Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-25
Steamship Ariosto Stranded OFF
Cape Hatteras, N. C.
SMALL BOAT WAS SWAMPED
Captain aud Eight sien stayed will,
Vessel TIL Relieved by Heroic
Life savers.


from Galveston TO Hamburg, was
wrecked at o'clock this morning six
miles south OF Hattcras. N. c.. and
twcnty-one OF the CROW were drowned.
Capt. IIainos and eight OF the crew
were saved by the heroic efforts OF the
ocracoke llfc-saving crew under Capt.
James Howard.
Those who lost their lives attempted
to reach the shore In n small boat.
which was swampcd shortly after II put
on from the ship. Capt. Iiaines and the
eight men remained aboard and were
landed by the lifc-savcra In the brccch-
es buoy. but not until after u struggle
which lasted all day
Wrccklng tugs are on the way here
to the scene of the wreck, and " they
reach the stranded ship In time may
save II. as the wind tonight IL In the
wrecked vessel favor.
The Arlosto wreck Ia the worst on
these shores since the German ship
Elizabeth went ashore In 1876, when
nfty-nVc people were drowned.
Thick fogs have prevailed along the
Virginia and North Carolina coasts for
several days and number OF vessels
have narrowly escaped destruction.
Last night, however the air was clear.
nifty miles and hour. and the sea WIS
furious around the point which has
been designated ns the graveyard OF
American shipping.
The Arloato, a vessel OF 265 tons,
sailed from Galveston for Hamburg.
via Norfolk, ON December 18th. The
skipper, Capt. Baincs. and his crew,
consisting OF twenty-ninc men. were all
British. The Ariosto. which had Il
general cargo, had all the way from
port encountered heavy weather.
Tho coast patrol from Ooraooke was
returning TO the station about 4 o'clock
this morning when he discovered a big
ship ashore. lie Immediately lighted u
signal TO notify those aboard that they
were discovered and ran to the station
to arouse those OF the life-saverB who
were ON duty.
Against the fierce wind the life
savers then dragged the heavy appa-
ratus, consisting OF the Lyle guns.
brcechcs and life car, and II was almost
daylight when they reached the scene
OF the wreck. They could see the out
lines OF n big steamer. but could not
accomplish anything until daybreak.
The wind caught up particles OF sand.
which were blown into the faces OF the
lifc-savers until their checks were cut
an II by Il rawhidc.
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 zen would have meant instant death
80 the life-savers placed their gun In
position. and fired. The Ariosto was
some COO 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 skip. and Capt. Dalncs
called his men together for a consultn,
ton. explaining to them that the
chances were about even II they should
take 10 the small boats or walt Tor the
llfo-saving crew TO iirc lifeline on
board. So fat as he was concerned.
the captain said, he would walt Cor the
llfc-savera but he left II TO the crew
to decide among themselves,
Eight sailors said they would stick
by the captain. These were saved.
Twcnty-one declared IA, were doomed
II they remained aboard. nd they left
the ship In small boats. All OF them
lost their lives.
The boat In which the twenty-onc
men put on was one OF the regular life
boats. II was strong In ordinary
weather. but "a cookie ahcll in such "a
sea. The ship was tossing heavily and
with difficulty II was swung from the
davits, The twcnty-onc men In their
excitement had made no provision for
the overturnlng OF the craft and one
by one they clambered In. In haste to
go to their deaths.
Capt. Baines and the remaining eight
men from their pcrilous position
watched the little boat put of. shout.
Ing luck to the departing sailors Toss-
Ink about ON the great waves. the sail
orp pulling a strong stroke. the boat
seemed In fair way OF reaching shore.
when a wave swept with mighty force
on the little craft, cnguliing II. The
twcnty-onc men We're thrown into the
sea. and although the watchers on
shore wcrc witnesses OF the disaster,
they We're powcrless 10 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. Capt Bain.s, on the
wrecked vessel, as he saw his men per-
ish-thls mariner who had sailed the
world over for twenty-five years-wept
like a child.
Meanwhile the Ocracoke llfe-savlng
crew stood Its ground and continued
firing lines TO the stranded ship. About
four hours after the Arosto FIRST
struck. a lifeline was cast over the
ships side. Capt. Baincs and his re-
naming men made II fast, and an hour
later they had dragged the big hawser
aboard.
The llfe-savers slowly ran out tho
breeches buoy and II reached the ship
In safety. Through the binding spray
the men were then, one by one, hauled
to shore, more dead than alive, and by
nightfall all were safe.
When the disaster was made known
here wrecklng tugs started for the
scene and II II a matter OF steam
against time II they succeed In reach
Ing the ArioHto before the vessel goes
to pieces. The Arlosto was seven
years old and was owned by X. Mean
drews a Co. OF London.
Washington, Dec 2i-Superintendent
Klmhall OF the life-saving stations bu-
reau tonight received the following dis
patch: british steamer Ariosto,
Capt. Barnes. stranded at ocracoke
beach. at 4 o'clock this morning. Twen-
ty-one drowned and nine saved in
brooches buoy.
HOWARD. Keeper"
Superintendent Kimball tomorrow
will Instruct Lieut.. johnson OF the rev.
enue cutter service, who IL attached to
his office. to proceed 10 the scene OF the
wreck ana make report OF the ctr
cumstances attending the loss OF life.
This Is the practice always followed
by the life-saving service when there Is
loss OF life attending an accident TO a
steamer to which the surfmen have
given assistance The superintendent
believes the distressing loss OF life Is
probably due to the hurried efforts Of
The men to get away from the ship, In