From The Evening Telegram, 10 May 1910, page 3.
The Normandy Loss.
Captain and Crew Arrive by the Steamer Portia.
On Sunday afternoon Capt. Hawthorne with the officers and crew of the ill-fated S. S. Normandy, arrived here from Tor’s Cove by the S. S. Portia, and from Capt. William Steele, the chief officer of the ship, the Telegram received particulars of the disaster shortly after his arrival.
The Captain of the ship with Mr. Constant, who was a passenger on board, were joint owners of the vessel—a new one—which was only launched two months ago and was making her maiden voyage across the Atlantic, when her career just beginning was cut short by collision with the rugged rocks of Great Island, just off Tor’s Cove, on the Southern Shore.
The ship left Millsboro, Yorkshire, three weeks ago and called at Holyhead, which she left for Toronto, Ontario, just two weeks ago yesterday. She had on board 1,800 tons of pig iron, a half cargo for the vessel, and from the day of her departure had rough weather with gales varying from N. W. to S. W., heavy sea and dense fog and torrential rain. Several times during the voyage the ship, was compelled to lay to, and so dense was the fog encountered that for 4 days in succession she had to run to half speed.
Wednesday last coming in over the Banks it was particularly stormy, but the vessel being half loaded was in good trim, and all things considered, proved to be a good sea boat. At certain periods of the voyage so thick was the fog that the ship’s head could hardly be discerned by men standing aft, and as a result the captain and officers had a very anxious time of it all through the voyage.
For six consecutive days no observations could be had, and during tho last few days the lead was kept going soundings being taken every four hours; while Thursday and Friday last as it was deemed the vessel was in the latitude of Cape Race, the lead was hove at intervals of an hour. The dense pall of fog continued to envelop the ship while the wind blew half a gale out of the S. W., and she continued running at half speed. Mr. Steele had the watch on deck for Friday night and was on the bridge with 4 others on deck with him to navigate the ship, when shortly after midnight he saw the “loom” of what he imagined to be an iceberg ahead of the ship. Putting the helm hard a starboard to clear the obstruction he sent the ship full speed ahead, and as she swept ahead he soon realized that it was the surf breaking over a reef of rocks. The vessel answered her helm instantly, when suddenly as she appeared to be falling off from the shoal her starboard bow struck it with such force that the ship’s hull vibrated with the shock, and the watch below and the passengers on board knew she had collided with the shore, as most of them were thrown from their berths and roused from their sleep by the force of the impact and hurriedly putting on what clothing they could lay hands on rushed on deck.
The ship had four water tight compartments and but for this fact all on board would have met a watery grave. She ran along the line of the reef with a grating noise, and the starboard side was torn completely out of her. She travelled almost the entire length of the shoal which ran about a half mile off from Great Island and went into deep water.
Eight minutes after striking the well was sounded and there were 9 feet of water reported in No. 1 hold. It was then seen that the ship was doomed, as she began to settle quickly by the head, and there was no time to be lost in getting out the three life boats swinging in the davits, if those on board were to be saved.
There were 21 men of a crew on board, with the captain’s wife and 4 children, nurse and maid, with Mr. Constant. One of the children was an infant only two months old. The women folk though naturally frightened obeyed implicitly the orders of the captain and officers, and being assured by them that there was no immediate danger, and that there was ample time to launch and man the boats they remained perfectly calm while the crew upheld the best traditions of British seamen. Every man was calm and collected, stood at his post and received and obeyed orders, and in a very short time the first boat was over the side. The captain asked Mr. Steele to take charge of this, and to take his wife and children and the other women folk with him while he (the captain) would look after the crew.
The boats were launched in about 5 minutes and the women and children were first placed in Mr. Steele’s boat, the crew carefully passing them safely down the ladder and into the stern sheets. Twelve men now entered this boat and she was pushed well off from the side fearing that if an accident did occur and the ship sank hurriedly the boat would be brought under with the suction. It was risky work getting the boats out as there was danger of their being stove against the side of the ship as she rolled and wallowed in the heavy sea running. There was also the danger of the boats filling with spray as they were rowed through the surf. Indeed the boat with the women and children on board filled almost with spray, and half the men worked hard bailing with buckets for half an hour before she was out clear of the reef. When the boat got out well clear of the foundering ship the wind seemed to increase, the rain fell in torrents and the women and poor little children suffered terribly for several hours until after daylight had appeared. While Mr. Steele and his crew waited outside with the boat’s head to the sea they were in a state of anxiety about the captain and the rest of the crew fearing an accident to their boat. Flare-ups were kept going to warn the captain of the position of the chief officer’s boat, and all were relieved after about a half hour to hear shouts coming from the other boat which was rowing towards them. When the captain left the steamer she was broad side on to the sea and wave after wave broke over her. Before pushing off from her the captain’s boat surged heavily against the Normandy’s side, and stove a hole in her plunks. The cries that greeted Mr. Steele’s ears when the captain’s boat came near were that she was sinking. As the boat came near she listed perceptibly, and in the heavy sea which ran, 7 of the men on board were washed out of her. Fortunately before leaving the ship all were supplied with life belts but for which some of the crew of the boat would have been drowned. In the darkness and amidst the howling of the gale and rushing of the waters it was some time before all were picked up. The men lay in the boat chilled and exhausted and saturated with water. Providentially Mr. Steele had seized a bottle of brandy before he left the ship, and a draught of this given to each man revived him and sent the blood once again going warmly through his veins. Six fresh men from Mr. Steele’s boat went aboard the captain’s, and by incessant bailing kept her afloat until daylight dawned when the boat was taken in tow, and as the dark line of the shore could be discerned inside, the boats were rowed quickly towards it, and they landed at St. Michael’s at 8 o’clock Saturday morning. One of the men of the place saw the boats approach and ran to the rest of the residents who soon had all ashore and comfortably housed. All were dripping wet and shivering with cold. Their wet clothing were taken off and dry apparel given them, and the officers say that they will never forget the kind treatment given them. But that the children had some rugs thrown over them in the boat they would have perished from exposure.
The crew lost all their clothes and effects; the captain’s wife losing £200 worth of jewelery, while the captain lost £50 worth of valuables, and Mr. Steele £40. The captain and his family and Mr. Constant were to reside in Toronto, and the ship was to ply in the grain trade on the Great Lakes.
The Normandy was built to carry freight and passengers, was lit with electricity and supplied with every modern convenience. Mr. Steele was captain of the Lord Londonderry, and two months ago she was burned to the waters edge at Hull. In the fire he then lost all his effects, and only last month he bought a new stock of nautical instruments. The crew will return home the first opportunity.