The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-01
British Steamer Alden Lost on the
African Coast.
TERRIBLE SCENES OF SUFFERING.
LIFE BOATS LOWERED ONLY TO
BE SWEPT AWAY WITH ALL ON
BoARD-RERoIc WOMEN STOOD
BY THEIR HUSBANDS AND RE-
FUSED TO LEAVE THE SHIP.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE RES
CUED.

Alden, June S0.-The missing steamer
Adeu, from Yokohoma, was lost off the
Island of Socntra, at the eastern eytren,
ity of Africa, June.9.
The Alden carried thirty. four passen.
gers from China and Japan. The can.
tain, some of her officers and crew. and
seven white passengers were swept over
board and drowned. Eight lady passen-
gers, nine children, two officers. and n
few of the Aden's crew succeeded In pat-
ting away from the wreck in n boat but
they have not been heard of since. Nine
Oh the Aden's passengers and three of the
white and thirty-three of the natives of
the steamers crew were rescued lust ,s
the Alden WAS breaking up and brought to
this port by the steamer Mayo. In all.
the drowned and missing include TWENTY
five passengers, twenty Eur opean officers.
and thirty. three natives OF the Aden,s
crew.
The Alden was struck by monsoon
and driven upon reef. The engine.
room was instantly flooded, and the utter
darkness ensued. Wild with panic the
passengers rushed from their cabins and
fed terror-strcken to the upper deck in
the scantiest clothing, The women and
children screamed in fright and confu-
sion; but the men retained their self
possession and courageously assisted the
the vessel and to inspire calmness. The
storm continued to increase In violence.
Great sens washed the vessel with terrific
force. Daylight brought no relief. and
only served to reveal still further the
awful situation
life boat was lowered, only to be
sweI away Immediately with three Las
cars and the first officer, Mr.. Garden. The
gig was dispatched to the rescue. with
Ia,
despair of NIL both boats were rapidly
swept away. The only remaining life
boat was then lowered, but this half cap
sized, throwing the sailors and the stores
into the sea. After great efforts thu
boat Was righted, and the women and
children were lowered into it, with the
exception of Mines. Gillett. pearce and
Strain, WHO heroically decided to share tile
tate OF their husbands. and Misses Lloyd
ana Weller, the missionaries. Mrs.
Pearce's baby, with it's Chinese nurse.
and then Capt. Hill, whose leg was
broken. but who had horne himself
calmly and hravely.
All day the victims We're picked OFF one
by one, until 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
when those who --still survived retreated
below
The storm abared slightly on the morn
ing of the 10th, and those who were able
W HioNe oeS"n TO search Tor food, hun
ger until then having failed to assert
Itself over more acute privations. This
proved task of the greatest danger, as
big seas were still sweeping the vessel.
Inc fourth engineer, while trying to pro-
cure water near the poop, was struck
senseless and almost washed overheard
before he could be dragged to a place of
safety. The search for food resulted in
their getting very little of it and this was
shared out equally and in very small por-
lions. Three vessels were sighted, but
the signals either were not seen or were
ignored.
On June IS, when things were ct their
worst and the food supply was almost ex.
hausted, Messrs. White, Kelt, Cave and
Valpy blavelS ventured across the we'll
deck to the storeroom aud got fresh
supply. That evening two steamers were
sighted. One proceeded without paving
any attention to the distress signal. The
other anchored under the lee of the island
AS soon as she was sighted a Lascar
mounted the rigging and signaled her. In
reply candles burned Mt her port holes.
and at daytreak on the Goth suspense
of seventeen days was relieved by the
spectacle of the steamer May rounding
the point and heading towards the wreck,
EASY ON POOR PEOPLE.
AND OUR SHOES are easy on tender
feet. Come to me when Won want shoss