The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-30
Seventy-Eight Lost All Told,
Including 20 Officers.
BOUND FROM YOKOHAMA
4 THRILLING STORY OF HERO
ISM AND MAD SUFFERING.
ONLY AFTER II DAYS CANE RESCUE
Some Steamers Ignored Them--Siruck by .
Monsoon---Two Women Missionaries
Among Those EnguIfed--A Desper-
ate Waiting Fight For Life.

Among Those Engulfed--A Desper-
ate Waiting Fight For Life.
Aden, June 29.-The Indian govern
ment's steamer Mayo, sent out in search
of rhe missing steamer Alden, from Yo-
kohama on April 2S, via Colombo and
Alden, for London, which was last heard
of when leaving Colombo on june 1st
for this port, has returned here and re-
ports that the Alden was totally lost off
the island of Socotra, at the eastern ex-
tremity of Africa, on the morning of
June 9th.
The Alden carried thirty-four passen-
gers from China and Japan
The captain of the wrecked steamer,
some Of her officers and crew and seven
white passengers were swept overheard
and drowned very soon after she ran
ashore. Eight lady passengers, nine
children, two officers and few of the
Aden's crew succeeded in getting away
from the wreck in a boat, but they have
ing arrangements, but if they do there
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
thirty three of the natives of the steam
er's crew. All of these PERSONS were
rescued just as the Alden was breaking
up. The survivors of the wrecked steam
er were brought to this port by the Mayo
and are being cared for by the local au-
thorities.
In all, the drowned and missing in
clnde twenty-five passengers, twenty
European officers and thirty three ma
fives of the 5Aden's crew.
STRUCK BY A MONSOON.
London, June GA dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Alden, Arabia, says:
1.-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
EARNED. At 3 o'clock on the morning
of June 8, the vessel struck up on the
Rasradresa reef, on the eastern coast OF
the island of Socotra.
''The engine room was instantly food
ed and utter darkness ensued. Wild with
panic the passengers rushed from their
cabins and fed terror stricken to the up
per deck in the scantiest clothing. The
women and children screamed in fright
and confusion; but the men retained
iheir self-possession and courageously
assisted the officers and crew to do their
\best to save the vessel and to inspire
kalmness
But it was soon seen that the
steamer could not survive the shock and
that the only chance for safety lay in the
boats. Life belts were distributed, dis
tress 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 it would be possible to launch the
boats, the passengers gladly accepted the
assistance of the crew to obtain more
clothing.
ssThe storm continued to increase in
I violence. Great seas washed the vessel
nth terrific force. Daylight brought
rrelief and only served to reveal still
Further the awful situation.
Misfortune followed misfortune. A
fife boat was lowered, only to be swept
away Immediately with three Lascars
and the first officer, Mr.. Garden. The
gig was despatched to the rescue with
Mr.. Miller, the second officer, but to. the
despair of all, both boats were rapidly
swept away.
The only remaining life boat was then
lowered amid a scene of intense emotion.
A cry of anguish broke from the lips
even Of the men when this half capsized,
\throwing the sailors and the stores into
Ithe sea. After great efforts the boat was
righted and the women and children
were lowered into it, with the exception
of Madames Gillett, Pearce and Strain,
who heroically decided to share the fate
of their husbands and Misses Lloyd and
Weller, who remained ON board. The
boat. manned by European crew, left
in a. tremendous sea and drifted rapidly
out of sight.
"vast waves still swept the wreck,
dashing the people about and leaving
them almost prostrate on the deck. One
by one, men, women and children, grown
too weak to withstand the repeated
Duffetings, were washed overheard in
sight OF thosew no were momentarily ex-
pecting the same fate. Among the first
thus engulfed were Mr.. and Mrs. Strain
and their two children; Misses Lloyd
and Weller, the Missionaries, Mrs.
kPearce's baby, with it's Chinese nurse
hnd then Capt. Hill, whose leg was brok-
en. 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 five o'clock in the af-
ternoon, when those who survived, re-
TREATED below. Many were badly hurt
and passed the night in suspense and
bodily pain, huddled in the small cabin