Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-09-07
A STEAMER RUN INTO AND SUNK
OVER 70 PERSONS DROWNED.

PARTICULARS OF THE DISAsTER--A
DREADFUL sCENE--FEARFUL LOSS OF
LIFE.
New YORK. August. 30.-Private dis
patches from Providence saws that the
steamer Me;is, of the Newport line, on her
trip froD. Providence to New y3:k this
morning, struck schooIcr about A o'clock,
and sunk with all on board. The steamer
StoningtCu took off all the passengers that
could be found. The Mets driftcd ashore
at Watch Hi, with only her upper deck
above water.
A dispatch received in Providence few
minutes ago say over one hundred and fifty
passengers were on board of whom seventy
are saved.
WATCH HILL, II. l., VIA STONINGToN,
CT, August 3O.--The propeller Metis,
Captain Burton, was wrecked about six
miles off this shore this morning. A dread
ful storm prevailed the latter part Of the
night, and about four O'Clock the propeller
was struck by schooner, knocking a hole
in her bottom. She Immediately began to
fill. The passengers was aroused and
warned to secure life preseryers. In a
short time the lower part of the boat, en-
gipes. etc., went down about five miles
from shore.
A large number of The passengers and
crew climbed on the upper deck, which
parted from the hull and tloated. The
waves rolled high and the rain continued,
but the upper works lloated and struck the
shore Just below the Ocean House, at about
quarter TO eight this morning. The Metis
had on board one hundred and four pass
engers and forty-fve deck hands, walters,
etc.
STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN.
The following is the statement Of Captain
Charles l.. Burton, of the steamer Metis:
1--WE left New York at 5:lj p. m. on the
Goth of August. The weather was over
cast and rainy, with fresh breeze from the
southeast. At $40 a. M, when between
Watch Hill, about five miles OIL the Rhode
Island shore, the propeller was run into by
an unknown schooner, striking us forty
feet abaft the stern, or nearly abreast OF the
pilot house.
The propeller was Immediately stopped
and turned round, and we endeavored to
find the vessel, but failed. sent the mate
and pilot below to ascertain if the propeller
was making any water. They reported to
me that she was not, and we considered the
damage very slight. We then proceeded
on our way to Providence.
After running a few moments the engi-
neer reported that the steamer was rapidly
filling. immediately headed her for New
port shore, and used every eXertion in my
power TO save the passengers and crew.
At this time the wind was blowing a
strong gale from the southeast, accompani-
ed by heavy rain. 1t soon become evident
the steamer must 60 down. 1t was not
longer than half an hour from the time she
was headed for the shore until she sunk
Life boats were lowered and filled at once
with persons anxious to he saved. One of
the boats was swamped, but was soon
riShted 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 drified with the gale. The
storm still continued, and although several
vessels came within sight none recognized
us.
We continued in this perilous condition
until about eight O'Clock a. m, when we
drifted on the beach about half mile from
Watch Hill light. The surf was very high,
and our danger Increased. BY this time
quite large number Of people from Watch
Hill hotel were on the beach proilering aid,
but all was of no use to us. The roar of
the surf prevented any communication, and
it was evident to us that the deck Oh which
VIC iloated must soon go to pieces. In
few moments the breaking up commenced,
and we were all thrown into the surf.
BY the kindness of those ON shore nearly
all were saved from the pilot house and up
per works. am unable to say at present
how many Of the crew and passengers were
lost with the hulk.