The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-30
Is PERSONS LOST AT SEA.
THRILLING sTORF OF THE ADEN's
WRECK OFF EAST AFRICA.

Lircboat Cot Away ana All in Her Certainly
Perished-For Beventeen payu immense
waves BroLe over the wreck. washing
Men, women and Children Fate the sea-
vessels Passed tho suGerers. Needles OF
rho nrave Captain washed ovcrsoara-
RELIEF Gomez at Hast ana Ferty-nve FER
sons. Nearly Dead, Are Landed at Alden.
Special Gable DespatoA to Tur suS.
LoNDoN June 2e.-According to advices re-
celved here this morning there Is no longer any
doubt a. to the fate OF the missing Pacific limo
steamship Alden, which left Yokohama on Juno
1 for London with q number Of passengers and
q valuable cargo. 1t 10 now known that the
Alden was wrecked on june 0 on q reef, near the
Island Of socotra, In the Indian Ocean. of the
eastern extremity Of Africa. Anumbcr Of her
officers and crow and eight passengers were
swept overheard and drowned, and q boat loaded
with passengers and sailors left tho ship on
June 10. The weather was very heavy, and the
boat was undoubtedly lost
Other accounts say that nine passengers and
three European and thirty.three Indian mem
bers OF the crew were saved and that twenty
nve passengers and twenty European and thirty
three Indian members OF the crew, together with
all OF the officers are lost
a ioICk uoopetsA bayo bhAt ~ Ahtoioh
ment steamer Mayo rescued the survivors Of
the Alden at 2 o'clock on Saturday Just as the
wreck Of tho Pacific liner was breaking up.
They have been taken to Alden.
The Daily Matt . correspondent at Alden has
had interviews with survivors Of the disaster,
and sends . vivid description OF the loss
OF the steamer. he says that the Alden
left Colombo on June I. Two days later
she was struck by o severe monsoon. the wind
Al.N,l.- x-tNh rrnnN No~NN ThA v->Akh., Aan.
tiuued to grow worse and worse, and several OF
the passengers began 10 fear for their safety.
For six days terrific gales end heavy seas were
met with, and the weather was very thick.
At 8 O'Clock on the morning of Juno 0 the
Aden struck on the Ras Radressa Reef, to the
eastward OF Socotra. An immense hole was torn
In her hull. through which the water poured In
torrents. The engine room was almost instantly
flooded and the fires were quenched. When tho
fires went out the electric lights were extin-
guished and the ship was in utter darkness.
Then ensued q scene OF wild confusion. The
passengers rushed from their cabins In their
night clothing. the women and children scream
ing in terror. A majority Of the mon passengers
were filed with horror and were helpless.
The officers and crew did their utmost for the
safety of the vessel, NC tried TO calm the pas
seneers. 1t speedily became apparent. how
ever, that the only hope was the small
boats. Lifebclts were promptly served out
to the passengers, and signals Of distress wero
fired. Tho boats on the weather side were
washed away BY the seas. but those on tho
lee side were prepared for launching.
In the mean time Some OF the crew
were detailed to help tho terrified pas
sergers to secure clothing from their cabins.
ait was obvious that hours must pass before it
would be possible to launch tho boats owing to
the fury Of tho sea-
The hope that the storm would abate
was not fulfilled; on the contrary, the
haze Increased and tho seas dashed over
the steamer. threateninG to destroy her. Day.
light brought no relief. It rather added to the
horror in revealing to those on board the awful.
hess of their position.
Then misfortune followed misfortune. A lfo-
boat was lowered. but It was Immediately swept
away with First Officer Garden and three Las
cars East Indian sailorsl Second Ohioer Miller,
with others Of the crew, embarked in the gig to
rescue their shipmates, but, to the utter despair
Of those on board, both boats were hurled away
on the tremendous seas.
Only one boat remained. It's lowering was
watched with intense emotion. A CRY Of an
guish burst from tho watcher when this,
too. Immediately after 1t was wered, half
eapsized, casting the sailors and stores in
1t into the sea. After great efforts the boat
was finally rightcd. and the ladies and children
were lowered into 1t, with the exception OF
Mines. Gillett. Pearce. and Strain, who decided
TO remain on the wreck with their husbands.
Miss Lloyd and Miss Weller, who are mission
aries at Foochow, also determined to remain.
As the morning advancod the waves con-
tnued to sweep over the steamer. dash.
ing many Of those on board against the
bulwarks or deck structures and leav.
ing them prostrate. One by one the
women and children remaining, too weak to
withstand further buffetings, were washed over
board, the survivors being helpless to prevent
their fate. Mr.. Strain of Tientsin. his wife and
two children. the Misses Lloyd and Weller, Mr..
and Mrs. Pearoe, their baby and its
Chinese nurse were among the FIRST who
were thus engulfed. Tho next to 60
was Capt. Hill. the master of tho steamer. His
leg had been broken, but Notwithstanding this
he continued calmly and bravely TO give orders
until the waves claimed him. Then several Las.
cars OF the crew were washed overheard.
Throughout tho long day the sea ragged, seiE
Ing victim after victim. About B o'clock in the
evening thesurvivors. many of whom were badly
hurt retreated below. Thus. In bodily pain
and intense mental suspense, they passed the
night, huddled In the small cabin, which threat
sned to DO thor tomb. 1t was Q night which
none o; tho survivors care to recall in their
thoughts, far less in their speech.
The storm slightly abated on the morning oil
Inc 10th. Those who wero tho least exhausted
pagan a search for food, but ct tho cost Of
pain to their bruised and stiffened limbs
anu also AZ the imminent risk OF being
swept overheard by tho big seas tina,
were still breaking over the wreck. The
,Oufth engineer, whilo getting water, was
shocked senseless by a heavy sea. and 1t was
y WIN dliiculty that no was dragged to safety by
u comrades. lilo was only restored to con
,S0Hsness after i've hours treatment. Mr..
.earce also camo near being carried overheard,
't his wife's heroism saved him.
Inc search for food was not very successful
mere being little that could DO found. The ter
nuo Gays were thus passed before a vessel was
"Shlet on the 18th. This vessel did not, how
"er' see the desperate signals OF the ship
Wrecked people.
another vessel was sighted on the 18th and
,nother on the goth. but neither appeared to see
- signals, although the cAstaways cannot i'm,
NkUH hnu h.