Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-03
STILL ON THE ROCKS
Hope of Saving the Elder
 About Abandoned.
WAVES DAsH1NG OVER HER
All the Crew Except the Captain and
 Twenty Men Taken Off

A Report that She tB Breaking Cp--EX-
 perts Say that Her Back is Broken and
 that there Is No Chance of Her Being
 Able to F1Oat--Taking OR the DIails--The
 Landing of the Crew of the Elder 8
 Wierd scene--Desperate Struggles of
 the LIfebOats.
 LONDON, Feb. S.-It was hoped last night that the government and other tugs would be able to pull the Elder off the Atherfield at midnight, but all at tempts in that direction have failed Throughout the night high wind pre- vailed, raising a heavy sea, which caused breakers to sweep almost continuously over the Elder. The result is that her position this morning has changed de- cidedly for the worse. Her bow has risen out of the water and her stern has sunk lower.
 The steamships propeller during the night was carried away; this morning Captain Heinecke signalled that the size of the leak in the Elders bottom had in creased and that the water was gaining rapidly upon the crew in spite of their ceaseless efforts to keep it down.
 It then became apparent that the Elder must, almost beyond doubt, become a complete wreck, and her lifeboats were got ready to take off the crew when the word to abandon ship should be given.
 Seventy-six bags of mail have been landed and a number of the crew have also been sent ashore in the local life boats.
 The Elders officers no longer attempt to deny that she is doomed; they now declare that she is full of water, except in the forepeak which is lifted up by the rocks upon which the steamship is fast.
 Experts who have examined the Elder as she rests on the rocks have expressed the opinion that her back is broken, and that there is absolutely no hope of saving her.
 All the crew of the Elder have been taken ashore except the Captain and twenty others, who remain on board in the forlorn hope that something may be done to float the steamer.
 The landing of the crew of the Elder last night was 8 weird and picturesque scene. A powerful electric light aided the moonlight in casting a bright glare on the waters and guiding the lifeboats. Vast crowds lined the cliffs to gaze on the spectacle, and by their cheers or their silence showed how the incidents of the rescue affected them.
 The Atherfield boat nearly capsized several times in the boiling surf, the oars benttingsunder the strain. But the crew kept their heads, and the boat soon rightcd under their powerful stroke. The lifeboats landed the men within scventy-fi minutes from the time of launching. The lifeboats and their brave crews did not delay moment.
 The German sailors were helped out on the beach, to be received with hugs and kisses by the other Germans who had gone before. Within five minutes the Iifeboats were off again for the Elder. The surf boiled around and over them, often hiding them from view, and every reappearance was greeted with a cheer from the cliffs.
 The trip was accomplished in safety, the last mails on board being landed as well as 125 of the crew. Very little con fidence is felt in the ultimate rescue of the vessel, although the captain is still sanguine of being able to save her.