On board were five people aged between 19 and 52. The weather was bad when the boat heads home. This was to be the last observation made of the boat. Because neither the person nor those on board never came home to Skarstad.
In the following days of searching, it turned out that a tragedy had occurred at Tjeldodden. One girl was found dead, the other four were never found.
Albert Aronsen (52 years old) from Skarstad had borrowed an eight-ring with an engine on board from Rikard Valle and went to Lødingen to stock up on provisions before the start of the Lofoten fishery. Albert was not alone. On the trip to Lødingen, his son Arne Aronsen (21 years old), his sister’s son Aron Olsen (23 years old) and Birgitte Schrøder (49 years old) from Slåttvik also followed.
The boat went to Moumkaien where they also bought some goods from Moum that were taken on board. Fuel and coal were also collected, – this was to be used at home in Skarstad during the Lofoten fishery. As it was loaded on board, the boat became quite heavy in the sea.
While they are in Lødingen, Albert’s daughter – Gurine Aronsen (19 years old), also arrives with the local boat from Tysfjord. She chose to go back home with her father.
This was Tuesday 07. January, and they were supposed to start the journey home that day. However, the weather became bad with wind (gale – partly storm) and snow. This meant that the return trip was postponed and accommodation took place in Lødingen.
During the night, the wind died down and on Wednesday evening the boat left Lødingen harbour. This was the last observation made. As can be deduced from the media at the time, the wind had probably blown up again. It was southwest-west gale (partly storm) and it snowed heavily. In addition, there was a lot of current into the Vestfjord.
At home in Skarstad, you sense peace and no danger. But as time passed and those who were supposed to come home had not arrived, people became uneasy. Thursday passed and Friday came, no one had come home. From Skarstad, it was asked around the local area if anyone had seen the boaters. No, no one had.
Lødingen was contacted on Friday to hear, where they learned from there that the boat had left Lødingen on Wednesday evening. They did not believe that an accident had occurred, but perhaps thought that they were stuck in the weather in some places, or had suffered an engine failure. The eight-year-old left Lødingen at such a time that they should have met the local boat from Narvik. But nothing had been observed from the local boat.
Several people from Skarstad joined forces and went out with M/K “Vandringen” to look for the engine eight with the five on board. More people came to help with the search. All Friday it was easy, without result. On Saturday 12. January, the search started again where thorough investigations were made at Tjeldodden. Then discoveries were made.
The small boat (rowing boat) that came with it was found drifting – it was empty. Then Gurine was found dead in Karvevika next to a herring box. She had probably clung to the crate and managed to get to shore.
It came to light afterwards that some screams had been heard about Wednesday evening by the people of Tjeldodden – more specifically at the mill “Neset” where the house of Jakobine Jakobsen (married Gundersen) stood. The house was not very far from Karvevika. Jakobine was a widow and had some of the 7 children with her. They thought it was seagulls screaming at what they heard, but it must have been Gurine who called for help. She finally froze to death down on the shore.
When Gurine was found, the people began to realize that an accident had occurred. Despite intense searches, none of the other four were found, – not even the octogenarian. In the days that followed, it became easy and easy, and it became parish. There was a bit of inadequate parish equipment that was used at the time. But the search crew had come across something at a depth of 90 fathoms, without being able to say for sure what it could be. Maybe it was the boat.
It was a sad message that came out in Lødingen’s neighborhood about the five who had lost their lives, which made a strong impression. It was worst for Skarstad, who was hit hard. At home in Skarstad, Albert’s widow sat alone with 8 children aged 8 months to 18 years. Now she had lost her husband and two children.
At a time when wealth and money were not in abundance and there could be a shortage of many things, the fate was the family. In 1928, Albert had to sell his motorboat, as he was unable to pay for interest and instalments as his income failed as a result of poor fishing. The following year, the family had to leave the farm and land and were left barefoot. Albert’s son, Arne – who was now in an accident at Tjeldodden, was in the process of buying a place for the family to establish himself. It was a small bright spot for the family. But then this tragedy happened.
This is how Ofotens Tidende wrote the 17. January 1930: “… Aronsen’s widow has lost her husband and two adult children, – those who right now were to be the parents’ help to rebuild their home that they lost. She herself is left with 8 children, the eldest of whom has just been confirmed.
There are probably few or no one who can understand what it means to be struck by such a fate; Homeless and stripped of her breadwinners, – the need was laughed at so that this poor mother does not know how to afford the necessities of life for herself and her many little ones”. Albert’s nephew, Aron Olsen, was unmarried. Birgitte Schrøder left behind her husband and 3 confirmed children.
What could have happened was not easy to say at the time. The boat was heavily loaded. It could have been broken down by breaking seas, or simply have suffocated due to the cargo. The boat could also have leaked. The boat could also have hit the many treacherous reefs outside Tjeldodden. There are a lot of unclean waters on the south side of Tjeldøya.
The bad weather and darkness in the evening probably also have their say. After the accident, strong calls were made through the newspapers to individuals and organizations to make financial contributions, so that those severely affected in Skarstad could get help in their time of need. Both in Narvik, Svolvær and in Lødingen, lists were posted where people could sign up with their contributions.
Both in Lofotposten on 13. January, and in Fremad on 18. January was a following letter to read:
CALL FOR HELP TO THE BEREAVED AT SKARSTAD.
A more than usual sad accident has happened here with us. Wednesday 08. January, 5 people traveled on a motor boat from Lødingen to Skarstad, a stretch of road of just over a mile. They did not arrive. On 11. Ds. the body of a young girl was found at Tjeldodden, and a small boat that they had with them drifting empty, so there is no longer any doubt about the fate of the others.
There are 3 homes where there is now grief. Petter Schrøder Slåttvik has lost his wife Bergitte 49 years old. Rakløv Olsen Skarstad, has lost his son Aron 23 years old, but the third home has been hit heaviest. The 3 other deceased are Albert Aronsen Skarstad and his 2 adult children, Arne and Gurine, 21 and 19 years old, and at home the widow is left with 8 children, the oldest of which has just been confirmed.
It has been a poor home before, which can be expected to be with such a large flock of children, but now 2 of the children had grown up, so it seemed that things were beginning to brighten for them, and then at a stroke the home is in ruins, and the widow and the group of children are left with the sorrow and the loss also with the need, that they stare into, without there being any hope that they can help themselves.
We immediately started a collection here on the spot, but in a case like this we must also be allowed to turn with our prayer for help to further circles. Hopefully, the newspapers we send this inquiry to will also kindly accept contributions, just as contributions can be sent to the undersigned parish priest and sheriff, who will then in due course through the newspapers in question give an account of what has been received and jointly ensure the best possible administration of what may be received.
Lødingen on 11 and 15 January 1930 L. Holboe, parish priest. Sigfr. Bugge, sheriff.
It is known that three of Albert Aronsen’s children, – Johan, Andreas and Nikolai, by chance told a little about this accident. At this time when the accident happened, they were only children, but had to quickly step in with the tasks of adults. While they are sitting and telling a little about this incident, one of them points to the wall and says; “That dish was won by Gurine at a bazaar”, – a small memory of their sister…
Source: Tore Waage
