The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-07-13
OREGON. JULY Is. 1904.

vessel In the north sea on June 23,
News of the disaster was brought
by twenty-seven shipwrecked pas
sengers. believed to be the sole sur.
vivors out of more than 800 souls
on board. who landed at Grimsby
late tonight from the steam traBler
Saliva.
The Norge struck the reefs of
Rockall, deadly islet to mariners,
whose isolated peak rises rs feet a.
bove sea level some 290 miles off
the west coast of Scotland. Rock
ell reef looks from a distance like a
ship under full sail.
Early on the morning of June %
the Norge, which was out of her
course, in heavy weather, ran foul
of the reef. She backed off imme-
diately, but the reef had cut deep
into her bows and she settled rapid
idly. High seas were running at
the time and in the efforts to escape
from the doomed vessel most of the
life boats we're smashed.
The Norge foundered suddenly
and more than 600 terrified emf
grants were thrown into the water
or wentdown with the sinking ship.
Those who could swim tried to reach
the boats, but these were already
full and their occupants beat of
the drowning wretches with oars.
The boats kept together for some
hours Practically all their occu-
pants we're passengers and were moi
used to handling such craft. The
boat occupied by the survivors land
ed at Grimsby was lifeboat.
One account says that three boats
were successfully launched, the 9th
er two holding about 10 each. The
lifeboat made faster progress and
fell in with the Saliva. What be,
came of the other boats is not
yet known.
The rescue of those on the life
boat took place at s a. m. on june
20. the survivors consisting of 2(
men, none of them a seaman; six
women and girl.
The Norge lett Copenhagen or
June %, and was last sighted of
the Butt off Lewis, the northermos
point of the Hebrides Islands, or
Juna %. According to the surviv
ors Captain Gundell staid by hi
boat until the last and undoubtedly
sank with her.
There Is every reason to believ'
the captain and his crew kept th'
situation from becoming one of un
governabls panic. The ships eigh
boats were rapidly swung from th'
davits, and as far as possible wo
men aud children, to the exclusion
of male passengers, we're placed II
them before they were lowered.
/ Owing to the fearful sea that wa
running, most of these boats wer
smashed against the ships side o
overturned. 1t was the high sea
also which rendered life-preserver
futile, and scores who wore then
were drowned before the eyes of tn
survivors brought into Grimsby to
night.
In the sea was q mass of strue
Cling men, women and children
gasping and choking from the el
fects of the water.
| Peter Nelson, one of the surviv
ore, described as young Ameri
can, said: ''For some hours "
rowed in company with the othe
boats, but the strong tide drifte
US away from the others, and moth
ing has been seen of them since. Th
Saliva picked US up and we were we
cared for on board the trawlel
All of US lost our entire belongings
: We had no time in that fierce fgh
for life to think of anything but th
getting of seats in the boat.
"The Norge began quickly to G
down by the head. OF the eigh
boats lowered six were smashed 9
: gainst the side of the ship and the
helpless inmates were epgulfed In th
: high seas. Scores were observed
! seize life-belts and throw themselve
into the sea. The decks were sti
lined with doomed passengers whe
we drifted out of sight.
"The only hope left for those Q
the Norge when we lost sight Of he
Ia that they may have been washe
up on the barren lock"
The steam ira wler Saliva, beare
of the news of this disaster hs
! been on a fortnight's cruise aroun
the Hebrides. By lucky chane
: she steamed further west than
usual for Grimsby trawlers and fe
. In with the survivors of the Norg
They had been tossed about in
small hoaf for twonfy-four honrs