The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-05
TWO BOATS CRUSHEDt
II is Stated That Seven Hundred Peo-
pie Were Lost in This Tragedy of
the Ocean Off the British Coast
Four Boats Left the Sinking Vessel,
One of Which is Yet Unaccounted
For.
(By the Associated Press.)

Grimsby. England, July A lone
pile of granite rising sheer out of the
Atlantic 29O miles from the Scottish
mainland, is now a monument to al
most seven hundred dead. Bodies
wash against the rocks or lie on the
ocean bed at its base. Nearby, COM
pletely hidden in the water is the
Scandinavian-A American liner Norge
which was carrying eight hundred
Danes, Norwegians,l Swedes and Firms
to join relatives or friends in Amer
jca. OF these only about $50 were
saved.
No tragedy of the sea has had more
appalling consequences and none has
occurred in so short a time. The
passengers were suddenly aroused
from their sleep, terrified by the con-
tact of the bows of the ship with
the solid granite, followed by a grind
ing rasping sound as if the hull was
being showed over huge rocks Then
silence, as the changing bells brought
the engines to a stop. Those of the
passengers who were standing at the
time the steamer struck the rock
we're thrown against the bulkheads or
on sthe decks and had not recovered
their feet when a stentorian voice
gave the terrifying order:
'All hands on deck! Hurry or you
may Sink!'
Jam of Frenzied People.
Immediately there was rush for
the narrow companionways and men.
women and children pushed AMI
struggled and made every other eff
fort to reach deck where the boats
swung from the davits Many per-
sons, retaining their presence of mind
seized life preServerS only to find in
some instances that the strings were
rotten and they could not be quickly
put around their bodies. Those who
reached the deck saw the nose of the
Norge pinned directly. against the
rock. 1t remained there only a few
minutes, for Captain Gundell, COM
manding, who had Immediately gone
TO the bridge. gave the order to the
engine room to reverse the engines
Some men of the engineer force had
relatives among the passengers and
after seeing them safely to the boats
they heroically returned to their sta
tions below.
Slowly the ship backed off and she
gained headway it was found that
water was pouring into her hold. This
announcement, called out in Scandi-
the supreme fright and agony The
passengers who were piled in the
boats were the fortunate ones who
were TO escape, while the unfOrtu-
mates, who saw death near, clustered
in the vicinity. seething, struggling
masses, some on their knees, praying,
surrounded by children. others sup
plicating aid from any one and shrek
ing for permission to enter the boats,
elbowing, fighting their way to the
places from which the boats were be-
ing lowered.
Boats Crushed Like Eggs.
The sound of grinding ceased, and
the bow of the Norge yawed as the
steamer returned to deep water. The
sea rushed hungrily into the huge rent
made by the rocks in the iron hull.
Swiftly the vessel began to sink by the
bows. Without waiting for orders,
without paying attention to their
proper manning, the occupants began
to lower the boats. The starboard life
boat began slowly to fail, when to the
horror OF those on board the stern
tackle failed, while the bow tackle ran
free. Soon the boat was almost per-
pendicular. Those who We're in it
chung desperately to the sides and
seats until a great wave came tower
ing along and struck the boat, wash
ing it against the side of the ship. The
occupants of the boat who were not
killed by their impact, were thrown
into the water. The crew and pas
sengers on deck had no time to spare
to assist the few who had a chance to
escape but lost it. Undeterred by the
experience of the first boat second,
loaded principally with women and
children was lowered. This time the
tackle ran smoothly, but the hopes OF
escape of the passengers on board
were blasted. The moment it touched
water waves picked up the small craft
as if it had been a feather and dashed
it against the side of the ship, despite
the frantic efforts of the passengers
TO send it off, when a crash was heard
or deck. Then the sea swallowed
more victims and pieces of wreckage
slowly drifted towards the rock.
The Shape of Fear.
The upper deck of the Norge at the
time of the disaster to the second
boat was only a few feet from the
water, and it was apparent to everyone
that only few minutes more and she
would plunge beneath the water In
he fir1a nric lr .lb 10 t,