The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-30
Thrilling Story of the Disaster to the Steamer
Alden on the East Coast of Africa.
Seventeen Days of Terror
for the Few Who Survived.
Those Take 4 Off Rescued Just as the Hull of the
Ill-Fated Craft Was Breaking Up-Victms
Washed Away One by One.

LONDON, June 30.-A dispatch to
the Daily Mall from Alden, Arabia.
says: Two days after leaving Colombo
the steamer Alden was struck by a Sc
we're monsoon with squalls, violent and
incessant. Day by day the weather
grew thicker, and the passengers be-
came more and more alarmed. AT
o'clock on the morning of June the
vessel struck upon the Rasradresa reef,
on the Eastern coast of the island Of
Socotra. The engine room was instant
ly flooded and utter darkness ensued.
Wild with panic the passengers rush
ed from their cabins and fled terror
stricken to the upper deck in the scan
tiest clothing. The women and children
screamed in fright and confusion, but
the men retained their self-possession
and courageously assisted the officers
and crew to do their best to save the
vessel and to inspire 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.
Life belts 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, see.
ing that some hours were likely to
elapse before it would be possible to
launch the boats, the passengers glad
ly accepted the assistance Of the crew
to obtain more clothing.
The storm continued 10 increase in
violence. Great seas washed the YES
sci with terrific force. Daylight brought
no relief and only served to reveal still
further the awful situation. Misfor-
tune followed misfortune. A life boat
was lowered, only to be swept away
Immediately with three Lascars and the
first officer, Mr. Garden. The gig was
dispatched to the rescue with Mr.. Mil
ler the second officer, but to the de-
spair 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 Of the men even,
when this half capsiZed, throwing the
seamen into the sea. After great eff
forts the boat was righted, and the
women and children were lowered
into it, with the exception Of Mines
Gillett, Peary and Strain, who hero
ically decided to share the fate of their
husbands, and Misses Lloyd and Wei
Ter, who remained on board. The boat
manned by a 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 PROSTATE 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 engulfed were
MIR. and Mrs. Strain and two children:
Misses Lloyd and Weller, the mis-
sionaries; Mrs. Peary's baby, with it's
Chinese nurse, and. then Capt Hill.
whose leg was broken, but who had
borne himself calmly and braveIy. He
was washed overheard with several of
the native crew.
All day the victims were picked off
one by one, until O'Clock in the aft
erroon, 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 7
have seen cares 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.
feed, hunger until then having failed
to assert itself over more acute priva-