Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-11
Danish Sailors
Rescued by Crews
Of MacMillan'S Party

Washington, Sept. 10-(AP)-Af-
ter battling an so mile gale and
rescuing the crew of two small boats
from the Island Taulk. Danish nav
al vessel. the steamer Bowdoin of
the Macmillan Arctic expedition,
has Joined the Peary at Godhaab,
Greenland.
A message to the National Geo
graphic Society today from MacMil-
Ian. sent by way of Springfield,
Mass. wildly pictures the struggles
Of the Danish sailors, their rescue
and deeds of heroism.
Both the crews OF the Bowdoin
and Peary took part in the rescue.
The men from the two boats, which
sank in the choppy waters Of God
haab harbor were token aboard the
latter vessel.
The Iris. Norwegian trawler,
which was in the harbor, broke from
her anchorage and went ashore. the
crew abandoning her without loss of
life
I'VE are lying in harbor of God
haab," Macmillan said. a terrible
gale struck tonight, (Sept. 81. The
wind Is raging between 20 and so
miles an hour and at times greater.
The Danish naval vessel, Island
Taulk, is also in harbor with us. The
harbor is well protected only on one
side. where the Stag Horn mountain
rises to a height of $500 feet. The
balance is comparatively exposed"
Shortly after the gale hit us we
heard the screams of men almost
alongside the Peary. Our entire per-
sonnet rushed on deck and the sight
that greeted our eyes was the small
power boat Of the Island Taulk full
of Danish naval sailors, towing a small
dory loaded with another group of sail
ors struggling helplessly against ter
rife sea. The wind and seas crashed
them against the side of the Peary.
"One Danish sailor, Lauritz Chris
Hansen. had forethought enough to
throw the heavy towline off the power
boat, which we made fast as it
swamped and Immediately sank. The /
dory swamped Immediately after {
wards.
THE Danish sailors were helpless in
this frigid Greenland water. with tenn
perature approximately % degrees, |
and the sea a seething mass of FORM |
All were clinging to the sides of the (,
sunken boats made fast to the Peary. |
Never have / seen a greater display |
Of unselfishness. consideration for the !,
other man and calmness in an emer- /
gency.
THE water was sweeping the many :
hands on the deck of the Feary, ready !,
to pull them aboard. But our rail Is |
six feet above The waterline. The crew |
seemed to a man to realize that they |
one by one, must be taken aboard up |,
The line. There was no fighting or try
Ing to push ahead Of the others. One !
by one We hauled them aboard, rescu- I
Ing every man Of the two boats.
THE Island Taulk was signalled
by flags. We advised them that all
their men were on board the Peary.
The men slipped their wet clothes
and dressed in dry clothes of the
personnel of the Peary. As this
is dictated they are all !
sleeping comfortably in our dining
saloon.
1.-THE last man to be hauled aboard |
was Einar Hansen, who permitted |
three men, who were behind him, to
be hauled aboard first. Great credit |
is due Chief Petty Officer Hans
knudsen. who handled his men ad-
"The sunken boats broke the line
a moment after we had hauled the |
men aboard. As this message is die |
tated, the gale is still raging and al |
though we have out our anchors, Of |
which we have two holding, we have |
steam up, ready to put our nose into |
1t If anchors let go. ]
THE Norwegian trawler Iris which
also Is lying in the harbor, broke her