Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-11
THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
Her Loss Due to Criminal Care
lesSness.
Apasseueer,s statement.

q
New YORK, July l0.-A five column
statement of city of Washington passen.
gers charges that the loss of the steamer
was due to carelessness of her officers and
crew, and that all just barely escaped being
engulphed. IAN ocean Captain passenger,
frequently warned the chief officer that he
was running too far northward, aud advised
running hundred miles further south, but
the advice was disregarded though the sec
oud officer conceded in it. No sight was
taken for seven days, notwithstanding the
vessel was going through heavy fog at the
rate Of II or 13 knots and hour. Had she
struck at night, she wonld have gone down,
or had she gone to the right or left two
hundred yards she would have struck either
Green Island or the reefs, and
-rs 4 Fearful Loss of Life
would have ensued. Saloon passengers
were mostly chatting or playing cards, when,
at half past one P. N. Saturday, the ship
went full speed on Gull Rock Shoal. She
give two slight bumps aud tremendous
tremor 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-bOrn blowing, aud
women and children shrieking. A sailor
cried, 81 hear a human voice." A death
like silence followed, and soon two brave
men, Cornelius Swanburg and William
Ferguson, who had put out from the shore,
in small boat, climbed up the side of the
ship. The latter had risen from sick bed.
The work of disembarking Immediately
commenced under their guidance withsthree
ships boats, the second officer standing
at the gaDgway Of the ladder with Ratchet in
hand @
Threatened TO Cat Down
any man who tried to get into the boats be-
fore the women. Meanwhile the humping
and scraping of the stern-post and rudder
continued, arousing fears lest the ship
would break in two. The Storage pas.
sengers, however, remained remarkably
quiet, and no attempt to rush was made.
Some of the women
Displayed Great Presence OF Mind
and heroism, sitting quietly till called upon
TO disembsrk. A young Irish girl came and
asked the narrator whether she should
ever see Castle Garden at all. On receiving
an affirmative reply, she wrapped an Ulster
coat around her, gave him kiss, and de-
scended to q small boat at once. All on
shore, German and Fins gathered in one
group, and the Irish emierants in another.
All the neighboring barns and out-houses
were soon occupied, the adjoining fences
soon stripped of rails, fires built, biscuit dis
tributed, coffee served and all were happy IN
der sense of great danger escaped. Cabin
ladies were received into the houses
of Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lewis, who,
with their daughters, cared for them like
t Minfstering Angels.
Soon many OF tHe poor emigrants were
fast asleep lying about in barns, on the beech,
and under banks and big rocks. Col Par.
nell, of the United States army, was very
prominent II Offering assistance to the lat
ter, and conducting them to places Of shell
ter. The ship doctor was also very efficient
in erecting tsntg, distributing cordials, etc.
The cabin passengers raised subscription
of 5000 for the heroes
SwRnburg and Ferguson,
and more will probably be forthcoming
Stores, blankets, beef, buiscuit, etc., were
landed all day Sunday and Monday from
the ship. On Monday the ship was found
TO lie in fifteen feet Of water, apparently rs
SOLID as the rock she rested On. Had she
backed off on first striking, she would prob
ably have
Sunk in Five Minutes.
Ten minutes after striking, she began tc
fill, and on Monday bad Is feet of water il
her hold. When the narrator left, the neigh
borhood people were showing every atten
ton to the rescued passengers, and there
were plenty of provisions for all for somt
days to come.
The Steamer Breaks in Two
HALIFAX, July l0.-The wreck of tbs
City of Washington uroke in two pieces OF
Gull Rock Shoals this morning. The cap
tain, officers and crew were on board at tbt
| time, but succeeded in landing safely. Tht
N. A. Starr arrived at port Lebear last even
ing, All the passengers luggage, ETC., WeIt
taken on board through the night, and pas
sengers embarked this morning. Th,
steamer left for Halifax this afternoon anC
is not expected here before tomorrow
/ vnnrpinO