The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-11
THE WRECK OF THE CITY OF
WASHINGTON.
Amazing Criminal CarelessncSs OF
Her Captain..Seven Days Through
the Fog without an Observation,

NEW YORK, July l0.-A five column
statement OF a City OF Washington pasSen.
ger, charges that the loss OF the steamer
was due 10 the criminal Carelessness OF
the officers and crew, and that all Just
barely escaped being engulied. An ocean
captain, a passenger, frequently warned
the chief officer that he was running too
far northward and advised running q
hundred miles further south, but the ad-
vice was dsregarded although the second
officer CoincIded in It. No sight was
taken Tor seven days, Notwithstanding the
vessel was going through heavy fog at
the rate Of twelve or thirteen knots an
hour. Had she struck at night she
would have gone down, or had she gone
10 the right or 10 the left two
hundred yards, she would have struck
either Green Island OF the reefs, and fear.
ful loss Of life ensued. The saloon passen.
gers were mostly chatting or playing
cards, when at hall.past p. M., Saturday,
she went at full speed on Gull Rock
shoal. She gave two slight bumps, and a
tremendous trcmor ran through her. No
one had the smallest idea where the ship
was. After the lapse Of half an hour there
was terrible confusion, the cannon firing.
fog horns blowing, and women and chill
dren shrieking. A sailor cried, u hear
a human voice" A death.like silence
ensued among the passengers, and soon
two brave men, Cornelius Swanburg. and
Wm, Furguson, who had put our from
the shore iu q boat, and climbed up the
side of the ship, the latter had risen from
A sick bed. The work Of Decentralization
Immediately commenced under lhelr
guidance, with three Ol the ships boats.
The second officer sianding atthe gang.
way of the ladder, with hatChel in hand
threatening to cut down any man who
tried to get into the boats before the Wo'
men, mean while the humping and scrap:
ing Of the stern post and ruddcr caused
fear least the shfp'would break in two.
The steerage passengers, however, re-
mained remarkably quiet, and no attempt
10 rush was made, Some OF the women
displayed great presence Of mind and
heroism, sitting quietly till callc1 on to
disembark. A young Irish girl came and
asked the narrator whether she ehould
ever see Castle Garden at all. On re-
ceiving an affirmative reply, she wrapped
an ulster coat around herself, gave him
kiss, and descended TO the small
boat. Once all on shore, the Ger
mans and Fins gathered in one group,
and Irish emigrants in another, all the
barns and out houses were
soon occupied, the adjoining fences were
soon stripped Of rails and fires built, buts.
cult distributed, coffee severed and all
happy under the sense OF the great dang
er escaped. The cabin ladies were re-
ceiyed into the houses Of q Mrs. Harding
and Mrs. LeWes, who with their daugh'
tiers cared for them like ministering angles.
Soon many Of the poor emigrants were last
asleep living about in barns, on the beach,
and under the banks and big rocks. Col.
Parnellus' army was very prominent in
aifordlng assistance 10 the latter, and con-
Quoting them 10 places OF shelter. lAe
ship Doctor was also very ethclent IN
tents, distributing cordials, etc,
The cabin passengers raised subscnp-
ton OF two hundred dollars for the heroes
and Ferguson, and more WILL
be forthcoming. The stores,
blankets, beef, biscuits, etc. were being
landed all day Sunday and Monday from
the ship. On Monday the ship was found
to lay In fifteen feet Of water apparently
as solid as the rock she rested on, had she
backed of on frat striking she would
probably have sunk in i've minutes. Ten
minutes after striking she began to I'LL and
ON Monday had Is feet oil water In her
hold. When the narrator left the neigh
boring people we're showering every. .atten.
tion upon the rescued passengers, and
there were plenty oi provisions for all Tor
DAYS 10 come. He closes his narration by
comparing the navigation of the City ,ot
Washington 70 q man gslloping at break
neck speed through darkness down q turn.
pike totally regardless and Indifferent
whether there were any gates ahead or not,
fortunately for us that we got through
one gate, the Little Hope Rock, but the
Gull Rock shoal gate was unfortunately
closed.
HALIFAX, July 1O-The wreck Of the
CITY Of Washington broke in two on
Gull Rock shoals this morning. The
Captain, officers, aud crew were on board
at tho time, but succeeded In landing safe
". The N. A Starr arrived at Port lie
Bar last evening All the passengers,
luggage, etc. was taken on board through
the night, and the passengers embarked
This morning. The steamer left Tor Hall.
fax this afternoon, and Is now expected
here before tomorrow morning, 49,.