Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-10

passing the wreck, SO I kept up as in-
cessant pounding as my strength would
admit.
Record Of the Time
"I kept a record of the days / was
entombed by cutting notches in
BEAM The notches grew In number, and
my little store of food speedily dimin-
lshed. I felt that my task was indeed
hopeless, and that | might as well give
up the struggle now as later, and yet
in my most gloomy moods ] piled the
hammer with increased vigor. How
it would all end l knew not.
at was Thursday, April 30 when
cut the twelfth notch Evening was
drawing near, for the light was slo T'y
fading from the water. The solitude OF
the cabin was almost awe inspiring,
for II was as quiet as the grave. |
was worn out from my exhausting
labor, and was about to coil myself
up for a rest as usual when ! thought
| heard the scraping of a boathook
overhead. Instantly springing to my
feet and seizing the hammer, / beat
frantically against the ships plates.
Pausing for a moment, ] strained my
ears and listened breathlessly, with
my pulse and heart beating wildly
Again my alert cars caught faint
sound overhead. | now pounded with
the hammer for all | was worth, and,
to my unspeakable delight, there came
after n moments silence an answering
knock. ] dropped on my knees and
cried like a woman as / offered up
thanks to heaven for my deliverance.
Although only a thin plate OF metal
separated me from my reSCuers, 1t new
ertheless proved a difficult task, as the
plate would not give way. Finally
Il l.IA n
converse with them.
II learned that the wreck had been
sighted some sixteen miles off Rixhoft
by the Norwegian steamship Aurora.
and that Capt. Soerensen had sent
mate and two seamen to examine 1t.
1t seemed that they had heard the
dull thumps of my hammer. 1t had
sounded to them at first like the far
off tolling of bell. The sailors on the
Aurora were huddled together on the
forecastle and began to talk of the
Flying Dutchman, when they finally
discovered the wreck of the Erndte
waliowing in the trough OF the sea
like a great whale.
Rescued!
"All the time l was talking to the
men the air in the hull was escaping
through the nut hole at q terrific rate.
Fearing that the boat might founder,
l begged the mate to replace the nut
and tow me to the nearest port. The
officer carried out my request, and
shortly afterward 1 felt the boat NOV
ing along-the towing had begun!
when our destination was reached
the Erndte was towed under a big
derrick. a cable was passed around her
and she was then raised sufficiently to
enable the machinists and shipsmiths
to force an opening in the ships bot
tom. Although the mechanics eXerted
their utmost energy, it was three hours
before the heavy iron plates were
pierced.
Intense joy was manifested by the
people and many tears of sympathy
We're shed when they beheld my ema-
ciated form and saw how grateful |
felt toward my rescuers. Regardless
of my lost strength, / was fully con-
scious and was able to walk to a
nearby hotel, the Three Provinces,
where u physician was waiting to give
me aid.
with great anxiety I inquired
whether any news had been received
of my shipmates, and out of pity they
assured me of their safety, although
this was not true, and / am convinced
that l shall never again see them, at
least not in this world. l still retain
the hammer that I welded with such
energy as a keepsake of that memorable
voyage. This is my experience just as
it occurred"