The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-31
FEARFUL FATE.
Steamer EIbe Was Split by
a Smaller Vessel.
Few Lives Were Spared-0ver Three
Hundred Were Lost.


the British steamer Crathie, bound froin
Rotterdam for Aberdeen. The exact loss
OF life Is as yet unknown, but report has
1t that II was enormous. Nearly all the
cabin passengers on the Elbe were lost.
The disaster occurred before daylight yes
terday Rlorning at point some 80 miles
from the Hook OF Holland.
The first intimation OF tho disaster came
from Lowestoft, ono OF the chief English
fishing, ports. The first dispatches stated
that there had been $50 persons on the
Elbe, and that only 10 had been saved, the
rescued having been landed at Lowestoft
by fishing smacks. Later 1t was learned
that the Crathie, tho steamer that had
sunk the Elbe, had put into Maasluis.
Holland, In damaged condition. She
reported that she had been In collision
with an unknown ocean steamer.
When the news OF the disaster became
generally known, the excitemcnt was In
tense. Cable dispatches were ut once for
warded to all the principal European
cities and soon food OF return dispatches
was received asking for fuller information.
The agents here did everything possible
TO learn all the facts, and soon as any new
Information was received 10 was at once
cabled To che various European capitals
Horrors of First Reports Realized.
IL was at first hoped that the reports of
the disaster had been exaggerated, but as
time wore on IL was apparent that the first
reports of the sinking Of the steamer had
minimzed the horrors of the disaster.
Many dispatches were forwarded TO
Maaslus To the commander Of the steamer
Crathie, asking him If he had rescued any
of the Elbe's passengers. Up to late
hour, however, no answers were received
TO these dispatches. and the belief grew
that the Crathie, after the accident had
rather sought her own safety than to res
cue the people on the doomed Elbe.
From tho details now at hand it Is
learded that the Elbe was proceeding
along at her usual rate OF speed and keep
ing the ordinary lookouts. The night was
dark, but there was no gale. Suddenly
the forward lookout on the Elbe reported
that the lights OF steamer were close
aboard over the port bow Before the
course OF the Elbe could be changed so as
TO sheer her of from the approaching
steamer. the latter struck her just abaft
the engine room, going through her plates
as though they were pasteboard, and stick
ing her nose almost completely through
the hull Of the Elbe.
For o time the Crathie held the Elbe on
her nose, but then her engines were re-
vorscd and she backed out of the aperture
she had made. AS she did SO, the water
rushed into the Ellie In torrent, and she
began to Immediately settle.
One Boats Crew Saved.
The officer in charge of the Elbe at once
saw that the vessel was doomed, and gave
hurried orders to clear away the lifeboats
for launching. Three of the boats were
cleared, swung outboard on the davits
and lowered, but one Of them. shortly af-
ter it got clear of the steamer, capsized,
and IL is thought that oil of its occupants
were drowned The first boat contained
the third officer, chief engineer, purser
and about 20 of the passengers. These are
the persons who were picked up by fish
ing smack and taken TO Lowestoft.
The shock of the collision was compare
lively slight in view of the damage done.
but this is explained by the fact that it
was direct cutting blow. Nearly all the
passengers were asleep at the time, but
many of them were awakened by the
shock, slight though it was. They could
4. hear the rush OF the rapidly nfowing
water and with cries Of terror sought to
make their way to the upper deck
The steamer being loaded by the stern.
the water rushed aft, and this allowed
many of the passengers forward to reach
the deck. In the case OF the saloon passen.
gers however, the result was fatal. As
they rushed from their staterooms into the
soloon they were met by the torrent
against which it was impossible for them
to IN axe Roadway. They were caught up
and swept aft the cockpit, where they
were probably drowned before the ship
foundered
Altogether about 30 OF the passengers
reached the deck, where the widest con.
fusion existed. Wild rushcs were made
for the boats, but tho terrible excitement
prevailing impcdcd the efforts of those
who were trying to clear them away.
Many hcart-rcndng scenes were witnessed
between parents aud children In the few
moments preceding the sinking OF the
vessel.
There is some disagreement among the
survivors as to the number OF boats that
were launched. One survivor, Karl A.
Hoffman,, declares TINT only two were
launched. One Of these was swamped In.
ttantly, and only one OF Its occupants. q
girl named Anna Boecker, was rescued.
Scenes of Horror.
Meanwhile the cry was raised on the
doomed vessel for the women and chill.
dren to go over TO the other side of .be
steamer. away from tho port side. in
which was the great gaping hole caused
by the Crathlc. The halffainting women
and terror stricken children hurried TO the
stnrboard side, but they had scarcely
reached tho boats when the hugo vessel
lifted her bow high In the air. and then
slowly and silently sank stern forcmast
| beneath the waves, taking with her her
humhn freight.
Barely 20 minutes elapsed between the
collision and tho sinking OF the steamer.
"A heavy sea was running and the wind,
which was from the east-southeast, was
bitterly cold.
The small boat containing the survivors
tossed about until IL o'clock In tho morn
tng. Several vessels were sighted i'm the
rneantime. but thcy made no replies to the
signals that were set for them. The sur.
yiyors wore nearly frozen. having hardly
lny clothing and their suff ,rings were In.