The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-30
OCEANS PREY.
Steamer Alden Lost Off the African
Coast.
ONLY 45 OF HER PASSENGERS AND
CREW SAVED.

Seventy Others Either Drowned or Given
Up as Lost-she Struck on Reef in
Thick Weather, and Life Boats When
Lowered Were Smashed or Capsized-
Thrilling Story of Ship Wreck and
Disaster.
| Alden, Ju ne 29.-The Indian govern
ment's steamer Mayor, sent out in search
of the missing steamer Alden, from Yoko-
homa on April 2H, via Columbo and Alden,
| for London which was last heard Of
| when leaving Columbo June for this
port, has returned here and reports that
| the Alden was totally lost off the island of
Socotra, at the eastern extremity of Afri-
ca. during the morning of June g.
The Alden carried "a passengers from
China and Japan.
The n captain of the wrecked steamer,
some of her officers and crew and seven
white passengers, were swept overboar
and drowned very soon after she ran
ashore. Eight women 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
not been heard of since and little hope,
owing to the bad weather, which has
since prevailed, is entertained Of their
safety
The Mayo saved nine of the Aden's 8
passengers, three of the white members
of the crew and 33 of the native crew.
All these persons were rescued Just as the
Alden was breaking up. The survivors
of the wrecked steamer were brought to
this port by the local authorities
| In all the drowned and missing include
25 passengers, 20 European officers and
natives of the Aden's crew.
A despatch to the London Daily Mail
| from Alden. Arabia, says: "Two day S
after leaving Colombo the Alden was
struck by a severe monsoon, with squalls
violent and incessant. Day by day the
weather grew thicker. At o'clock on
upon the Rasradresa 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 fled terror stricken to the up
per deck in the scant clothing. The wom-
en- and children screamed in fright and
confusion, but the men retained their self
possession.
1T was soon seen that the steamer
could not survive the shock, and that
the only chance for safety lay in the
boats. Life boats were distributed, dis
tress signals given, and the beats on the
lee side prepared fer launching. Those
on the weather side had already been
| washed away. In the meantime. seeing
that some hours We're likely to elapse be-
/ fore it would be possible to launch the
boats, the passengers gladly accepted the
assistance of the crew to obtain more
clothing.
1.-THE storm continued to increase in
with terrific force. Daylight brought no
relief, and only served to reveal still
| further the awfulness of the situation.
Misfortune followed misfortune. A
| lifeboat 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 de-
spair of all, both boats were rapidly swept
| away.
The only remaining life boat was then
lowered amid a scene of intense EN- o.
| tion. A cry of anguish broke from the
lips even of the men when this half cap
into the sea. After great efforts the boat
was righted. and the women and chill
dren were lowered into it, with the excep-
tion of Madames Gi1lett, 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 a European crew,
left in a tremendous sea and drifted rapid
ly out of sight.
'sVast waves still swept the wreck dash
ing 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 buff
fetings, were washed overheard in sight
of those who were momentarilly expect
ing the same fate. Among the first thus
engulfed were Mr.. and Mrs. Strain and
their two children, Misses Lloyd and Well
Ter, the missionaries; Mrs Pierces's baby,
with its Chinese nurse and then Capt.
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 5 o'clock in the after.
noon, when those who still survived re-
treated 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
4 SThe storm abated slightly on the
morning of the 10th, and those who were
able to move began to search for food.
This proved task of the greatest danger,
as big seas were still sweeping the vessel
''The search for food resulted in their
getting very little of it, and this was
shared out equally and in very small por-
tions. All the time desperate men Kept
sharp lookout, but no vessel was sighted
until the 18th and even then the distress
signal was not seen. On the 18th and
again on the Goth other vessels were sight
ed, 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 to
curtail the allowance Of rations. Mrs.
Gillett did the catering and contributed
greatly to tha cheering up the ships
| company.
Frequently a sea 80 feet high would