The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-30
OF the Lost Indian Steamship
Alden
WAITED AND WATCHED
While She Lay on the Rocks,
Waves 30 Feet High
Rolled Over Her and Signals Of
Distress Were Unheeded.


with squalls. violent and ineessa nt-Day
by day the weather grew thicker and
the passengers became more and more
alarmed. At o'clock a. m, June 8, the
vessel struck upon the Rasradresa reef.
on the eastern coast of the island Of
Socotra
The engineers room was instantly
flooded and utter darkness ensued- Wild
with panic the passengers rushed from
their cabins and crowded the upper
deck in the scantiest clothing. The WO-
men and children screamed in fright
and confusion; but the men retained
their Self-pOSSesSiOn and cOuTa SeOuSly
assisted the officers and crew to do
their best to save the vessel and to in
spire calmness.
But il was soon seen that the steam
er could not survive the shock and that
the only chance for afety lay in the
boa is 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, see
ing that some hours were likely to
elapse before it would be possible to
launch the boats. passengers gle dIy ac-
cepted the assistance of the crew to OBJ
tain more clothing.
The storm continued to increase in
violence Great seas washed the YES
sci with terrific force. DAYLIGHT brought
40 relief and only served to reveal stiII
further the awful situation.
Misfortune followed misfortune A
IRE boat was lowered, only to be swept
away imm ediately with three lascars
ana the first officer. Ne Garden The
sig was despatched TO the rescue with
Mr. Miller, the second officer but to
idly swept away.
The only remaining lfeboat was
then lowered amid a scene of intense
emotion A cry of anguish broke from
the LIS even Of the men when this half
capsizsd, throwing the sailors and the
stores into the sea. After great efforts
tne BOAT was r1ghted and the women
ana children lowered into it with the
exception of Mesdames Gillette Pearoe
ana strain. who her6icalIy decided to
share the fate of their h1lsba17e a1I
MISSES Lloyd and Weller, who remained
on noafu- The boat, manned by a Eur
open crew, left in a tremendous sea
ana drifted rapidly out of sight.
asst waves still swept the wreck
daShinS the people about and leax-inpr
mem almost PROSTATE on the deck
One py one, men. women and children
crown 100 weak TO Withstand the re-
peatlng buffe tings, were washed ox-ar
BOARD IN sight of those who were mo-
I.tlentarlIy expecting the same fate.
Among the first thus ene,ll1fe17 v1re.,.a Nj.
end Mrs Strain and their two cbi1C--er,
Misses Lloyd and Weller. the mission,
ares, MIS- Pearce's ba by. with its Chi
Aese nurse, and then Captain Hill whose
-es was broken, but who had borne him
scr calmly and bravely. He was wash
ca overheard with several of the na+it1a
crew. --S Ai1 1--WE
All day the victims vra7A ,,io1-a.7 -
one py one, until o'clock in the sfte.-
room when those who still survived "a
treated below. 81 &c
Many were badly hurt and Daesad
the night in suspense and I7rr7j1,r -
huddled in the small cabin which fbav
expected would be their tomb None
81 o. me el9, survivors whom have seen cares
70 lax OF this terrible night
The storm abated slightly on tho
morning OF the 10th and those who were
{ SDie 10 move move began to- search for food,
nullsSr unlu then having failed to as
5ert itself over more acute privatiOns
L ms proved task OF the greatest dan
ger as big seas were still sweeping tha
vessel -S 'ii7
ne fourth engineer while irving IN
procure water near the poop was struck
SenSeIess and almost washed Ovarbo9r5
before he could be dragged tn a 1loco
OF safety. Artificial respiration and
similar expedients were resorted to but
II was nVe hours before he was restored
TO consciousness
MT fearce was only saved from be-
ing washed overheard bv the nror9T+
action OF his dauntIess wife
1 he search for food resulted in their
getting very little of it, and this was
SHARED out equally and in very small
portions.
All the time desperste rnaD l-aD+
sharp lookout But no vessel was SIGHT
ed until the 18th, and then the distress
Slgnal was not seen. On the 18th and
ZVIh other vessels were sighted but the
signals either were not seen or were ie-
nored- These unhappy episodes causad
painful and half crazy scenes Of race
among those who had been previously
elI-contrOlled. Each day 1t was nee
lions.
Mrs Gillette did the catering andoon-
ships company.
L he weather usually moderated in
Nne morning, out always increased in
violence during the afternoon Ere
q III
the deck from stem to stern and carry
away portions Of the vessel. On June
-, when things We're at their worst and
the food supply was almost exhausted
Nessrs- White, Kelt, Cave and Valpy
braVely ventured across the deck to the
store room and got a fresh supply That
evening two steamers We're sighted. one
proceeded without aging any attention
to the distress signal The other ancb-
ored under the lee Of the island As
soon as she was sighted laScaT mount
cd me rigging and signalled her. In
reply candles burned St her port holes
aud at daybreak on the 26th a zusDense
OF II days was relieved by the steamer
'ndins the peint and heading to
wards the wreck. She dropped anchor |
about q mile away.
A very heavy sea was still running
nul the wind had moderated slightly.
w I'm heartfelt joy mingled with the
tears OF the men and hystericaI sobbing
OF 1he women. they saw the life boat
lowered. 1t took her three-ouarters of !
an hour to reach the wreck FEver~v-
one rushed to the broken side Of the
snip. It was the life boat of the Indian
government steamer Mayo and was in
charge of Lieutenants Dobfn and Cold |
smith.
They sldllfully avoided the tremen-
dous wash and secured all Of the sur |
vivors in the two trips Every atten- |
ton was paid to them on board the
Mayo. Their health is improving and |
they VIII sail homeWard today on the /
India