The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-02
All of Her Two Hundred Passengers Safely
Landed by Life Boats. and Most of Them For
warded 10 Queenstown and Other Points.
Accident Due toa Thick Fog. Which Hid
the Warning Lights from View.
Russias Starving Peasants Forced to Steal
Narrowing Report from Minister Smith
Breach Of Promise Suit Against Prince.
STEAMER ELDER ASHORE.



Coast OF the Isle Of Wight
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON. Feb. 1.-The North German
Lloyd steamer Elder. which left New York
Jan. %, is stranded on reef at the south
ern extremity of the Isle of Wight She
is in charge of Captain heinecke. The
steamer struck at 10 o'clock last night. dur
ing fog. on that part of Atherfeld ledge
known as Blue Slipper rock. The nearest
telegraph station is ST Catherines Point.
AS soon as news was received three private
and government tugs were sent 90
the assistance of the steamer. but all at
tempts to pull her off the rock were fruit
less. Fifty-seven bales of cotton that were
jettisoned from the Elder in the attempt TO
float her were picked up by the tugs.
Twelve bags of mail matter were landed by
the life-boat. and were forwarded immedi-
ately. When high tide was reached an-
other attempt was made TO pull the steam
or into deep water. but the task was aban-
doned until midnight. when another attempt
will be made.
The steamer was resting easy until this
afternoon, when the wind rose fercoly. lt
was then decided to land the passengers.
and the Elders life-boats and those from
the shore began the work. Towards night
fall it was seen that there was plenty Of
work for the life-boats TO do. and though
their crews had been continually on duty
since about two hours before midnight.
they kept manfully at their oars. BY this
time the steamer had begun to leak. Before
the boats commenced their nights work.
however, they were each fitted with spe-
cial lights. ana their crews were strength
ened by refreshments, some of the ex-
hausted men being replaced by coast
guardsmen or lfe-boatmen who had been
working only on shore. But these cases of
substitution of life-savers were few in num-
ber, as the men seemed to take an honest
pride In sticking 10 their boats, In
spite of the severe strain placed
upon them. Shortly after sundown the
wind and sea began to rise again.
and 1t looked as if there was another gale
brewing. This caused the life-savers 10 re-
double their efforts. In order to get through
with the work of life-saving before il was
interferred with again by wind and wave.
At z o'clock this evening two hundred pas
sengers had been landed.
WHAT THE PASSENGERS SAY.
George Myers one of the passengers, said
that the steamship. up to the time she
grounded, had made about an average
of sixteen knots an hour from the
time she left New York. According
to Mr.. Meyers, Captain Heinecke. shortly
before the Elder struck, thought that he
was about four miles west of the Needles.
and as he had not sighted the Needles or
st. Catharine's lights he kept the lead-line
going continually. The last report. o
moment or so before the Elder ran ashore,
showed eighteen fathoms of water.
the the .aa %r'fI had ns gathered 1savs the
line for another cast whom the
Elder grounded. although there was
naturally much alarm among the passen-
gers when they were aroused by the shock
and awoke TO the fact that the Elder was
ashore. The most perfect discipline was
maintained by the officers and crew attend
ing to their duty In highly commendable
manner.
Lieutenant Adison, an officer belonging
to Weet Indian regiment, another oil the
passengers, agreed In what Mr.. Myers said
as to the leadsmsn having called out eight
cen fathoms of water just previous 20 the
moment the Elder was brought up ashore.
Lieutenant Adison added that the Elder
struck on what Is known as the Blue
Slipper rock, and that she had no
sooner done SO than she turned
around twice or three times with her
pivot. The Elder, the Lieutenant said.
turned in this pivotiike manner five times
before midnight Continuing. Lieutenant
Adison said that the fog began TO clear
about forty-ive minutes after the Elder
struck, and that she has since been driven
by wind and wave about three hundred
yards 10 the westward Of the point where
she first grounded.
H. - L.. .l~~ "a
st. Catherine lights last night when the
Elder ran ashore. being questioned as TO
the state of the weather OF that time. said
that the fog which prevailed was one or
Syrian (steam fog-hornl. he adds. was kept
sounding all the evening, and Ooth
the dynamos of st. GATHERINGS lights
were working their combined powers.
giving light equal to seven million cam
dle-pOwer. The fog was so dense. however.
that the officers of the Elder did not sec
this light, probably the most powerful in
the world. though within three miles of il.
and. of course, the presence of the Elder
was not noticed until the coast guardsmen
heard her whistles shortly before she ran
ashore.
THE FIRST TO REACH SHORE.
Among the first passengers landed
by the life-boats were: Mr.. Pickard,
of Kansas: Mt. Martin. Mr.. and
Mrs. Grant and two children. of New
York; Mrs. Wallseyer and three
children. of Brooklyn. and Mrs Ben
dig. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham. /. NJ. Kellner.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ashenden and Mr.. Rankin
Mr. Asbenden was interviewed after
he had reached the shore. and ne gave an
account of the accident and of the scenes
attending the stranding OF the big steam
er. He said that at the time the
Elder struck on the ledge the weather was
very foggy. and il was only possible 10 see
objects a short distance away. Two lights.
however, were visible. The passengers
were somewhat 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 among the passengers. and
no alarm prevailed. owing 90 the
assurance of the steamers officers that the
vessel was safe. and that assistance
was near at hand II it was needed. SO con-
tident were the passengers in these assur-
ances that. acting under the advice of the
captain of the Elder. they were oil reluct-
ant 10 quit the vessel in the Atherfeld life
boat when the life-savers succeeded IN
reaching the side of the steamer, and offered
10 transfer the passengers 10 the shore. The
ife-boat remained at the scene of the acci-
dent for some time. but the crew finding
that their services were not needed finally