Richmond planet., 1904-07-09
STATE LIBRARY
RICHMOND
627 DROWNED ON
SINKING STEAMER
Vessel Bound For New York Lost
Off Coast of Scotland.
STRUCK ROCKS IN HEAVY SEA

Aberdeen, Scotland, July 6.-Another
boat load containing II survivors of
the i'll fated Danish steamer Norge.
which foundered off Rockan Reef,
were landed at Aberdeen, Scotland, by
the steam trawler Largo Bay.
They drifted at the mercy of the At
lantic for six days. When both water
and food were gone and whon the oc-
cupants were almost too exhausted to
hope, the trawler hove in sight. Those
rescued had eked out an existence on
two biscuits per day. When they
started from the Inflated ship there
was only one small cask of fresh wa
ter in the boat. Before the Largo Bay
fell in with them this and the bis
cults had been finished and the pangs
of hunger had set in. They weathered
a gale and continued as best they
might, striving 10 reach the coast of
Scotland against the heavy seas The
men had scarcely strength enough to
hold the oars.
Six hundred and twenty seven per-
sons are still missing.
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 ny . gvir5ing. rasp-
ing sound as il the hull wes being
shoreu over huge rocks. Then silence.
as the changing bells brought the en-
gines to a stop. Those of the passen-
gers who were standing at the tine the
steamer struck the rock were thrown
against the bulllheads or on the decks
and had not recovered their feet when
n stentorian voice gave the terrifying
order; "All hands or deck; hurry or
you may sink"
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 davts. Many persons, re-
tanning their presence Of mind, seized
life preservers, only to find in some in
stances 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. II remained there only a few
minutes, for Captain Gunden. com
manding. 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
tions below.
Slowly the ship backed off, and as
she gained way it was found that the
water was pouring into her hold. This
announcement, called out in Scandi-
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 vi
cinity. seething, struggling masses,
some on their knees. praying, sur
rounded by children, others supplicat-
ing aid from any one, and shrieking
for permission to enter the boats, el-
bowling, fighting their way to the
places from which the boats were be-
ing lowered.
The sound of grinding ceased, and
the bow of the Norge yawed 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 or
ders, without paying attention to their
proper manning. the occupants began
TO lower the boats.
Two of the first boats lowered, filed
with women and children, were smash
ed against the side of the ship, and
all were drowned. When the upper
deck of the Norge was only a few feet
from the water it was apparent to
every one that only few minutes
more and she would plunge beneath
the waves. In the final crisis those
who were able to remember clearly
what happened say that the shrieks
and sobs died away, and that the Quiet
was only broken by the curses of some
men. whose fear found vent In bias
phemy.
Suddenly one man threw himself
overheard, and another followed his
example. Still another jumped into
the water, and soon round the shin
hundreds Of persons were struggling
In the sea, having preferred death in
the open than to being submerged
with the ship. Others determined to
stand by the ship. hoping against hope