WRECKS ON ICELAND COAST

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 March 1934, Page 11

WRECKS ON ICELAND COAST

THRILLING- story of shipwreck was told at Aberdeen on December 30 on the arrival of the crews of the Belgian fishing vessel. Jan Volders, of Ostend, and of the Aberdeen trawler Margaret Clark, both of which ran ashore on the rugged coast of Iceland. The crew of the Belgian vessel numbered fifteen, and that of the Margaret Clark twelve. They reached Peterhead oil board a steamer and were motored to Aberdeen (says the “NewsChronicle”).

Maurice Van de Gelde, the wireless operator of the .Tan Volders, said that the vessel ran ashore in thick weather near Reykjaness about. 3.30 a.m on December 24. He had only live minutes after the vessel struck to send out his call for help. The SOS was answered by an Iceland gunboat, which stated that she was coming to the rescue. Before he left the wireless cabin the water was up to his knees. In the darkness the crew attempted to launch a small boat, but it was smashed against the side of the ship. The vessel was lying at an angle and aft the water was up to the gallows. They had to take shelter on the bridge and in the whaleback. /

Oscar Verkouille, the skipper, madtrj a gallant attempt to reach the shore, i but after being in the. water for fifteen minutes he had to Ijc pulled on board

Belgian and Aberdeen Vessels

in an exhausted condition. Heavy seas swept over the. vessel and they were all soaked to the skin.

Eventually the gunboat arrived and tried to reach the shipwrecked crew with a small boat. Bor about six hours the gunboat worked before she. was successful in taking oif the crew, and they wore then landed at Reykjavik. The Margaret Clark ran ashore on the south coast of Iceland on December 11. Two members of the crew of the German trawler Ivonsul Dubbers lost their lives in an attempt to reach the Margaret Clark in a small boat. Mr Clark, the skipper of the Margaret. Clark, said that they struck about 1 o’clock iri the morning, when the- weather was thick. They took seven days to reach Reykjavik, travelling part of tht way on ponies. At Reykjavik the two shipwrecked crews met and fraternised along with, three sick English trawlermen, who had been receiving treatment in hospital, and four Germans, the survivors of the boat’s crew of the Ivonsul Dubbers, who managed to reach tha shore when their lifeboat foundered and tlieir shipmates lost their lives.

On Christmas night the whole party were the guests of the Iceland Government at a suppier and concert, at wdiich the Prime Minister of the country presided.