Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-10-01
EIGHT GO DOWN WITH SHIP
Details of Sinking of Norwegian Steamer
Are Received.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Sept. o.
Eight men were drowned and seven had
a narrow escape from death by tbe
laundering of the Norwegian steamer
Gere, Saturday, six miles from the win,
ter quarter lightship, fifty miles south Of
the Delaware capes. The seven men
who were saved arrived here this after
noon OH the British steamship Arroyo
which took them from the lightShip be-
fore reported as having the shipwreckel
seamen aboard. The men saved are Ju
Illus Meyer, the captain, and Sin Seamen
They are now in the care Of the N0rwe
gian 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
left here Friday with q crew Of fifteen
and a cargo of coal for Sagua Ia Grande
Cuha. encountered rough weather after
nassing out the Delaware capeS. OF
the winter quarter lightship, when only
three men were on deck, an unusually
heavy sea struck the steamer, which
keeled over at Il dangerous angle. She
was repeatedly struck by high seas and
finally went over on her side.
Meantime the other members of the
crew came on deck and taking in the
situation. obtained life belts. Nothing
could be done to right the vessel, and as
she was rapidly settling, the crew looked
about for safety. The only boat had
been swept from the daVlts ana was
floating away. There was nothlns 1N
the men to do but jump INTO the sea -,
Some of them jumped and Others SID
down the side into the rough water All
Of them managed to find timber or other
floating objects. The ship went to the
bottom within three minutes.
Find Capsized Boat
The stronger swimmers struck out fOF
the boat, which was floating bottom up.
After a trying time the little craft was
righted and an attempt was mace
clear it of water. After two hours
struggle, enough was gotten out 10 pu.
two men aboard and with the ald
their hands and a pair of marine glasses
they scooped enough water out 10 per-
NIT others to climb in. l..
All the time this was going on me
crew was fighting a losing battle WIN
death. The weakest of the SWIMMERS
and two that could not swim went dog Il
one by one One of the men VINO cou!u
not swim appealed to Alexander HenGer
son to save him. The latter, strQggHnS
to keep his head above water, told liln
he could not. and that it was every HAL
for himself. tn.
When the water was finally out OF me
boat. the last remaining man cl f%ni
to it was hauled in and it %as louHu
that seven were missing.
The weather was still rough and le
tossing craft with its load threate9Ined II, II
capsize with every wave. A small li issJ
with sail attached, which was Tec0sll1''
as having belonged to one of the CREW. sE.
was spied floating near and one Oh = 't ts
men jumped overheard and towe "a, II tb is
the boat. 1t was erected ana WIN t nm.
must the boat hoated before the vino Cl tp
til 400 p. m. when the survivors S'gll''
the winter quarter lightship.
Steer Without Oars.
The little craft had no oars, but t2s
shipwrecked men guided the boat , %,
best they could and soon came , nsri
enough to the ship to be taken on o1 rb1
by the lonely sentinels Of the sea- WY
spend their life on the lightshlp'