The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-30
Steamship Alden, from China and Ja-
pan, Blown Onto an African Reef
During violent Monsoon.
SWEPT BY MONSTER WAVES
WHICH CARRIED OVERHEARD MIS-
SIONARIES AND OTHERS.
Rescue of the SurvivOrs-Great Brit
aims Alleged Concession to the
BimetaIIist Cause.

LONDON. June PA dispatch from Alden,
Arabia, tells of the loss of the steamer
Alden and probably seventy-eight lives |
The dispatch says: THE Indian government
steamer Mayo, sent out in search of the
missing steamer Alden, for London, which
was last heard of when leaving Colombo
on June for this port, has returned here
and reports that the Alden was lost off the
Island of Socotra, at the eastern extremity
of Africa. on the morning of June 9. The
Alden carried thirty-four passengers 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 women, nine
children two officers and few of the
Adens 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 passen-
gers and three of the white and thirty
three of the natives of the steamers s crew.
All of these persons We're rescued just as
the ship was breaking up. The survivors
of the wrecked steamer were brought to
this port by the Mayo and are being cared
for by the local authorities. In all, the
drowned and missing include twenty-five
passengers twenty European officers and
thirty-three natives of the Adens crew.
DETAILS OF THE WRECK.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Alden
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 pas
sengers became more and more alarmed.
AT 2 O'Clock on tha p1Ornipp Of Tune ba
vessel struck on 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 fed terror-stricken to the upper deck
in the scantiest 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 camness. 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 distrb-
uted. 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, seeing
that some hours were likely to elapse be-
boats the passengers gladly accepted the
assistance of the crew to obtain more cloth
ing.
1.-The storm continued to increase in vio-
lence. Great seas washed the vessel with
terrific force. Daylight brought no relief,
and only served TO reveal still further the
awful situation. Misfortunes followed mis-
fortune. A lifeboat was lowered only to
be swept away Immediately, with three
Lascars and the first officer, Mr.. Garden.
The gig dispatched to the rescue with
Mr.. Miller, the second officer, but to the
despair of all, both boats were rapidly
swept away. The only remaining lifeboat
was then lowered amid a scene of intense
emotion. A cry of anguish broke from the
lips even of the men when this half cap
sized, throwing the sailors and the stores
into the sea. After great efforts the boat
was righted and the women and children
lowered into it, with the exception of
Madames Gillet, Pearce and Strain, who
keroically 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 rapidly out of sight.
Vast waves still swept the wreck, dash
ing the people about and leaving them al
most PROSTATE the deck. One by one,
men, women and children, grown too weak
to withstand the repeated bufetings, were
dashed overheard in sight of those who
were momentarily expecting the same fate.
Among the first thus engulfed were Mr..
and Mrs. Strain and their two children;
Misses Lloyd and Weller. the missionaries;
Mrs. Pearce's baby with the Chinese nurse,
and then Captain Hill, whose leg was
broken, but who had borne himself braveiy.
the native crew. All day the victims were
picked off one by one, until o'clock in the
afternoon, 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. None OF the
survivors whom have seen cares to talk
of this terrible night.
SEARCH FOR FOOD.
1.-THE storm abated slightly on the morn
ing of the 10th, and those who were able
to move began to search for food, hunger
until then having failed to assert itself
over more acute privations. This proved
a task of the greatest danger, as big seas
were still sweeping the vessel. The fourth
engineer, while trying to procure water
near the poop, was struck senseless ana al
most washed overheard before he could be
| dragged to a place OI SdlGty. ItS-
piration and similar expedients were re-
sorted to, but it was five hours before he
was restored to consciousness. Mr.. Pearce
was only saved from being washed over
board by the prompt action of his daunt-
| less wife
THE search for food resulted in their get
ting very little of il and this was shared
out equally and in very small portions. All
the time desperate men kept sharp look
out. But no vessel was sighted until the
18th. and even then the distress signal was
not seen. On the 18th and again on the 10th
other vessels were sighted, but the signals
either were not seen or were ignored.
These unhappy episodes caused painful and
half-crazy scenes of rage among those who
had been previously self-controlled. Each
day It was necessary TO curtail the allow
ance of rations. Mrs. Gillett did the cater
ing, and contributed greatly to cheering
up the ships company. The weather usually
moderated in the morning. but always in
creased in violence during the afternoon
Frequently a sea thirty feet high would