Thrilling Experience at Sea

THRILLING EXPERIENCE AT SEA. BY
ELDER JOHN A.
HENDRICKSON,
PRESIDENT
OF THE CHRISTIANIA CONFERENCE, NORWAY. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. — (Psalms 42: 7, 8). Let me tell the readers of the Era of an incident in my ex- perience which happened on the evening of November 29, 1903, as I was on a journey over the Baltic, from Stockholm to Finland. We had nearly passed over the Baltic and were well up towards the gulf of Finland, sailing on smoothly, and apparently securely, in the handsome steamer Wellamo. It was five o'clock in the afternoon, at which time, during this season, it is well-nigh dark. The steamer was built for accommodating about five hundred passen- gers, but had only fifty on board. We had just eaten dinner, and I had returned to my room to adjust my toilet. Every person on board seemed happy in the thought of reaching land within two hours, when suddenly, and without warning, the boat began making motions similar to those of an engine which has jumped its beaten track. Instinctively we all knew what had happened. Hidden rocks under the water had struck the vessel! In deep silence the passengers stood astounded, scarcely breathing, when suddenly the ship began turning, and then it dawned upon us that the trouble was perhaps more serious than we had anticipated. Everyone scamp- ered on deck, myself included, and we then saw that the ship was gradually going over. Darkness had settled down upon the waters; a strong wind was moaning in the rigging, and the snow des- cended with the gusts.

292 IMPROVEMENT ERA. I returned to my state room, put on my fur coat, muffler, and other effects, and kneeling down offered a few words of prayer; then, clinging to the sides of the railing, I climbed on ' deck again. I met the fireman first, his face was black as Cain's. Breathless, I asked him if there was danger! I know not what he answered, but saw that he was buckling on his life preserver. On deck, there was all confusion! In answer to my prayer I had received an as- surance that my life was safe, yet, notwithstanding, I experienced an uncomfortable feeling. Life protectors were called for, and, a bunch lying close beside me, I began handing them out as rapidly as I could to those who called. When all were provided, there was but one left, which was on the upper side of the boat, and that one was without the necessary strings; so it appeared that 1 would have none. Men and women, from the captain down, were well provided with cork-belts, and, indeed, appeared ready for a wet time. Great excitement prevailed in the darkness. The scene was one never to be forgotten; but, in the midst of it all, I noticed that on an occasion of this kind many people believe in prayer; in fact, no one knows how many people believe in calling upon God, until they are caught in some such circumstance as this. Several women asked me to help them, I cannot say why they did so, un- less it was that I was not loaded down with life protectors. I tried to calm them, and told them that we would be safe, but, at that time, it looked hopeless. In about ten minutes, the boat was well over on its side. Tables and all other movable affairs were turned up-side down; the people were rushing hither and thither almost frantic! The boat then struck another rock, and could proceed no further. The cap- tain shouted, "No danger!" but few there were who believed him. Women were weeping, men were yelling, and all on board hung close to the upper railing. The passengers waited thus for two hours in the darkness and storm, with their life preservers buckled on. An effort was made to lower the life boats, and they were lowered^ but the wind was so fierce as to make their use unsafe. At one o'clock in the morning, the Lord favored us, and we were picked up by a passing boat, and at 3 :30 landed in safety at Hango, Fin- land. Just before leaving the wreck, the storm ceased, and the

THRILLING EXPERIENCE AT SEA. 293 moon came out from the scurrying bars of clouds, shining brightly upon us as we sailed away from the old ship Wellamo, which now hung upon her side upon the treacherous rocks. Many thoughts en- tered my mind as to what might have been, and among the fore- most of these was this one, The Lord protects the shipwrecked, when Saints or Elders are on board. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. — (Psalms 107: 23-31). THE DAWN OF TRUTH. {For the Improvement Era). BY T.
E.
CURTIS,
SALT
LAKE CITY. Fountain-like, the morning breaks. And scatters out her golden sprays; Behold yon rocky, mountain peaks. Like burning altars set ablaze. Again from the eternal shore, A wave of light rolls forth, and spills Its flood of golden glory o'er The summits of a thousand hills.