Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-08-17
IpFoua sAs y, r. Evening PO,.Os sstarday.l
Terrible Collision on the Sound

TFroa DE y, Z. rvsalasrO,.o, s.tardny.l
Terrible Collision on the Sound.
a Propeller ran dossn By the Metropolis, and
Stnk.-9A Hen Women aud CheItrsn
Dropned.-A1ecting Incidents.
We have to recoul to-day. another terrible
steamboat disaster, which has resulted IN the
loss Of thirteen lives
ing between the steamer Metropolis, Capt
Brown. Of the Fall River Line, and the Propeis
Ter i. \. Harris, Capt. Smith, which was on her
nav from New York to New London. The Me.
tropolis was making her regular trip from Eau
River TO New York The cutwater OF the stea-
mer struck the propeller little forward OF MD
shins. causing her to sink almost lnstantene-
OuEly
Tn, Metropolis received severe shock, but
was not seriously injured On the propeller
we're. as nearly as can be ascertaincd, fourteen
Messengers and crew of eleven persons vi
! these. twelve in all we're saved, including tue
! captain. first and second engineers, two deck
hands, and seven passengers
STATEMENT or THE cAPTAIS OF rue PROPELLER
The Metropolis reached her landing at Per
40. ls. East River, at half past nine O'Clock this
morning. and intelligence OF the disaster imme-
diately spread over the city. Our reporter al
once sought an interview with Capt. smith, OF
the lost propeller in order to obtain rs version
of the calamity, but he was too much over
wheImed by the loss Of his children to be able
to give n correct account. He SAYS there were
fourteen passengers and crew oil eleven on
hoard. but the passenger list has gone down
with the propeller, and there Is no means al
hand TO obtain the names
The propeller was three years old, stauneh
boat. valued mt $92, 800, and owned by com
many. Mr. j. ~ Harris, from whom the boat
was named, owned a fourth, and he Capt
Smith had $3.50 invested IN her She was
insured against fire, but there was no marine
risk on her. She had valuable cargo OF mer-
chandise consigned to different parties in New
London, and probably uninsured. The cargo
consisted chiefly of provisions, groceries, dry
goods and some 40 tons Of pig, chain and bar
iron.
'.The Metropolis struck us just forward Of
the pilot house, and probably cut completely
through. We had a sail up at the time. We
had been stopped sometime, when the collision
occurred have nothing to say as To how it
happened. It was bright starlight aud the
weather was not rough. The women and chill
dren were all lost They were abed, and those
that were asleep had hardly chance to save
themselves. The propeller went down within
five minutes from the time she was struck !
have lost three little children; that will be hard
news 10 carry home.
An AFFECTING Scene
I While Capt. Smith was giving his statement
an old gentleman walked into the cabin of the
Metropolis, and approached with an aSitated
manner "EIow do you do Mr.. Gordon p said
the Captain extending his hand, and at the same
avcTtinE his face The old gentleman took the
proffered hand, and said in tremulous voice:
II came to ask about my daughter-is she alive
Uit! NY God ~ exclaimed tue old man, as he
burst into tears. There were % dry eyes in
that cabin.
Afterwards the captain said to our reporter:
"She WAS a beautiful girl, only eighteen years
old. Mr. Gordon gave her into my chaFgs only
Yesterday afternoon, 10 take TO her friends IN
New London, but now she has gone with my
children"
Mr.. Gordon is a merchant tailor, doing bust
ness at No. 65 Chatham street
INCIDENTS, &c.
Among the thrilling and heartrcnding Incl
cents connected with the disaster, passenger
relates the following
a woman was seen struggling in the water,
her infant child in her arms-a rope
Yas thrown to her, which fell within her reach,
md which she might have seized and saved her
elf, by relinquishing hlr hold upon her child.
She looked up, saw the, rope, saw those who
would have given almost their own hold upon
lie to save hers, then pressed her child to her
'reast and sank forever.
These were the only persons seen in the water |
hat were not saved; all the others appear to |
ave gone doMn in the propeller The husband
{ the women was among the lost.
An old man, "a years old, who could not swim,
OF upon plank and was saved by one of the
oats. His name is Daniel Ayres.s
q.