The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-02-16
HENRY CASTLE DEAD.
Perishes Among Three Hundred Vic
Tins Of an Ocean Disaster.

ADVERTISER anu one Oh me stOcK-
holders of the Hawaiian Gazette
Company. He was a passenger on
the steamship Elbe, which was sunk
by collision in the North Sea, the
night of January 30, with loss OF
more than three hundred lives. The
steamer was on voyage from Bremen
for New York.
The disaster befell the great ship
almost without warning. She was
pursuing her course just before day
break through rough sea amid half
gale, which blew bitter cold. Other
vessels were in sight, with which
were exchanged signals. Suddenly
there was crash, and in a moment
the Elbe lay helpless upon the
water, cut half in two by smaller
steamer, which struck her almost
amidships. How it happened no
one on the large vessel lives to tell,
for all who are known to be saved
were below decks when the collision
occurred.
The bow, which struck the liner,
remained few moments wedged in
the great rent which il had made.
The sea soon tore the two ships
apart. The smaller one, badly dam
aged and almost helpless, drfted
away, and did not even learn with
what ship she had been in collision.
She is the Scotch steamer Craithie
OF Aberdeen, AIS tons. Late on the
evening Of the Both she crawled into
the harbor Of Mass Luis, near Rot
terdam.
1t was quickly realized on board
the Elbe that her wound wa, fatal
and that she could not long survive.
The blow tore open all the middle
compartments, and flood OF water
quickly sank the engine and boiler
rooms to the waters edge. Some
passengers undoubtedly were killed
in their berths, especially some Of
those in the second cabin, for the
staterooms we're smashed to bits and
several OF the passageways were
blocked by debris. All but two or
three OF the 2iO passengers were in
bed.
At first there was some attempt at
discipline. The captain and first
officer gave clear orders, which we're
heard by all, that the women and
children should enter the boats first.
This made plain to everybody that
the ship was doomed, and terror in
many cases became madness. The
crew at first worked with efficient
self possession. In the lowering of
the boats they were hampered by
frozen ropes and the severe list OF
the rapidly setting steamship.
1t soon became apparent to all
that the ship was laundering. Then
boats enough" Little discipline re-
NAMED after that moment. There
were some sad struggles to escape at
the expense OF the others. The last
order heard by any survivor was the
captains command that the women
and children should 60 to the oppo-
site side OF the ship from where the
damage was, and where most of the
boats were being put out.
The first lifeboat that hoated was
quickly filed with men and women,
but capsized before it got ten yards
from the side. One young woman
in this boat chung to it until picked
up by the second boat, which is the
only one known to have escaped.
She was the only woman saved, for
in the wild scramble at the very last
only men, and all but four OF these
officers and crew, secured places.
An Ohio man who happened to be
dressed and on deck within a mo-
ment OF the collision says the time
was less than twenty minutes from
the striking Of the blow until the
ship disappeared. 1t was only after
three or four hours OF severe ex-
posure that the boatload OF people
was rescued by the smack Wild
flower. The point at which they
were picked up is about fifty miles
southeast OF Lowestoft, almost mid
way between the English and Dutch
coasts.
A Washington despatch says: "At
the Hawaiian Legation here the
news of the reported drowning OF H
N. Castle was received with great
sorrow. Mr.. Castle was we'll known
to many Washingtonians. He came
here with the Hawaiian Commission
in 1893, and remained for several
months, enjoying the Inequalities
OF the capital city.
"Mr. Castle was the editor and
proprietor Of the Honolulu Adver,
tiser. One OF his brothers was 8
Commissioner to the United States
and anpthar una Inv tho siIa al