The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-03

Founderlng OF the Steamer Alden
or the African Coast
The Drowned and Missing OF Those
ON board Number s7-survivers
Rescued After nm Awful
Experience.


Alden, June 30.--The Indian govern
ment steamer Mayo, sent out In search
OF the missing steamer Alden. from
Yokohama on April %. via Colombo
and Alden, for London, which was last
heard of when leaving Colombo on June
j tor this port, has returned here ana
reports that the Alden was totally lost
of the island of Socotra, at the eastern
extremity of Africa. on the morning of
June o.
The Alden carried "a 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 lady passengers. nine
children, two officers and q few of the
Aden's crew succeeded in getting away
from the wreck in 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
passengers and three OF the whites and
50 natives of the steamers crew. All
of these persons were rescued just as
the Alden was breaking up. The sur
vivors OF the wrecked steamer were
brought TO this port by the Mayo and
are being cared for by the local au-
thorities.
In all. the drowned and missing in
clude rs passengers, 20 European Off
GERS and 80 natives of the Aden's crew.
London, June 30.--A special dispatch
from Alden, Arabia. gives details of the
loss of the steamer Alden. as follows:
1.-TWO days after wing Colombo the Alden
was struck by severe monsoon, with
squalls. violent and incessant Day by day
the weather grew thicker. and the pas
sengers became more and more alarmed.
At three o'clock on the morning OF June .
the vessel struck upon the Rasradresa reef.
on the eastern coast OF the island OF Soco-
ira. The engine room was Instantly food
ed. and utter darkness ensued. Wild with
panic. the passengers rushed from their
cabins and fed terror-stricken 10 the upper
deck I'm the scantiest clothing. The women
and children screamed In fright and con-
fusion: but the men retained their self
possession. and courageously assisted the
officers and crew TO do the best TO save
the vessel and TO inspire calmness. But
II 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 prepared for launch
Ing. Those on the weather side had al
ready been washed away. The storm con-
tinued TO increase In violence. Great seas
washed the vessel with terrific force. Day
light brought no relief. and only served
to reveal still further the awful situa-
ton.
Misfortune followed misfortune. A life
boat was lowered, only TO be swept away
Immediately. with three LRscars and the
first officer. Mr.. Garden. The gig was
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 life boat was then
lowered. amid scene OF Intense emotion
A cry OF anguish broke from the lips even
OF the men when this half capsized. throw
ing the sailors and the stores into the sea
After great efforts. the boat was righted
and the women and children were low
cred into IL, with the exception OF Mines.
Gillett, Pearce and Strain, who herocially
decided 10 share the fate OF their hus-
bands. and Misses Lloyd and Weller, who
remained on board. The boat, manned
by an European crew, left In a tremen-
dous sea, and drifted rapidly out OF sight.
Vast waves still swept the wreck, dash
Ing the people about and leaving them
almost PROSTATE on the deck. One by one
10 withstand the repeated buffetings, were
washed 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 mission
aries: Mrs. Pearces baby, with its Chi
nese nurse. and then Capt. HIN. whose leg
was broken, but who had borne himself
calmly and bravely. He was washed over
board with several OF the native crew.
All day the victims were picked off one
by one. until five o'clock IN the afternoon,
when those who still survived retreated
below. Many were badly hurt. and passed
the night In suspense and bodily pain,
huddled In tho small cabin, which they ex-
pected would be their tomb. None OF the
survivors seen care TO talk or this ter
rible night.
'All the time desperate men kept a sharp
lookout. But no vessel was sighted until
the 18th. and even then the distress sig
nal was not seen. On the 17th 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 pre-
viously self-controlled Each day 10 was
necessary 20 curtail the allowance OF ra-
tons. Finally. on June 20. after IL days
OF awful suspense. the life boat OF the In
dian government steamer Mayo succeeded
IN reaching the wreck and rescuing the
survivors"