The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-21
YOUNG OFFICER IS
HERO IN WRECK OF
GERMAN STEAMER
Four Dead, Many Injured as
Nazi Holiday Cruise Ends
in Disaster
BOAT SINKS IN FJORD
Crew Members Heroism Saves
Women From Drowning a.
Lifeboat Upssts

Stavanger, Norway, June 2l.-(R-
A young officer was singled out Thurs
day as the hero Of the wreck Of the
Nazt excursion steamer Dresden, Ia
which four women died and many
passengers were injured.
The steamer, carrying 1000 Ger
man Nazis on holiday jaunt, was
knitted by q rock Wednesday nieht in
the shallow Hardanger Tjord.
The Dresden, 14O0O-ton ship Of
the North German Lloyd line, sank
q. q. m. Thursday with only her bow
showing above water.
In the wild panic that followed
the crash. 20 women were lowered to
the water in Z lifeboat; it drilted
too close to the whirling propellors
and capsized.
Three women were lost and q fourth
snatched from the churning waters,
died soon afterward from her injur-
les.
Another lifeboat, also carrying 20
women, was being lowered when the
gear broke and the occupants were
flung into the sea.
The young officer. diving boldly
from the third deck of the steamship,
swan to the rescue Of the women, en-
couraging them and supporting the
weakest until q boat came to his aid.
Heroism Saves Many
But for his heroism, the survivors
Of the wreck said, the death toll
would have mounted much higher.
While the passengers sang his praises,
the young man withdrew modestly,
preferring that his name be not made
known.
The bitter hardships suffered
through the night by the survivors,
however, did not end with the COM
ing Of the day. They made the best
Of the limited facilities in stavanger
and the village Of Kopervik.
Most Of them were sheltered In ho-
tells and military barracks here as hos
pital facilities were quickly exhausted.
The rest, already exhausted by their
experience, were forced to walk the
Is miles to Kopervik where they slept
in local chapel.
This group suffered terribly from
an Icy wind during the night rs
did many who stopped in stavanger.
Most OF the survivors were thinly
clad, having been forced to flee the
ship before they could gather their
clothing.
In an attempt to relieve the situa-
ton, the hospital populace provided
bedding and the entire woman popu-
lation modified to provide food and
comfort.
Aroused From Dinner Table
The German consul at Stavanger
confirmed the number Of dead at
four, and said an untold number had
been injured in the stampede aboard
ship as the passengers were reused
from the dinner table by the crash.
The bodies Of two Of the drowned
women were recovered and brought
here while the third W. still sought.
A Norwegian pilot was aboard the
liner, cruising leisurely through this
picturesque section, when the tragedy
occurred. The shallow spot where
the steamer struck was clearly mark
ed but 1t was believed the pilot failed
to see 1t because Of q heavy mis-. and
q choppy sea.
Many Of the passengers were World
War veterans from the saAr region,
at sea for the first time. No children
were aboard.
A number Of women who were In
the boat which capsi1ed were taken
to . hospital here for immersion
and shock.
One Of the Dresden's officers said
that after the first shock Of the
catastrophe had been overcome the
passengers were calm. Rescue work
was hampered by heavy seas. whipped
up by = keen north Wind" he added.