The Portland daily press., 1873-07-11

New YORK. July 10.-A five column state
ment of City of Washington passenger
charges that the loss of the steamer was due
to the criminal careessness of the officers and
crew, and that they just barely escaped all be-
ing engulfed in the ocean. A passenger, a sea
captain, frequently warned the chief officer
that he was running too far northward, and ad-
vised running hundred miles further south,
but the advice was disregarded, though the sec
ond officer conceded in it. No sight was taken
for seven days, Notwithstanding the vessel was
going through the heavy fog at the rate of
twelve or thirteen knots an hour. Had she
struck at night, she must have gone down, or
had she gone to the right or lert two hundred
yards, she would have struck either Green Is
land or the reefs, and a fearful loss of life
would have ensued.
The statement of the passenger of the
wrecked steamship City of Washington says
that the saloon passengers were mostly chat
ting or playing cards, when at half past one p:
M, Saturday, the ship went full speed on Gull
Rock shoal. She gave two slight bumps, and
a tremendous tremor ran through her. No one
had the smallest idea where the ship was.
After the lapse of half an hour of terrible
ing, and women and children shrieking 1
heard a human voice. A deathlike silence
followed, and soon two brave men, Cornelius
Swanburg and William Ferguson, who had put
out from the shore in a small boat, climbed up.
the side of the ship. The latter had risen from
The work of dsembarlking Immediately COM
menced, under their guidance, with three OF
the ships boats, the second officer standing at
the gangway of the ladder with Ratchet in
his hand, threatening to cut down any man
who tried to get into the boat before the wo-
men.
Meantime, the humping and scrapiug of the
stern post and rudder continued, arousing fears
lest the ship would break in two The steer
age passengers however remained remarkably
tot 70,
of the women displayed great presence of mind
and heroism sitting quietly till called upon to
disembark. A young Irish girl came and ask
ed the narrator whether she should ever see
Castle Garden at all. On receiving an affrma-
tive reply, she wrapped an Ulster coat round
her, gave him kiss and desceneed to the small
boat
Once all on shore the Germans and Fins
gathered in one group and the Irish emigrants
in another. All the neighborng barns and
out-houses were soon occupied. The adjoining
fences were soon stripped of their rails, fires
built, biscuit distributed, coffee served and all
were happy, under sense of the great danger
escaped. The cabiE ladies were received into
the house of Mrs Harding and Mrs. Lewis,
who with their daughters, cared for them like
ministering angels. Soon many of the poor
emigrants were fast asleep, lying about in the
barns on thu beach, and uuder the banks and
big rocks.
Col. Parnell of the United States army was
very prominent in atfording sustenance to the
latter and conducting them to places of shelter.
The ships doctor was also very efficient in
erecting tents, distributing coTdals, etc.
The cabin passengers raised subscription of
5000 for the heroes, Swanburg and Ferguson,
and more will probably be forthcoming.
He closes his narrative by comparing the nav
igation of the City of Washington to a man
galloping at breakneck speed through the dark
ness, down turnpike, totally regardless and
Indifferent whether any gates were ahead or
not Fortunately for us we got through one
gate, the Little Hope rock, but the Gull Rock
shoal gate was unfortunately closed"
The inhabitants brought bread, fruit, goods
&C., for which the Russians paid enormous
prices, having lived for the past week on black
biscuits After taking Fort Kasarash on June
4th, ten miles from the river and forty from
Khiva, the troops camped in gardens filled with
ripe apircrocots, mulberries, &c. The whole
available force of $4,000 then continued to move
on Khiva with the certain prospect of brilliant
success.
OTTAWA, July 10.-The Minister of Marine
and Fisheries has directed an inquiry into the
cause of the loss of the Inman steamer City
of Washington.
HALIFAX, Jnly 10.-The City of Washington
broke in two pieces ON Gull Rock shoals at
o'clock this morning. The Captain, officers and
crew were on board at the time, but succeeded
in landing safely without difficulty. The M.
A. Starr arrived at Port Bar last evening"
All passengers, baggage, &C., were taken on
board through the night and the passengers en-
barked this morning. The steamer left for
Halifax at o'clock this afternoon.