The San Francisco call., 1899-12-25
Heavy Seas Wreck the Boats
of the FOundered Steam
ship Ariosto.
LOST OFF HATTERAS
Of the Crew of Thirty, Nine Stay
With the Vessel and Are
Rescued by Savers.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Special Dispatch 10 The Call.
CHICAGO. Dec PA special to the
Tribune from Norfolk, Va. says: The
British steamship Artosto, Captain
Barnes, bound from Galveston 10 Ham
burg. was wrecked at o'clock this morn
ing six miles south Of Hatteras. y. c.,
and twenty-one OF the crew were drowned.
Captain Barnes and eight of the crew
were saved by the heroic efforts OF the
Ocracoke life saving crew. under Captain
James Howard. Those who lost their
lives attempted 10 reach the shore in a
small boat which was swamped. shortly
after IL put off from the ship. Captain
Barnes 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
10 the scene, and If they reach the strand
ed ship IN time may save II, as the wind
tonight 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
coasts for several days, and number OF
vessels have narrowly escaped destruC-
ton. Last night, however, the air was
clear. but the wind averaged from forty
10 fifty miles an hour and the sea was
furious around the point which has been
designated as the graveyard OF American
shipping"
The Ariosto. a vessel Of 2e5O tons. sailed
from Galveston for Hamburg, via Nor
folk, on December IL. The skipper, Cap
tain Barnes. and his crew, consisting OF
twenty-nine men. were all British. Ihe
Ariosto. which had a general cargo, had
all the way from port encountered heaNy
weather.
turning 10 the station about o'clock this
morning, when he discovered big ship
ashore. He Immediately lighted signal.
10 notify those on board that they were
discovered. and then ran 10 the sta
ton to aro. Sc the life-savers. Against
the fierce wind the life-savers then
dragged the heavy apparatus, consisting
IL 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 until daybreak.
The wind caught up particles OF sand,
which were blown into the faces OF the
hfe-savers until their cheeks were cut as
If by rawhide. W hen daylght Droke the
sailors were seen huddled together on the
wrecked ship. waving their arms in an ap-
peal TO be saved. To launch boat in such
a sea would have meant instant death.
so the life-savers placed their gun in po-
sition and fired. The Ariosto was some
Coo feet out. and the line fell short. Line
after line was fired 10 the stranded ship,
but all failed to reach. In .-.e meantime
the waves were dashing over the ship,
and Captain Barnes called his men to-
gether for consultation. explaining TO
II they should take 10 the boats or wait
for the life-saVing crew 10 fire lifeline
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 themselves. Eight sailors
said they void stick by 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 twenty-one men
O ltfphOafC
II was strong in ordinary weather. but a
cockleshell in such sea. The ship was
tossing heavily, ana with glihculty II 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 elambered~in, in
Captain 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 a
strong stroke, the boat seemed in a fair
way OF reaching shore. when wave
craft. engulfing II. The twenty-one men
were thrown into the sea. and although
the watchers on shore were witnesses OF
the disaster they were powerless to rem
der aid.
The sea swallowed the unfortunate men
only for an instant, for they appeared
last desperate figl, for their lives. FIN
ally, one by one. they sank out of sight.
Captain Barnes. a brave mariner. who
had sailed the world over for twenty-five
years, wept ike child When ne saw MS
men perish.
Meanwhile the Ocracoke life saving crew
stood its ground and continued firing lines
TO the stranded ship. About four hours
after the Ariosto first struck life line
was cast over the ships side. Captain
Barnes and his remaining men made II
fast. and an hour later they had 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 to shore, more dead than
alive. and by nightfall all were safe.
When the disaster was made known
here wreclSing tugs started for the scene
and II is a matter OF steam against time
II they succeeded in reaching the Ariosto
before the vessel goes to s pieces The
owned By r. McAndrews & Co.
Superintendent Kimball tomorrow Will
instruct Lieutenant Johnson or the reve-
nue. cutter service, who is attached to his
wreck and make a report OF the circum-
stances attending the loss or life. This
is the practice always followed by the
ufe-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 Distress
ing loss Of life Is probably due TO the hur-
ried efforts OF the men 10 get away from
the ship instead OF waiting until the
breeches buoy could be rigged UP between
the ship and shore and their rescue effect
ed AS the vessel appears still 10 be in
good condition, the men. he thinks, might
have remained on her an indefinite time
before there was any real danger OF los
ing their lives. Ships hands OF deep
water boats he thinks, take 10 the boats
too often. a practice not followed by men
devoted to coast navigation. who realize
the opportunities for rescue by the
breeches buoy.