The Portland daily press., 1873-07-14


ed Inman Line steamer ''City of Washington"
1t will be remembered that this steamer went
ashore on Gull Rock Bar, seventy miles east of
Sambro Head, about half-past one o'clock p m.
July 9Th, in a thick fog, and that all the pas
sengers, crew and baggage were saved. 1t was
not until the following Thursday, that the
steamer ''M. A. Star" arrived to take them to
Halifax. Quite number of cabin passengers
left Halifax by railroad. About one hundred
and fifty steerage passengers were left by the
Falmouth at Halifax, there being no room for
them on board. She will bring them up on her
next trip,
When the Falmouth was signalled off the
harbor, Saturday, tug containing the steam
boat and custom house officers went down to
meet her. She made her first landing at State
Street Wharf, where the cabin passengers from
the wrecked steamer and ordinary passengers
en-route for Boston, came ashore. The cabin
passengers consisted of Lieut. Col. Parnell, U.
S. A., Mr. Higgins of New York, Mr. Cox of
Leicester. Eng, Mr., w. Daffron, of Richmond,
Va, Mr.. and Mrs. Dimond of Minnesota, Cap
tain Nelson of Norway, Mr.. Campbell of South
Carolina, and Mr.. Hurst of Michigan; and
while some of them remained at the Eastern
Railroad STATION, to take the $50 p m. train
for Boston, others went down to the Falmouth
Hotel, to dine before proceeding by the train.
The representatives of the journals of this city,
who were awaiting the arrival of the steamer
at the wharf, were, on attempting to board the
ship, rudely repulsed by officers belonging to
the Falmouth, who guarded the gangway. 1t
was only on the interference of one of the Off
GERS, whose name we were unable to learn, that
they were allowed to go on board; and even
then they would have been driven ashore. but
for the courteous interference of the custom
house officers. This unusual conduct on the
part of the officers, was at the time incompre-
hensbe, but after events clearly developed the
animus from whence this spirit proceeded.
From State Street Wharf the Falmouth pro-
ceeded to her own wharf at the lower part of
the city, where the Storage passengers were to
be landed Both cabin and steerage passengers
were very willing to give to the reporters any
information asked for. The following infor-
nation was CLEANED:
STATEMENT OF COL. PARNELL AND OTHERS.
Lieut.. Col. Parnell, U. S. A.-who during
the war, was in command of the Fourth New
York Cavalry, - severely criticised the ineffi-
cheney of the officers Of the ship. His state
ment was, that after the fifth day out, dense
fog obscured the sun, lifting only occasionally.
that observations were attempted whenever the
fog lifted, that a bulletin was posted ON deck
every day for the benefit of the passengers, but
that for days together the same latitude was
posted with the compass n. n. w. The pas
sengers considered this a farce, as it was i'm
possible to remain on given line, while con-
stantly sailing away from it. There were two
intelligent Swedish shipmasters among the cab
in passengers, who were well acquainted with
the course across the Atlantic, but who were
told to mind their own business, when they sug-
oested the i'm possibility of continuing on a Civ
encourse, when all the while sailing away from
it. On the morning of the day the Inflated
steamer struck, Seaweed was seen floating by,
and the officer in charge was asked if that did
not betoken near approach to land. He replied
mo! that they were in the gulf stream where
seaweed was always found"
At twenty minutes to 2, just after lunch the
ship struck with two distinct shocks, and with
a heavy tremor and began to settle. All who
were below at once rushed on deck, and scene
of the widest excitement ensued Children
chung shreking to their parents; women cried
manyof them falling upon their knees in prayer
many rushed wildly to and fro; and for a
while it was impossible to restore order.
As soon as the ship struck, the sailors became
III.
the officers could sufficiently command obedi-
ence and give the signals of distress. Three
guns were fired the whistle blown and the
bell rung but no attempt was made to land the
boats, nor was there any distribution of life
preservers. The vessel atthis time was envel-
Oped in a dense fog and the sea was per-
fectly calm, to which latter circumstance the
safety of all on board may be attributed.
Shortly after the guns were fired, boat con-
tanning Cornelius Swanburg and William Furg-
apurnnpbinU the cSal fran, the
shore, and was hailed at once by the captain Of
the steamer who asked them where they were
As soon as it was found that they were but a
quarter of mile from shore, and the water was
smooth with no immediate prospect of the
steamers sinking any deeper, quiet was re-
stored. The passengers were at once conveyed
on shore by the boats of the steamer, care be-
ing taken to send the women and children first.
Both steerage and cabin passengers testify to
the manly conduct of the first and second Off
GERS in the transfer of the passengers from the
ship to the shore, but severely condemn the
outrageous conduct of the sailors in handling
the steerage passengers. They pulled and
hauled the women and children about as II
they were so many bales of merchandise, and
treated the men in the toughest manner. 1T
is a WONDER" said Colonel Parnell, that some
limbs were not broken by the rough treatment
received" One sailor told the Colonel, upon
his demonstrating with him, that he was only a
cabin passenger and to dry up. The Colonel
drew his revolver, and told him if he didn't
get into the boat and take his oar he would
blow the top of his head off, and the man
obeyed with an evil look in his eye.
ON SHORE.
The whole number of passengers landed con-
sisted of thirty cabin and about four hundred
and fifty steerage, many of whom were women
and children.
On the island where they landed, besides
cavaroJ ooouniad raeidanooc ,pora copa upopou-
pied houses and fishermen's huts. The cabin
passengers found excellent accommodations at
the houses of Mr.. Harding and Mr.. Lewis, who
devoted themselves to their guests. The steer
age passengers were furnished with sails and
tents which, with the empty huts that they
took possession of, gave them very good
shelter. The island furnished an abundance of
water and bread and meat were brought daily
from the ship. The steerage passengers found
considerable fault with the limited supply of
food furnished them, as there was abundance
ON board. The sailors slept on board the ship
and refused to submit to orders The officers,
it is stated evinced a lack of executive ability
with the exception of second officer Flaherty,
of whom all the passengers speak highly. The
fact that the abundant supply of provisions on
beard were not removed to the shore, under the
circumstances, is severely condemned, for it
was evident the ship might sink or be broken
up at any moment or storm might arise rem
dering it impossible for them to be taken from
the island for several weeks, Not pound of
bread was kept on shore.
The passengers speak highly of the conduct
of Dr. Milson, son of Colonel Millson, of Nova
Scotia, who secured the canvas for tents, and
looked after the women and children.
Beds, bedding and the baggage of the passen
gers were brought ashore so carelessly that
much of it was soaked through and ruined.
Miss Church of Boston, one of the lady pas
seEgers, had her trunk broken open and robbed
evidently by the sailors, and one trunk she
never found that was filled with valuables pur-
chased abroad. A passengers state-room was
entered and his trunk rifed.
A subscription amounting to STA was raised
among the cabin and steerage passengers for
the two men who first came to their relief from
the shore.
A paper eulogziug the officers was circulated
among the steerage passengers, but they all re-
fused to sign it. The cabin passengers were
willing to certify that so far as they were con-
cerned they had received attention and kind