The herald., 1897-06-30
THE ADEN
WRECKED
Most of Her Passengers
Drowned
TWO WOMEN MISSIONARIES
COUNTED AMONG THE OCEANS
VICTIMS
TWO WOMEN MISSIONARIES
Rescue Comes After Seventeen Days
Of Hideous Suffering Aboard
tho Disabled Ship

Associated Press Special Wire.
ADEN, June 29-The steamer Mayo,
sent out by the Indian government in
search Of the missing steamer Alden,
from Yokohama April 2Sth for London.
last heard Of when leaving Colombo,
June 1st, has returned with the surviv-
ors, nine passengers and six Of the crew,
the other twenty-five passengers and
Of the crew being drowned
ing Of June 9th.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Alden. Arabia, says: Two days after
leaving Colombo the Alden was struck
by severe monsoon and squalls Day
by day the weather grew thicker and the
became more and more
alarmed. At 8 o'clock on the morning
Of June 9, the vessel struck on the Ras-
radeisia reef on the eastern coast Of the
island of Socotra.
The engine room was instantly flooded
and utter darkness ensued. Wild with
panic, the passengers rushed from their
cabins and fed terror stricken to the up
per deck and in the scantiest clothing.
The women and children screamed in
fright and confusion, but the men re-
mained cool and retained their self-pos-
session and courageously assisted the
officers and crew to do their best to save
the vessel and to inpire calmness
But it was soon seen that the steamer
could not survive the shock and that the
only chance for safety lay in the boats.
The storm continued to increase in vi
olence. The seas washed the decks with
terrific force. Daylight brought no re-
lief and only served to reveal still fur
ther the awful situation.
Misfortune followed misfortune. A
lifeboat was lowered only to be swept
away Immediately with three Lascars
and the fret officer, Mr. Garden. The
gig was dispatched TO the rescue with
Mr.. Miller. the second officer. but to the
despair OF all, both boats were swept
away.
The only remaining lifeboat was then
lowered amid scene Of intense emo
tion. A cry Of anguish broke from the
lips Of the men when this half capsized.
throwing the sailors and the stores into
the sea. After great efforts the boat was
righted and the women and children
were lowered into 1t, with the exception
of Mines. Gillet, Pearce and Strain, who
heroically resolved to share the fate of
their husbands, and Miss Lloyd and
Miss Weller. who remained behind.
The boat manned by a European crew
left in tremendous sea and drifted rap
idly out of sight.
Vast waves still swept the wreck.
dashing the people about and leaving
them almost PROSTATE on the deck.
One by one, men, women andNchildren
grew too weak to Withstand the repeat
ed buffetings and were washed over
board in sight of those who were mo-
mentarily expecting the same fate.
Among the first thus engulfed were Mr..
and Mrs. Strain and their two children.
Misses Lloyd and Weller, the missiona-
ries; Mrs. Pearce's baby with it's Chi
nese nurse, and then Captain Hill.
whose leg was broken but who had
borne himself calmly and bravely. He
was washed overheard with several of
the native crew.
The storm abated slightly on the morn
ing of the 10th, and those who were able
to move began to search for food, hun
ger until then having failed to assert IT.
self over more acute privations. This
proved task of the greatest danger, as
big seas were still sweeping the vessel.
The fourth engineer, while trying to
procure water, was struck senseless and
almost washed overheard before he
could be dragged to place of safety.
1t was five hours before he was restored
to consciousness. Mr.. Pearse was only
saved from being washed overheard by
the prompt action of his dauntless wife.
The search for food resulted in their
getting very little of it, and this was
shared out equally, and in very small
portions. No vessel was sighted until
the 18th. and then the distress signal
was not seen. On the 18th, and again on
the 20th other vessels were Sighted, but
the signals either were not seen or were
ignored.
On June 26th, when things were in
their worst form and the Good supply
was almost exhausted, Meeers. White,
Kak. Gave and Valpy bravely ventured
across the deck to the store room and
got fresh supply. That evening two
steamers were sighted One proceeded
paying any attention.to the. dis
tress signals. The other anchored un-
der the lee Of the island. AS soon as
she was sighted, Lascar mounted the
rigging and signalled her. In reply
candles burned in her port holes, and at
daybreak on the 26th a suspense of
seventeen days was relieved by the spec
tacle of the steamer rounding the. point
and heading towards the wreck. She
dropped anchor about a mile away.
A very heavy sea was still running, but
The wind had moderated slightly. With
heartfelt JOY mingled with the tears of
the men and hysterical sobbing of the
women, they saw the lffeboat lowered.
It took her three'-fourths of an hour to
reach the wreck. Everyone rushed to
the broken, side of the ship. It was the
lifeboat OF the Indian government
steamer Mayo, and in charge Of Lieu
tenants Dobin and Goldsmith.
They skillfufly avoided the tremen-
dous wash and secured all of'the sur
vivors In two Of the ships boaak. Every
attention WAS, maid to them nm hoa ri "a, =