Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-28
BATTLE WITH DEATH
Crew of F0undered Steamer
Has Horrible Experience.
EIGHT SAILORS DROWN
Shipwreck in Which Every Man
Was for Himself.
VESSEL WAS LADEN WITH COAL
Rescued Men Brought to Philadel-
phia and Now in Charge Of
Norwegian Consul.
EIGHT SAILORS DROWN
VESSEL WAS LADEN WITH COAL

PHILADELPHIA. September 2S.-
Eight men were drowned and seven had
narrow escape from death by the
laundering at noon Saturday of the
Norwegian steamer Gere six miles from
the Winter Quarter lightship, which is
stationed fifty miles south of the Della
ware capes and sixteen miles at sea.
The seven men who were saved arrived
here this afternoon on the British
steamer Arroyo. which took them from
the lfghtship, before reported as having
the shipwrecked seamen aboard. The
men saved are Julius Meyer, the cap
tain, and six seamen. They are now in
the care Of the Norwegian consul in
this city.
The men tell thrilling story of ship
wreck, in which every one was for him
self. In English that could scarcely be
understood. they said, the Gere, which lef,
here with crew of fifteen and a cargo
Of coal for Sagua La Grande, Cuba en-
countered rough weather after passing
out the Delaware capes. Of the Winter
quarter Ightship. when only three men
were on deck. an unusually heavy sea
a dangerous angle. She was repeatedly
struck by high seas and finally went over
on her side.
Each Jumps Into Sea.
In the meantime the other members of
the crew came on deck and taking in the
situation secured life belts. Nothing could
be done to right the vessel, and as she
as rapidly settling, the crew looked
about for safety. The only boat had been
swept from the davits and was floating
away, therefore there was nothing for
the men to do tut to jump into the sea.
s,, Some dew OF the them .,1 jumped and others
water All of them managed to find
timber or other floating objects from
the ship, which went to the bottom
within three minutes. and the stronger
swimmers struck out for the drifting
boat. The little craft was floating
bottom up, and after a trying time the
boat was righted and an attempt made
70 clear 1t OF water. Enough was got
ten out after a two-hour struggle to
put two men in it. and with the aid Of
glasses they scooped enough water
out to permit others to climb in.
Fight Losing Battle.
All the time tbis was going on the crew
was lighting a losing battle with death.
The weakest Of the swimmers and two
that could not swim went down one by
one. One of the men who could not
swim. appealed to Alexander Henderson
to save him. The latter, STRUGGLING to
keep his head above water, told him he
could not, and that 1t was every man for
himself.
When all the water was out of the boat
the last remaining man clinging to 1t was
hauled In. and 1t was found that seven
were missing.
The weather was still rough, and the
tossing craft. with its load. threatened
to capstze with every wave. small
mast. with sail attached. which was rec
ognized as having belonged to one Of the
crew. was spied floating near. and one Of
the men jumped overheard and lowed it
to the boat. 1t was erected. and with
this jury mast they f1oated before the
wind until 30 pm, when they sighted
the Winter Quarter lightship. The little
men guided the boat the best they could
and soon came near enough to the ship
to be taken aboard by the lonely senti-
nels OF the sea who spend their lives on
her.
List Of the Dead.
Members of the crew say the captain
and chief engineer. H. H. Nielsen, a Nor
wegian. were the last to leave the ship.
They slid down the side and jumped into
the sea from the keel. The engineer
was drowned.
The men who lost their lives besides
the engineer are:
Ivan Sutsu, second engineer; Yon Dru-
land. fireman; August Andersen, fire.
man; John ]. Humphreys. Yonkers, N. Y,
coal passer; Otto Steen Norway, seaman
8. Hansen. Norway, second mate, and
X. Knudsen. steward
The rapidity with which the Gere sank
Is believed to have been due to an un-
usually heavy load Of coal. which is dead
weight. Although the Gere was only 40
tons burden, she sailed from here with
800 tons OF coal, and 1t was noticed as she
passed down the Delaware river that she