Saturday, February 11, 2012

Freighter Normannia ~ 17 January 1924

On January 16, 1824 the Normannia encountered a fierce gale off Frying Pan Shoals. Her crew tried valiantly at first to stem the rapidly gaining flood, but soon was compelled to call for help as the sea poured in faster than the pumps could eject it.
     Complying to their SOS was the coast guard cutter Moduc, the Henry R. Mallory and the Charles E. Hargood which was the first to arrive at the scene. 20 people were taken on board: 19 crew and, under protest, Captain Blom’s wife Anna who didn’t want to leave her husband. He insisted saying that “if she did not go he would drop her over the side into the boat.” Anna also saved her two pet dogs.
     Captain Blom and 6 of 7 officers remained on the Normannia in hopes that they could rig salvage lines before the Moduc arrived. After the Harwood arrived, the Mallory continued on her way to New York. By daybreak Captain Blom realized there was nothing he could do to save his ship and abandoned her with his officers. The Moduc arrived in time to catch a last glimpse of the Normannia as she sank completely out of sight.

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