Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-09-05
Terrible L.. .ster 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 it, and came to anchor oil 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 pitchv darkness prevailed. Tho
passengers had long since retired to rest,
and with the exception that the vessel vas
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 inles west southwest Of Watch Hill
light, and not more than FIVE miles from
the shore. 1t was at this time raining
hard, and. as appears, the weather was
somewhat thick Suddenly ana without
aword, without sound Of warning, the
schooner, heavily laden with li,ae, ran
into the steamer, forty feet abaft the stern,
on the port side, and squared away on her
coupe" 4 deep dull thud was felt all
over the steamer. Men and women were
aroused from slumber, end some, less
frightened than the sest rushed on deoE.
!lalf dres-ad. aud made for the pilot house
to learn the cause Of what seemed col
l!sion. The captain had already mace in
quiMes from the engineer and the cheer
ing news Of all right" at once aliared
the alarm Of the terror-strickcn crowd !;
some returned 20 their berths, out Others,
not satisfied with the announcement, or
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
fIe. The state rooms were thrown open
and the passengers scrambled to the upper
deck to Be further off from the water. 1t
was fearfu! scene. The deck handsrush
ed up and down, warning the passengers
to look 10 their. life preservers for the Me
tis was going down, and there we're som.
whom the first shock had not awakened
but who, now that the shrieking and ham
lnering 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 tried t,
reach the upper deck. Some succeeded
and some failed and were lost Others
plunged into The sea and were washed fal
away. a rush was made for the boats.
which were promptly lowered and, amid,
The widest shrieks, the terrified passen
gers made desperate exerilons to crowd IN
TO them:
The Nets had now sunk below hei
guards, and several persons just run VI
from their berths or y to meet a terribl'
fate. The main deck was packed witt
huge bales OF cotton. and as they began
to float about many of the passengers got
hemmed in, ard we're either drowned or
crushed 70 death. But the scenes above
were truly appalling Death stared every
one in the face. OF the entire number oi
souls, only some fifty-three remained or
the hurricane 6ecl::. The others mad dis
appeareds in the darkness Meanwhile
Capt. Burtcn and the officers Of the YES
sci were behaving with commendabie cool
ness. In compliance with orders, al.hapds
were provided with life preseryerS
At length the deck upon which stood
the terrified people parted from the hull.
owing doubtless 20 The great pressure OF
the cotton bales, and in y few moments
the Metis sank 10 rise no more leaving
tle floating deck, with It's huddled crowd
TO the mercy OF the waves.
The collision had taken place a: exactly
twenty minutes to four o'clock, and about
three quarters OF an hour elapsed rom
that tine 10 tie complete separation OF
the deck from the hull OF the steamer.
. Il is impossible TO give any ide2 OF what
ensued. Bcwlldered and shudaerlng al
their surroundings. many at once Jumped
off the floating deck and were drowned.
Women cluns 10 their children. resolved
tina: thcy would perish with thca O"
ing 20 the darkness, it could nc: Ii E:adc
out where thjv were, ana IS the awful
feeling prevailc,! that tho deck w::a drift
ing out to sea, i. vas indeed Il night oi
horror
At. length morning dawned and. the
shore OF Watch Hill was discovered, but
the wind had not abated MUCH, and al
tllorgh bS his time those on deck had
:aaao themselves somewhat secure. fears
were entertained .css 6 henyy sea, then
runniny, woalt sweep them oil.
Nearer aud ncs:er the floating remnant
of the tessel approached the shore, and
finally struck bottom This was ;he gig
IA! note, and in hall a 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 swcpi,
ashore alive. In one instance, a lady wit.
her two children, one under each arm, WIZ
carried safely through the srn't. Egma:.
beings struggled in all directions some
were struci; ~ floating timbers and swep!
senscless high upon the beach Othcrs. un
able any ioa..a. 10 hold out, succnmbcd
but were finally Nashed ashore in dying |
condition.
The Steamer Narragansctt arrived In |
New York on the evening Of the 3lst,
bringing several passengers end three o.
the deck hands Of the Metis.
But the saddest thing Of all was in the
saloon Of the &arragansett. where sat a
Young woman, poorly but neatly dressed,
;"ssping silently near the spot where the
body OF her husband lay She vas asleep
vixen the collision occurred, but was
..7gakered by Tie shock, AMI told her hus-
oaai3 to get UP and sec what was the mat
5ei.. He did SO, and scon returned, saving
nat tire captei,i had iold him there was
Ao danger lie cot Into ted igaiu, bu'
:lis wife could aot sleep, and was soon
sgain alarmed by tie scund OF many fee
running to and fro \ moment later tbs
steward, brave man, of whom all spoke
we'll, rushed into the state room AMI tod
them TO put On their lie preservcrs, as thr
ship was sinking This was terrible
shock, but they hastened to obey the or
ders. The two children Of the youne
couple lay asleep, one a baby six weeks
Old, the other BOY Of three The father
took the biggest child in his arms, the
mother clung to her infant. and the twn