Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-02
A Grandly Terrible sconc.


The scene off Atherfield was grandly
terrible. On reef of rocks, surround
ed by numbers of other rocks lay the
steamship Elder, her signals for assist.
ance fluttering in the gale as sea after
sea broke over her with fearful
pounding regularity and so shaking her
frame that her bottom was apparently
but surely grinding to pieces.
Upon her decks were gathered her
terrified passengers and the crew who,
with the officers, were doing their ut
most to maintain order among steerage
passengers, of whom there were about
300 on board. The cabin passengers
were few in number. according to re-
port; indeed, it is said that there were
not more than 800 persons all told on
board.
The Elders cargo consists Of a large
consignment of cotton for English and
German manufacturers. As the day
wore on the news from the Elder became
more and more serious. She later began
firing minute guns of distress.
Went Wide of their Mark.
On shore, the coast-guardsmen, re-
peatedly shot the rocket line ball, chain
dilu llilG Ill LILO uhVOtlOu VI UAiO EpNNAAA-
ship, but each time the line fell short Of
the mark. This failure to throw the
line over the steamer, was due not only
to the distance she lies off shore, but to
the strength Of the wind which was
blowing in the teeth of the life-savers.
Hoping for the Best.
Towards the afternoon the Elder rest
ed in an easier position and hopes were
entertained that she was not so seriously
injured as az first reported. ltwas even
said she had passed the rocks and only
rested on sand bar near them. By
the order of Captain Henecke about
sixty bales of cotton were hoisted out
of the hold and thrown overheard,
thus Tightening the vessel to an appre-
ciable extent.
The bales of cotton bobbing up and
down on the waves, are being washed
shoreward and will, it is expected, be
saved, though damaged to some extent
by water. This tightening of the vessel
considerably raised the hopes of those
who expect that the Elder will soon be
hoated off.
The tugs and lifeboats stood by the
ship throughout the day, salvaging cot
ton when possible and doing everything
to assist the stranded vessel.
Help for the Unfortunate.
Monday afternoon the following was
received from the scene of the wreck:
Assistance has been telegraphed for to
all neighboring points and the North
German Lloyd agents at Southampton
are exerting themselves to the utmost in
their efforts to save the lives of these
passengers and crew, and if possible to
save the ship and her cargo. Several
powerful tugs have been dispatched
from Southampton to the scene OF the
wreck. and two of the most powern-
ment ocean tugs have been sent from
Portsmouth by order Of the admiralty
authorities and have now reached the
rocks in the midst of which the Elder
is being slowly ground to pieces.
The lifeboats throughout the morning
continued their gallant efforts to battle
successfully with the wind, waves and
rocks, and at least one more boat is now
known to have managed to get along
side the imperiled steamer. The life
boats are taking the greatest risks in
their determination to approach the
Elder, and are in constant danger OF be-
ing stove in by the sharp pointed rocks.
or if they escape this danger, of being
crushed to pieces alongside the vessel
they are trying to assist. The attempt
to pass the rocky barriers alone is most
hazardous undertaking, as the sea has
not up to this hour abated in the slight
est degree in violence.
At D. m. the lifeboat had made
thirteen trips and landed over 200 pas
sen oars