New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-02
THE ELDER GOES ASHORE.
STUCK FAST on ATIIERflELD LEDGE.
rpr p,csrxGrRS AND NAIL TAKEN SAFELY
AsuoRE-TITE STEAMER LOST HER EECK
oNiNG IN THE FOG AND
STRONG CURRENTS

oNiNG IN THE FOG AND
STRONG CURRENTS.
Iondon Feb IA dispatch was received this
rrorninc from the signal station AT ST. Catherine Is
point the southern extremity of the Isle of Wight,
saving that the North German Lloyd steamer Elder
Captajn IIcineckc from Ncw-York January %
for Bremen stranded near that point at l o o'clock
last night \ heavy fOg prevail 'd at the time the
steamer struck \ later dispatch said that the
Elder was lying on Athcriield Ledge. To judge
from her position, sh' evidently was carried by a
roller about halfway over the ledge and was then
dropped on the rocks. She lies with her bow
and stern in comparatively deep water, her mid
shin section resting on the ledge. Atherticd Ledge
is a dangerous reef off the coast. \ current sets
in from the Channel toward the reef, and this, by
upSettirg dead reckoning calculations. makes the
place perilous one in thick weather.
dispatch from St GATHERINGS Point tonight
SAYS that it was finally decided that it would he
the safer plan TO land tie Elders passengers, and
accordingly, boats lowered, and these, TO-
rcthcr with the lieboats from tic shore, had
landed 200 persons at the time the dispatch was
sent The dispatch adds that the wind still holds
from the west, and is blowing with moderate
force Among the first passengers landed were
Mr. Pckard of Kansas; Mrs Martin, Mrs ana
Waseyer and three children. of brooklyn; and
Mrs Bendig, Mr.. and Mrs Abraham. |. NJ. kelIner'
Mr.. and Mrs Ashenden and Mr.. Rankinc.
Mr. Ashenden said that at the time the Elder
struck on the ledge the weather was very fosgy
and il was only possible to see objects q short
distance away Two lights. however. were Nisi-
bic. The passengers were naturally startled when
the steamer first went on the ledge, but they were
soon reassured by the news that there was no
danger. No confusion resulted from the accident
and no alarm prevailed, owing TO the assurances
Of the steamers officers that the vessel was sale
and that assistance near at hand II IL was
needed So confident were the passengers In tlgse
assurances that, acting under the advice OF 'he
captain of the Elder, they were all reluctant 10
unit the vessel in the Athcriield lifeboat when
the life-savers succeeded i'll reaching the side Oh
the steamer and offered TO transfer the passengers
" the shore.
When the Birthstone lifebOat came alongside
later the captain of the Elder again refused the
offers of help from the lifesavers ana the poat
started to return 10 the shore. The crew had
only rowed short distance, however, when MY
Ashenden decided that the steamer stih re-
mained fast on the ledge, and as there eemeo
but little likelihood of her soon getting a1oat, 1T
would perhaps be the safest plan to 20 ashore, ana
lie tAcreupOn shouted Ior lHc Alc"V"u ~ '''--N
back, and entered it with twelve others Soon
aferward two more hfcboats began landing pas
seneers as quickly as possible. These took refuge
temporarily at tlse BlackCang Hotel while those
landing at BrightStone proceeded T. London. Inc
passengers concur in the statement that there Is
no apparent damage to the vessel
Another report says that the captain OF thc
Elder declined the services of the lfeboats until
noon expecting to hold out until the arrival OF
the steam tugs. strong southwest Wlhu
then rising, accompanied by rainstorms lie sig
nailed to the shore for help The vessel had llSteu
slightly TO port as the tide rec dcd. Although she
.nncared 10 be close to the shore, 1T was found
imnossible TO reach her by double rOckelS; As
the tide ebbed the wind fell. Tne three lieOCat'
the shin they began the work of rescue landing as
randlv as possible full boatl0ads oil passengers
BESIDES the hOte.s, NUMBER Oh c1t'"3c5 -
placed the disposal OF the pas9eha is' al" '"'i'
All were made comfortable. ,..
AZ about o'clock this afternoon the EHcr
engines were started and an attempt w Wns i nlluu
70 get her ahoat with her own power. ne .a' ecIcm
chnrned the water at great rate, but me stediri
ron,ained hard and fast \ Government tug ar
rived at the scene OF the accident put whcn sIc
got there the tide was 80 FAR on 'he epo 'hd' I'll
cnu-1 not render any assistance. BY h7htlalI
six Tugs had arrived and were awaiting 'hc AZ
tempt TO tow the vessel of. During the DAY @ tnr
Eider bumped considerably, the seas breaking oN'i
4 dispatoh sent at 10 p. IN. says Al Al
the paasengers and the rest Of the mails nave
been safely landed. The crew remain aDo%L"' Pc pr
,arinC for the attempt 10 tow the steamer OIL. me
sttemnf will be made at o'clock IN the morilliis'
Tn specie remains aboard the ship. Inc c1p'ain
thinks the vessel will come TO no harm duIihe 'nc
nipht The weather Is hrer thdn DURING 'HV ""''
the night bsing clear and starHt .l
Captain Addison, one OF the PASSENGERS o' Ia ud
Elder in giving an account OF the accIuth'' ' .he
+Lat In, captain Of the Elder calculated thal 'lo
vessel was a few miles westward Of lie NeeGIt''
cluster of three rocks 10 the west OF me is' VI
Wight The steamer struck on Athcrncin LJnHr I;tr
inst as tbe lead was being hcavcd. sou'".ni
9skcn only five minutes previously had lndlca'e'I
ten fathoms Of water. Neither The NgcicS Liem' Ign
nor the ST. GATHERINGS Light was Vi'ipie WIZ"
'NT The men in charge of the St GATHERINGS Light
say that the fog siren was in full operation AT ,c
Time of the strandng of the steamer rs anu ~ fh"
blowing all the TIM during the four h0uts tn
10, lasted and that the electric light WIN WHi.n
ST Catherne's is furnished was burning at i IEn
fullest power The weather was SO ln'eh>fH
heavy however, that although the Elder was i oilA
fhroc miles distant from ST Catherine =. Heith'I
the sound of the siren nor the rays oi lhc Iienr
penetrated the fox t. give th2.f o.. l S"" i nrc
threatened.
4. the ONCE Of the North German Lloyd Line IN
III i,v ma pews whatever had been received Of the
s,ra,sinc Of the steamship Elder. which left mere Oh
January 23 fW Bremen The following Is 'hc H7'
of cabin passengers who were on board o. her' ie"'
Rankin. New-YOrk: c. \. Trumbal' \. NJ. A~"N'n
New York: Edgar Christopher and captain H. Nu-1h''
JsclsOnvlle: James d. Tail 81. 'aihciines' H. ASH
cnden Mr. arG Mrs i. AshendcI william schvn'
mann Ph.ladep phia; 6. Myers, London Mr. ana Ms
& CoEen. children and maid, Rotterdam; Mr. ana MFN'
. A rr,.ou ard children W. W Ford, Philadelphia :,
C. \. Provost London.
The Elder was built by John Elder d Co'of Glasgow
&, 1.a3 She is a fOurnasted iron screw steamer
~ 200 gross tons. She has compound enSt> -
1000 horsepower. she Is 40 feet iiyh I'hS, -
let beam ana 81 feet inches deep, ana mas Sven
collision bgkheaGS.
OTHER MlsIIAPS TO SHIPPING.
,so. t,oh Tho nriti.h steamer Nar,tOn Moor.