The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-25

Chicago, Dec PA special to the
Tribune from Norfolk, Va, says:
The British steamship Ariosto, Cap
tain Baines, bound from Galveston to
Hamburg. was wrecked at 4 o'clock this
morning six miles south of Hatteras, N.
drowned. Captain Baines and eight of
the crew were saved by the heroic eff
forts of the Ocrackee life saving crew,
under Captain James 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. Captain Baines
and the eight men remained on beard
and We're landed by the life savers in
the brooches buoy, but not until after
a Struggle which lasted all day.
Wrecking tugs are on the way 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.
Worst Wreck In Years.
The Ariosto wreck is the worst or
these shores since the German ship
Elizabeth went ashore in 1876. when
ffty-five people We're drowned.
Thick fogs have prevailed along the
Virginia and North Carolina coasts for
several days and a number of vessels
have narrowly escaped destruction.
Last right, however the air was clear
but the wind averaged from forty to
fifty 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 1926 tons,
sailed from Galveston for Hamburg via
Norfolk. on December II. The skipper,
Captain Baines, and his crew, consist
ing of twenty-nine men, were all Brit
ish. The Ariosto, which had a general
cargo. had all the way from port en-
countered heavy weather.
The coast patrol from Ocrackee was
returning to the station about 4 o'clock
this morning when he discovered a big
ship ashore. He Immediately lighted a
signal to notify those on board that
they were discovered, and ran to the
station to arouse those of the life
savers who were on duty.
Scene Reached at Daylight.
Against the fierce wind the life-sa
then dragged the heavy apparatus. con- |
sisting OF the Lyle guns, breeches and |
life car. and II was, almost daylight |
when they reached the scene Of the I
wreck.
They could see the outlines of a big |
steamer. but could not accomplish any
up particles of sand, which We're blown
into the faces of the life-savers until
their cheeks were cut as if by a raw
hide.
When daylight broke the sailors were
scen 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 life-savers placed their gun in
position and fired. The Ariosto was
some 600 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 were
dashing over the ship, and Captain
Baines called his men together for a
explaining 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 con-
cerned, the captain said. he would wait
for the life-savers. but he left it TO the
crew to decide among themselves.
Eight Stay With Captain.
Eight sailors said they would stick
by the CAPTAIN. These were saved.
rwenty-one declared they were doomed
+ they remained aboard, and they left /
the ship in small boats All of them
lost their lives.
The boat in which the twenty-one ,
men put off was one of the regular life :
boats. 1t was strong in ordinary wea- ,
her. but a cookie shell in such sea. !
rhe ship was tossing heavily and with !
difficulty il was swung from the dav- ;
is. The twenty-one men in their ex- ,
had made no provision for ,
he overturndng of the craft and one J
~ one they clarnbered in, in haste to
20 TO their deaths
Captain Baines and the remaining
light men from their perilous position
the little boat put off, shout g,
ng luck TO the departing sailors.
Tossing about on the great waves,
he sailors pulled a strong stroke. the
'oat seemed in fair way of reach
ne shore, when a wave swept with L
mighty force on the little craft, en- e
-uifing il. The twenty-one men We're c
brown into the sea, and although the 7
watchers on shore were witnesses of il
he disaster, they were powerless TO b
ender aid. [
Were Quickly Drowned.
The sea swallowed the unfortunate
len only for an instant, for they ap-
cared high on the crest of a wave, fl
making a last desperate fight for their d
yes. Finally, one by one, they sank a
Captain Baines, on the wrecked yes
FL, as he saw his men perish-this mar
Ter who had sailed the world over for
twenty-five years-wept like a child. le
Meanwhile the Ockrace life saving y
rev stood its ground and continued ;.
ring lines to the stranded ship. About q
)vr hours after the Aristotle first
truck, life line was cast over the
hips side. Captain Baines, and his re-
laining men made il fast, and an nj
our later they had dragged the big -
awser aboard.
The lifesavers slowly ran out the az
reeches buoy and il reached the shin y
safety Through the binding spray "a
he men were then one by one, hauled -
shore, more dead than alive. and by
ghtfall all We're safe.
When the disaster was made known
ere wrecl1ing tugs started for the III
,ene and IL is a matter of steam al
sainst time if they succeed in reach hi
3 the Ariosto before the vessel goes ~ =.
pieces. III III
The Ariosto was seven years old and be
as owned by r. McAndrews & Co., of