivors Rescued-Danes
and Norwegians.
700 PERSONS DROWNED

cablegram from London last night says:
Over 100 Danish and Norwegian emigrants
bound for New York arc believed to have
been drowned in the North Atlantic on
June %. Out of nearly 500 souls on board
the Danish steamer Norge. which left
Copenhagen June %. only twenty-seven are
known to be alive, and for the rest no
hope is held out.
When last seen the Norge was sinking
where she struck, on the Islet of Rockall.
whose isolated peak raises itself from a
deadly Atlantic reef some 300 miles on
the west coast of Scotland.
Early on the morning of last Tuesday
the Norge, which was out of her course
In heavy weather, ran onto the Rockall
reef which In the distance looks IKE a
ship under full sail. The Norge was quick
ly backed or but the heavy seas poured
in through rent in her bows.
Hatchway Exits Were Clogged.
The emigrants, who were then awaiting
breakfast below. ran on deck. The hatch
ways were scarcely built for these hun
dreds of souls, and became clogged.
The Norge quickly began to go 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 inmates were caught
up by the heavy seas.
Two boatloads got safely away from the
side of the sinking ship, and many Of
the emigerants who were left on board.
selling life belts, threw themselves into
the sea and were drowned.
Captain Gundel, so say the survivors,
stood on the bridge of the doomed vessel
until II could be seen no more.
Many Drawn Down With the Ship.
The Norge foundered suddenly and some
Geo terrified emigrants thrown into
the water or drawn down with the sink
ing 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 of their occupants were
passengers and not used to handling such
craft. The boat occupied by the survivors
landed at Grimsby was llfeboat.
one account says that three boats were
successfully launched the other two hold
Ing about ten persons each. The lifeboat
made faster progress and fell in with the
Saliva. What became of the other boats
is not yet known.
Rescue Of Those in Lifeboat.
The rescue of those in the Hfeboat took
place al o'clock on the morning of June
81. the survivors consisting of twenty men,
one of them a seaman, six women and a
girl.
One of the survivors said that when he
got deck the Norge was half submerg-
ed, and was rapidly getting lower in the
water. Half mad with fright. the surviv-
ors all struggled for places in the boats.
They fought their way to the big lifeboat
and officer slowed in the sixth woman
and the girl, and then told the men to get
in. The officer then took charge, and got
the boat to the side of the Norge. Seeing
that the boat was already overladen, 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,
gaspng and choking from the effects of
the water. The boat rowed clear of this
seetEing inferno. and just as she drew away
the Norge went down.
Survivors, Story.
One who could speak English said:
1--WE left Copenhagen June % There
were 700 enigrants. Norwegians. Swedes.
Danes and Firms board. The crew num-
bered about eighty.
IAN went well until June %. I lay in
my bunk waiting for breakfast. We had
a little bump. then another bump and then
rushed on deck. l saw at once that some
thing serious had happened and made a
dash below to gather up my few belongings.
Scores were rushing on deck and the
hatchway was crowded with emigrants.
They were launching boats and rushing
into them, but there was no panic.
-Four or five were in the boat into
which | got, and We cleared the ship Luck
lily for us, in our party was the only sea-
man from the Norge who escaped, and he
was able to navigate our little boat.
1--WE saw two other boats capsize owing
to the heavy weather and because no one
could navigate them.
we made straightaway, and when we
last saw the Norge a large number or emil,
grants were on the deck. Captain Gundei
stood on the bridge. Dozens of passengers
had Jumped into the sea They wore life
belts, but were drowned before our eyes
After twentyfour hours the Saliva bore
down and picked US up. About 100 per-
sons must have been drowned
Only Slight Hope for Others.
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 rock. Their chance Of being
rescued even then is practically nil. for
vessels sailing the North Atlantic give
Rockall as wide berth as possible.
The news of this disaster which 1t Is
feared in its death record is greater than
any previous tragedy of the Atlantic. came
with The arrival tonight of the steam traw-
Ter Saliva at her home port. the quiet fish
ing town of Grimsby The Saliva had been
a fortnight's cruise around the Heb
rides
BY a lucky chance she steamed farther
west than is usual for Grhnsby trav'lers,
and fell in with the survivors of the Norge
who for twenty four 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 lsnded
at Grimsbytto tonight.
The Norge. which had been in the CO.
PENN gen-New York service of the Scan
dtnavian-A American line for number OF
years. was iron vessel CT Ais tons
gross and 2.121 tons net. Her principal d.
mens!ons Were; Length. $40 feet: breadth
40 feet. and depth. 25 feet The Norge was
built At Glasgow by. A. Stephen g. Sons In
1881, when she was chrstened Piter de
Coninck. When she was purchased ly the
United States Steamship Company Of Co
penhagen abe was renamed the Norge The
vessel was equipped with six water-tighi
bulkhe ids.
Anniversary of Bourgogne Tragedy.
This is the sixth anniversary of.th,
tragedy of the French line steamship LIZ
BourSqgne. which was sunk in collision
with the British ship Cromartyshire sixty
miles south of Sable Island at 4:3O a. m or
July 1. 1898