The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-01-31
North German Lloyd Steamer
Elbe Goes Down.
STRUCK BY A BRITISH STEAMER.
It is Thought That Fully 800 People
We're DrOwned.-Quite a Number
of Americans Aboard.
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
London, Jan. SO-The North German
Lloyd steamer Elbe, Capt. Won Gosset,
from Bremen yesterday for New York
via Southampton, has been sunk in
collision with the British steamer
Crathie, bound from Rotterdam to
Aberdeen. At the time Of the sending
Of this dispatch, tine exact loss of life
is unknown, but the report has it that
il was enormous. The disaster oc-
Cured before daylight this morning
at o point some 30 miles from the Hook
of Holland. The first dispatches stated
there had been $50 persons on the Ebe,
and that only 10 were saved, the res
cued having been landed at Lowestoft
by fishing smacks. When the news of
the disaster became generally known
through the medium of the Exchange
Telegraph Company, in the clubs and
places of resort, the excitement was
intense. Gable dispatches were at once
forwarded to all the principal European
cities. AS the time wore on it was
apparent the first reports of the sink
ing of the steamer had minimized the
horror of the disaster The Elbe was
proceeding along at her usual rate of
speed and keeping ordinary lookouts.
1t was dark, but there was no gale.
Suddenly the forward lookout on the
EIbe reported to the officer on deck
that the lights of a steamer were close
aboard over the port bow. Before the
course of the Elbe could be changed
so as to sheer off from the approaching
steamer, the latter struck her just
about the engine room, going through
her plates as though they were paste
board, and and sticking her nose almost
completely through the hull of the El-
be. For time the Crathie held the
Blbe on her nose, but then her engines
were reversed and she backed out of
the aperture. The water rushed into
the EIbe in torrent, and she began
to settle. The officer in charge saw
She was doomed, and gave hurried or
ders to clear away the boats for
launching. Three of the boats were
cleared and lowered, but one of them,
shortly after it got clear of the steam
er, capsized and it is thought all the
occupants were drowned. The first
boat contained the third officer, chief
engineer, purser, and about 20 others.
These are the passengers who were
picked up by fishing smacks and taken
to Lowestoft. From one of the sur
vivors 1t is learned that as soon as
the Crathie backed away, the inrushing
water flooded the aft part OF the en-
gine room so quickly that nobody below
deck in that part of the ship had an
opportunity to escape. The shock OF
the collision was comparatively slight
in view of the damage done. but this
is explained by the fact that it was
a direct cutting blow. Nearly all the
passengers were asleep at the time
but many of them were awakened by
the shock as slight as it was. They
could hear the rush of the inrushina
water. and with cries of terror, sought
| to make their way to the upper deck.
AS the passengers rushed from theil
staterooms into the saloon, they were
met by torrent, against which it was
/ impossible for them to make hea1way
They were caught up and swept afl
toward the cockpit, where they were
probably drowned before the shiI
foundered. Altogether about 50 pas
sengers reached the deck, where th'
widest confusion existed. Many heart
rending scenes were witnessed between
parents and children in the few minutes
preceding the sinking Of the vessel.
cry was raised on the doomed Vesse
for the women and children To go oyei
on the other side of the steamer away
from the port side, in which was TN
gaping hole caused by the collision
Half-faintlng women and terror
stricken children hurried 10 the star
board side. but they had scarcel!
reached the boats when the huge YES
sci lifted her bows high in the air an'
slowly and silently sank, stern fore