Evening journal., 1898-02-24
CAST UP BY THE SEA
Three Survivors Of the Asia
Picked OF Wreckage.
THE RESCUED WERE ALMOST DEAD.
Ship Struck Four Times, and Terrible
Seas swept Her Decks, Washing the
Captain Overheard and smash
ing the Small Boats.

PROVINCETOWN, Mass. Feb. "a
There is no doubt now that the British
ship Asia was wrecked. Yesterday the
tug Mercury, Captain Evans arrived
here, bringing news that three men OF
the crew OF the British ship Asia, Cap
tain G. M. Dakin, from Manila for Bos-
ton with a cargo Of hemp, had been res
cued alive by the crew Of the Handker-
chief shoals lightship. The men were
taken from a piece Of wreckage on
which they had been floating for "A
hours and were greatly exhausted.
As soon as they could talk IT was
learned that the Asia struck on Great
Round shoal off Nantucket during the
gale Sunday night and went to pieces.
The Asia left Manila on Sept. G, 1897.
The captain got soundings Sunday
morning and found 40 fathoms of wa
ter The vessel was headed north. one
quarter east. at noon Sunday. She
was afterward headed north by half
west. After she struck she foated again
and was headed northeast by east The
ship struck three times more, and at
last the crew was unable to get her off
In the fierce storm that prevailed Ire
mendous seas swept over the ship, and
she was at their mercy. She began to
II became certain that she would soon
90 to pieces.
| An attempt was made to launch the
boats. but as fast as one was lowered it
was smashed to pieces against the ves-
/ sell In this way all were destroyed
| Captain DalSin then decided 10 con-
| struct a raft, but he had scarcely made
a move when he was swept overheard
| by wave and drowned. First Mate
| Thomas Cook then ordered the crew to
prepare TO leave the vessel on any
| pieces of wreckage that they might be
able to lash together.
Part of the starboard planking Of the
| deck had been wrenched loose by tre-
| mendous sea. This was torn off, and II
was found that It would float with sew
eral persons ON It, Mrs. Dakin and her
daughter, in charge of Mate Cook
James Murray. Michael Doyle. Charles
Stone and Frank Walter took places on
Il and We're launched from the ship on
a huge billow. William F. Smith, Jacob
Steburg and James PAGES. the men who
have been rescued. left the vessel soon
after on another mass of wreckags
they had hastily fastened together with
ropes. and at the same time the other
men. under direction Of Second Mate
Crosby were prepared. to commit them.
selves to the sea in a similar manner
The raft bearing the three sailors soor
sighted the one on which were Mate
Cook. Mrs. Dahn and her daughter and
the others and the victims of the wrecl
were in sight of each other until darl
Monday night At daylight the mex
morning they had separated. Thl
wreclxage to which the three men still
c1ung drifted down toward the Hand
kerchief aghtship. The men were al
most dead when the rescuers picke'
, them up.
The men lost everything they pos
sessed except the clothes they wore
. They viii be cared for by the Britis
4 consul at Chatham until they are abl
. to be sent to their homes. Captat
: Gibbs Of the steamer Azalea reports tina
the ship has entirely gone to piece:
: and her cargo is floating in all parts G
: the sound.