Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-04
LANDED BY THE LlFEBOATS
Passengers From the Ocean
Steamer Elder.
SHE WENT AGROUND IN A FOG
Attempts to be Made to Haul
Her OFF by Tugs.
Tho Ledge Where the Elder Struck Said
to be n Very Dangerous Piace--No
Fears Now Entertained for tho Safety
Of the Steamer.

VI THO 5ttutnrrs
LONDON, Feb. 1.-The passengers and
mails of the steamship Elder of the
North German Lloyd Steamship Com
pany, Captain Helncke, which went
ashore last night on the Atherfeld
| Rocks, nine miles west OF Ventnof, Isle
of Wight, have been safely landed.
Among the first passengers landed
from the Elder by the lifeboats were
Mr.. Packard of Kansas; Mrs. Martin
and Mrs. and Miss Grant and two chill
dren 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.. Rankins.
WENT AGROUND IN A FOO.
Mr.. Ashenden was interviewed after
he reached the shore and he gave an
| account Of the accident and of the
scenes attending the stranding of the
big steamer. He said that at the time
the Elder struck on the ledge the
weather was very foggy and it was only
possible to see objects a short distance
away. Two lights, however, were wish
BILE. The passengers were somewhat
startled when the steamer first went on
the ledge, but they were soon reas-
sured by the news that there was no
danger.
No confusion resulted from the acct
dent among the passengers, and no
alarmed prevailed, owing to the as
surances of the steamers officers that
the vessel was safe and that assistance
was near at hand if it was needed. So
confident were the passengers in these
assurances that, acting under the advice
of the captain of the Elder they were
all reluctant to quit the vessel in the
Atherfield lifeboat when the life-savers
succeeded in reaching the side of the
steamer and offered TO transfer the pas
sengers to the shore. The lifeboat re-
manned at the scene of the accident for
some time, but. the crew finding that
their services were not needed finally
decided TO return, and they left the
steamer during the night without taking
any Of the Elders passengers back with
them.
REFUSED AN OFFER FOR HELP.
"When the Brightstone light came
alongside later on the captain of the
Elder again refused the offers of help
from the life-savers, and the boat started
to return TO the shore. The crew had
only rowed a short distance, however
when Mr.. Ashenden decided that as the
steamer still remained fast ON the ledge
and as there seemed but little likelihood
Of her soon getting atioat, it would per.
haps be the safest plan to go ashore, and
he thereupon shouted for the Iifebeat tc
come back and entered IL with twelve
others.
"Soon afterward two more llfeboats
began landing passengers as quickly as
possible. These took refuge temper.
arily at the Blachgang Hotel, while
those landing at Brightstonc proceeded
to London. The passengers concur ir
the statement that there is no apparent
damage TO the vessel"
Another report says that the captain
of the Elder declined the services of the
lifeboats until noon, expecting to hold
out until the arrival of the steam tugs
A strong southwest wind then rising
accompanied by rain storms, he signalec
to the shore for help. The vessel ha(
listed slightly TO port as the tide receded
Although she appeared to be close t.
the shore, it was found impossible t.
reach her by double rockets. AS tn,
tide ebbed the wind fell.
THE WORK OF RESCUE.
The three lifeboats were agaii
launched, and as soon as they reached
the ship they began the work of rescue
landing as rapidly as possible full boat
loads OF passengers. Beside the hotels,
number of cottages were placed at Til,
) disposal of the passengers, and they
) were all made comfortable. BY nigh
fall six tugs had arrived and were await
ing the attempt to tow the vessel off
During the day the Elder bumped on tn,
rocks considerably about half mil,
from ahore, the seas breaking over her
A dispatch sent at 10 p. IN. says: '.Al
the passengers and the rest of the mail
have been safely landed. The crew re
main aboard preparing for the attemp
to tow the steamer off. The attemp
will be made at ! o'clock in the morn
ing. The last boat load of passenger
was landed amid the rejoicing of a larg,
crowd on the beach. The rescuing crew
received an ovation, The specie remain
aboard the ship. The captain thinks TIL
.. vessel will come TO no harm during tn
night. The weather is finer than durini
the day, the night being clear and star
lit"
COULD HEAR THE SIREN.
The men in charge of the st. Catherin,
say that the fog siren was in full opera
ton at the time of the stranding Of tn
steamer, and was blowing all durin!
the four hours the fog lasted, and tina
! the electric light with which 81
GATHERINGS is furnished was burning u
its fullest power. The weather was s,
intensely heavy, however, that, although
the Elder was only three miles distan
from st. GATHERINGS, neither the sount
i of the siren nor the rays of the ligh
penetrated the fog to give those ON til
, steamer any intimation OF the DANCE
: with which they were threatened.
Athertield Ledge is a dangerous rec
of the coast. A current sets in iron
the channel toward the reef, and this
, by upsettlng dead reckoning calcula
. tons, makes the place perilous one il
thick weather.
, The Elder was built by John Elder 4
, Co. OF Glasgow, in 1883. She is a -four
masted, iron, screw steamer of $50
.. gross tons. She has compound engine
. of 1000 horse power. She is 429 fec
8 inches long, AZ feet beam, and "a fec
/, B inches deep, and has seven collisio
g bulkheads.
a LONDON, Feb. "A heavy gale fror
r the southwest set in last night, causin
e a heavy sea to run in the channel ,whic
q added very materially to the danperou