Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-01-08
AN OCEAN TRAGEDY
The Wreck of the White Ship
Nearly Eight Centuries Ago.
FATE or AN HEIR TO A CROWN.
From a Scene of Wild Revelry on
Board the Doomed Vessel Prince
William of England Went to Death
Trvino 70 Save t1js Sister.

William of England Went to Death
Trying to Save His Sister.
Nearly eight centuries ago there oc-
CARED an English shipwreck that may
be ranked I'm 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-scarcely hand
eui--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 10 hear her call for help, although
her companions OF the kings feet were
90 near that tradition says the nearest
caught faint, shrill wind borne cry. a
shrek a little different than that of
the shrieking gulis-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., a
Norman king, and of his queen, Edith,
or Matilda, an English princess. held II
position Of especial Importance and in
nuence, for he represented the union
IN the royal line of the two races. The
old title OF the Saxon kings had been
revived for him. He was called VII
nam the ,Atheltng. Although only a
boy OF eighteen, he had been recently
married to the French princess Matil-
ia, to whom he had been betrethed
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 courageous and chiv-
alrous opponent After victory was at
tanned King Henry. William the Athe-
hing and the leaders of the campaign
set sail from Harfieur 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
no asked that 1t 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 brilliant company
weighed anchor. She was under the
: command OF Thomas christopher. an
experienced sea captain, who himself
took tho helm.
The night was bright and clear;
there was moon. The prince, as
say. wild and lawless as he was brave,
called for wine and music. Mobiles and
ladies danced on the scarcely heavtng
Geek. They drank often; the captain
and sailors oftener. They were only a
nttls way on their journey when the
ahip ran full upon rocky reef. we'll
hnown and charted. that rent her like
a knife.
The shock sobered Fitzstephen. He
seixed Prince Williarn. rushed him to
q boat. sprang In himself. with a few
sailors, and pushed Off. They were
several boat lengths distant and safe
when the princes sister shrieked 10
him. from the slanting deck TO save
her. He ordered the boat back. des-
pite the protests Of Fitzstephen. who
fcresaw what would happen. AS they
neared the heeling wreck and the
prince held out his arms his sister
lesped-but not she alone Under the
scrambling. leaping. =frnntic crowd that
dropped into the small boat 1t swamp
ed, and all were drowned.
Only one man OF all those on the
-
poor butcher of Rouen. strong swim
xner. who fioated on a spar until a fish
errnan rescued him. He brought the
news TO England and to the court
Then for a whole day the courtiers, al
enough many Of them were themselves
ncurners for the lost, kept 1t from the
kfnS, No one dared TO tell him. At
last they found an envoy whom he
could neither hate nor punish IS a
messenger OF evil tidings. That was
2 young page. son of the Count OF
Bsois 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
90 tho news Then the boy faltercd
cot the sto-y, King Henry fell sense
kssss when Ii was ended
So great was the blow TO hts affec-
e&on and ambition that tradition de-
eisres that he never smiled again. a
erwditiou embodied in some once we'll
known verses by Felicia Hemans A
greater poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
IN his fine and true ballad. THE White
Ehsp." has told the whole story, put
ssng the narrative into the moth OF
shs sole survivor:
BY none but me can era tale be told,
Tue butcher OF Rc0er. poor Berold
LANDS are ssayed by king on a
throne.l
-x>was a royal traln put forth 70 sea,
Vet the tale can be told by none but me-
CTThe sea hath no kipsabut God alone)