The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-27
COTTON BROS.
A TALE OF THE SEA.


Here is a thrilling story told by
Capt. Parkinson, one of the passeng-
ers on the Berlin, wrecked at the Hook
of Holland a few days ago. He says:
There was grating sound, and I
knew there was something wrong. l
slipped on my pajamas and shirt and
rushed on deck. Here were lot OF
people running about and saw some
of the stewards putting on life belts
for passengers. bolted back into my
cabin again, put on some more clothes
and a life belt, with an overcoat on
top to prevent its being washed OF.
l went up on the bridge to see If
could help Capt. Precious and I said
to him: is there any chance of US
getting OFF, He said 4 hope so; we're
going full steam astern to try and
back clear off, We went astern about
twenty feet and then slowed round.
When Capt. Precious saw this he gave
the order, Stop her. But almost at
the same moment the engineer rushed
on deck. saying that the engine room
was flooded and he had to escape, leav-
ing the engines still going full speed
astern. We could see then that the
ship was doomed. Then the captain,
the pilot and myself went down to the
next bridge. never saw either Of
them after that; they must have been
washed overheard. The waves were
running mountain high at this time.
II went along with the rest of the
passengers and stood behind the deck
house on the port side till the after
part of the ship came in two, and the
sea poured all over us. God knows
how long we stopped there like
this. The weather was terrible; there
was no fog or snow, but the wind
was bitterly cold, and never saw big
ger rollers. Women and children,
haf-dressed, were huddled up by the
side OF the deckhouse, drenched to
their skins and moaning and crying
piteously. The childen soon. died. I
did my best to save one child. The
young mother, in an almost uncon-
scious condition, had put the child on
a seat. Numbed with the cold, 1t fell
of and helped them up to man in
a more protected position. Death
came to the child few minutes after
ward, the mother holding its hand as
it passed away. There was no panic,
and the crew met their end bravely.
The passengers stood there together
calmly awaiting their fate. Suddenly
We started to settle down forward. !
sang out: Wed all better get aft
It's most likely that the forward will
slide into deep water myself start
ed to go aft, one poor woman cling
ing to my arm. She was still brave
1--WE had only a few PAGES when a
tremendous sea struck us. There was
a fearful crashing noise and the whole
hull seemed as II 1t was being rem,
and split and the funnel went over
was swept into the sea, shrinking
the chain as went down. When
came up struck out away from the
ship, and looked round for wreckage
Il was terribly cold and I thought i,
was all over. Soon was bumped ur
against big piece Of wood, and, hold.
ing this, padded about, half-blinded
by the sea. My legs were completely
numbed and felt every moment a.
II should have to let 60. remember
seeing Mr.. Holden Of Bolton trying rt
escape through portfolio. shouted
to him, Good-by,' and I saw him ne
more. I was almost done when
heard some shouting, and, turning my
head, saw the lifeboat. They bore
down on me and hooked me I'M