The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-07-08
NORGE STRUCK UNCHARTED ROCK
Captain and Chief Engineer Deny That She Was
Out of Her Course---Many More May
Have Been Rescued

Stornoway, Scotland, July 5.-Cap-
tain Gundell and Chief Engineer J. p.
Brann, of the ill-fated Scandinavian
liner Norge who were among those
landed at this port by the liner Ener.
gle yesterday deny absolutely that the
Norge was out of her course when the
disaster occurred on Tuesday last He
declares that she struck an uncharted
rock while 1S miles south of the
Rockall reef. The captain is confl.
dent from his own experience that
many others have been picked UP and
will eventually be brought into port.
He declares that but one Of the
Norge's boats was smashed in launch.
ing and that seven of the others float
ed.
Up to an early hour this morning
there had been landed at Scottish
ports 129 of the Norge's company.
When she left Copenhagen there we're
S33 persons on board of whom 713
were steerage passengers, So in the
cabins and 6S in the crew.
Charges that the life belts were old
and worthless are made by some of
the survivors who declare that when
they tried to fasten them about their
waists, the straps parted, leaving them
useless.
Captain Gundell, who went down
with his vessel and who is injured,
told thrilling story of the wreck and
the events that followed it.
1--WE were bowling along at full
speed on Tuesday morning." he said,
when suddenly / felt my vessel strike
heavily forward. We were fully eigh.
teen miles south of Rockall at the
time and there was no reason to sus.
pect that there was any danger in
our path. / signalled the engine room
and then sent the chief officer to in
vestigate our condition. He took
soundings and reported to me that
there were five feet of water in the for
ward hold and that she was taking
water fast. | signalled to start the
pumps and detailed men to get all of
the passengers on deck and deal out
life belts to them. AS fast as they
took the life belts, they were told
that they would likely have to take to
the boats, as felt there was no reason
for hiding the obvious truth.
Competent officers and men were
detailed to lower the boats and I in
sisted that the women Snd children be
put overheard in the lifeboat first. The
Rrct hfnhnot thn ciIn
sized accidentally as she struck the
water and her occupants thrown into
the sea.
"The crew worked nobly and one
after the other we filled and started
seven boats. We worked until our
decks were well nigh awash and then
the chief officer came to me and told
me that we were going down and that
there was nothing left to do. told
him to save himself If he could and
a few minutes before the vessel sank
| saw him jump into the sea- | have
not seen him since and believe that
he was drowned, although Judging
from my own experience, he may yet
have been saved.
Il stood on the bridge until the
Norge with one final lurch to star.
board, sank into the sea. AS we
went down, was thrown across the
deck and severely injured my log by
having it jammed in the stanchions.
When | finally came to the surface,
noticed a number of persons swim
ming and number of others who had
apparently given up all hope and were
held afioat only by the lifebelts about