writes from Aden:—I forward you the following account of the wreck of the P. and 0. 8.8. Aden off the east point of Socotra, as it may prove of interest to your readers. The R. I. M. S. Mayo proceeded to Socotra on the morning of the 23rd, as Captain de Berry had, through the Resident at Aden, received information of a wreck having been seen and reported by Bocotr. The Mayo arrived in sight of the ing ships, lying on a reef off the east of
wrecked ressel on the evening of the 25th, having called at Tamarida, the principal town and Sultan's place, to gather any information that the natives could give regarding the wreck or the people on board her. Nothing of any importance, however, could be gleaned from them beyond the fact that a vessel had gone ashore, thirty miles to the eastward, and had fired rockets and burned blue lights the first night, about sixteen days previous, after which nothing was seen of or heard from her. As the wreck was not sighted till nearly half-Recided to anchor for the night between t three that afternoon, Captain de Berry
two reefs, about three miles from the unfortunate vessel. We all endeavoured, with the help of telescopes, to discover signs of life on the wreck, which we had made out to be a P. and 0., and most probably, the Aden, reported overdue, but nothing could we discern. However, we rare all intensely delighted, when darkness gum, to observe lights shining through her midship cabin ports, flashing us the tidings of human beings still living and requiring aid. It blew a strong gale all night, and next morning at daybreak the Mayo was steaming towards the wreck and anchored within a mile of her on her lee side. The Aden was lying with her head pointed W. S. W. on the centre of a reef jutting out from the S.E. point of Cape Ras
She a] to be perfectly upright, an Redress, the astern point of Socotra, bor ball externally in good condition, "Her foretopmast had gone, as had also hor funnals all her ropoa and shrouds were banging loose, with large pieces of canvas—ovidently the remnants of sails and awnings—flapping from them. Hugo great waves would strike her at intervals on her weather bow, deluge her decks, and pour in an avalanche over her lee side. The wind was still very strong, and the sea heavy, but a boat was Inunched from the Mayo, manned by a volunteer crew, officered by Lieutenants Dobbin and Goldsmith, and with all the beat wishes for success from those renaining on board, she pushed off to the rescue of the poor souls imprisoned in that ware-battered hulk. In thirty-five minutes she had crossed the intervening space of rough water and gusty wind, and we saw her draw up alongside the wreck. Presently we distinguished Sgures posing and being passed into the boat, and then we see her shove off on her return voyage, and soon all those she has brought off the wreck are safely on board. But there are more, and -tho gallant boat makes a second successful trip, bringing off the remainder in safety forty-five souls in all.
Out of these there are seven Europea and two Chinese (nurses) passengers, three European crew, and thirty-three native crew. The passengera were Mr. and Mrs. Gillett and a little girl of eight, from Yokohama; Mr. and Mrs, Pearce and infant of two years, from Shanghai; and 'Mr. Valpy, from Penang. The European crew were Mr. T. White, third engineer, Mr. P. Kelt, fourth engineer, and Mr. Cave, writer and steward. Both' the ladies and men presented a heartrending spectacle on their appesranco on the deck of the Mayo. They were all dressed in rags, and scanty rags at that. They were wounded ing,- and had great salt' water sores from incessant exposure. Begrimed and dirty, haggard, worn, and weak they toll a dismal tale of seventeen days' privations and suffering such as seldom now occurs in the annals of disasters at sea. We cared for them, poor souls, and cheer ed them as best we could. Our Assistant Surgeon attended to and dressed their wounds, and by careful dieting and constant attendance made them improve both bodily and in spirits.
And now let me tell you their story as they told it us from time to time, The Aden left Yokohama, homeward-bound, and touched at Shanghai; "Hongkong, Foochow, Singapore, Penang, and lastly at Colombo." She was 'a combined passenger-snd cargo ship, having on board at the time of the disaster thirty-four passenger and twenty-three European and sixty-six native crew. Her cargo was general, rrostly consisting of toa, Two days after leaving Colombo, they experienced very bad weather, so bad indeed that Captain Hill, who was in command, considered it advisable to bring her head to wind, in order to put some extra coal they were carrying on deck into the bunkers, for the safety.of the ship. They left Colombo on the 2nd of June, and on the morning of the 9th, at three, the vessel, which was steaming at about ten knots, struck heavily on the reef mentioned. Ten minutes after striking the water had risen to the height of the furnaces and had extinguished the fires, The dynamo had stopped working and everything was in complete darkness, Great disorder and excitement prevailed among the passengers. Mothera were looking for their infants and children, babies crying and shrieking, and husbands seeking their wives. It was blowing hard, but as yet no big seas had washed over the ill-fated ship. The boats on the lee side were got ready, and it was decided to await daylight. Passengers were now supplied with life-belts and clothing.
When daylight arrived the wind and sea increased tremendously, and big waves began to break over the vessel, so it was determined to abandon her. The first boat, launched, the after lifeboat on the leo side, was washed away to sea, with only three quartermasters in her, and no hope of ever returning. On seeing this, the chief officer jumped overboard and swam out to her evidently with the intention of assisting to bring her back; whether he ever reached her is uncertain, but nothing more was seen of either him or the boat. The second cutter was now fully manned, launched, and with the second officer in charge, went, to the assistance of the after lifeboat. The last seen of this boat was her disappearing to seaward, Only one boat now remained, th boat amidships, and orders wore given that only women and children would be received in her. All the married women immediately elected to stay with their husbands, besides whom there remained on board two unmarried ladies, Miss Lloyd and Miss Weller, and the three Chinese nurses. All the others were handed in the boat by the doctor, into which also went the third and fourth officers, the chief and second. engineers, the stewardess, the carpenter, all the remaining quartermasters, and three stewards. When they were launching this boat one of the falls broke, and in consequence precipitated all who were in her at time, which included the stewardess, into the sea. The stewardess was saved by the fourth officer, who gallantly wont to her rescue; all the others managed to scramble back into the boat, and she was righted and got ready.
She pushed off from the ship at about seven, leaving on board the captain (Hill) third ' engineer 2), fourth, engineer (Felt) and stamend (Cave). Among the passengers wore Mr. and Mrs. Gillett and child, Mr. and Mrs. Pearce and two infants, Mr. and Mrs. Strain and two in-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.