The record-union., 1899-12-25
TWENTY-ONE OF
The CREW DROWNED
British Steamship Ariosto Wrecked
Off Cape Hatteras.
They Tried TO Reach Shore In 4 Small
Boat.

It Was Swamped and All Lost Their
Lives-Captain and Eight Of the
Crew Saved by the Heroic Eff
ing Crew Under Captain How
ard-Worst Wreck on the Shore
Since 1876.
CHICAGO, Dec. PA special to the
Tribune from Norfolk, Va, says: The
British steamship Ariosto, Captain
Baines, bound from Galveston to Ham
burg, was wrecked at o'clock this
morning, six miles south, off Hatteras,
N. c., and twenty-one of the crew were
drowned. Captain Baines and eight of
the crew were saved by the heroic eff
forts of the Ocracoke 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 aboard and
were landed by the life savers in the
breeches buoy but not until after a
struggle which lasted all day.
Wrecking 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 is in the
wrecked vessels favor.
The Ariosto wreck is the worst on
these shores since the German ship
Elizabeth went ashore in 1876, when
fifty-five people were drowned.
Thick fogs have prevailed along the
Virginia and North Carolina coast for
several days and a number of vessels
have narrowly escaped destruction.
Last night, 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 Grave Yard of
American shipping"
The Ariosto, a vessel of 226o tons,
sailed from Galveston for Hamburg,
via Norfolk, on December 18th. The
skipper, Captain Baines, and his crew,
consisting of twenty-nine men, were
all British. The Ariosto which had a
general cargo. had all the way from
port encountered heavy weather.
lie COdSl pdtIOl ITOIn OCrdCOp- 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 aboard that
they were discovered and ran to the
station to arouse others of the life saw
ing crew.
Against the fierce wind the life saw
ers dragged the heavy apparatus, con-
sisting of the Lyle guns breeches and
car, and it was almost daylight when
they reached the scene of the wreck
They could see the outlines 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 cheeks were cut
as if by a rawhide.
When daylight broke the sailors were
seen huddled together on the wreck
ed ship, waving their arms in an APP
peal to be saved.
To launch a boat in such 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 meanwhile the waves were
dashing over the ship and CAPTAIN
Baines 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 a line
on board. So far as he was concern
ed, 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 stick
by the Captain. These were saved
Twenty-one declared they were doomed
if they remained aboard, and they left
the ship in a small boat All of them
lost their lives.
The boat in which the twenty-one
men put off was one of the regular life
boats It was strong in ordinary wealth
err, but cockleshell in such a sea. The
ship was tossing heavily, and with diff
ficulty it was swung from the davits.
The twenty-one men in their excite
ment had made no provision for the
overturning of the craft, and one by
one they clambered in, in haste to go to
their deaths.
Captain Baines 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 wave swept with mighty force
on the little craft, engulfing it, The
twenty-one men were thrown into the
sea, and although the watchers on shore
were witnesses to the disaster they
were powerless to render aid
The sea swallowed the unfortunate
men only for an instant, for they APP
peared high on the crest of wave.
making a last desperate fight for their
lives. Finally one by one, they sank
out of sight.
Captain Baines, on the wrecked YES
sci, as he saw his men perish-this
mariner who had sailed the world over
for twenty years-wept like a child.
Meanwhile the Ocracoke life-saving
crew stood it's ground and continued
firing lines to the stranded ship About
four hours after the Ariosto first struck
a lifeline was cast over the ships side.
Captain 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
breeches buoy and it reached the ship
in safety. Through the binding spray
the men were then one by one hauled to
the shore, more dead than alive, and
by nightfall all were safe.