The Sinking of the Norge

The Sinking of the Norge This article was forst printed in the Budstikken, May 2005. The Budstikken is a publication of the Valdres Samband. The article was transcribed for this site by Jo Anne Sadler, and is reprinted here with kind permission of Valdres Samband and Dan Hovland
Home The S/S Atlantic of the White Star Line, disaster in 1873 About the sinking of the S/S Atlantic and the Norwegian and Scandinavian passengers involved. This ship went down off Halifax in 1873, of the 957 passengers aboard, 545 lost their lives Those Norwegian names, tips for the "online" researcher Did you meet the brick wall while researching your Norwegian ancestors online? This article might give some new clues. PORT OF NEW YORK PASSENGER RECORDS Jo Anne has written several research articles for the Southern California Genealogical Society Journal, The Searcher. This is an updated, shorter version of her article regarding the New York Passenger Records. It originally appeared in the November/Decem Maritime inscription - registers of seamen An example on what you may find in the maritime inscription records, and some information about where to find them. Hunting Passenger Lists An article describing how, and where, to look for passenger information about Norwegian emigrants. Featuring: US Arrivals, Records of the U.S. Customs Service, (1820 - ca. 1891), Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, (1891 - 1957), Canadi THE 31 NORWEGIANS ON THE "TITANIC" When the legendary Titanic set sail from Queenstown, Ireland, her last port of call, on 11 April 1912, there were 31 passengers of Norwegian origin on board. This article tells the story of how the 31 travelled to the Titanic, and is mainly based on Chapt The collision between the Thingvalla and the Geiser - STORY OF THE SURVIVORS The Thrilling Story of the Sinking of the Gesier, The S/S Thingvalla arrives in port. From The Halifax Morning Herald Mon. 20 Aug. 1888. THE CATASTROPHE OFF SABLE ISLAND, Captain Møller's Version. —A Passenger says The Thingvalla Officers Are to Blame. —A The Collision between the Thingvalla and the Geiser, Details of the disaster The Thrilling Story of the Sinking of the Gesier, The S/S Thingvalla arrives in port. From the Halifax Morning Herald Sat. Aug 18, 1888 S/S Montebello - embarkation in Christiania Hunting Passenger Lists & Genealogy A selection of articles dedicated to help you in your search for your Norwegian ancestors. Also including articles about Pioneers & Norwegian Settlements Around the World Ships & Disasters Articles about selected ships, Transcripts and pictures of historic documents in connection with the ships and emigration. NORSEWOOD - NEW ZEALAND Kiwi Vikings and a little bit of Norway Downunder. Norsewood historical background The Transatlantic Crossing This article focuses mainly on the transatlantic journey. It is the story of how the Norwegians going to America in the time between 1825 and 1925 would travel. It also gives some insight to the amazing development in how ships were constructed and the tr Passenger Act 1819 An Act regulating passenger ships and vessels. (Transcription) Nice to know - Things to know about ships Ships and rigging, an explanatory article about different kind of rigs and ships, nautical terms like the "tween deck", and so on Passenger Act 1828 An Act to regulate the Carriage of Passengers in Merchants Vessels from the United Kingdom to the Continent and Islands of North America (transcript) Sources - Time line - Records to Norwegian emigrants This is a diagram which shows the most important records to Norwegian emigration. NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA –SEARCHING THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION RECORDS (1925-1935) DATABASE Have you come across an ancestor whose life story intrigues you? Does one person in particular stand out from the crowd? Did this ancestor live in Canada, then this article will be a very good tip about where to look next. Agent's authorization This are examples of authorization papers issued for a agents representing steamship companies in Norway. They were issued by the general agent in Norway, and co-signed by the police. Emigration contracts - passenger contracts The emigration contracts made out between the emigration agents and the emigrants. Migration from Northern Europe to America via the Port of Hull, 1848-1914 During the period 1836 - 1914 Hull developed a pivotal role in the movement of transmigrants via the UK. During this period over 2.2 million transmigrants passed through Hull. For a long period of time this was the most common route for Norwegian emigrant The gathering to Zion - Mormon emigration from Norway On 11th September 1851 the first missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in Norway. The