The morning call., 1892-02-02
The Steamship Elder Ashore in
a Thick Fog.
PerilOuS Position Of the Large Number Of
Passengers and Crew.
Tugs and Life Boats Dispatched to the RescHa
All The Passengers Finally Landed.
The Captains Caution.
Epecial 10 THE MORNING CALr..

LONDON, Feb. IA dispatch received
this morning from the signal station at St.
Catherine Point, the southern extremity OF
the Isle of Wight states that the North
German Lloyd steamer Elder, from New
York January 231 for Bremen. stranded
near that point last night The North Ger
man Lloyd agent at Southampton dis
patched three tugs from that place to take
off the Elders passengers. Government
tugs have also been sent by the Admiralty
from Portsmouth, and they will endeavOr
to get the steamer off. Agents of the COM
pany here state the Elder is lying in an easy
position, and no damage is reported. They
state there is no cause for alarm for the
safety of the passengers on the vessel.
Fifty-seven bales of cotton. jettisoned from
the Elder in attempts to float her, have been
saved.
LANDING THE PASSENGERS.
A dispatch from S.. Catherine Point To-
night states that it was finally decided that
1t would be the safer plan to land the pas
sengerS, and, accordingly, the boats have
landed all the passengers and the mails
Among the first passengers landed were
Mrs. Rickard of Kansas, Mrs. Martin, Mrs
and Mss Grant and two children Of New
York, Mrs. WallSeyer and three children
of Brooklyn, and Mrs Bendig, Mr.. and Mrs
Abraham, l. NJ. Kellner, Mr. and Mrs.
Ashenden and Mr.. Rankin. Mr.. Ashenden
said at the time the Elder struck the weather
was very foggy and it was only possible to
see objects a short distance away. The
passengers were somewhat startled at first,
but were soon reassured by the news that
there was no danger. So confident were
the passengers in the assurances of the
captain of the Elder they we're reluctant to
quit the vessel in the life-bOa when the
lfe-savers first reached the steamer and Of
fered to transfer the passengers to the
shore So the life-boat returned. When
the BrightstOne lfe-b0at came along later
on, the captain again refused the offers OF
help, and the boat started to return. The
crew had only TOwed short distance, how
ever, when Mr.. Asheuden decided, as the
steamer still remained fast Oh the ledge and
there seemed but little likelihood of her get
ting atiOat, that it would be the safest plan
10 go ashore, and he therefore shouted for
the life-saveTs TO come back He entered
the boat with twelve others. Soon after
ward two more life-bOats began the landiUE
took refuge temporarily at the hotel, while
those landing at BTightSt0ne proceeded to
London. The passengers concur In the
statement that there is no apparent damage
10 the vessel
THE SITUATION PERHOUs.
Another report shows that the captain Of
the Elder declined the services of the life
boat until noon, expecting to hold out until
the arrival Of the tugs. A strong southwest
wind arising, accompanied by rain-stOrms,
he signaled to the shore for help. The
vessel listed slightly to port as the tide re-
ceded. Although she appeared close to the
shore, 1t was found impossible to reach her
by double rockets. AS the tide ebbed the
wind fell. By nightfall six tugs arrived,
and are awaiting an attempt TO tow the
vessel of, which will be made in the morn
ing. The landing of the passengers became
somewhat risky after o'clock in the even
ing. when the wind, which was blowing
dead ashore, freshened considerably and
threatened TO increase to a gale. Much re-
lief was felt when the last load was safely
landed.
CAREFUL OF THE COIN.
The captain of the Elder took precautions
to save large amount of money on the
steamer. He gave orders to have it carried
to the deck, and large number of bags
containing all told S300,O00 in specie was
soon piled on the side Of the ship facing the
shore. The large sum of money was so at
ranged ludt SLbuiu l6C6SSlLy arise IL was 20
be sunk in place Of safety among the rocks.
Captain Addison, one OF the passengers.
highly praises the conduct Of the captain
and crew.
A WELL-DISCIPLINED CREW.
When the accident happened, he says,
there was not the slightest confusion or ex-
element visible among either the officers or
the men during all the trying time. Instead
a military calmneSs and discipline prevailed,
and every order was correctly given and a
correctly carried out This had a very
calming effect on the passengers.
The men in charge of St. Catherine
light say the fog-siren was in full operation
at the time of the stranding of the ship and
blowing during the hours the fog lasted
and the electric light burning at its fullest
power. The weather was Sointensely heavy,
however, that. although the Elder was only
three miles distant, neither the sound of the
siren nor the rays Of light penetrated the
fog to give those on the steamer any intima-
tion Of danger.
Suits Against Philadelphia.