Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1895-02-08
OCEAN HORROR.
The Atlantic Steamship Elbe
Sunk In a Collision.
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.
Struck at Night By British Steamer
in the North Sea.

The Disaster Occurred Fifty Miles on Eng
lands Coast and the Eihe Was Sent to
the Bottom in Twenty Minutes-Ter-
rible Scene on Deck-AI but IA Hand
full Were Engulfed-Tales of the Survi-
vors-DesperateS Struggles for LifeA Among
The little fishing smack Wild Flower has
lust sailed into the harbor of LoweStoft, on
the east coast of England, with Il handful
of survivors, who We're all tha, remained of
a ships company of nearly 400 souls who
sailed twenty-four hours before from Bremen
bound for New York. Few of the great
tragedies of the sea have been more terrible
| than the fate of over 800 men, women and
children who went down in the North Sea in
the wreck of the steamship Elbe, of the North
German Lloyd Company.
The disaster befel the great ship almost
without warning. She was pursuing her
course just before daybreak through a rough
sea amid half gale, which blew bitter cold.
Other vessels We're in sight. with which she
exchanged signals. Suddenly there was a
crash, and in 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 larger YES
sci lives to tell, for all who are known to be
saved were below deck when the collision
occurred. The boat which struck the liner
remained for few moments wedged il the
great rent which she had made. The sea soon
tore the two ships apart. The smaller one
was badly damaged and almost helpless.
She drifted away. and did not even learn
with what ship she had been in collision.
She was the Scotch steamer Craithie, OF
Aberdeen. 1876 tons Late in the evening she
crawled into the harbOr of Maasluis, near
Rotterdam.
1t was quickly realized on board the Elbe
that her wound was mortal. and that she
could not long survive. The blow tore open
all the middle compartments, and flood of
water quickly filled the engine and boiler
rooms to the waters edge Some of the pas
SengerS We're undoubtedly killed in their
herths, especially in the second cabin, for
staterOOmS there were smashed to bits. and
several passageways were blocked by debris
All but two or three of the 175 passengers
were in bed. Few failed to realize that a
serious disaster had befalleD, for the shock
was terrific throughout the ship. Within a
few moments all who were able to escape
from below reached the deck.
There followed one of those awful scenes
which are almost inevitable in a large ships
company suddenly brought face to face with
death. At first there was some attempt at
discipline. The Captain and flrst officer gave
clear orders which We're heard by all that the
women and children should enter the boats
first This made it 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 lowering the boats. They were
hampered by frozen ropes and the severe list
of the rapidly settling steamship. 1t soon
became apparent to all that the ship was
laundering. Then arose the wild cry
There are not boats enough
Little discipline remained after that mo-
ment. There were some sad struggles to
escape at the expense of others. The last
command that the women and children should
go to the opposite side of the ship from that
where the damage was and where tho most
boats We're being got out.
The first lifehOat that was flOated was
quickly filled with men and women, but it
| capsized before it got ten yards from the
side. One young woman in this boat clung
to it until picked up by the second boat.
which is the only one known to have sur
vived. She the only woman saved. for in
the wild scramble at the very last only men.
and all but four of these officers and crew
of the vessel secured places. Those on
this boat say that they saw one more boat
load of about twenty get away from the ship
before she sank. Before they cast off the
EIbe had hecled over to a sharp angle and
settled very low in the water. She went
down stern first when the survivors who
reached LOwestOft were only few rods
away.