early Mormon missionaries experienced enormous difficulties as they travelled throughout Denmark, Norway and Sweden spreading the word The LONG Crossing of the Hannah Parr - Background Essay The fascinating story of the Hannah Parr crossing the atlantic in 1868, the ship encountered serious trouble on the way. This is probably one of the best documented crossings of a norwegian emigrant ship of that era, thanks to Clair O. Hagen and James Ove The Sloopers - pioneers in Norwegian emigration On July 5 1825 the sloop Restaurasjon left from Stavanger with 52 people aboard. This is considered to be the first organized emigration party to leave from Norway. Amund O. Eidsmoe's Story of His Own Life "The Norwegian Settler's Story" - Including an account of his voyage and his history of the disaster on Lake Erie. Robert R. Eidsmoe of Rio Verde, Arizona, the grandson of Amund forwarded an extract from his story, and have granted us permission to presen Disaster on Lake Erie in 1852 Altogether 67 Norwegian emigrants lost their life when the steamboats "Ogdensburg" and "Atlantic" collided on Lake Erie in 1852. The SURVIVORS OF the S/S NORGE This transcript of an article printed in The Alexandria Post on Thursday 21 July 1904, was submitted by Debbie Dahl-Cole. Tom Solberg who is a genealogist for the Douglas County Historical Society in Minnesota furnished the article. The Great Liners How great were the liners really? - We are displaying some pictures from a Cunard Line "Comparisons" booklet issued by the company some time around 1925 A voyage from Norway to America in 1911 A voyage from Bergen - Newcastle on the S/S Hera, Liverpool - New York on the S/S Mauretania. The story was told by Bastian Fylling from Fyllingen in Hamre Parish north of Bergen. The story is about his voyage from Norway to America in 1911. It is present Statistics concerning the transatlantic crossing How long did it take to cross the Atlantic by sail? What was the The average crossing time? How long did the longest voyage last? Find out more from our figures relating to data based on 589 voyages. Sanitary Condition of Emigrants arriving in the Port of Hull This is the 5th of 5 reports dealing with the conditions of Scandinavian emigrants traveling from Scandinavian ports on the Wilson Line ships, to the Port of Hull. This 5th report is written by Hubert Airy, the Medical Officer in Hull. It is a report abou Concerning the comfort and protection of emigrants passing through Hull This is the 4th of 5 reports dealing with the conditions of Scandinavian emigrants traveling from Scandinavian ports on the Wilson Line ships, to the Port of Hull. This 4th report is written by W. Cowie., to the Board of Trade in England in 1882. This is Conditions for emigrants on the voyage from Christiania to Hull This is the first of 5 reports dealing with the conditions of Scandinavian emigrants traveling from Scandinavian ports on the Wilson Line ships, to the Port of Hull. This first report is written by Charles P Wilson, Principal Officer at the Marine Departm Conditions for emigrants on the voyage from Gothenburg to Hull This is the second of 5 reports dealing with the conditions of Scandinavian emigrants traveling from Scandinavian ports on the Wilson Line ships, to the Port of Hull. This second report is written by Charles P Wilson, Principal Officer at the Marine Depar Accommodation for emigrants in Hull Reports relating to the conveyance & transit of emigrants 1881 - 1882 Prospects from Hull Many emigrants traveled via Hull on their way to America, they would have disembarked from their steam packet at the "Steam Packet Wharf". This landing stage was located within the Humber Dock Basin. This page shows a collection of prospects from the diff Memories from a voyage on the Christiane in 1851 Excerpted from an account written in about 1905 by Ole Ellingsen Strand Cost of passage, Norway - America A COLLECTION OF PRICE EXAMPLES The Anchor Line and Allan Line agents, 1870 newspaper campaign The cooperation between the competing companies was not always smooth. In 1870 there was quite a newspaper campaign between the agent of the Anchor Line and the Allan Line Alardus - German fever ship from Hamburg to Queensland Ian Gordon of Perth, Western Australia, has compiled a document concerning extracts from the newspapers of the day in connection to the passage of the fever ship Alardus. The voyage is known to have been one of the longest of any ship sailing from Germany The last of the S/S Missouri's boats to leave the sinking S/S Danmark The Sinking of the S/S Danmark A newspaper account concerning the sinking of the S/S DANMARK. It has been transcribed and submitted by Kristin Brue. A. B. Wilse's journey on the S/S Geiser in 1888 The collision between the S/S Thingvalla and the S/S Geiser - A