The Saint Paul globe., 1904-07-05
: RousED FROM SLEEP TO DIE

RoUSED FROM SLEEP TO DIE
GRIMSBY, Eng, July "A lone pile
of granite rising sheer out of the At
1antics 290 miles from the Scottish
mainland is now. a monument to al
most seven hundred dead. Bodies
wash against the reelxs or lie in the
ocean bed at it's base. Nearby, COM
pletely hidden in the water, is the
northumberland liner Norge,
which was carrying 500 Danes, Nor
wegians, Swedes and Firms to join
relatives or friends in America. OF
these only about 130 were saved.
No tragedy of the sea has had more
appalling consequences and none has
occurred in a shorter time. The pas
sengers were suddenly aroused from
their sleep. terrified by the contact Of
the bows of the ship with the solid
granite, followed by grinding, rasp-
ing sound as if the hull was being
shored over huge rocks. Then si-
lenee, as the changing bells brought the
engines to a stop. Those of the pas
sengers 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 stentorian voice gave the
terrifying order:
'.Ait hands on deck! Hurry or you
may sink!''
Rush for the Deck
Immediately there was a rush for the
narrow companionways and men,
women and children pushed and strug-
gled and made every other effort to
reach the deck where the boats swung
from the davits. Many persons, re-
tanning their presence of mind, seized
life preservers only to find in some in
stances that the strings We're rotten
and that 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 Capt. Gundell,
commanding, who had Immediately
gone to the bridge, gave the order to
the engine room to reverse the en-
gines. Some of the engineer force had
relatives among the passengers and
after seeing them safely to the boats
they heroicaliy returned to their sta
tions below.
water PourS Into Hold
Slowly the ship backed off and as she
gained way it was found that water
was pouring into her hold. This an
nouneement, called out in Seandina-
Wan and presaging death, added to the
supreme fright and agony. The pas
sengers who We're piled in the boats
were the fortunate ones who were to
escape, while the unfortunates, who
saw death near. clustered in the vicfn-
ity, seething, struggling masses, some
on their knees. praying, surrounded by
children, others supplicating aid from
any one and shrieking for permission
to the places from which the boats
were being lowered. The sound Of
grinding ceased, the bow of the Norge
waved as the steamer returned to
deep water. The sea rushed hungrily
into the huge rents 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 man.
ming, the occupants began to lower the
boats. The starboard lifeboat began
slowly to fall when to the horror OF
those on board the stern tackle failed,
while the bow tackle ran free.
Soon the boat was almost perpendic-
ular. Those who were in it clung des-
perately to the sides and seats until
a great wave came towering along and
struck the boat, smashing it 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, but lost
it.
Boat Breaks Against Ship
Undeterred by the experience of the
first boat, a second, loaded principally
with women and children, was lowered.