Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-10
ANXIOUS HOURS,
Ninety Souls Praying for Sue
cor on Steamer RuSsie.
Life Savers Have So Far Been Un-
able to Reach the Vessel.
All On Board Are Alive Narrowing Scene:
Among Friends Ashore.

J.-bISIdtcEcS
the village Of Faraman, near which the
French mail steamer Eussie from
Oran, Algeria, stranded in a violent
storm, with 80 passengers and a crew
of 40 on board, say that all efforts to
reach the steamer have failed owing
to the tremendous height of the sea
which are running.
The pilot boats and torpedo boats
which have attempted to reach the
steamer have been unable to battle
with the waves and have returned.
The only hope seems to be in the
ability of the life savers to throw a
line over the Russie as the wrecked
vessel is driven closer to the shore.
The forecastle and part of the forward
deck house are all of the vessel re-
manning above water.
When nightfall, yesterday evening,
enshrouded the Russic quite a number
of the crew and passengers were seen
clinging to the forerigging and deck
rails. making desparing signals for
succor which those ashore We're power
less to afford. The gale increased in
fury all night long and, though a flick
ering light was perceived from time to
time, apparently waved by those on
board TO attract attention, it was
feared the steamer would either break
up or disappear in the shifting sands
before morning. \ thousand persons
awaited along the shore and the fisher
men prepared to launch a boat at the
first sign of the abatement OF the hurri-
cane.
When day broke it was a great re
lief for the watchers ashore to find that
the bow and other parts of the forepart
of the ship We're still above water
though the stern had completely van
ished. \ group Of men huddled On the
steamers bow renewed their mute APP
peals for help.
AS the day wore on more persons ap-
peared on the deck, forming three
sroups-one on the bow. another On the
bridge and a third around the funnel
Thus it was seen that most of the crew
and passengers. who, a rectified list
shows, number lG2. We're still living.
\ signal message was received at 5
o'clock in the afternoon. saying that up
to that time no one had persisted.
The Russie lies partly on her beam
ends with her deck facing seaward ana
the seas which have carried away her
With water. Every possible expedient
Was tried from the shore to save the
sufferers. The coast guardsmen and
fishermen manned life boats and made
several Intellectual attempts to reach
the steamer which was shifted by the
incessant pounding of the seas trifle
nearer the shore.
one lifeboat got half way when it
was capsized and it's crew swan ashore
and We're dragged out of the water by
the people ashore who formed a line
with hands joined and wadcI breast
deep into the water in order to seize
them.
y tug approached as near as possible
TO the wreck ana then flow a kite to
which a life line was attached. in the
direction of the Eussc but it failed to
reach the stranded vessel.
Floats Were also sent out from the
beach with lines, but in no case did
they succeed in reaching the steamer
Rockets We're fired fruitleSsly until the
ammunition of the rocket mortars
which was very meagre. ran out.
The tugs which made repeated effort
to approach the Russic were them
selves menaced with disaster and
obliged to relinqush the attempts.
Later in the afternoon. another ex-
pedient was essayed-that of launching
a raft. with lifeline from a tug laying
off the wreck. The result OF this at
tempt to reach the endangered crew
and passengers of the Russie is not yet
known. Those on board of her We're
seen to launch floats but they We're all
carried out to sea by the current,
The most hopeful news was received
late this afternoon. 1t was to the eff
feet that the gale was subsidinE.
Narrowing scenes We're witnessed at
the offices of the steamship company
here, outside of which We're gathered
the weeping wives and children and
other relatives of the crew. who mostly
hail from MarSeilles. A message posted
at $50 u. NJ, that up to tina. time, all
on board the Russe We're alive evoked
Il pathetic explosion of joy.
Shortly after . o'clock, during a lull
the men on shore succeeded in getting
Il life line to the Russe but it snapped
as it was being pulled on board. Other
similar attempts failed but Il more
hopeful feeling prevails in view of the
indications that the weather is clear
ing.
A message from the Russie says:
THE passengers are kept below but all
the crew are at their posts; and the
captain and officers are dashed to the
bridge The seamen tried to construct
several RATS but as they neared com
pletion they We're washed away
The sinking of the stern in the sand
proves to have been a lucky thing for
those on board. as the bow of the mail
boat is tilted high above all but the
biggest waves and affords refuge
Otherwise it is believed that all would
long since have persisted.
The cruiser Galilee and a tug with
rocket apparatus left Toulon arsenal
this evening, to attempt to rescue the
passengers, who are Chiefly colonial
functionaries and soldiers.