passenger account of the disaster Collision between the Thingvalla and the Geiser - newspaper excerpts Excerpts from an article in the NEW YORK TIMES. It is dated Friday, August 17, 1888, page 2, column 3. Transcribed and contributed by Jeanne Nelson. The sinking of the Dominion Line steamship "Scotsman" in 1899 Eleven of the Scotsman's Passengers lost - WHILE LEAVING THE WRECKED STEAMSHIP - ALL WERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. Vessel is a Total Loss - Particulars of the Disaster - Great Suffering Endured. A transcript from the Saint John Globe, bringing the story about The collision between the S/S Umbria and the S/S Iberia in 1888 This is a transcript from the Harpers Weekly of November 24, 1888. It gives a report about the collision between the S/S Umbria of the Cunard Line, and the S/S Iberia of the Fabre Line. The disaster renewed an ongoing discussion, as to the safety of steam The marine disaster - collision between the Thingvalla and Geiser in 1888 This article and engraving of the S/S Thingvalla was printed in the Scientific American in November 1888. The Collision between the S/S Empress of Ireland and the S/S Storstad This article was provided by Marion Kelch, chairperson of the Empress of Ireland Artifacts Committee. The Empress of Ireland sank in the St. Lawrence River the night of May 29, 1914, after colliding with the Norwegian collier S/S Storstad. The accident to BURNING OF THE STEAMSHIP CITY OF MONTREAL ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN IN 1887 The ship caught fire at sea. She was carrying a cargo of 8,000 bales of raw American cotton, and was the 73rd ship with such cargo to catch fire in only 5 months. The passengers and crew were rescued by the S/S York City of the Furness Line. This is a tra Account of the collision between the S/S Europa and brig Charles Bartlett This is an account of the collision between the S/S Europa and brig Charles Bartlett in 1849. The previous year the Cunard steamship Europa had set a new transatlantic record when crossing from Liverpool to New York in 11 days and 3 hours. At the time of Recovering the dead, the cargo and valuables from the wreck of the S/S Atlantic The story and illustrations showing various incidents and phases of the operations of recovering the the dead, the cargo and valuables from the wreck of the S/S Atlantic conducted off Marr's Island in 1873 The Rescue of the Passengers of the S/S Danmark This article about the rescue of the passenger on the S/S Danmark in 1889, is really a magnificent story. The steamer Missouri mastered by Captain Murrell rescued in mid-ocean the 735 passengers and crew from the disabled and sinking steamship, which was On deck of the Cunard Line steamship GALLIA in 1879 S/S Hellig Olav at pier in Kristiania Emigrants departing from home OUTBRAKE OF CHOLERA AND QUARANTINE AT NEW YORK HARBOR 1892 Transcriptions of two articles about the quarantine facilities and outbreak of Cholera in New York harbor 1892, originally printed in the Harpers Weekly Journal of Civilization September 17, 1892 Norwegian Traits - as seen by a traveler to Norway in 1876 This is a transcript of an article printed in Scribners Magazine 130 years ago. It is quite interesting reading, hmmm...., I wonder what has changed. I thought this article would be nice reading for Christmas. Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year! Emigrants departing for Hull NORWEGIAN RURAL CUSTOMS AND COSTUMES History and contemporary practice as seen by an Englishman at the turn of the century The S/S Norge disaster - newspaper reports This is the story of the sinking of the Norge as reported day by day in the press. The ship went down on June 28th 1904, and by July 4th the news were all over the front pages of the mayor newspapers. Jo Anne Sadler has transcribed the reports from The Ne The promenade deck - S/S United States THE TALE OF THE UMBRIA, shaft breaking in mid-Atlantic, 1892 In lat. 42 48 N., long. 57 17 W., a strong breeze was blowing from the north-west. At 5.25 p.m. the engines stopped, owing to the shaft breaking at the thrust block. The wind and sea were moderate. The repairs to the shaft lasted four days, and took place THE RECORD RACE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC The Hamburg Liner "Deutchland's" Victory, winning the blue riband from the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, when crossing the Atlantic from New York to Plymouth in 5 days 7 hours and 38 minutes S/S FREDERIK VIII - agent Lie Passengers on the 3rd class promenade deck The Sinking of the Waesland The Waesland was built in 1867, and was an old ship when she sank off the Anglesey coast of Wales after colliding in the fog with the Harmonides in 1902. There were two casualties resulting from this incident and the Waesland was also