The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-25
TWENTY-oNE MEN DROWNED.
LIVES LOST ny WRECK OF THE
STEAMSHIP ARIOsTo.


Which Was EnguIFed In the Sea.
This Wreck Was the Worst There
since 1876.
Norfolk. Va. Dec 24.-The British
steamship Ariosto, Capt Baines bound |
from Galveston to Hamburg. was wrecked |
at o'clock this morning six miles south |
of Hatteras, N. C.. and twenty-one of the |
crew We're drowned
Capt. Baines and eight of the crew were |
saved by the heroic efforts of the Ocra-
coke life saving crew, under Capt. James |
Howard.
Those who lost their Pes attempted TO
reach the shore in a small boat which was
swamped shortly after it put off from the
ship. Capt. Balnes and the eight men re-
manned 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 now on the way from
here to the scene of the wreck, and If they
reach the stranded ship in time may save
Il, as the wind tonight Is in the wrecked
vessels favor.
The Arlosto wreck is the worst on these
shores since the German ship Elizabeth
went ashore in 1876, when flfty-flve people
were 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
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 Graveyard of American shipping"
The Ariosto, vessel of 1850 tons, sailed
from Galveston for Hamburg. via Nor
folk, on Dec. II. The skipper. Capt.
Baines, 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.
Discovery of the Wreck.
The coast patrol from Ocracoke was re-
turning to the station about 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 those life savers who were not on
duty.
Against the fierce wind the life savers
then dragged the heavy apparatus, con-
ssting of the Lisle guns. breeches and life
car, and II was almost daylight when
they reached the scene of the wreck. They
could see the outlines of a big steamer
but could not accomplish anything untn
daybreak.
The wind caught up PARTICLES of sand
which were blown into the faces of the life
savers until their checks were cut as If
by rawhide.
When daylight broke the sailors were
seen huddled together on the wrecked ship,
ufaVi their n ANIMAL n a
saved. To launch 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 GOO feet out and
the line feIl short. Line efter line was fired
10 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 a 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 fire a life line on board So far
as he was concerned. the captain said, he
would wait for the life savers, but he left
IL to the crew to decide among them
selves.
Tvcnty"One Were Lost.
Eight sailors said they would stick by
the captain. These We're saved. Twenty
one declared they were doomed II they re-
mained 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 boa s.
1t was strong IN ordinary weather, but
cockleshell in such a sea. The ship was
tossing heavily and with difficulty 1t was
swung from the davits.
Capt Baines 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 a strong stroke. the boat
| seemed in a fair way of reaching shore,
when a wave swept with mighty force on
the little craft engulhng II. The twenty
one men were thrown into the sea, and
although the watchers on shore were wit
nesses of the disaster, they were power
| less to render aid.e
snw His Men Go Down.
| Cant. Baines Of the wrecked vessel as
he saw his men perish--th.s mariner who
| had sailed the world for twenty-five years
| -wept like child
| Meanwhile the Ocracoke life saving
/ crew Continued firing lines to the stranded
| shin. About -four hours after the Arlosto
! first struck line was cast over the ships
| side Capt a3aines and his remaining
men made 1t fast and an hour later they
.lad dragged the big hawser aboard.
| The life savers slowly ran out the
| breeches buoy and II reached the ship in
safety. Through the binding spray the
men were then, one by one, hauled 10
shore. more dead than alive, and by night
| fall all were safe
When the disaster twas made known
here wrecking tugs started for the scene
The Arlosto was years old ana was
owned by r. McAndrews g. Co. of Lon
don.
1
NINE OF ARIosTo's MEN SAVED.