Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-07-11
Narrative of a Survivor from the
Wrecked Steamer City Of
Washington.
"Harkl / Hear a Human Voice" !"
The Rescue by Two
Brave Fishermen.
Another Investigation Necessary
Scenes aad Incidents Be-
fore and After the
Rtscue.

NEW YORK, July l0.-A five-column
statement of 3 City of Washington pas
| senger, charges that the loss of the
steamer was due to the criminal careless
] ness of the officers and crew, and all
! Just barely escaped being engulphed in
I the ocean. Captain A, a passenger,
/ frequently warned the chief officer that
/ he was running too far nOrthward, and
advised running a hundred miles further
south, but the advice was disregarded,
though the second officer cOincided in it.
| No sight was taken for seven days, not
withstanding 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 to the right or
left two hundred yards, she would have
struck either Green island or the reefs,
and
FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE
would have ensued. The saloon passen-
gers were mostly chatting or playing
cards, when, at half-past one O'Clock in
the afternoon of Saturday the ship went
full speed on Gull Rock shoal. She gave
two slight bumps and tremendous tre-
NOR ran through her. No one had the
smallest idea where the ship was. After
the lapse of half an hour OF terrible con-
fusion, the firing of cannon, the fog
horn blowing, and women and children
shrieking, sailor cried,
"I HEAR A HUMAN vOICEw
A deathlike silence followed, and soon
two brave men, Cornelius Swanburg and
William Ferguson, who had put out
from shore in a small boat, climbed up
the side OF the SKIP. The latter had
risen from a sick bed. The work of dis
embsrking was Immediately COM
menced, under their guidance, with the
three ships boats, the second officer
standing at the gangway with hatchet
in his hand, threatening to cut down
any man who
TRIED TO GET IN THE BOATS BEFORE
THE WOMEN.
Meanwhile, the humping and scraping
Of the stern-pOst and rudder continued,
and fears were entertained lest the ship
would break in. The steerage passen-
gers. however, remained remarkably
quiet, and no attempt to Orush was made.
Some of the women displayed great
presence of mind and heroism, sitting
quietly until called upon to disembark.
A young Irish girl came and asked the
narrator whether she should ever see
Castle Garden at all. On receiving the
affirmative reply, she wrapped an u
ster coat around her,
GAVE HIM A KISS,
and descended 10 the small boat at once.
All on shore, the Germans and Fins
gathered in one group, and the Irish
emigrants in another. All the
neighboring barns and outhourses were
soon occupied, and the adjoining fences
were soon stripped of rails, and fires were
built, the biscuit distributed, and the
coffee served, and all were happy under
q sense of the great danger they had eS-
capped. The cabin ladies were received
into the houses Of a Mrs. Harding and 8
Mrs. Lewis, who, with their daughters,
cared for them like ministering angels
Soon many Of the poor emigrants were
fast asleep, lying about on the
beach and under banks and big rocks.
Colonel Parnell, of the United States
army, was very prominent in affOrding
assistance 10 the latter and conducting
them to places of shelter. The ships
doctor was also very efficient in erecting
tents, distributing cOrdials, etc. The
cabin passengers raised a subscription of
two hundred dollars for the heroes,
swANBERG AND FERGUSON.
ami more will be probably forth
coming. Stores, blankets, biscuits, beef,
otc., we're landed all day Sunday and
Monday from the ship. On Monday
the ship was found to lie in fifteen
feet water, apparently as solid as the
rock she rested on. Had she backed off
on first striking she would probably
have sunk in five minutes. In ten
minutes after striking she began to fill,
and on Monday had fifteen feet water in
her hold. When the narrator left the
neighborhOOd the people were showing
every attention TO che rescued passen-
gers, and there We're plenty of provisions
for all for days TO come. He closes his
narrative by comparing the navigation
Of the City Of Washington to a man
galloping, at break-neck speed through
darkness down a turnpike,
TOTALLY REGARDLESS AND INDIF-
FERENT
whether the gates ahead were open or
not. Fortunately for US, we got through
one gate, the Little Hope Rock, but
Gulf Rock ShOal gate was unfortunately
closed.
TIE WRECK GOING TO PIECES.
HALIFAX, July l0.-The wreck of the
City of Washington broke into pieces on
Gulf Rock shoals this morning. The
captain, officers and crew were on board
at the time, but succeeded in landing
safely. The NJ. \. Starr arrived at Port
Leban last evening. All the passengers
luggage, etc, were taken on board du-
ring the night, and the passengers em-
barked this morning. The steamer left
for Halifax this afternoon and is not ex-
peeted 10 arrive here before tomorrow
morning.
The Hebrew CaBrerenee al cincinnati. |