The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-14
WRECKED IN 4 MONSOON.
The Steamer Alden Lost in the In
dian Ocean.
AN AWFUL STORY OF DEATH.

Struck on a Reef In q Big Storm-0nly
One Lifeboat Got Away-For Seven
teen Days Immense Waves Broke Over
the Wreck, Washing Men, Women and
Children Into the Sea - The Rescue.
LONDON, England (By Qsble).-Des-
patches from Alden, Arabia, say that the
Indian Governments steamer Mayo, sent
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
Of Africa, during 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 passengers, nine children, two
officers and q few Of the Aden's crew sue
ceeded in getting away from the wreck in a
boat, but they have not been heard from
since, and little hope Is entertained Of their
safety.
The Mayo saved nine OF the Aden's pas
sengers, three Of the white members OF the
crew and thirty-three OF the natives who
formed part Of the steamers crew. All
these persons were rescued just as the Alden
was breaking up. The survivors OF the
wrecked steamer were brought to Alden. In
all, the drowned and missing include TWEEN
ty-fve passengers, twenty European off,
GERS and thirty-three natives of the Aden's
crew.
Two days after leaving Colombo the Alden
was struck by q severe monsoon, with
squalls, violent and incessant. Day by day
the weather grew thicker and the passen-
gers became more and more alarmed. At
8 o'clock in the morning on June 9 the YES
sci struck upon the Rasradresa reef. on the
eastern coast Of the Island Of Socotra,
which Is situated in the Indian Ocean, 12O
extremity Of Africa. The engine room was
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.
A lifeboat was lowered, only to be swept
away Immediately with three Lascars and
the first officer, Mr.. Garden. The gig was
despatched to the rescue with Mr.. Miller,
the second officer; but both boats were
rapidly swept away. The only remaining
boat wa 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
into the sea.
After great efforts the boat was righted
and the women and children were lowered
into it, with the exception Of Mines. Gillett,
Pearce and Strain, who h~eroically' decided
to share the fate Of their husbands, and
Misses Lloyd and Weller, who remained on
board. The boat, manned by q European
crew, left In q 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 bufetings, we're 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. Pearce's baby, with Its Chinese
nurse, and then Captain Hill, whose leg
was broken, but who had borne himself
calmly and bravely. All day the victims
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 IN
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 q
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
cd, but the signals were not seen or were
ignored.
When things were at their worst, two
steamers were sighted. One proceeded
without paying n attention to the dis
tress signal. The other anchored underthe
lee OF the island. Assoon as she was sighted
q Lascar mounted the rigging and signalled
her. In reply candles burned at her port
holes, and at daybreak on the 26th a 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
eook 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.