lost. Norwegian passenger act - 1869 On May 22nd, 1869 a new law was passed, concerning the conveyance of passengers to foreign parts of the world. This law was intended to protect the emigrants against trickery from the emigration agents and the companies they represented. Prior to this, co Scandinavian America Line, departure Copenhagen United States - Passenger act of 1882 This is an act regulating many aspects of the activities aboard an emigrant ship. It deals with accommodations, light and air provisions, medical attendance, discipline and cleanliness, privacy of passengers, carrying of explosives and cattle, boarding o THE CASTLE GARDEN FIRE - 1876 On Sunday afternoon, July 9, 1876, a fire destroyed the main immigration depot building within the walls of the old stone fortress. At the time of the fire there were 120 immigrants in the building. It was supposed that nearly one thousand pieces of bagga Steerage passengers on deck ANDERS MONSON HOGHAUG, A Norwegian pioneer Biography of Anders Monson Hoghaug, born in Aadalen 1842. He emigrated to America on the Refondo in 1868, and lived to be 100 years old, passing away in 1943. The biography tells about the voyage, the many moves in America, his return to Norway after the Passengers boarding at Kristiansand Cunard Liner Mauretania leaving the Tyne after lauch Emigrants departing Copenhagen Junior Marine Engineer on Frederik VIII, 1923-25 This is part of William Elmgreen's (1902-1990) autobiography. He was born in Denmark, and grew up in Lemvig, Jutland. In 1923 he became a Junior Marine Engineer on the Scandinavian America Line steamship "Frederick VIII", and sailed on her till 1925. The Guion Line steamer Arizona colliding with an iceberg in 1879 In 1879 the new Buion Line record breaker S/S Arizone on voyage New York - Liverpool, ran full speed into a huge iceberg, proceeded to St. John's for repairs with her bow completely smashed up almost to the collision bulkhead Abaft What is the abaft of a ship? Aft What is the aft of a ship? Athwart Thwartships Alleyway What is an alleyway on a ship? Altitude Hold Ballast Early Norwegian Immigrants on the Erie Canal Immigrants who arrived at the Port of New York from 1825 to the early 1850's and were going to the Mid-west most likely would have traveled on the Erie Canal. This narrative is not meant to be a definitive history of the Erie Canal but to convey some of The transatlantic passage by Norddeutscher Lloyd steamers, Bremen - Southampton - New York. The traveling process and crossing as described 1888. Bridge What is the bridge of a ship? GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PASSENGERS-SECOND CLASS. White Star Line ca. 1905 This article contains information and bill of fare for White Star Line passengers traveling second class about 1905. There are second class plans for the steamships Celtic, Cedric, Baltic Teutonic, Majestic and Oceanic. Hannah Parr anonymous woman’s voyage account 1868 Anonymous woman’s voyage account published in Morgenbladet 11 June 1868. Found by Trond Austheim during a search for emigrant ship news stories for Norway Heritage. Clipping facsimiles received from Børge Solem. Translation © 2009 Clair O. Haugen.	This article was forst printed in the Budstikken, May 2005. The Budstikken is a publication of the Valdres Samband. The article was transcribed for this site by Jo Anne Sadler, and is reprinted here with kind permission of Valdres Samband and Dan Hovland. The Sinking of the Norge by Dan Hovland Eight years before the Atlantic Ocean claimed the Luxury Ship titanic, a Danish steamer, the Norge, left the Norwegian port of Trondheim [], bound for America. Among the nearly 800 passengers were Justina Maria Wedin and her nine children. Justina and her family were on their way to join her husband, Martin Wedin, who had been working in Minnesota, trying to establish a home in Morrison County. Martin and Justina were married in Borgvattnet, Sweden, in 1884. With a new child being brought into their world every couple of years, their poor farm did not hold much promise for the future. Martin traveled to Minnesota to work and find a home for his family. He found work in the woods near Duluth, cutting wood, and also worked for his sister's husband, John S. Borgstrom, who at that time was farming and running a store in the settlement in Upsala in southwestern Morrison County, MN. During those years Martin made several trips back to see his family. By the spring of 1904, Martin had earned enough to pay for the tickets his family needed to join him. Justina was then responsible to get her children ready to cross the Atlantic and go on to Minnesota. By this time there were nine children: Martin Jr., 19; Johan, 18; Alma, 15; Fridolf, 13; Frida, 11; Frans, 8; Thure, 4; Hugo, 3 and Ruben, 1. Justina was an able