The Wreck of the Norges

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1033, 6 July 1904, Page 2

The Wreck of the Norges

The Death fioll 600 of Hi 6 Passengers and Crew Perisli A Brave Swedish Youth Sacrifices Himself to Save His Sister An Heroic Officer Jumps from an Overloaded Boat Prau AMoautlon.—uopyrlalifc Copenhagen, July 5 I'HE Norges' crew numbered (!8 and the passengers 091. Captain Gmidel sank with the ship, but was rescued after swimming for an hour and a half witli the engineer. Thy saved include 8 of the crew and 12,' l puasongers.

Captain (iiiiklcl ami ilm ollicDfn and craw acted splendidly, but Dm vessel settling in ten minutes level with the water's edge, and founder, ing in another ten, the utmost discipline was of little avail. Tlio passengers wore aroused from sleep at a quarter to eight in the morning. There wero desperate lights to resell the boats, thre» of which were 'lashed to pieces, thus adding to the panic and frantic despair of those gathered oil the deck. Many instances of self-sacrifice wero witnessed wlion the lifeboat which was subsequently rescued by the Grimsby trawler, was swung out. A Swedish youth of 17 exclaimed 11 Where's my sister'?" Ho then stepped back and found her kneeling in prayer. He kissed her, placed her in the boat, and then waved her a farewell and went down with the ship, An officer, finding the boat overweighted, jumped into the sea and vainly tried to swim to anothop boat.

Iloartrending narratives aro told of the struggles in the water of those who were denied admission to the overladen boats, The rescuers passed hundreds of corpses of thoso who had died from exposure, though they had life belts on. There were 200 children aboard. The emigrants were labourers and peasants availing themselves of the reduced fares to America. Some were Polish Jews escaping from military service in the Far East. • Tlio captain and crew disappeared when the vessel foundered, with their arms folded. Captain Gundtl declares that the ship struck a sunken rock ?ighteen miles south of Rockall. Seven boats got away safely and life rafts were cut adrift. Thirty-tour children, 1;> women, and 52 males were landed at Stornoway, They were shown every kindness and supplied with clothing and money to enable them to re. sumo their journey.