The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-12-30
AN0cEAl TRACEDY

The Wreck Of the White Ship
Nearly Eight Centuries Ago.
FATE. OF AN HEIR he: TO A CROWN l'''''l /.
From Scene. Of Wild Revelry on
Board the Doomed Vessel Prince
William Of England Went to Death
Trying to Save His Sister.
Nearly eight centuries ago there oc-
Cured an English shipWreck that may
be ranked in Importance historically
with any tragedy Of, the sea that the
world has ever known. Although in
comparison with some shipwrecks the
loss Of life was small carcely hand
ful-when the White Ship foundered in
November, 1920, she carried the heir
to the throne of England to his grave
in the depths. There was no wireless
then to hear her call for help, although
her companions Of the kings fleet were
so near that tradition says the nearest
caught faint, shrill wind borne cry,
shrieka little different than that of
the shrieking gulls-the dying cry of
the White Ships company. No one
guessed what it meant, nor did any
ship turn from her course.
Prince William, son of Henry L.,
Norman king, and Of his queen, Edith,
or Matilda, an English princess, held Il
position of especial Importance and in
fuence. for he represented the union
in the royal line of the two races. The
old title of the Saxon kings had been
liam the Atheling. Although only
boy Of eighteen, he had been recently
married to the French princess NATL
da, to whom he had been betrothed
since he was ten and she a baby. In
France, too, he had shared with his
father the honors of battle against
the rebellious Norman mobiles and had
shown himself a courageous and chiv-
alrous opponent. After victory was at
tanned King Henry, William the Athe-
ling and the leaders Of the campaign
set sail from Hardeur for England.
The White Ship had been built as
gift for the king. but he did not wish
to disappoint the captain of another
vessel, to whom he had promised the
honor Of his presence, and therefore
he asked that it be offered to Prince
William instead. All the other ships
had got away before the White. Ship
with the prince, his half brother, Rich
ard; his half sister, the Countess of
Perche, and a brilliant company
weighed anchor. : She was under the
command of Thomas Fitzstephen, an
experienced sea captain. who himself
took the helm. s 81 sgs. ri, .
( The night was bright and clear;
there was a moon. The prince, as
gay, wild and lawless as he was brave,
called for wine and music. Mobiles and
ladies' danced on the scarcely heaving
deck, They drank often; the captain
and sailors oftener They were only a
little way on their journey when the
ship ran full upon rocky reef, well
known and charted, that rent her like
a knife.
The shock sobered Fitzstephen. He
seized Prince William. rushed him to
a boat. sprang in himself. witha few
sailors. and pushed off. They were
several boat lengths distant and safe
fhn 80 icfo CHI s11- IN
him from the slanting deck to save
her. He ordered the boat back, des-
pite the protests of Fitzstephen. who
foresaw what would happen. AS they
,neared the heeling wreck and the
prince held out his arms his sister
leaped-but not she alone. Under the
scrambling. leaping. frantic crowd that
dropped into the small boat it swamp
ed, and all were drowned.
Only one man Of all those on the
White Ship survived. and he was a
poor butcher of Rouen. a strong swim
mer, who foated on spar until a fish
erman rescued him. He brought the
news to England and to the court.
Then for a whole day the courtiers. al
though many Of them were themselves
mourners for the lost, kept it from the
king. No one dared to tell him. At
last they found an envoy whom he
could neither hate nor punish as
messenger of evil tidings. That was
a young page. son Of the Count Of
Blois and King Henry's own grand
nephew. The lad. dressed in deep
mourning. knelt silently at the kings
feet. weeping. until the king, seeing
his pale face and his tears. half guess
ed the news. Then the boy faltered
out the story. King Henry fell sense
less when it was ended.
So great was the blow to his affec-
ton and ambition that tradition de-
clares that he never smiled again. q
tradition embodied in some once we'll
known verses by Felicia Hemans. A
greater poet, Dante Gabriel Rosseth,
in his fine and true ballad. .'The White
Ship" has told the whole story. put
ting the narrative into the mouth of
the sole survivor,