The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-25

Chicago, Dec. PA special to the
Tribune from Norfolk, Va, says:
The British steamer Aristo, Captain
Barnes, bound from Galveston to Ham
burg. was wrecked at 4 o'clock this
morning. six miles south of Hatteras,
N. c., and q of the crew were drown
ed. Captain Barnes and eight of the
crew were saved by the heroic efforts
of the Ocracke 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 Barnes
and the eight men remained aboard
and We're landed by the life saving
crew in breeches buoy, but not until
after 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 they
may save it, as the wind tonight is
in the wrecked vessels favor.
The Aristo wreck is the worst on
these shores since the German ship
Elizabeth went Fshnre in 1876, when
55 people were drowned.
Thick fogs have prevailed along the
Virginia and North Carolina coasts for
several udyS aIu% q uuIlpeI Ol Vessels
have narrowly escaped destruction.
Last night. however, the air was clear
but the wind averaged from 40 to so
miles an hour and the sea was furi-
Gus around the point which has been
designated as the graveyard of Amer
lean shipping" The Aristo, a vessel Of
265 tons, sailed from Galveston for
Hamburg via Norfolk on Dec. II. The
skipper, Captain Barnes, and his crew
consisting of 90 men, were all British
The Aristo, which had a general cargo.
had all the way from port encountered
heavy weather The coast patrol from
Ocracke was returning to the station
about 4 o'clock this morning when he
discovered big ship ashore. He i'm
mediat tely lighted a signal to notify
those aboard that they We're discovered
and ran to the station to arouse those
of the life savers who were on duty.
Against the fierce wind the live-saVers
then dragged the heavy apparatus, con-
sisting of the Lyle guns, breeches and
life-car, and it was almost daylight
when they reached the scene of the
wreck. They could see outlines of big
steamer, but could not accomplish any
thing until daybreak.
The wind caught up particles of sand
which We're blown into the faces Of the
life-savers until their cheeks We're cut
as if by a raWhide.
When daylight broke the sailors were
seen huddled together on the wrecked
ship, waving their arms in an appeal
to be saved. TO launch boat in such a
sea would have meant instant death, so
the life-savers placed their gun in posi-
tion and fired.
The Aristo 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
= Il, ,l,S,
tain Barnes called his men together for
a consultation, 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 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 sailors said they would stay
with the captain These were saved.
Twenty-one declared they were doomed
if they remained aboard and they left
the ship in small boats All of them
lost their lives.
The boat in which the Il men put off
was one of the regular life boats. It
was strong in ordinary weather, but a
cockel-shell in such a sea. The ship
was tossing heavily and with difficulty
it was swung from it's davits The u
men made no provision for the over
turning of the craft and one by one
they clambered in, in haste to go to
their deaths.
Captain Barnes and the remaining
eight men from their perilous position
watched the little boat put off. Shout
ing luck to the departing sailors.
Tossing about on the great waves,
the sailors pulling a strong stroke, the
boat seemed in a fair way of reaching
shore, when a wave swept with mighty
force on the little craft, engulfing it.
The 81 men were thrown into the sea
and although the watchers on shore
We're witnesses of the disaster, they
We're powerless to render aid
The sea swallowed the unfortunate
men only for an instant. for they ap
peared high on the crest of a wave,
making a last desperate fight for their
lives. Finally one by one they sank
out of sight.
Captain Barnes on the wrecked ves-
sci, as he saw his men perish-this
mariner who had sailed the world over
for 25 years-wept like a child. Mean
while the life-saving crew stood its
ground, continuing firing lines to the
stranded ship. About four hours after
the Aristo first struck a life line was