The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-11-20
LIFE IN UNCLE
SANS NAVY
BarnWell Aiken Writes Inter.
esting Letter.
The RESCUE OF The HoREueA.

Target Practice Off Virgini.
Capes-Waiting for Elec-
tiOn News.
U. s. 9. Idaho, Sou. Drill Grounds
Off Virginia Capes,
November 6, 1912.
Dear Daddy:
Last week I wrote you about three
lines to say that we were on our way
to the drill grounds to have our prac-
tice by day and night but find that
have a good deal more to talk about
than target practice. We got to the
rendezvous and everything was ready
for the practice when we received an
S. o. S. wireless distress signal from
the ship (steamer) Noruega, saying
that she had received damages and
asking all stations for assistance. The
Idaho, Minnesota and Michigan and
the tug Sonoma were dispatched right
away to find her as she did not know
her position. The weather was rough
and there was half gale blowing and
all in all we had fine time looking
for the ship. We kept in touch with
the other ships and then we received
a wireless from the Noruega, saying
that she had been able to figure out
two different positions, 80 the Cap
tain sent a message back and said
that he would take course midway
between the two positions and would
flash searchlights. Up to this time we
had no information as to how the ac-
cident occurred but as we came near
the Noruega, we were able to ask her
how she came to be In distress.
It. seems that the Noruega, which Is
a medium sized steamer, was rammed
by the full rugged ship Glenn Lui, a
sailing ship and received hole near
the starboard or right hand bow and
was taking water in her forward
holds. She reported that she had six
of the crew of the Glenn Lui on board
and that the ships had then drifted
apart. The Glenn Lui had her two for
ward masts carried away and also her
bowsprit and was supposed to be
leaking. The Noruega said that she
had two steel bulkheads left and a
wooden partition that was being
strengthened and that she expected to
reach port if the weather abated any,
as her engine was in good condition
and that she was making two knots an
hour then going backwards to keep
the pressure of the water from her
watertight bulkhead.
Soon after we received this message,
a Light was reported sighted and we
flashed our searchlights. Three red
rockets were fred and the Noruega
reported by wireless that she could
sec our lights. In about half an hour
we came within sight Of her. We put
the searchlights on her and you could
see very plain.
A. great hole was visible on and be-
low the water line and she was settled
down by the head to a considerable
extent but as long as the bulkheads
held there was very little danger as
the weather was calming down. We
stood by for an hour or so and then
the Revenue Cutter, Onandaga came
up and reported ready to render aid.
After this the Minnesota and the Mich
igan came up, being called by our wire
less. The Admiral told the Idaho that
his ship would stand by to render aid
but the Captain on her said that to
him the law was very plain and that 1t
was the duty Of the first ship there to
stay there and that the Idaho would
remain by the Noruega until the
weather moderated or she sank. The
evidently didn't like this for
there was quite a few code messages
flashed back and forth. The Onandaga
stood by of course as neither the Ad-
miral or the Captain OF his ship had
any right to tell him to leave as he
was from the Treasury department and
not the Navy.
The next day, Sunday, instead OF
the weather going down, 1t continued
to get rougher every hour and we all
thought that the Noruega would never
be able to live through the storm, but
she continued to steam backwards
and owing to the fact that we were
running with the sea she made about
five knots an hour. All day Sunday we
stood by and watched her as she pitch
ed and rolled. Every time her stern
would go down you could see the great
hole in her bow and the water rush
ing out of it only to rush in again
when her bow went down. 1t was re-
ported that she had three ladies on
board and one man passenger and she
was asked permission from the Oman
daga to transfer them. A boat was put
over the side and for a long time 1t
was lost to sight so great were the
waves, but at last she reached the
Cutter and transferred her people and
then she put back to the steamer and
the same old story went along until
Sunday night. The weather began to
be calmer then.
About ten o'clock Sunday night
the skipper of the Noruega sent a
over saying one Of his bulk
heads had just given away under the
pressure and thought he would sink
within three hours. Every thing on the
Idaho was made ready to render all
possible assistance in case she did go
down. However the weather grew calm
within half an hour, guess, and she
commenced to ride more easily. Mon
day morning was smooth and we stood
by until dark when wrecking tug
from Norfolk came out. The Onandaga
had passed her line so to save sal
wage for the company the Captain re-
fused any assistance from the tug
boat. We left them Monday afternoon
about dark and he was reported safe
inside the Capes.
The Michigan and the tug Sonoma