Cedric - A deckhand's story

This is deckhand Martin Nielsen recounting his rescue from the ship Cedric. In December 1910, they had loaded coal in the English port city of Hull. The coal was headed for Gävle and the trip was going according to plan. The crew of 15 were looking forward to the upcoming Christmas.

But when Cedric approaches the Åland Sea, the weather has turned treacherous. At Grundkallen’s lightship, the wind picks up and the waves thrash at the ship. Shortly after 4 a.m., the ship grounds, fills quickly with water, and sinks. All of the crew are pulled below the surface, but nine of them surface and manage to climb into a lifeboat.

Martin Nielsen continues the story: "The boat was filled with water and our limbs started to get stiff. I shook my hands and tried to move as best as I could. But as I sat there, I saw another of my comrades get up and start shouting about all sorts of things. He was sick – his eyes had a wild look in them. He grabbed me by the arms and wanted to throw me overboard. 'Say hello to my wife and children', he said. Then a wave took him away."

After 17 hours of rowing, only three remain alive, Nielsen, the captain and a machinist. They rescue themselves and get ashore at Ängskär. Nielsen is exhausted as he waits on the shore while the other two look for help.

The wreck of Cedric stands today at a depth of almost 50 metres.