The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-08


July 5.-3:45 a. m.-Of ia
souls on board the Danish steamer
Norge, 1928, including Captain Gundel,
are known to have been saved UP to
this hour. One of the children die1
in a life boat. which brought others
to safety. For the missing SAG per-
sons, small hopes are entertained.
The enormous death roll which was
feared with the first news of the
wreck has been decreased by 102, that
number Of survivors, after many pri-
vations. having been landed at Storm
oway Yesterday.
The horrors Of the wreck itself rpw
with each survivors, ccount. Captain
Gundel's statement, which reads like
an affidavit from the dead, for he went
down with his ship, maintains that the
Norge struck on a sunken roc Is
miles south of Rockall. The 102 sur
vivors are spending the night at Storm
oway, many of them in the hospital.
The majority Of the 26 who were
landed at Grimsley have arrived at
Liverpool, from there, will sail on the
Cunard Line steamer Saxonia, which
leaves tomorrow for Boston.
Vessels are searching in the vicinity
of ROckall for any more survivors,.
The chief hope lies in Captain GundePs
statement that seven o loads got
safely away.
No more tragic story of the sea has
ever been known than that of the
sinking Of the Norge.
Grimsby, Eng, July A lone pile OF
granite, rising sheer out of the Attain
tic, 29O miles from the Scottish MAIN
land, is now a monument to almost
700 dead. Bodies wash against the
rocks or lie on the ocean bed at it's
base. Nearby, completely hidden in
the water is the northumberland
can Liner, Norge, which was carrying
500 Danes, N~orwegians, Swedes- and
Firms to join relatives or friends in
America. Of these only about 100 were
saved.
No tragedy OF the sea has had more
appalling consequences and zone has
occurred in so ShOr a time. The pas
sengers were suddenly aroused from
their sleep, terrified by the contact Of
the bow Of the ship with the solid
granite, followed by a grinding, rasp-
ing sound as if the hull was being
shored over huge rocks. Then silence,
~ NAC AHS Clio II Al ell
gines to a stop. Those of the passen-
gers who were standing at the time
the steamer struck the rock were
thrown against the bulkheads or on
the decks ard had not recovered their
feet when a stentorian voice gave the
terrifying order:
AN hands on deck! Hurry or you
may sink"
Immediately there was a rush for the
narrow companionways and men. wom-
en- and children pushed and struggled
and made every other effort to reach
the deck where the boats swung from
the davits. Many persons, retaining
their presence of mind, seized life pre-
servers only to find in some instances
that the strings were rotten and 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 Captain Gun
dell. commanding, who had Immediately
gone to the bridge, gave the order to
the engine room to reverse the engines.
Some men of the engineer force had
relatives among the passengers and
after seeing them safely to the boats,
they heroically returned to their sta
tons below.
Slowly the ship backe off and as she
SdIileu nSdOWdy IL was IOuHQ lOdI Wa
ter was pouring into her hold. This
announcement, called out in Scandt
navian and presaging death, added to
the supreme fright and agony. The
passengers who were piled in the boats
were the fortunate ones who were to
escape, while the unfortunates, who
saw death near. clustered in the vicin-
ity, seething, struggling masses, some
on their knees, praying, surrounded by
children; others ~supplicating aid from:
any one and shrieking for permission
to enter the boats, elbowing. hghtins
their way to the places from which the
boats were being lowered.
This sound of grinding ceased, anG
the bow Of the Norge waved as the
steamer returned to deep water. The
sea rushed angrily into the huge rents
made by the rocks in the iron hun.
Swiftly the vessel began to sink BIZ the
bows.
Without waiting for orders, without
paying attention to their proper man
ming. the occupants began to lower the
boats. The starboard life boat began
slowly to fall. when to the horror OF
those on board the stern tackle failed.
while the bow tackle ran free. Soon
the boa was almost perpendicular.
Those who were III it chung desperately
to the sides and seats until a great
wav 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 10 time 70
spare to assist the few who had a
chance to escape but lost il. Undeter-
red by the experience of the first boat,
a second. Ioaded principally with WON
en- and children, was lowered. This
ira II