mother and prepared her children with diligence and excitement. They sold their humble home and belongings at an auction. In mid-June they left their friends and traveled by horse and wagon, as well as train, to Trondheim. There [] they boarded the steamship, Norge, joining nearly 800 other Scandinavians. The first few days of the trip were both beautiful and pleasant. Then came the 28th of June. Three hundred miles west of Scotland, sleeping passengers were jolted from their slumber by a loud grinding, rasping sound. The Norge's bow had struck the rocks around the sixty-foot Rockall Cliff, tearing a hole in the hull. A newspaper picture of the cliff Rockall after the S/S Norge disaster in 1904 Clanging bells signaled crewmembers to stop the engines. Pumps were engaged and passengers were instructed to put on life belts. Lifeboats were readied and passengers began to board them. The nose of the ship was pinned directly against the rocks. Captain Gundell ordered the engine room to reverse the engines to pull the ship off. Unfortunately, the damage was sever and as soon as the ship was away water began pouring into the hold. Panic broke out as the catastrophic nature of the situation became evident. The passengers who were piled into the few boats being lowered were the fortunate ones, while the others could see they were about to go down with the rapidly sinking Norge. Justina Wedin stood by the railing with her children, wondering if any of them would be saved. Far below she saw a lifeboat filled with people. With despair in her heart she took her four-year-old son, Thure, and cast him into the boat, just as it was rowed away. Her eldest son, Martin, fearing the fate of his brother, jumped into the water and swam after the boat. He pleaded to those in the boat to let him in, but fearing it was too full, they pushed him away. Suddenly, a large wave swelled up below him and lifted him right into the boat where he was safe from the sea. Justina and her seven other children were not to be saved. Less than twenty minutes after striking the rocks, the Norge plunged beneath the waves, taking nearly 700 passengers with her. The English Steamship Cerwona eventually picked up the boat that the Wedin boys were in. Young Thure had been injured in his fall to the lifeboat and developed typhoid fever. He recovered, however, with the help of his brother and kind people in Scotland. It was a devastating blow when news of the disaster reached Martin Sr. He left his work near Duluth, MN. They would share his grief, but they could not remove it. Martin did not know at first that two of his sons had been saved until a telegram arrived from Scotland. It was bittersweet news but provided something for him to look forward to. In August, Martin Jr. and Thure arrived in Upsala. They were greeted by a large number of people who did their best to bid them welcome and show their sympathy to the father and his two sons for their tremendous loss. The loss of Justina Wedin and her family was felt deeply in Sweden, too. They had been an import part of their community and their memory stayed with them. Fifty years after the disaster, a memorial plaque was placed at the site of the Wedin home in Borgvattner. Martin Wedin Sr. showed great courage and went on with his life. In 1909 he married Hilma Anderson of Alexandria. They lived on a farm just west of Upsala. Martin died June 21, 1950 at the age of ninety-one. Martin Jr. (known as little Martin) eventually moved to Duluth. He and wife Astrid, had seven children. He did September 12, 1950. Thure (known as Lawrence) was raised by John and Anna Borgstrom. He ran a business in Upsala for a while, married Myrtle Berg and had four sons. Lawrence moved to California where he died in June 1978. Sources: Interviews with Frances Wedin Groth (daughter of Martin Wedin, Sr.), Myrtle Wedin Mockros (cousin to Frances, and Muriel Berg Peterson. Papers belonging to Myrtle Mockros, including: "Landheim, Arvid." "For fifty years, a Tragic Memory", 1954 (translated by K. John Olson). "Many Lost At Sea", from "Nordstjernan (1846-1996, No. 17, Vol. 17. Newspaper articles from the Ostersunds-Posten, August 12, 1989 (including story of shipwreck and Myrtle Mockros trip to Sweden; translated by Anna Smedman, Feb. 1998). Little Falls Daily Transcript, July 5-9 and August 24, 1904 (located at Morrison County Historical Society). Photographs from Upsala Area Historical Society. Morrison and Todd County Minnesota, 1915, Axel Martin Borgstrom history, p. 404 (located at Morrison County Historical Society). [* - The passengers from Trondhjem actually boarded the ship in Kristiania (now Oslo) after traveling from Trondhjem to Kristiania by train] Norge, Thingvalla and Acandinavian America Line steamship Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy