The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-24
ONLY THREE WERE SAVED
OF THE CREW OF THE
BRITISH SHIP ASIA Persisted.
Story of the Wreck Told by Survivors
Steamer La Champagne over
due at New York.

PROVINCETOWN, Mass, Feb 2S.-The
tug Mercury, Captain Evans. has arrived
here bringing news that three men of the
crew of the British ship Asia were rescued
yesterday by the crew of the Handkerchief
lightshp. The men were taken from a
piece of wreckage on which they had been
floating for twenty-four hours, and were
greatly exhausted. The Asia struck on
Great Round shoal, off Nantucket, during
the gale Monday and went to pieces. Capt.
Dal<in, of the Asia, with his wife and
daughter, were among those who persisted.
Following is a list of those lost: Capt. q.
N. Dakin, Mrs. Dakin, Lena Dakin, First
Mate Thomas Cook, Second Mate Crosby.
James Murray, Michael Doyle, Charles
Stone, Frank Walter, Charles Wyha,
George johnson. Charles Ramba, Charles
Williams. Charles Carlson, John Fielding,
Burnet Burneson, Alfred Oldbury, Fred
Lanchete, a total of eighteen
The three men who were rescued were
taken to Hyannis to-day by the United
States ship Azalea, where they told the
story of the wreck. The Asia left Manila
on Sept 6, 1897. for Boston, with a cargo
of hemp. The ship struck on Great Round
shoal at $50 o'clock on the evening OF
Sunday last. The crew was engaged in
shortening sail at the time After she
struck she floated again and then struck
three times more, and at last the crew was
unable to get her off in the fierce storm
that prevailed. Tremendous seas swept
over the ship, which began to leak, and at
z O'Clock Monday morning it became GER
tain that she would soon go to pieces. An
attempt was made to launch the boats but
as fast as one was lowered it was smashed
to pieces against the vessel until they were
destroyed. Captain Dakn then decided to
CONSTRUCT ratt, but before he could ac-
cCmplish anything he was swept overheard
and drowned. First Mate Cook then or
dered the crew to prepare to leave the yes
sci on any pieces of Wreckage that they
might lash together Part of the starboard
pianlng OF the deck had been wrenched
loose by tremendous sea. This was torn
on, and it was found that il would float
with several persons on Ii. Mrs. Dakin and
her daughter, in charge of Mate Cook,
James Murray, Michael Doyle Charles
Stone and Frank Walter, took places on it,
ana We're launched from the ship ON a huge
bllloW. William f. Smith, Jacob Steburg
ard James JaceS, the men who reached
Hyannis to-day, left the vessel soon after
on another mass of wreckage which they
and at the same time the other men, under
direction of Second Mate Crosby, were pre-
pared to commit themselves to the sea in
a similar manner. The raft bearing the
three sailors soon sighted the one on which
were Mate Cook, Mrs. Dakin, her daughter
and the others, and kept ii in SIGHT until
dark Monday night At daylight the next
morning they had separated The wreck
age TO which the three men still chung
drifted down towards the Handkerchief
lghtShip and at 10 o'clock in the forenoon
they were rescued by the crew of the YES
sci. The men were so far gone that they
were unable to give either their names or
that or their vessel. On board the lightship
prompt remedies were applied, and the men
revived and We're soon able to tell enough
to show through what terrible experiences
they had passed.