Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-31

of Providence were lost. Names unknown.
the Captain and agent of the line refused
10 go into the life boats and were washed
ashore on the remnants of the pilot no use.
The Hulk Drifts Ashore.
NEW YORK, Aug. S0.-A private dis
| patca irom Providence states that the
steamer M-tis after the collision drifte
ashore at Watch Hill with only her upper
| deck above water. Another dispatch says
seventy out of one hundred and fifty pas
sengers were saved. The reports of the
disaster created considera BILE excitement in
this city. TIE MeIis was 3,5l9 tons, be-
longed to the Providence and New York
Steamship Company and was commanded
! by Charles L. Burden.
Loss ON Vessel S295,0OOs
The Metis was lately altered from
freight to passenger boat aud cost $l75,-
900. Her cargo was principally fruit and
valued at $4,000. Most of the passengers
obtained tickets on board and no list of
names is available.
Account of Passenger.
a private dispatch says that John Nc
Austin, of this city, who was on the steam
er Metis SAYS that when she struck the
schooner ths crash was slight, but the
steamer sank Immediately. BE was in the
water ten minutes when he succeeded in
| swimming TO the cabin of the boat and was
fioated ashore. Forty or fifty passengers
on board were saved. He thinks about
one hundred lives were lost, but more may
have been saved than yet reported.
A Providence Dispatch.
PROVIDENCE, K. [. Aug 30.-A passen-
ger who was saved reports that hfty persons
were lost with the Metis.
The Captains Statement.
SroNINGToN, Conn. Aug. 30.-The fol-
lowing is a statemsnt of Capt. Chas. L..
Burton of the steamer Metis, as given to
]. Wesley Smith of the A bany ArguS:
We left New York at 5:l5 p. N. on the
29Sh of August. The weather was over
cast and rainy, with fresh breeze from
the Southeast. At $40 q. m, when be-
tween the two light houses at Mantan Point
I and Watch Hill, about five miles of the
Rhode Island shore, the propeller was run
into by an unknown schooner striking US
40 abaft of the steam bar, near ABREAST of the
pilot houss. The Propeller was immediate
ly stopped and turned round and we en-
deayored to find the vessel but failed to do
so. sent the mates and pilot below to as
certain If the prOppeIer 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 remaining few mo-
ments the engineer reported that the steam
er was rapidly filling. immediately headed
her for the nearest shore and used every
exertion in my power to save the passen-
gers and crew. At this time the wind was
blowing a strong gale from the southeast,
accompanied by heavy rain. 1t soou be
came evident that the steamer must 60
| down. L. was not longer than half al hour
fiom the time she was headed for shore Ii
I'll she sunk The life bJats were lowered
and filled at once with parsons anxious TO
be saved. One of the Ooats swamPed, but
was soon ri yhted by the chief engineer who
was on her. He sculled her up to the wreck
and she was again boarded with success.
About so persons were left on the upper
deck which dTif ed with the gale. The
; storm still continued, and although several
VS. e.s came in sight none recognized US
We continued IN this perilous condition until
, about O'Clock A NJ when we drIited Oh
the beach, about half mile from the
Watch Hill lighthouse. The surf was very
hiph aud our danger was increased. BY
ta.s tiG.s Giite large number of people
from the Wz.ch Hill Hotel were on the
beach proffering ald, but all was Of no ust
TO US The roar of the surf prevented aLy
communication, and il was evident TO Us
: that the deck on which Ee hoated mus
90 to pieces. In feS moments the break
: inc up commenced, and We were all JhrowI
| into the suri By the kindness of those OF
shore nearly all were saved from the pilot
: house and upper works. l am unable Il
, | say at preseuJ how many of the crew anC
: passengers were lost with the hulk.
/ Later.
WATCH HILL, Il. l., Aug. 30.-Th
Purser, John IL. La ham was picked Hp b.
the United States revenue steamer Moe
cssin. as were also eight Others floating o.
q mattress.
Eighteen dead bodies have just bee
brought in by a steamer. AS there weT
\ several small children and infants Oh beard
the Purser estimates the full number c
passengers at 10, with crew, walters, etc
! making in all l55 souls. 4 list is given O
q Al known to be saved, including moth
c or who lost two children. It seems TO b
almost
A Terrible Certainty
that seventy lives have been lost by thi
awful wreck. Many went down with th
n lower part of the steamer whose name
can never be known. One man who wa
married at Sharon Springs, New York, tn
> night before last and was on his way Il
y Providence on the wedding trip, send
word to the clergyman Of the Me holds
Episcopal Church in that city to make ar
rangements for the funeral services of hi
wife in bis church next Sunday. Her bod
was sent forward by the train this evening
A gloom has been cast over this entire sex
10 tion by the disaster. All the hotels a
1f Watch Hill have from eight to twenty {
the rescued now in their parlors and sleep
IS ing rooms.
l. There was no marine insurance on th
vessel.
PROVIDENCE. Z. l., Aug. 30-Th
IS schooner A. ii. Belden brougt into NewpO
this p NJ the bodies of man and woman
d picked up between Watch Hill and PoiI
Judith, who were evidently passengers b,
IL the Metis. The bodies we're buoyed up b
le life preservers. The mau is believed to b
g Emit Samps, fresco artist, of Newark, n
J. The woman is about thirty years o
y age, in her night dress aud wore seal riI
u marked n. A. The bodies are in charge {
an undertaken.
in another Mystery Of the Sea.
A special the Nail from Marblehea
lg says the following note Was picked up o
the sach at that place this morning:
E. ''Sinking aud all on board likely to b
S. lost. Longitude 720; latitude az.
u Yacht Dauntless, Aug 29"
lanes III Currv far tyvalua vaars Chai