The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-25

ing ON Those ON Board.
CHICAGO. Dec. N.-A special to the
Tribune from Norfolk. Va. says:
The British steamship Ariosto. Capt.
Baines, bound from Galveston to Hamburg,
was wrecked at 4 o'clock this morning six
miles south OF Hatteras, N. c.. and twenty
one Of the crew were drowned. Capt.
Baines and eight Of the crew were saved
by the heroic effort Of the Ocracoke life
saving crew under Capt James Howard.
Those who lost their lives attempted to
reach the shore in small boat which was
swamped shortly after 1t put Off from the
ship. Capt. Baines and the eight men re-
NAMED aboard and were landed by the
life-savers in the breeches buoy, but not
until after q struggle which lasted all day.
Worst Wreck in Years.
wrecking tugs are on the way from here
to the scene Of the wreck and II they reach
the stranded ship in time may save 1t. as
the wind tonight.is in the wrecked vessels
favor.
The Ariosto wreck is tho worst on these
shores since the German ship Elizabeth
went shore in 1876, when fifty-five people
were drowned.
Graveyard of shipping.
Thick fogs have prevailed along the vir-
ginia and North Carolina coasts for sew
eral days and 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, vessel Of 2.650 tons. sailed
from Galveston for Hamburg, via Norfolk.
on December II. The skipper. Capt Balnes
and his crew. consisting of twenty-nine
men, were all British. The Ariosto which
had general cargo had all the way from
port encountered heavy weather.
Discovered by Life saver.
The coast patrol from Ocracoke was re-
turning to the station about o'clock this
morning when he discovered big ship
ashore. He Immediately lighted a signal
to notify those aboard that they were dis
covered and ran to the station to arouse
those of the life savers who were on duty.
Against the fierce wind the life savers
then dragged the heavy apparatus, con-
sisting of the lyle guns. breeches buoy and
life car, and 1t was almost daylight when
they reached the scene Of the wreck.
waving Their Arms for Help.
They could see the outlines of 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
II by 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 a boat in such a sea
would have meant instant death, so the
life savers placed their gun in position
and fired
Waves Wash the Ship.
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 dash
ing over the ship, and Capt. Baines called
his men together for 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 ire lleille ou DO lar
as he was concerned, the captain said, he
would wait for the life savers, but he
left it to the crew to decide among them
selves.
Lives of Twenty-One Lost.
Eight sailors said they would stick by
the captain. These were saved. Twenty
one declared they were doomed IL they
remained aboard and thy 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 lifeboats.
1t was strong, in ordinary weather, but a
cockleshell in such sea. The ship was
tossing heavily, and with difficulty it was
swung from the davits. The twenty-one
men, in their excitement, had made no
provision for the overturning of the craft,
and one by one they clambered In, in
haste to go to their deaths.
beyond Power of Help.
Capt BARNES and the remaining eight
men from their perilous position watched
the little boat put off, shouting luck to
the departing sailors.
Tossing about on the great waves, the
sailors pulling strong stroke, the boat
seemed III fair way of reaching shore
when wave swept with mighty force on
the little craft, eugulfng 1t. The twenty
one men were thrown into the sea, and
although the watchers on shore were Wit