The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-12
EVERY Soul SAVED
VaIOrous Work Is Rewarded
on a Stormy Coast.
WOMEN CAME FIRST
And Are Grabbed With Joy by
the People Ashore,
WOMEN CAME FIRST

Faraman, Rouches du Rhone, Jan Il
After a night Of terrible suspense. all of
the passengers and srew Of the French
cruiser Russie. from Oran, Algeria, which
stranded near here during a violent storm
Monday. have been safely landed.
As the life line connected from the
shore with the steamer parted again yes
terday afternoon. when night set in no
communication with the stranded steam
er was possible. The last signal message
read as follows:
we have not scrap Of food left
CONSERVATION prevails on board.
On receipt Of this appeal the fishermen
made two more plucky launches Of their
boat but We're beaten back, and as the
Russie disappeared in the darkness those
on board were apparently trying t.
launch their only remaining boat
The storm RACED with renewed fury
during the night and only those who
were compelled to do so remained on the
shore. part of them huddled beneath q
tarpaulin and others seeking refuge from
:
At midnight two floats with lines at
tached to them were launched but botb
attempts to reach the Russie were fruit
less.
In the early hours Of the morning
torches were lighted at the bow Of the
Russie and in response to the signal the
fishermen made another attempt to reach
the wreck But they were again tossed
ashore and the crew of the hfeboat who
belong to the fishing village of Cairo,
gathered around bonfire made Of wreck
age from the steamer, drenched to the
skin and with teeth cbattering from cold
but not discouraged. Their heroism was
finally rewarded, as, with daybreak, the
weather perceptibly moderated, the sea
became calmer and the wind, having
shifted from east to north, the Caro-
fishermen, at about $50 a. m. again put
to sea. The spectators watched with
fast beating hearts as the boat disap-
peared through the waves. More than
once It was thought she was enguIfed,
but the small craft rose IN sight again
on the crests Of the waves, approaching
gradually nearer to the Russie.
Then a rope was thrown, which the
fishermen caught, and the Iifeboat soon
afterward was alongside. Then, above
the bowling wind, rose cries Of JOY rom
those on board the Russie, which were
re-echoed from the crowd ashore. An
other boat manned by four men was then
launched and succeeded in reaching the
wrecked vessel a few minutes later the
Caro- boat left the Russie. heavily laden
AS she approached the shore the occu-
pants were seen to be women and one
baby The enthusiasm was deliriOUs. The
spectators plunged into the sea. Some
Of them dragged the lifeboat ashore and
others lifted the women out Of the boat
and carried them in their arms, through
the waves to dry land. One woman was
clasped in the arms of her son who had
been waiting on shore since Monday. She
swooned and had to be transported. on
stretcher hastily constructed from the
wreckage and covered with blankets to
the lighthouse The other women coll
lapsed from fatgue, cold and hunger
Their haggard faces and trembling limbs
told of the awful experiences they had
gene through
It was unfortunate that want OF fore
sight resulted in all the nourishment be-
ing kept at the lighthouse, two miles dis
tant. for the sufferers had to walk there.
assisted by their friends, before restora-
uves could he administered to them.
The four-oared boat next arrived with
seven more passengers. and the Hfeboats
then made repeated journeys. until all
were saved and sheltered in the light
h041ea