The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-07
DISASTER ON THE DEEP,
A STEAMSHIP LOST OFF THE EAST
ERN COAST OF AFRICA.
A Terrible Story OF Privation and suff'r
Ing. How the Survivors Were Rescued.
Heroic Women Refused 10 Leave Their
Hnahands on the Doomed Ship

"cIoiS ia -
Husbands on the Doomed Ship
A dispatch from Alden, Arbld, says
the Indian governments steamer
Mayo set out in search of the missing
steamer Alden, which sailed from 70.
koharna on April %, via Colombo and
Alden, for London, and which was
last heard of when leaving Colombo
on June 1 for Alden, has returned and
reports that the Alden was totally lost
off the island of Socotra. at the east.
ern extremity of Africa, on the morn
ing of June 9. The Alden carried "a
passengers from China and Japan. The
captain of the wrecked steamer, some
OF her officers and crew and seven
white passengers we're swept overheard
and drowned very soon after she ran
ashore. Eight lady passengers, nine
children. two officers and a few OF the
Aden's crew succeeded in getting
away from the wreck in a boat, but
they have not been heard of since, and
but little hope, owing to the bad
weather which has since prevailed is
entertained of their safety. The Mayo
saved nine of the Aden's passengers
and three of the white and 80 of the
natives of the steamers crew. All Of
these persons were rescued just as the
Alden was breaking up The survi-
vors of the wrecked steamer we're
carried to Alden by the Mayo and are
being cared for by the local authori-
ties. In all, the drowned and missing
clude 25 passengers, 20 European
officers and 80 natives of the Aden's
crew.
The account says that 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 pas
seugers became more alarmed. At 8
O'CLOCK on the morning of June 9 the
vessel struck upon the Rasradresa
reef, off the eastern coast OF the island
OF Sccotra. The engine room was in
flooded aud utter darkness
ensued. Wild with panic, the pas
sengers rushed from their cabins and
fled terror stricken to the upper deck
in the scantiest clothing. The women
and children screamed in fright and
confusion, but the men retained their
self possession and courageously assist
ed the officers and crew to do their
best 10 save the vessel and to inspire
But it was soon lei that
the steamer could not survive the
shock and that the only chance for
lay in the boats. Life bouys
were attributed, 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
were likely to elapse before it
would be possible to launch the boats,
the passer gers accepted the assistance
of the crew to obtain more clothing.
The storm continued to increase in
violence. Great seas washed the YES
sci with terrific force. Daylight
brought no relief and only served to
still further the awful situata-
ton.
Misfortune followed misfortune.
A lifeboat was lowered, only 10
be swept away Immediately
with three lascars and the first officer,
Mr.. Garden. The gig was dispatched
to the rescue, with Mr.. Miller, the
officer, but, to the despair of
all, both boats were rapidly swept
away. The only remaining lifeboat
was then lowered, amid a scene OF in
tense emotion. A. cry OF anguish
broke from the lips even of the men
this half capsized throwing the
and the stores into the sea.
After great efforts the boat was right
ed and the women and children were
into it, with the exception of
Gillett, Pearce and Strain,
who h~eroically decided to share the
fate of their husbands, and Misses
and Weller, who remained on
The boat, manned by a Euro
pean crew, left in a tremendous sea
aud drifted rapidly out of sight. As
the waves still swept the wreck, dash.
ing the people about and leaving them
Frustrated on the deck, one by
one, men, women and children,
grown too weak to Withstand the re
peated buffetings, were washed over
board in sight of those who were mo
mentarily expecting the same fate.
Among the first thus ergulfed were
Mr.. and Mrs. Strain and their two chill
drerr, Misses Lloyd and Weller, the
Missionaries, Mrs. Pearce's baby,
with a Chinese nurse, and then Cap
tain Hill, whose leg was broken, but
who had borne himself calmly and
bravely. He was washed overheard
with several OF the native crew.
All DAY the victims were picked off
one by one until 5o'olocA; 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
whom 1 have seen cares to talk of this
night. The storm abated
on the morning of the 10th,
and those who were able to move,
began the search for food hunger,
until then. haviog failed to assert it
self over more accute privations. This
proved a task of the greatest danger,
as big seas were still sweeping the
The fourth engineer, while
to procure water near the poop,
was struck senseless and almost wash.
ed overheard before he could be dragg
ed to o place of safety. Artificial respi
ru.,nu and similar expedieuts were re.
TO, but it was i've hours before
he was restored to consciousness. Mr..