Floravej

Floravej (Danish).

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Flora.

The ship sets sail from Scotland. The destination is Kiel. Flora from Marstal leaves in the winter of 1875. The cargo includes coal. A westerly wind gives the ship a good start. But soon a snowstorm from the southeast hits. The ship tries to reach a port in Norway. But without success.

For six days, Flora drifts around in heavy storms and frost. The storm pulls the main boat, galley and wheelhouse overboard. The waves attack from all sides and on December 15, they take the rigging with them. The cargo shifts to one side and the ship listens. Now the waves have even more grip on the ship. On December 17, a wave breaks over the deck. Master and rig disappear into the sea.

The crew hasn't slept a wink in three days. But first mate Morten Seier knows that the cargo must go overboard. Otherwise, the ship is not light enough to get out of the deadly waves. The crew dare not open the hatch to the hold as the water washes onto the deck. Instead, they cut through the cabin bulkhead. The crew reaches the hold and tenaciously throws the coal cargo into the sea. Frozen in the blizzard, the six men dump 40 tons of coal in one night. 

The exhausted crew falls asleep. Captain Kroman and First Mate Seier in the cabin, and the rest in the empty hold. 

It takes until December 24th before the storm subsides and a Dutch cutter passes by. The 6 men on board are rescued while the Flora sinks.