Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-09-29
THRILLING TALE OF THE SEA.

had nsrT0W escape from oeatn oy IDe
fouDdtring at noon on Saturday OF the
Norwegian steamer Gere, six miles
from the Winter Quarter lightship,
which is stationed so miles south Of the
Delaware cspes and 16 miles at sea.
The seven men who were saved arrived
10 Philadelphia yesterday afternoon on
the British steamer Arroyo, which took
them from the lightsbip before reported
as having the Shipwrecksd sesmen
aboard. The men saved are Julius
Meyer, the captain, aud six seamen.
The men tell a thrilling story of ship
wreck in which everyone was tor him
self. Ia English that could bc scarcely
understood they said the Gere, which
left Philadelphia Friday with crew Of
Is and cargo Of coal, for Sagus La
Grande, Cuba, encountered rough
wea her after passing ont the Delaware
cspes. Of the Winter Quarter light
ship, when only three men were on deck
sn unusually heavy sea struck the
steamer and 1t keeled over at danger
ous angle. She was repeatedly struck
by high seas and finally went over on
her side In the meantime, the other
members of the crew come on deck, aud
akiug in the situation secured life belts.
Nothing could be done to right the ves-
sci, and as che was Tadiply settling,
the crew looked about for safety. The
only boat bad been swept from the dsvits
and was f1ating away; therefore, there
was nothing for the men to do but jump
into the seB.
Some of them jumped and others slid
down the side intu the rough water. All
of them managed to find timber or other
hosting objects from the ship, which
vent to the bottom 10 three minutes,
and the stronger swimmers struck out
for the drifting boat. The little craft
was floating bottom up, and after try
ing time the boat was rjghted aud au at
tempt made to clear it OF water. Enough
was gotten out after two:hour struggle
to put two men in it, and with the sij
of their bands sod pair OF marine
glasses they scopped enough water out
to permit others TO climb 10.
All the time this was going on the
crew was fighting losing battle with
desth. 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 Her-
derson to save him. The latter, strug-
Cling TO keep his head above water, told
him be could not and that 1t Was every
man for himself. When the water was
finally out of the boat, the last remsin-
ing man, clingiug to it, was hauled 10
and it was found that seven were miss
ing.
The weather was still rough and the tos-
sing craft with its load threatened to cap
siz, With every wave. A boats mast with
sail attached, which belonged to the vess'l
was spied floating near and one of the
men Jumped over board and tied it to
The boat. 1t was erected and with this
jurywsst they hOated before the wind
until 4;30 p M, when they sighted the
Winter Quarter lightship. The little
craft bad no oars, but the sbipwreeked
men guided the boat the best they could
aud soon came near enought to the ship
to be taken on board by the lonely SEN
tinelS Of the sea, who spend their life on
her.
The rspidity With which the Gere sank
is believed to have been due 10 an un'
usually heavy load of coal, which Is dead
weight.