Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-04

London, July 4-Over 200 Danish
and Norwegian emigrants bound for
New York are believed to have been
drowned in the north Atlantic June
2S. Out of nearly 500 souls on board
the Danish steamer Norge, which left
Copenhagen June %, only 27 are
known to be alive and for the rest no
hope is held out.
| When last seen the Norge was sink
| ing where she struck on the islet of
Rockall, whose isolated peak raises
itself from a deadly Atlantic reef
some 200 miles off the west coast of
Scotland.
| Early on the morning of last Tues
| day the Norge, which was out of her
course in heavy weather. ran on the
| Rockall reef which in the distance
looks like a ship under full sail. The
Norge was quickly backed off, but the
heavy seas poured through a rent in
her bows.
LIfebOatS Are CnpsIzed.
The emigrants, who were then
awaiting breakfast below, ran on deck
The hatchways were scarcely built for
these hundreds 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 boat loads got safely away
from the side of the sinking ship and
many of the emigrants who were left
on board. seizing life belts, threw
themselves into the sea and were
drowned.
Capt. GundeI, so say the survivors.
stood on the bridge of the doomed
vessel until it could be seen no more.
The Norge foundered suddenly and
some 600 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.
Two Other boats Missing.
The boats kept together for some
hours. Practically all of their occu-
pants were passengers and were not
used to handling such craft. The boat
by the survivors landed at
was a lifeboat.
One account says that three boats
were successfully launched the other
two holding 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.
The rescue Of those on the lifeboat
.ook place at o'clock on the morn
ing of June %, the survivors consist
ng of 20 men. six women and a girl.
One of the survivors said that when
ne got on deck the Norge was half
and was rapidly getting
over in the water. Half mad with
right, the survivors all struggled for
places in the boats. They fought their
way to the big lifeboat and an officer
slowed in the six women and the girl
md then told the men to get in.
Heroic Officer browns.
The officer then took charge and
got the boat away from the side of
he Norge. Seeing that the boat was
lready overloaded, the officer, with
5reat heroism, jumped into the water
md tried TO board another boat which
vas not so full. He failed and was
Irowned.
In the sea by this time was a mass
# struggling men, women and chill
Iren, gasping and choking from the
fleets of the water. The boat rowed
lear Of this seething inferno and just
IS she drew away the Norge went
IoWn.
Peter Nelson, one Of the survivors,
described as a young American, said:
For some hours we rowed in COM
jany with the other boats, but the
trong tide drifted us away from the
thers and nothing has been seen of
hem since. The Saliva picked us up
nd we were well cared for on board