Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-09-05
Terrible Disaster at Sea.


Gushing, off and from Chamaston, Maine,
for New York, arrived at New London
yesterday, and stated she was run into by
the propeller Metis, OF the Providence and
New YORK line, and lost her bow spirit
and head gear, knighthead, and all fore
mast gear. He sang out to the captain of
the steamer to stand by him, as he
thought he was sinking" but the steamer
went on her course After clearing the
wreck he made for New London, but could
not make ii, and came to anchor OFF Gosher
Reef, west of New London light At the
time of the collision it was blowing gale
from southeast, and was thick and raining
He was steaming west by south, through
the race with little Gull Island five miles
distant, nearing west by SOUTH
The following is another account: To
wards midnight it blew nearly gale,
while pitchy darkness prevailed. Tho
passengers had long since retired to rest,
and with the exception that the vessel was
rolling some, owing to the roughness OF
the sea, nothing occurred to mar the
progress of the trip. Shortly after three
o'clock schooner hove in sight, about
four miles west southwest OF Watch Hill
light, and not more than FIVE miles from
the shore. 1t was at this time raining
hard, aud. as appears, the weather was
somewhat thick. Suddenly and without
aword, without sound Of warning, the
schooner, heavily laden with lilae, ran
into the steamer, forty feet abaft the stern,
on the port side, and squared away On her
coupe" a deep dull thud was felt all
over the steamer. Men and women were
aroused from slumber, and some, lesi
frightened than the sest, rushed on deok!
half dres.ad. aud made for the pilot house
to !ear, tnc cause OF what seemed col
l!sion. The captain had already mace in
quiries from the engineer, and the cheer
ing news Of call right" at once a!'aved
the alarm Of the terror-strickeu crowd ;
some returned 20 their berths, out others,
not satisfied with the announcement, OF
perhaps, uneasy as to the result, remained
on the hurricane deck. Fifteen minutes
later and the death knell went ringing
through the vessel. The Metis was leak
ing badly, and the news spread like Wild
fire. The state rooms were thrown open
and the passengers scrambled to the upper
deck to be further off from the water. 1t
was fearful scene The deck handsrush-
ed up and down, warning the passengers
to look 10 their. life preservers for the Ne
tbs was going down, and there were SOM
whom mths first shock had not awakened
but who, now that the shrieking and ham
mering had begun, quickly jumped forth
to the terrible realization of their peril.
DoNn gradually deeper went the vessel,
until her bulwarks were under the water
aud waves came, sweeping over the deck
Nearly every soul on board had tired t,
reach the upper deck. Some succeeded
and some failed and were lost Others
plunged into the sea and were washed fal
sway. s rush Nas made for the boats
which we're promptly lowered and, amid
tie widest shrieks, the terrified passen-
gers made despcrate cxertions to crowd IN
to them:
The M4tis had now sunk below her
guards, and several persons jus, run NJ
from their berths OILY to meet terribl'
fate. The main deck was packed witt
huge bales Of cotton. and as they begar
to float about many of the passengers got
henmed in, ala we're either drowned or
crushed 70 death. But the scenes above
were truly appalling. Death stared every
one IT the face Of the entire number OF
souls, only some ffty-.hree remained or
the hurricane 6ecl:. The Others had dis
appeared. in the darkness. Meanwhile
Capt. Burton and the. officers Of the yes
sci were behaving with commendablc cool
ness. In compliance with orders, al. .haads
were provided with life preservef>
At length the deck upon which stood
the terrified people parted from the hull.
owing doubtless 10 the great pressure OF
the cotton bales, and in few moments
the Metis sank 10 rise no more, leaving
the floating deck, with lis huddled crowd.
to the mercy OF the waves.
The collision had taken place at exactly
twenty minutes to four o'clock. and about
three quarters OF an hour elapse,! ron.
t;,at time to the complete separation OF
the deck from the hull OF the steamer
It impossible to give any idea OF what
ensucd. Bewlldered and shudder.ng al
their surroundings many al once jumped
off the floating decl; and were drowned
Women c!uns 10 their children. resolved
that they would perish with thea. 0w
ing 20 the darkness, it could ne: i5 made
our where thy we're, and as thc awfu!
feeling prevailed that tie deck WAS drift
INC out to sea, il vas indeed Il night Of
horror.
At. length morning dawned and. the
shore OF Watch Hill was discovered, but
the wind had not abated lauch, and al
though ty :!his time those on deck had
.naac themselves somewhat secure, fears
were entertained less 6 heavy sea. then
running, would sweep them off
Nearer aud nearer the i,oatins remnant
Of the Vessel approached the shore, and
finally struck bottom. This was ;fe gig
nal note, and in hall dozen seconds the
nearly exhausted and perishipg passen
gers plunged into the serf to trust TO their
fate.
Soon after she went to pieces, and many
seized hold Of the debris and were swcpl.
ashore alive. In one instance, aladv witt
her two children, one under each arm, w's'
carried safely through the srnil Humaa
beings struggled in all directions some
were struck ~ floating timbers and swept
senscless high upon the beach. Otaers, un-
able any ioa..ec 10 mold ont, succumbed.
but were finally washed ashore in dying
condition.
The Steamer Naragansett arrived in
New York on the evening Of the 3lst
bringing several passengers end three Of
the deck hands Of the Metis.
But the saadest thing OF all was in the
saloon Of the Na.ragansett. where sat
Young woman, poorly hut neatly dressed,
,,-ssping silently near the spot where the
BODY OF her husband lay. She was asleep
VIXEN the collision occurred, but was
.Takened by tie shock, an told her hus
oa.i5 to get up and sec what was the mat
+ei. He did so, and soon returned, saying
nat tha captei,i had told him there was
40 danger Hc cot into ted igai.l, bu
;.iswife could net sleep, and was soon
again alarmed by tie sound oil many fee
running to and tro j moment later III.
steward, G brave man, oI whom all spokr
well, rushed into the state room and tod
them to put On their life preservcrs, as thr
ship was sinking This was u terrible
shock, but they FASTENED to obey the or
ders. The two children Of the youns
couple lay asleep, one baby six weeks
old, the other BOY Of three The father
took the biggest CHILD in his arms, the
AALa a.. ol,,nsl "a kn,- inrnnt nrl tLa t,r.