The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-07-08

One Lifeboat Got Away-For Seven
teen Days Immense Waves Eroke Over
the Wreck, Washing Men, Women and
Children Into the Sea- The Rescue.
LONDON, England (By Cablc).-Dcs-
patches from Alden. Arabia, say that the
indian. Governments steamer Mayo, ssnt
out in search Of the missing steamer Alden.
from Yokohama, via Colombo and Alden
tor London, has returned there, and re-
ports that the Alden was totally lost of the
island OF Socotra, at the eastern extremity
If Africa, during the morning Of June 9.
The Alden carried thirty-four passengers
rom China and japan.
The captain of the wrecked steamer, some
II her officers and crew and seven white
passengers were swept overheard and
drowned very soon after she ran ashore.
eight women passengers, nine children, two
,ficers and a few Of the Aden's crew sue
:eeded in getting away from the wreck in
,oat, but they have not been heard from
ince, and little hope Is entertained OF their
afety.
The Mayo saved nine OF the Aden's bas-
engers, three Of the white members OF the
rev and thirty-tbree OF the natives who
ormed part OF the steamers crew. All
hese persons were rescued just as the Alden
vas breaking up. The survivors OF the
wrecked steamer were brought to Alden. In
Ill, the drowned and missing include TWEEN
y-five passengers. twenty European OIL
.ers and thirty three natives Of the Aden's
rev.
Two days after leaving Colombo the Alden
vas struck by a severe monsoon. with
squalls, violent and incessant. Day by day
he weather grew thicker and the passen-
gers became more and more alarmed. At
O'Clock in the morning on June the ves-
,el struck upon the Rasradresa reef. on the
eastern coast Of the Island OF Socotra,
which Is situated in the Indian Ocean. 120
niles east OF Cape Guardafui. the eastern
extremity Of Africa. The engine room was
instantly flooded, and utter darkness en-
sued.
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 pre-
pared for launching. Those on the weather
side had already been washed away.
Alifeboat was lowered, only to be swept
away Immediately with three Lascars and
I.
despatched to the rescue with Mr.. Miller,
he second officer; but both boats were
-apidly swept away. The only remaining
boat was then lowered amid a scene OF in
tense emotion. A cry Of anguish broke
from the lips Of the men when this half cap
sized, throwing the sailors and the stores
'1to the sea.
After great efforts the boat was rieated
snd the women and children were lowered
INTO 1t, with the exception OF Mines. Gillett.
Pearce and Strain, who heroically decided
20 share the fate Of their husbands, and
Misses Lloyd and Weller, who remained on
board. The boat, manned by European
crew, left in tremendous sea, and drifted
rapidly out Of sight.
Vast waves still swept the deck, washing
the people about and leaving them pros
trate on the deck. One by one, men wo-
men and children, grown too weak to with
stand the repeated buffetings, were washed
overheard and out Of sight.
Among those first engulfed were Mr..
and Mrs. Strain and their two children
and Mrs. Lloyd and Weller, the mission
aries; Mrs. PeaFce's baby, with its Chinese
nurse, and then Captain Hill, whose leg
was broken, but who had borne himself
were picked of one by one until i've
O'Clock In the afternoon, when those who
still survived, many Of them badly hurt,
retreated below.
The storm abated slightly on the morn
Ing Of the 10th, and those who were able to
move began to search for food, hunger un-
til then having failed to assert itself over
more acute privations. The search result
ed In their getting very little food, and
this was shared out equally and In very
small portions.
All the time the desperate men kept O
sharp lookout, but no vessel was sighted
until the 18th, and even then the distress
signals were not seen. On. the 18th and
again on the Goth other vessels were sight,
ed, but the signals were not seen or were
ignored.
When things were at their worst, two
steamers were sighted. One proceeded
without paying any attention to the dis
tress signal. The other anchored under the
lee Of the island. As soon as she was sighted
Lascar mounted the rigging and signalled
her. In reply candles burned at her port
holes, and at daybreak on the 26th q sus-
pense Of seventeen days was relieved by the
spectacle Of the steamer rounding the point
and heading toward the wreck. She dropped
anchor about q mile away.
With heartfelt Joy, mingled with tears OF
the men and hysterical sobbing OF the wo-
men, they saw the life boat lowered. 1t
took her three-quarters OF an hour to reach
the wreck. Every one rushed to the broken
side of the ship. It was the life boat OF the
Indian Government steamer Mayo, which
rescued all Of the survivors IN two trips.