Morning journal and courier., 1892-02-03
THE STRANDED RrDER.

| n
 The steamship Likely to Prove
 Total Loss-Abandoned This MOTT
 ing by Omcers and Crew-Her Alter
 hold Full of Water.
 LONDON, Feb. 2.-A high gale from th
 southwest set in last night, causing heav
 sea to run in the channel, adding materia
 ly to the dangerous position of the Mort
 German Lloyd steamer Elder, which ran O
 the Ather6eld ledge off the Isle of Wigh
 while trying to make Southampton Sunda
 night. The place where the steamer lie
 is exposed to the full force of the wind an,
 sea, and is one of the most perilous point
 for navigators in the channel. Owing t
 the treacherous and varying current whicl sets in towards the ledge, even captains 0 coasting vessels give the place wid berth, and stand well off shore until tn | ledge is far astern.
 The wind continued to freshen through | out the night, and as it grew in force tn, position of the Elder grew worse and sh, l pounded hard. All the attempts made tt | float her on the high water last night wert without avail. Her crew will stay by her l and are safe for the present.
 When it became light enough this morn 1 ing to see the steamer, it was found that her stern had sunk further in the deeI water off the ledge, thus lifting her bows | higher up. Should she slide off the ledge thus, she would probably go to the bot tom. Her propeller was washed away during the night, rendering it impossible for the steamer to use her own steam in the efforts made to float her, and she will have to depend entirely upon the tugs fl she attempts to get off. It is now be- ieved that unless 8 great part of the Elders cargo is taken out, it will not be possible to float her at all.
 The wind moderated at sunrise, but is still strong. It is expected that another attempt to haul the Elder off will be made at noon to-day.
 Captains of coasting vessels who have arrived at Portsmouth and who are thor oughly acquainted with Atherfeld Ledge state, after having seen the stranded steamer, that there is little hope that she will be saved.
 Capt. Heinecke signalled to the shore this morning that the leak in the Elder is gaining rapidly on the pumps. and the Ather6eld ife-boat crew at once made crew.
 At il am. the position of the Elder was reported as critical. The tide was rising, and as it approached the flood the water poured into the steamer. Her afterhold was full and this pulled her stern down. She lies so that her forehold is dry. The sea washes over her quarter-deck. Her of fcers then decided that the steamer was in too dangerous position for anyone to re- main aboard. All hands made prepara- tions to leave her.
 At half-psst nine o'clock this morning two officers and eight fremen, having with them case of gold, were landed by a life boat. At noon @ report was received at Lloyd's stating that the Elder was settling and that there was little hope of floating her. With the exception of the gold above mentioned none of the bullion or specie aboard the steamer has been landed.
 A few bags of the mail from the Elder and 227 of her passengers have arrived at Southampton. They were driven from Atherield across the Isle of Wight to Cowes, where they took a steamer to Southampton. Here all the passengers destined for Bremen will be transferred to the North German Lloyd steamer Havel, Captain Jungst, which sailed from New York January 26, and which is expected to arrive at Southampton this afternoon.
 The passengers concur in denying the ASpoA oS ehoo P1hiS piofaiicu "uch tho steamer struck, or afterwards. They say they were startled when the steamer brought up, but that many of them had already expected an accident of some sort, owing to the dense fog.
 Most of them were up awaiting the time when the steamer would reach Southamp- ton, and when the shock of the stranding occurred they were easily assured by the officers that they were in no danger. The best of discipline was observed by the crew.
 The pumps on the Elder were kept work ing at their full capacity all night, but the water kept gaining through hole in her side where the rocks had torn away the iron plates. The forward pumps were rendered of little use when the steamer be- gan to settle by the stern.
 Signals for help were hoisted and a life boat was immediately launched through the heavy surf and started for the steamer. In the meantime part of the crew had entered the ifeboats and started for the shore. The sea was running very high and 8 tremendous surf was rolling up the beach. Much difficulty was found in shooting the boats through the surf, but finally everybody was landed in safety. The Elder is not insured.
 Atherfeld ledge, where the Elder is btIduOCOJ lCS dluObb JDy W6SU Ol St. Cstherines point, the southern ex- tremity of the Isle of Wight, between Brizton bay and Chale bay. The sound ings around the ledge are of different depths. At little distance to the west the lead shows depth of 12 fathoms, which suddenly shoals to fathoms Just of the edge of the reef to the north and south the water is only three fathoms deep. The Needles light, which. in passing up the Solnet on the way to Southampton the Elder should have made on the starboard, is about nine miles north by west of Ather- field ledge, on the outermost of the Needles rocks, and is elevated thirty feet above high water.
 The storm at the time the lifeboats were launched had gained terrific violence. The crews had a tremendous struggle to get their craft beyond the breakers, which were piling high up on the shore. Time and again they were beaten back Once a big sea lifted the boat into the air and hurled it close up to the beach. The lifeboats from Brightsone and Lewis had similar ex- periences. The men who had remained on the steamer had been anxiously waiting for hours for the lifebosts. They knew there was great danger of the Elder going to pieces and they welcomed their rescuers with cheers. As each life boat reached shore in safety the rescued men embraced each other in their joy.
 The captain of the Elder was the last person to leave the vessel. He left when he saw it was useless to remain on board any longer.
 Between and o'clock the gale caused a good deal of suffering. The voyage was Captain Heineck's first on the vessel from New York. One of the officers says while the vessel was steaming along the English Channel Sunday a sharp lookout was kept for pilots but none were seen. The captain had personal charge at the time of the accident. The vessel was going at her slowest speed. After the vessel struck the band which had been playing rushed on deck, but there seemed to be no danger and the concert was resumed.
 The life boats used in the rescue of the Elders crew had to be lowered 200 feet from the cliffs, where they were drawn up on the previous night of the gale. There were several narrow escapes among the life boat crews. The weather cslmed toward evening, and the boats brought some of the Elders mail ashore.
 THAWED OUT DYNAMITE. Man Puts Frozen Cartridges in the
 Stove-Terrible Fatalities Result.
 MONTREAL, Feb. 2.-A. Dupre, a resi-