The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-08-31

fAOVIDENCE, August SO.-Tne steamer
Meta from New York for Providence
collided with q sailing vessel about three
o'clock this morning of Watch Hill and
sunk. Several lives were lost. The cut.
ter Mocasin Is at the scene Of disaster.
THIRD nIsPATCH a.
NEW YoRK, August 3O.-A private dis.
patch from Providence states that the
steamer Metis, after colliding, drAted
ashore at Watch Hill with only her up.
per deck above water. Another dispatch
says seventy out Of one hundred and fifty
were saved. Reports Of the disaster
created considerable excitement in the
city. The Metis was 1850 tons and be.
longed TO the Providence and New York
Steamship Company, and was owned by
Capt Chas T. Burden.
FOURTH DISPATCH.
WATCH HILL, R. l., ria STEERING
TON, August 3O.-The propeller Metis,
Captain Charles Burden was wrecked
six miles of this shore this morning, A
dreadful storm prevailed the latter part
OF last night About o'clock the pro.
pellor was struck by schooner, knock.
ing her bottom. She Immediately became
filled. The passengers were aroused and
warned TO secure their lie preservers.
In short time the lower part of the
boat, engines, &C., went down about five
miles from the shore. A large number Of
the passengers and crew climbed on the
upper deck, which parted from the head
and tioated. The waves rolled high and
the rain continued, but the upper works
doated and struck the shore lust below
the Ocean House about 8 o'clock this
morning. The Metis had on board one
hundred and four passengers, forty.fiye
deck hands. walters, &c. Capt. Burden.
Geo. b. Hull, Agent Of the line are among
the saved. At this hour, II A. NJ,
1t Is thought about half the passengers are
saved. The greatest excitement prevails
here among the guests Of the hotels, and
they are doing all they can to aid the
WATCu HILL, R. L. August 9O-l p
M.-The cutter Moccasin lett here at 10
o'clock for the disaster, as did the yacht
Josie, with large crew. One of the life.
boats OF the Metis has Just landed here
with six deck hands. A lady with three
children, from Providence, was lost, but
the names are unknown. The Captain
and agent Of the line refused to 20 into
the lite.boats, and were washed ashore
on the remnants OF the pilot house.
NEW YORK, August 30.-The Metis
was lately altered from freight 10 pas.
senger boat, and cost $l75,OO6. Her cargo
was principally fruit, and was valued at
$5O, 900. Most Of the passengers obtained
their tickets on board, and no list Of the
names are available. ~
A private dispatch says that John Nc.
Austin, Of this city, who was on the steam.
er Nets, reports that when che struck
the schooner the crash was slight, but the
steamer sank Immediately. He was in
The water ten minutes, when be succeeded
in climbing on the cabin oil the boat,
which hoaIed ashore with forty or tifty
passengers on board. He thinks about
one hundred lives were lost, but more
may have been saved than reported.
PROVIDENCE, August 3O.-A passenger
who was saved thinks fifty persons were
0st with the Metis.
NEW YORK, August 30.-A private dis.
patch signed by Charles L. Stone, agent
u the line from Watch Hill, says: "The
Nets Is total loss. am alive and all
right"
sToN1NoToN, CT, August 3O.-The fol-
owing Is tho statement of Captain Chas.
L. Burden, Of the steamer Metis, as given
o J. Wesley Smith, Of tho Albany Argus.
We lefl New York at 5:15 r. n. on the
10th Of August. The weather was over.
EAST and rainy with a fresh breeze from
he southeast. At 3:40 A. NJ. when be-
:ween the two lighthouses Of Montank
Point and Watch Hill, about five miles of
he Rhode Island shore, the propeller was
run into by an unknown schooner striking
IS forty feet alolt of the stem or nearly
ABREAST Of the pilot house. The propeller
was Immediately stopped and turned
around, and we endeavored to find yes.
'el but failed 10 do 90. l then sent
The mates and pilot below to
ascertain II the propeller was making any
water. They reported 10 me that she was
not, and we considered the damage very
slight. We then proceeded on our way
10 Providence. After running a few mo-
nents the engineer reported that the
steamer was rapidly filling, when imme.
diately headed her for the nearest shore,
and used every exertion to save the pass.
engers and crew. At this time the wind
was blowing fresh gale from the south
cast, accompanied by a heavy rain. It
Soon become evident that the steamer
must 90 down. It was not longer than
half an hour from the time she was
headed Tor the shore till she sunk. Life
boats were lowered filed with persons
anxious to be saved. One Of the boats
was swamped, but was soon righted by
the chief engineer who was in her. he
Sculled her up to the wreck, and she was
again boarded with success. About fifty
persons were left on the upper deck,
which driited with the gale. The storm
still continued, and although several yes.
sells came within sight, none recognized
US. We continued In this perilous condl.
ton until about s o'clock in the morning,
when we driited on the beach about half
a mile from Watch Hill lighthouse.
The surf was very high, and our danger
was increased by this Time. Quite large
number Of people from the Watch Hill
Hotel were on the beach proffering sid,
but all was ot no use to US. The rosr Of
the surf prevented any communication,
and 1t was evident to US that the deck on
which we tloOted must soon go to pieces.
In a rev moments the breaking up COM
menced, and we were all thrown into the
surf, hut BY the kindness OF those on shore
nearly all were saved from the pilot
house and upper works. am unable to
say at present how many Of the crew and
passengers were lost with the hulk.
WATon HILL, August 30.-The purser,
John H. Latham, was picked up by the
y. s. revenue steamer Moccasin, as was
Aaron Anthony, freight clerk. The stew.
ard, McHain, whom all supposed lost, was
saved on mattress and picked up BY the