The record-union., 1897-06-30
Steamer Alden Wrecked on the Island
of SoCOtra.
Terrible Story Of the Sufferlngs Of the
Survivors.
They Saw Their Companions One
by One Swept to Death by the
Resist1ess Waves That Washed
Over the Ship and Day After
Day Strained Their Eyes for a
Sight of Approaching Succor.


Sight of Approaching Succor.
ADEN, June 29.-The Indian Govern
ment's steamer Mayo sent out in search
of the missing steamer Alden, from Yo-
kohama April 2Sth via Colombo and
Alden for London, which was last heard
of when leaving Colombo June 1st for
this port, has returned here. and re-
ports that the Alden was totally lost off
the Island of Socotra at the east ex-
tremity of Africa on the morning of
June 9th. The Alden carried thirty-four
passengers from China.
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 a few of the
Adens 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 that has since
prevailed, is entertained of their safety.
The Mayo saved nine of the Adens pas
sengers and six of the crew, just as the
Alden 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 tWen-
ty-five passengers, twenty Europeans
and officers, and thirty-two of the Ad-
ems crew.
LONDON, June 30-A dispatch to the
daily MALI from Alden, Arabia, 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 passengers became more and more
At 3 o'clock on the morning
of June 10Th the vessel struck upon the
Razradeisia Reef, on the eastern coast
of the Island of Socotra.
''The engine-room was instantly flood
ed and utter darkness ensued. Wild with
panic, the passengers rushed from their
cabins and fled rorstricken to the
upper deck in the scantiest clothing.
The women and children screamed in
fright and confusion but the men re-
mained cool and retained their self-pos-
session and courageously assisted the
officers and crew to do their best to save
the vessel and to inspire calmness.
But it was soon seen that the steamer
could not survive the shock and that
the only chance for safety lay in the
boats. The storm continued to increase
in violence. Great seas washed the YES
sci with terrific force. Daylight brought
no relief and only served to reveal still
further the awful situation. Misfortune
;cfa 1jfahO1t
lowered, only to be swept away immedi-
ately with three Lascars and the hrst
officer. Mr.. Garden. The gig was dis
patched to the rescue with Mr.. Miller,
the second officer, but, to the despair of
all. both boats were swept away.
."The only remaining lifeboat was then
lowered amid a scene of intense emotion.
A cry of anguish broke from the npS
even of the men when this half-capslzed,
throwing the sailors and the stores into
the sea. After great efforts the boat
was righted, and the women and chill
dren were lowered nto it, with the ex-
ception of Mesdames Gillet, Pearce ana
Strain. who heroically resolved to snare
the fate of their husbands, and MISS
Ilovd and Mss Weller, who remained
behind. The boat. manned by an Eu-
rcpean crew, left in a tremendous sea
and drifted rapidly out OF sight
"Vast waves still swept the wreck,
daebing the people about and leaving
them almost PROSTATE on the deck.
One hv one. men, women and children
GREW TOO weak to withstand the repeat
"a h,ffatings were washed overheard
in sight of those who were momentaflly
IT, Among
fret thus engulfed We're Mr.. and Mrs.
Strain and their two children; MISSES
7 lovd and Weller, the missionaries;
Mrs Pearce's baby, with It's CIhnese
nurse and then Captain Hill, whose ieg
zvas broken but who had borne hlnlseiI
calmly and bravelv. He was Wasneo
overheard with several of the natlVe
crew.
.arba storm abated slightly on the
of the 10th and those who
we're able to move began to search 1or
FOOD hunger until then having failed
to assert itself over more acute prlVa-
tions This proved task OF the
greatest danger as big seas were sun
sveening the vessel. The fourth en-
eineer. while trying to procure water,
,rae struck senseless and almost
wa shed overheard before he could be
4ra ooed to a place of safety. 1t was
five hours before he was restored TO
Mr.. Pearce was only
saved from being washed overheard by
tba nrompt action of his dauntless wife.
.1The search for food resulted in their
Getting very little Of it and this was
shared out equally and in very small
nortions No vessel was sighted until
the 18th and then the distress signal
was not seen. On the 14th and again
IN the Goth other vessels were sighted,
hut the signals either were not seen or
were ignored.
con June 25th, when things were in
their worst and the food supply was
almost exhausted, Messrs. White, Kelt,
Cave and Valpy bravely ventured
. cross the deck to the storeroom and
got a fresh supply. That evening two
steamers were sighted. One proceed
I'd without paying any attention to the
distress signals The other anchored
under the lee of the island. As soon
as she was sighted a Lascar mounted
The rigging and s7gna1ed her. In re-
plv candles burned in her port holes
and at daybreak on the 26th sus-
pense of seventeen days was relieved
by the spectacle of the steamer round
ne the point and heading towards the
wreck. She dropped anchor about a