New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-05
STORY OF THE DISASTER.

STORY OF THE DISASTER.
Grlmsby. July "A lone pile of granite rising
sheer out OF the Atlantic. 900 miles from the
Scottish mainland. IS now a monument to
hundreds of dead. Bodies wash against the
rock or lie in the ocean bed at its base Nearby.
completely hidden by the water. IS the Scandi-
navian-American liner Norge. which was carry
ing eight hundred Danes. Norwegians, Swedes
and Films to Join relatives or friends in Amer cG1
No tragedy Of the sea has had more appalling
consequences, and none have occurred I'm short
er time. The passengers were suddenly aroused
from their sleep. terrified by the contact Of the
bows of the ship with the granite. followed by
a grinding. rasping sound as If the hun was
being shored over huge rocks. Then there was
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 were thrown against the bulkheads or on
the decks. and had not recovered their feet when
"a stentorian voice gave the terrifying order:
An hands on deck, Hurry. you may sink
Immediately there rush for the narrow
companion ways, and men. women and children
pushed and struggled to reach the deck wherS
the boats swung from the davits. Many persons,
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.
STEAMER BACKED OFF ROCK.
Those who reached the deck the nose or
the Norge pinned directly against the rock 1t
remained there only few minutes. for Captain
C7UnI71 commanding. who had Immediately
gone To the bridge. gave the order to the engine
room To reverse the engines. Some men of rhA
engineer force had relatives among the passen
gers and after seeing them safely to the boats
they heroicany returned to their stations below.
Slowly the ship backed off. and as she ssinei
way it was found that water was pouring int
her hold. This announcement, called out IN
Scandinavian and presaging death. added 20 th p
supreme fright and agony, The passengers who
were piled in the boats were the fortunate ONES
who were to escape while the unfortunate who
saw death near clustered In seethins. struggling
masses some on their knees. praying. sur
rounded by children. others supplicatins aid
from any one shrieking for permission TO enter
the boats and fghting their way to the places
from which the boats we're being lowered
The sound of grinding ceased. and the bow
of the Norge yawed as the steamer returned 20
deep water. The sea rushed into the huge rents
made by the rocks in the iron hull. The vessel
began to sink rapidly at the bows. Without
waiting for orders. without paying attention
to their proper meaning, the occupants began to
lower the boats.
LIFEBOAT.s TACKLE FAILS TO WORK.
The starboard lifeboat began slowly to fall.
when, to the horror of those on board. the stern
tackle choked. while the bow tackle ran free.
Soon the boat was also perpendicular. Those
who were in it chung desperately to the sides
and seats until great wave came towering
along and struck the boat. smashing IL against
the side OF the ship The occupants OF the boat
who were not killed by the impact were thrown
into the water The crew and passengers on deck
had no time to spare to assist the few who had
a chance TO escape.
Undeterred BY the experience OF the first boat.
the passengers lowered second, loaded princi-
palIy with women and children This time the
tackle ran smoothly. but the hopes OF escape OF
the pa ssengers on board were blasted The mo-
rrcnt the boat touched the water. waves picked
up the small craft if il had been feather
and dashed it against the side of the ship IN
spite of The frantic efforts OF the passengers 70
fend il OFT. The crash was heard on deck Then
the sea swalloved more victims. and pieces OF
wreckage slowly Grifted toward the rock.
The upper deck or the Norge at the Tune or
the disaster to the second boat was only few
feet from the water, and il was apparent to
every one that in only n few minutes more she
would plunge beneath the waves In the final
crisis those who were able TO remember clearly
what happened say that the shrieSs and sobs
died away and that the quiet only broken
BY the curses of some meu whose fear found
vent in blasphemy.
PASSENGERS LEAP FROM THE VESSEL
Suddenly one man threw himself overheard.
and another followed his example. StiH an
other jumped into the water, and soon around
the ship hundreds of persons were struggling In
the sea. having preferred death in the open
TO being submerged with the ship Others de-
terniued to stand by the-ship. hoping against
hope that she would remain afioat-
Three boats. it is known, successfully reached
DE-NNEYlS