Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-07-17
General News.


Lo.s fthe City Of " a.LiuSton.
In our dispatch last week we announced
the loss ofthe City of Washington of the
Inlnan line of steamers. We now give
extracts from statement OF the loss aud
attendant circumstances by Lieutenant
Colonel Parnell, L. ). A.
The City OF Washington left Liverpool
harbor al seven O'Clock, l.. NJ, Jane "a.
with about thirty saloon aud four hundred
steerage passengers, and an assorted car
go OF freight, consisting chiefly OF fancy
dry goods, rice aud railroad iron. AT
Queenstown we took on board about one
hundred more passengers. saloon aud
Storage. Every thing passed along very
well until Saturday, the 2sth, when
strong southwest wind sprung up with
heavy sea. Next day, Sunday, We got in
to dense fog. which continued until We
struck the coast OF Nova Scotia After
three or four days il began To be apparent
10 MANY of the passengers that the officers
had no idea OF where we were-which GER
tainly was the case-but they knew or
thought they did, and that, together with
their proverbal buIl-headcd obstinzcy,
caused the disaster. II is fact that a sug-
gestion was made by well-Anowu,
hi4pIouG Ntdliah II passenger, 10 run u
souiherly course and get out OF the fog
and into the Gulf Stream, where obscrva-
tons could be taken and all danger be
avoided, which OF course was ignored and
almost AN impertinent mind your own
business returned. Again, the sea weed
was pointed out 10 one OF the officers ON
Saturday morning. before We struck a,
conveying evidence that we must be near
land. The officer knew better: NO such
thing. We were in the Gulf Stream Il
was evident, a. the sea-wecd indicated. A.
almost any child could see" Otherwise
1t was apparent that we must be consider
ably north OF the latitude published This
Was IL o., which for four days was the
same, when every compass on board indl-
Gated conrse SSw since we len Queens
town. except one day that our course iu-
dlcated by the compass was nearly due
West. Gould all the comaasses be wrong
that no reliance could be placed on any oi
them: II they were wrong why leave port?
In that condition, running AT abou, ten
miles an hour, on Saturday, July j. at |. 80
P. NJ, We were startled by heavy thud and
jump Of the steamer; then another and
finally third, when all hands rushed and
found We were aground in ffteeu feet of
water. Then commenced a scraping, tear
ing. struggling effort OF the steamer, which
the first shock and il was with no little
trouble that they could be treasured. No
one knew where We were. Although but
quarter of mile from shore, we could
see nothing on account of the fog. Ii was
obvious now that we must leave the ship.
not knowing what moment she would split
in two; and now was DISPLAYED plentiful
lack OF discipline, subordination and sys-
TEN by the ships officers and crew that
could not be equa!led anywhere in the
world. The passengers conducted them
selves in most praiseworhy manner.
while on the part of the ships crew it was
one continued tumult, swearing and gener-
Al confusion. Finally. after three or four
hours they began to lower the boats and
get the passengers in first all the women
and children, then the men from the shore
who had put oil in answer 10 our guns 10
pilot US TO a landing. All the passengers
were safely landed and took shelter wher-
ever il could be found. some being kindly
cared for by the Harding and Lewis fami-
lies, and others occupying empty houses
and barns. 1t would have been very easy
TO have reached Halifax on Sunday fore
noon and have assistance sent out at
once, whereas they did not know 1t there
until about one O'Clock A. M, on Tuesday,
and then the steamer NJ. A. Starr inme-
diately started TO our assistance. but being
a small steamer could only take of por-
ton of the shipwrecked unfortunates on
shore. In the meantime things were be-
ing strangely conducted. Through the
energy OF the ships surgeon. DIR. Nilsson,
canvas was erected TO shelter those who
were unable TO obtain it in house. Some
little provisions were got off the ship, but
their distribution was most miserably
managed The sailors would work or
otherwise just as they liked, and no more
attention was paid TO their officers than To
SO many dogs. Beds and bedding were
brought of from the ship and thrown
ashore perhaps, If chance favored it. but
more frequently they went into the sea.
and of course were worthless. Aud now
comes one of the most absurd projects
that human imbecility could suggest: An
attempt to cook provisions for four hum
dred people on board q suuken steamer
the bullheaded obstinacy or total igno-
rance OF the officers as well as their gross
neglect would not carry out what common
sense should teach, |. E., that all the pro-
visions should be landed without delay
and the meals cooked on shore. l strong
ly demonstrated against such conduct, aud
intimated that should cease to consider
myself as passenger only and assume the
responsibility Of representative Of the
United States government, being an officer
in its service. and take control Of those UNI
fortunate passengers who were bound for
Its shores in which resolution | was en-.
Enthusiastically supported by the most intelli-
gentof our passengers. Colonel Parnell
says the second officer and surgeon were
the only officers who displayed any energy
at the wreck.
RESCUE OF THE PASSENGERS.
July 18th the steamer NJ. A. Starr re-
turned from the wreck bringing all the
cabin, and 800 OF the Storage passengers
and several stewards. All the steerage
passengers and l3 of the cabin passenger.
were transferred to the steamer Falmouth.
which sailed for Portland at "A. NJ The
steersge passengers were very sheerful
under the circumstances, and seemed to
take misfortune in good part. The pas
sengers will proceed to Boston By the |
steamer Montreal, which leaves here at |
seven O'Clock tomorrow evening. Those |
who were cabin passengers on the City of |
Washington will stop at the Falmouth |
House during the few hours they may be |
in this city. The others will be fed at |
other places and cared for by the steam |
ship authorities. as fa
BREAKING UP OF THE VESSEL
Captain DOane OF the Starr saws the /
scene ct the wreck when the vessel broke
Was one Of extreme peril for the officers
and crew who we're on board of her at
that time. The crash as the immense hull |
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