Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-02
THE ELDER ON THE ROCKS.
LLOYD ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP HAS
AVERY CLOSE CALL.

All of Her 300 Passengers Arc Now Safe
on Shore-she Lost Her Bearings in
Fog-The Vessel Not Wrecked, but in
Danger.
LONDON, Feb IA thrill of anxiety
was felt by all England to-day, when the
news became known that the ocean steam
ship Elder, with 300 passengers on board,
had struck on rock off the southern ex-
tremity of the Isle of Wight A heavy fog
prevailed at the time. The coast guards
men noticed the fog whistle of a big steam
ship blowing during the night, but as there
are so many vessels passing up and down
the channel, no danger was anticipated, un-
til suddenly rockets were seen to fare up
ward and then steamships whistle was
heard blowing the long uninterrupted note
of distress. The entire coastguard was i'm
mediately summoned The lifeboat of the
coastguard station near Atherfeld Rocks
was then manned and run out through the
surf.
When the steamship ran on the rocks at
10 o'clock last night the passengers were
panic-stricken and rushed on deck in their
night clothes. They were prevailed upon
tions to abandon the ship, should such q
course be found necessary. The Atherield
l1feboat managed to reach the side of the
steamer, although heavy sea was rolling
and gale had sprung up, forcing the
steamer more and more upon the rocks and
considerably lessening the chances of get
ting off. When the life savers reached the
Elder they offered to take off the pas
sengers, but Captain Heinecke declined to
allow them to leave the ship, expressing
himself confident of providing for their
safety. Finally the passengers became so
alarmed and pleaded so earnestly with Caps
tain Heinecke to be allowed to go ashore
that the captain allowed some of them to do
landed at Atherfeld in the lifeboat.
Soon after it was found that water was
gaining in the hold and that the big steam
ship was in imminent peril. At about
o'clock this afternoon the Elders engines
were started and an attempt to get her
afoat was made. A Government tug ar
rived but could render no assistance. There
is a somewhat rough sea running, but it is
not high enough to cause the Elder to
pound. Should she do that there is no
doubt she would be in bad way, for the
rocky ledge would soon tear her bottom out
in such way that would make it impossi-
BILE to float her.
A dispatch sent from st. GATHERINGS
Point at 1880 o'clock tonight says it was
finally decided that it would be safer
plan to land the Elders passengers, and,
accordingly, boats were lowered, and these,
together with the lifeboats from the shore,
had landed 200 persons at the time the dis
patch was sent. The dispatch adds that the
wind still holds from the west and is blow
ing with moderate force.
A dispatch sent at 10 P. M. says: All
passengers and the rest of the mails have
been safely landed. The crew remained
aboard, preparing for the attempt to tow
the steamer off The attempt will be made
at o'clock in the morning. The last boat
load of passengers was landed amid the re-
joicings of a large crowd on the beach. The
rescuing crews received an ovation. The
captain thinks the vessel will come to no
harm during the night