The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-01-07
GOES DOWN WITH SHIP
Brave Skipper Gives Up-1lis Life
That Crew Hay be Saved.
o LOST AND 7 RESCUED
Men Were Picked Up After Eight
Gays Of Great Hardship From Hun
ser, Thirst and cold-were In Ter
rible Condition From Exhaustion.

Gays Of Great Hardship From Hun
Ger, Thirst and cold-were In Ter.
riele Condition From Exhaustion.
New York. Jan. 4. - Seven sh'V
wrecked sailors. believed 10 be the
only survivors Of the crew OF sixteen
OF the Norwegia bark Germanic.
were brought heNe by the oil tank
steamer Hotham Newton. They we're
picked up in midocean on Dec. Il IN
a terrible condition from exposure.
eight days after their vessel had been
abandoned. Another boat. which con-
tanned eight men. has not been found.
The captain OF the bark. who remained
on board until ali the men found
places in the small boats. went down
with his ship.
The seven men who We're rescued
tell a story Of fearful suffering before
they were picked up BY Nhc Newton.
Obliged To leave their sinking shin in
the midst Of storm which had twist
ed and opened the seams nj the tls
bark. their little boat was tossed help
lossly about by the waves Tho scarf
store of prcsisic which they had
succeeded in ge-tiu- together was ir
constant danger oi being ruined b.
the salt water which poured into tho
boat. and their cask OF drinking water
became tainted.
FOR many days they had nothing 6
drink but rain water. which Trey
caught in tarpaGlins. The supply %
food allowed each man was hold down
to the lowest possible even from Che
first. but even then it became eN.
hausted after seven DAYS. and the men
had been entirely without food for
more than twenty-four hours when
they were picked up by the steamer.
They were in n terrible condition
when taken on board the Newton
Their bodies were covered with sores
from the constant contact OF salt
spray which had swept over their lit
tie boat. and they were so weak from
exhaustion and lack Of nourishmont
they were scarcely able to stand Il
was several hours after they had been
taken on board before any Of the men
were able TO tell the story OF their
plight
From their story Il appears that the
Germanic had bad luck from Nov. 25.
when she sailed from Weymouth. y
S. for Fleetwood. Eng. until she
went down in midocean on Dec. .. Bat
tered about by the tremendous seas.
the Germanic sprung leak. her decks
were burst open. the cabins washed
away and she became completely wa
teriogEcd when IL vas seen that she
could not long remain aGoat the order
10 take to the two small boats was
given. II was almost too. late. how
ever. and there was scarcely time to
stock the boats with food ami water
and for the men 10 Chamber IN. In
one of the boats were eight mon and
in the other seven. the captain remain
ing on board until all the men had
found places in the boats. Just as he
was about 20 step aboard the bark
gave lurch and went down. carry .ng
her captain with her. His body was
picked up later by the boat crew
which was rescued by the Newton.
The two boats kept within sight OF
each other for several hours after
leaving the bark but during the first
night they became separated. The
fate of the second boat which contain
ed eight members OF the crew. is not
known.