The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-11
Statement of Passenger of the City of
Washington.

New YORK, July OF.
A five column statement of a CITY of
Washington passenger charges that the loss
of the steamer was due to the criminal
carelessness of the officers and crew .a7V<l
that they just barely escaped being engulf-
cd An ocean captain, a passenger, fire.
quently warned the chief officer that he
was running too far northward, and advis-
ed running hundred miles further south,
but the advice was disregarded, though the
secoud officer conceded in it, No sight
was taken for seven days, Notwithstanding
the vessel was going through heavy fog
at the rate of between twelve or thir-
teen knots an hour. Had she struck at
night she would 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 fearful loss of
life must have ensued. The saloon passen-
gers were mostly chatting or playing cards
when, at y o'clock p. M, Saturday, the
ship went at full speed on Gull Rock shoal.
She gave two slight bumps, and a tremen-
dous tremor ran through her No one had
the smallest idea where the shin was. At
ter lapse of half an hour a terrible con-
fusion, the cannon firing, fog horns blow
ing and women and children shrieking, a
sailor cried: 81 hear human voice" A
death-like silence followed. and soon two
brave men, Cornelius Swanburg and VIM.
Ferguson, who had put out from shore
in small boat, climbed up the
side of the ship. The latter had
risen from sick bed. The work of dis
embarking was Immediately commenced,
under their guidances. with three of the
ships boats, the second officer standing at
the gangway of the ladder with hatchct
in his hand, threatening to cut down any
man who tried to get into boats before the
women. Meanwhile the humping and
scraping of the stern post and rudder con-
tinued, arousing fears lest'the ship would
break in two. The steerage passengers,
however, remained remarkably quiet, and
no attempt to rush was made. Some of the
women displayed great presence of mind
and heroism, sitting quietly TIL calledVy5Un
to disembark. A young Irish girl came
and asked the narrator whether she "should
ever see Castle Garden at ALL" On receiy.
ing an affirmative reply she wrapped an III.
ster coat around her, gave him a kiss, and
descended to the small boat Once all on
shore, the Germans and Fins gathered in
one group and the Irish emigrants in ano.
ther. All the neighboring barns and out
houses were soon occupied. The adioin.
ing fences were soon stripped of rails. fires
were built, biscuit distributed, coffee
served and all were happy under the sense
of a great danger escaped. The cabin la
dies were received into the houses of n Mrs.
Harding and Lewis, who with their dauoh.
tiers cared for them like ministerinp ANGELS
Soon many of the poor emigrants were fast
asleep lying about in the barns on the beach
under the banks and big rocks. Col Par.
nell, United States army, was very nromi.
ncnt in affording assistance to the LATTER
and conducting them to places of shelter.
The ship doctor was also very efficient in
erecting tents, distributing cordlals &c.
The cabin passengers raised a subscrintion
of $500 for the heroes, Wamburg and Fer.
guson, and morewill probably be fortbcom-
ing Stores, blankets, beef and biscuit
were landed all day Sunday and Monday
from the ship. On Monday the shin was
found to lie in fifteen feet of water annar-
emily as solid as the rock she rested ON
Had she backed off on first striking abe
would have sunk in. five minutes Ten
minutes after striking she began to fiji and
on Monday had fifteen feet of water IN her
hold. When the narrator left tho the
neighboring people were showerinp every
attention upon the rescued passengers and
there were plenty of provisions for all for
days to come, He closes his narration nv