Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-29
EVERYBODY WAS FOR HIMSELF
When Great Wave Sent Vessel Over
on Her Side, the Only Boat Was
Swept Away and Crew Had to Jump
Into sea-Eisht seamen Went to
Watery Graves.
tBy Associated PressJ
Watery Graves.

OaNtu ifout NitW VI hi'tch tHt oN'
en- who had a narrow escape from
death by the laundering 1T noon on
Saturday of the Norwegian steamer
Gere six niles from the winter
Curator Lightship. which is stationed
fifty miles south Of the Delaware
capes and sixteen miles at sea, arriv-
ed here this afternoon on the British
steamer Arroyo. which took them
from the lightship before reported as
having the shlpwrecSed seamen
aboard.
The men saved are julius Meyer
the captain. and six seamen.
They are now In the care Of the
Norwegian consul In this city.
Everyone For Himself.
A thrilling story OF shipwrecked in
which everyone was for himself. Is
told by the men in English that can
scarcely be understood. They said
the Gere, which left here with crew
of Is and q cargo of coal for Sagua
La Grande, Cuba. encountered rough
weather after passing out the Della
ware capes. on the Winter Quarter
Lightship. when only three men were
On deck an unusually heavy sea
struck the steamer and 1t keeled over
at a dangerous angle. She was re-
peatedly struck by high seas and final
~ went over on her side. 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 save the vessel and
as she was rapidly settling the crew
locked 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 but to jump into the sea.
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 swim
mers 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 to clear
IL of water. Enough was gotten out
after n two hour struggle to put two
men in It and with the aid OF their
hands and pair Of marine glasses.
they scocoped enough water out to
permit others to climb in. Mean
while the weakest OF the swimmers
and two that could not swim went
down one by one.
Eight Were Missing.
When the water was finally out Of
the boat the last remaining man cliag-
ing to IL was hauled in and 1t was
found that eight were missing.
They foated before the wind until
4:30 p. N. when they sighted the
Winter Quarter Lightship; The little
craft had no oars but the ship
wrecked men guided the boat the best
they could and soon came near
enough TO the ship to be taken on
board by the lonely seutInels Of the
sea who spend their life on her.
Members o. the crew say the cap
tain and chief engineer were the last
TO leave the ship.
The engineer. r. ". Neiis. was
drowned. The others who lost their
lives are: Ivan sutsu. second en-
gineer. Won nruisad. fireman: Au-
gust Ann. fireman. John J.
Humphreys. Yonkers. \. Y coal
passer. Osfo Steeh. Norway seaman
s. Hansen. Norway. second mate: X.
Knudscn. steward.
Ship Was overIoascd.
The rapidly with which the oere
sank Is believed 20 have been due 20
an unusually heavy load Of coal