Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-07-02
WRECK OF TIE ADEN.
MANY LIVES LOST IN a MONSOON
in THE INDIAN OCEAN.


Overheard white Men Looked on Help
less.
London, June sO.-The correspondent
Of The Daily Mall at Alden, Arabia, has
sent the following graphic description
of the wreck Of the British steamship
Alden:
Two days after leaving Colombo the
Alden was struck by a severe monsoon,
with squalls, violent and incessant
Day by day the weather grew thicker,
and the passengers became more and
more alarmed. At o'clock on the
morning Of June the vessel struck
upon the Rasradresa reef, on the east
ern coast Of the island of Socotra.
The engine room was instantly flood
ed and utter darkness ensued. Wild
with panic the passengers rushed from
their cabins and fed terror stricken
to the upper deck In the scantiest cloth
ing. The women and children scream
ed In fright and confusion. but the men
retained their self possession and cour-
ageously assisted the officers and crew
to do their best to save the vessel and
70 inspire calmness.
But IT was soon seen that the steam
er could not survive the shock, and
that the only chance for safety lay Ia
the boats. Lifebelts were distributed.
distress signals given and the boats on
the lee side prepared for launching.
Those on the weather side had already
been washed away. In the meantime.
seeing that some hours were likely to
elapse before II would be possible to
launch the boats. the passengers glad
iy accepted the assistance of the crew
70 obtain more clothing.
The storm continued to increase in
violence. Huge seas washed the vessel
with terrible force. Daylight brought
no relief and only served to reveal still
further the awfulness of the situation
Lsfebonts Swept Away.
Misfortune followed misfortune A
lifeboat was lowered, only to be swept
away Immediately with three Lascars
and the first officer, hr. Garden The
gig was dispatched to the rescue with
Mr.. Miller the second officer; but to the
despair of all, both boats we're rapidly
swept away.
The only remaining lifeboat was then
lowered amid Il scene Of intense emo
ticn. A cry of anguish broke from the
lips even 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 It, with
the exception OF Mines Gillett, Pearce
and Strain, who heroically decided to
share the fate Of their husbands, and
Misses Lloyds and Weller. who remain
ed on board. The boat. manned by a
European crew, left in a tremendous
sea and drlfted rapidly out of sight.
Vast waves stiil swept the wreck
dashing the people about and leaving
them almost PROSTATE on the deck One
by one, men, women and children,
grown too weak TO withstand the repeat
ed buffetings, were washed overheard In
sight of those who were momentarily
expecting the same fate. Among the
first thus ingulfed were Mr.. and Mrs.
Strain and their two children, the
Misses Lloyd and Weller, the mission
aries; Mrs. Pearces baby, with its Chi
nese nurse, and then Captain Hill,
whose leg was broken, but who had
borne himself calmly and bravely. was
washed overheard with several of the
native crew.
Days Spent on the Wreck.
All day the victims were picked off
one by one, until o'clock in the after
noon. when those who still survived
retreated below. Many were badly hurt
and passed the night in suspense and
bodily pain, huddled in the small cabin
which they expected would be their
tomb. None of the survivors who were
seen cared to talk Of this terrible night.
The storm abated slightly on the
morning of the 10th, and those who
were able to move began to search for
20
to assert itself over more acute priva-
tions. This proved a task of the great
est danger, as big seas were still sweep
ing the vessel. The fourth engineer
while trying to procure water near the
poop, was struck senseless and almost
washed overheard before he could be
dragged to a place of safety. Artificial
respiration and similar expedients were
resorted to, but 1t was five hours be-
fore he was restored to consciousness
Mr.. Pearce was only saved from being
washed overheard by the prompt ac-
ton of his dauntless wife.
The search for food resulted in their
getting very little of 1t. and this was
shared out equally and in very small
portions. ALI the time the desperate
men kept a sharp lookout. But no ves-
sci was sighted until the 18th, and even
then the distress signal was not seen
On the 17th and again on the goth othel
vessels were sighted, but the signals
either were not seen or were ignored
These unhappy episodes caused pain
full and half crazy scenes Of rage among
those who had previously been self con.
trolled. Each day It was necessary tC
/ curtail the allowance Of rations. Mrs
/ Glllett did the catering and contributed
| greatly to cheering up the ships com.
pany
Sea Thirty Feet High.
The weather usually moderated In tht
| morning, but always Increased in vlo-
1 lence during the afternoon, Frequently
a sea 80 feet high would sweep the
deck from stem to stern and carry
away portions Of the vessel. On Jun'
| %. when things were at their worst anC
the food supply was almost exhausted
Messrs. White, Kelt, Cave and Valpl
bravely ventured across the well decl
TO the storeroom and got fresh sup
! ply. That evening two steamers wer'
sighted One proceeded without pay
ing any attention to the distress sig
nal
The other anchored under the-lee o
the island. AS soon as she was sight
1 - HaoSai Hlouhteu the iiekihe an
signaled her. In reply candles burne'
at her portfolios. and at daybreak ol
the 26th suspense OF seventeen day
was relieved by the spectacle Of tn
steamer rounding the point andsheadinl
toward the wreck. She dropped ancho
about a mile away
A very heavy sea was still running
but the wind had moderated slightly
With heartfelt JOY. Mingled with tear
Of the men and hysterical sobbing Of tn
women, they saw the lifebOat lowered
II took her three-quarteFs Of an hour I