Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-25
TWENTY-0NE LOST.
British Steamer Ariosto Ashore
on 0cracoke Beach,
Boats With q Of Crew Swamped---
Nine Taken Off.
UnknoWa -Four. Masted Schooner Reported
Ashore Near Monmouth Beach.

| Cape Henry, Va, Dec. 24.-The
weather bureau official at Hatteras. y.
| G., reports that the British steamship
| Ariosto, Capt. Barnes, from Galveston
to NOrfork for coal, thence to Mann
burg, loaded with cotton, corn, wheat
and meat, stranded on Ocracoke beach,
| six miles south of the Hatteras
weather bureau office, at o'clock, this
| morning. The steamer carried a crew
| of 30 men,
Twenty-one men abandoned the
steamer and took to the boats soon
after she stranded. The boats were
wrecked in the heavy seas and the en-
tire q We're drowned Capt. Barnes
and the remaining eight men were
| taken from the ship, today, by Capt
James Howard and crew of the Ocra-
| coke life saving station
The rescue was effected with diff
| Guilty. owing to the heavy sea. the
| landing taking up almost the entire
| day. Capt. Barnes and the eight sur
| viving members Of the crew are now
being cared for at the OcracOke hfe
saving station. Some water is making
in the hold Of the vessel, but she is
| still in good condition.
Supt Krpball Of the life saving
bureau tonight. received the following
! dispatch: British steamer Ariosto.
| Capt. Barnes, stranded at Ocracoke
| beach. at O'Clock. this morning
| TWenty-one drowned ana nine saved
in breeChes buoy
(SigneD HOWARD. Keeper"
Chicago. Dec. PA special to the
| Tribune from Norfolk. Va, says: The
| British steamer Ariosto, Capt Baines
| bound from Galveston to Hamburg
was wrecked, at o'clock, this morn
ing. six miles south of Hatteras, n c.,
| and y of the crew We're drowned
| Capt. Baines and eight of the crew
We're saved by the heroic efforts of the
| Ocracoke life saving crew under Capt.
| Howard.
Those who lost their lives attempted
TO reach the shore in a small boat,
which was swamped shortly after it
| put off from the ship. Capt Baines
| and the eight men remained on board
| and We're landed by the life savers in
the breeches buoy, but not until after
| n struggle which lasted all day
| Wreckng tugs are on the way from
| here to the scene of the wreck and if
| they reach the stranded ship in time
may save it, as the wind. tonight, is in
the wrecked vessels favor.
Thick fogs have prevailed along the
Virginia and North Carolina coasts for
| several days. Last night, however, the
| air was clear. but the wind averaged
| from 40 to 80 miles an hour and the
sea was furious around the point which
| has been designated as the Graveyard
of American shipping
| The Ariosto. a vessel of 2265 tons
| sailed from Galveston for Hamburg
via Norfolk. Dec. Il. Capt. Baines
| and his crew, consisting of 90 men.
were all British. The Ariosto, which had
| a general cargo, had all the way from
port encountered heavy weather The
coast patrol from Ocracoke was return
ing to the station. about o'clock. this
morning. when he discovered a big ship
ashore. He Immediately lighted a sig
| nal to notify those aboard that they
were discovered and ran to the station
to arouse those of the life savers who
We're not on duty
1T was almost daylight when the life
savers reached the scene of the wreck.
They could see the outline of a big
steamer, but could not accomplish any
thing until daybreak. The wind caught
up particles Of sand which were blown
into the faces of the life savers until
their checks We're cut as If by raw
hide.
When daylight broke the sailors were
seen huddled together on the wrecked
ship. waving their arms in an appeal to
be saved. To launch a boat in such a
sea would have meant instant death. so
the hfe savers placed their gun in posi-
ton and fired. The Ariosto was some co.
feet out and the line fell short. Line
after line was fired to the stranded ship.
but all failed to reach
In the meantime the waves We're dash
ing over the ship and Capt. BaineS called
his men together for a consultation. ex-
planning to them that the chances were
about even if they should take to the
small boats or wait for the life saving
crew to fire a life line on board. So far
as he was concerned, the captain said. he
would wait for the life savers but he lett
it TO the crew to decide among them
selves.
Eight sailors said they would stick by
the captain These We're saved. Twenty
one declared they We're doomed If they
remained aboard and they left the ship
in small boats. All of them lost their
lives. The q men We're thrown into the
sea and although the watchers on shore
witnessed the disaster. they We're power
less to render aid. Capt; Baines; as he
saw his men lost, wept like a child.
Meanwhile the life savers continued
llTI1lS zines 10 lHt SlTdDutu SHlp. ABOUT
four hours after the Ariosto first struck |
a life line was east over the ships side |
Capt. Baines and his remaining men |
made it fast and an hour later they |
had dragged the big hawser aboard.
The life savers slowly ran out the |
brooches buoy and it reached the ship in |
safety. Through the binding spray the |
men We're then one by one hauled to |
shore. more dead than alive and by |
nightfall We're safe.
When the disaster was made known |
here wrecking tugs started for the scene |
and it is matter of steam against time |
if they succeed in reaching the Ariosto
before the vessel goes to pieces
The AriOsto was years old and was
owned by r. McAndrews & Go. Of Lon
don.