The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-09-02
Additional Particulars OF the. Loss
Of tho Steamer Metis.

AASAANSAhA Vi akACH AuIH
OF the steamer Metis. .a 81
New YORK, August 31.-A passenger
on the steamer Metis states that soon
after the Metls was struck the steamer
Stonington came along side and offered
help, which, the Captain supposing the
vessel In no danger declined. The Metis
spent about 10 minutes in looking for the
schooner and then resumed her course,
leaving the Stonington to find the sChoon.
er. The Metes had been about a half an
hour on her course when she was discov-
cred 10 be rapidly sinking and was imme.
diately headed for shore but did not reach
II, as she soon after sank. 1t seemed
there was an abundance Of life preservers
but several took two or three for them.
selves and lefl others without any.
About forty passengers gathered on tue
hurrican deck, a large portion Of which
were women and children. The hurricane
deck separated from the vessel and after
drifting about four hours was dashed To
pieces on the beach. The wreck turned
over and large number were probably
killed by the falling debris Those who
were thrown on the shore were kindly
cared for, The passengers lost every.
thing. 81 bodies were recovered. Parties
wishing TO communicate respecting the
bodies not yet identified, may address Dr.
Hyde or Harris Pendleton OF Stonington.
The schooner which collided with the
Metis was the Nettie Gushing from Tom.
astown bound for New York. Her cap
tain, finding she was in no danger Of sink.
ing, made for New London, where she ar.
rived with only loss Of her boTsprit
and head gear.
Among those saved by the cutter Mo.
cassin, from the wreck of the steamer
Metis, were George S. Harris, Commis-
sioner Of the State OF Ohio; Horatio
Brainton OF Connecticut, and T. Ii. Fer
neyoi the Coast Survey. The total mum.
Der of lives lost will probably not exceed
forty. Among the missing are two sons Of
Mr.. Wierum, banker Of this city, and the
vile OF Sheridan, the actor, who was
himself saved. One account states that
the Metis had larger number OF passen.
gers than usual, on account of the passen.
gers returning on excursion tickets, which
expired In few days Also had all the
freight she could safely carry. Incidents.
of the disaster are narrowing in the ex.
treme. Six bodies have been identified,
and eleven unidentified. -.
Among the missing Is the wife Of VIM.
E. Sheridan, Of the Globe Theater, Boston.
Sheridan, who was at the Ocean House,
Watch Hill, says he knew nothing Of the
disaster which had overtaken the vessel
until there was great rumpus outside
Of his stateroOm. II rushed out 10 find
the steamer sinking, and carried my wife
to the lileboat. There were too many OF
US in the boat and we had proceeded nearly
to land when rough sea caused our boat
to tip over and we all were thrown into
the water. It was terrible moment.
There were few of US who could swim,
and only eight or ten succeeded in laying
hold OF the boat, but my poor vile was
not among the number" Sheridan here
became very much agitated, and hid his
face in his hands. In moment. he re-
sumed with broken voice, II have no
physical trouble, my grief Is elsewhere.
l have telegraphed 10 Providence 10 learn
If my poor girl was among those who
were taken there by the cutter.n Among
the pathetic incidents of the disaster, |
remember well the death Of two little
children. All evening they played about
the saloon prattling gaily with the passen.
gers, and seemingly wrapt up in each
other. When bedtime came one Of them
said, "Tiss me, mamma, tiss me, for l
am going 10 Sleep" and l saw them no
more alive. This morning their bodies
were washed ashore on the beach, clasped
in each others arms. They were beauti-
Gul as in lie, and their countenances bore
a placid smile, as II death was painless.
Our boat capsized close by the shore, and
1t was sad sight TO US who had gained
our lives when we witnessed the struggles
oi those who were unable to Withstand
the terrible undertow, and were drowned
in our faces. Their upturned faces and
looks will haunt me TO my dy-
ing day,
Mr., 5. Is much prostratcd by the shock
he has received.
Another passenger states that he asked
the Purser ii any damage was done by
the collision, 10 which the Purser replied,
"Of course not; it's no use for these small
craft TO run into US, for they can't hurt US
went back to the stateroom
and laid down, but had scarcely closed my
eyes when felt the ship settling under me,
and aroused my wife at once. This was
about twenty-five minutes after first
heard the crash. Iopened my state.room
door and found the saloons iull OF people,
many not dressed, and all in state oi
feverish anxiety. They were breaking
up furniture and trying in wild way to
build RATS. All the life.preservers had
been taken down, and one man had three
buckled about his body. Cork mattresses
were strewn about the saloons generally,
though the crowd behaved itself iu q col
lected manner. Some two or three
dropped on their knees and commenced
10 pray, and q few women shrieked vic.
lently, There were quite a number who
were beside themselves and jumped
overheard In their delirium. But most Of
US Kept our wits about us. We launched
and loaded the life.bOats, threw over
bales OF cotton, 10 which we had pre-.
viously lashed women and children, and
tried In short time to build rats. Our
time was limited, however. We felt the
vessel sink slowly and surely beneath us,
and all hands made q rush for the hurri.
cane deck. The boat seemed TO sink be.
meath this deck, Tor when it had reached
the level Of the water it floated away,
forming a raft Of itself. As we drifted
towards land the water seemed to be full
OF human bodies. They driftcd about,
some ono way and some another, tho most
going towards the land. Our ran pro-
ceeded steadily in this way until we got
close TO the shore, when a big breaker
threw US all into the water. l was one OF
the number who were saved.
Captain Richie, Of the revenue cutter
Moccasin, whichSaved iortylives and took
them together with seventeen bodies pick.
4 aN =.