New-York tribune., 1909-09-29
A TRAGEDY OF THE SEA
STEAMER GERE FOUNDERS
TfgEsE Lost after Struggle zoith the
JVaues-Ofhep' Maritime accidents.

Philaaeluhia, Sept. 2s-Eight men were drowned
and seven had narrow escape from death oy tIo ~
1oundering at Saturday of the Norwegian
stesner Gere, six miles from the WINTER 9ua4-
,er rs-I,tshlo stationed fifty miles south OF the
rselaware Capes and sixteen miles at sea- Inc
seven survivors arrived here this afternoon o"
the British steamer Arroyo, which took them irOH'
the Iightship. The men are julius Meyer 'iiS
captain. and six seaTnen.
The Gere left here on Friday with cargo Oh
coal for Sagus La Grande, Cuba On uie "i"'el
Quarter Idghtship. when only three men were o"
deck an unusually heavy sea struck the steamer
and il lzeeIed over at dangerous angle. she was
repeatedly struck by high seas, and nnally "eh'
over on her side. The other members OF the ere"
came on deck. hut nothing could be done TO righ'
rhe vessel The only boat mad been swept from
the dayits and was floating away. and there was
nothing for the men 70 dc hut jump into the sea
some of them jumped and others slid down the
side into the rough water All OF them man
aged 70 ind timber other floating objects from
~. s,tn which went 10 the bottom within three
minutes and the stronger swimmers struck out
for she drifting boat The little craft was noa'-
fng bottom up and after a trying time II was
righted and an attempt made 10 clear il of water
Enough was got out after two hours struggle
20 put two men in il, and, with the aid Of their
hands and a pair OF marine glasses they scooped
enough water out TO permit others 20 climb in
All the time this going on the other men
were fighting q 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 Hen
ssersen to save him. The latter. struggling 10
keep his head above water, told him he could no'
and that il every for himself
When the water finally out of the boat the
last remaining olinging TO it was hauled in
snd it found that eight were missing
The small boat threatened to capSlze With every
wave A small mast with sail attached. was spied
floating near and one Of the men Jumped over
hoard and toUed il 10 the boat II was erected.
snd with this Jury mast they hoated before the
wind until s30 p. m. when they sighted the light
ship. There were no in the boat. hut the
EhipTrecked men guided the little craft the best
they could and soon came near enough 10 the
ship to be taken hoard
Members Of the crew say the captain and chief
engineer Il. II. Nielsen, Norwegian, were the last
70 leave the ship They slid down the side and
sun1psd into the sea from the keel Tbs engineer
was drowned. John J. Humphreys Of Yonkers,
-. +. a coal passer was one OF the men lost
The rapidity with which the Gere sank is believed
20 have been due 10 an unusually heavy load d
coal. Although the Gere only 420 tons burden.
St is said she sailed from here with nine hundred
tons Of coal. Her very low freeboard was com
rasnted she passed down the Delaware River.
Beaufort n c., Sept. 2s.-The Savannah line
stearner City Of Atlanta, Captain Smith, which
sailed from Savannah yesterday afternoon for New
York, was severely buffeted by heavy northeast
gale early to-day and lost blade from one Of her
propsllers. The steamer viii be able 70 reach New
York safely. but viii be somewhat delayed
Norfolk Va Sept 2s.-Nearly hundred sailing
sessels large and small are storm bound in Hamp-
ton Roads These vessels are loaded principally
stb lumber and bitunninous coal some bound north
and others south The wind to-day was blowing
shirty-three miles an hour at
Baltimore. Sept 2s.-The barge ". H. Barker, OF
Philadelphia, one of q string OF three barges, all
laden with cinders, in Of the tug Dixie, bound
90 Norfolk from Baltimore, folindered Sunday
snorning in heavy storm on Sharp Island, Chesa-
peale Bay. The Bsrl5er's Of two were
rescued.