Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-02-08
MARINE DISASTER.
The Metropolis Goes TO Pieces on the
Coast of North CarOlIna-IOO Lives
Lost.

The Metropolis Goes to Pieces on the
Coast of North CarOlIna-IOO Lives
Lost.
NoRFoLK, Va, Jan. 81.
This morning the steamship Metropo-
lis, from Philadelphia for Para, Brazil,
went ashore on Currituck Beach, south
of the lighthouse, during the prevalence
of furious gale.
The Metropolis sailed on Tuesday
from Philadelphia for Brazil. She was
dispatched by the contractors for the
Madeira & Mamore Railroad, and car
ried 200 laborers, 500 tons of railroad
IRON and several mails for Brazil.
Capt. Ankers was in command of the
steamship. Paul j. White, formerly
Chief Engineer of the Lehigh Naviga-
ton Company, and James 7. Moore, a
well-known engineer, were in charge
of her cargo of railroad stores.
PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 81.
The unfortunate expedition consisted
of full corps of picked engineers and
laborers. A private dispatch to Mr..
Collins, one of the contractors, says
there were 210 laborers on board, and
only 81 were saved.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l.
The steamer Metropolis was char
tered here by the Seaboard Road in De-
cember, but the charter was cancelled
in consequence of the vessel proving
unseaworthy and worthless.
NORFOLK, Feb. l.
The steamer Cygnet arrived from
CoinjOck this afternoon, bringing Rich
ard w. Brooke, one of the passengers
of the Metropolis. Brooke left the wreck
yesterday morning, and fully sustains
the facts given by Capt. Ankers and
others. The vessel was, beyond all
doubt, weak and unseaworthy, and,
being deeply laden, labored in the heavy
sea, which caused herto open her seams
and leak. Capt Ankers did all skill
and judgment could suggest or expert
ence devise; but when the fires were
out it left his vessel powerless. He
therefore was unable to drive her upon
the beach as he anticipated, or keep the
vessel from going broadside or expos
ing the deck to be swept by each sue
ceeding wave. The Cygnet returned at
once to bring to this city all survivors.
NORFOLK, Feb. 2.
The Cygnet arrived at eleven o'clock
tonight with the survivors of the Me-
tropolis disaster. They were met by a
committee of citizens headed by the
Mayor, and were well provided for,
every arrangement for their comfort
having been made. The Associated
Press correspondent reports the situa-
ton to-day as follows: The sixty-eight
bodies recovered have been buried, and
records made to secure future identifi-
cation. The beach for a distance of
from fifty yards to one mile north of the
wreck is strewn with debris of the ship
and cargo. The ship was completely
broken up.
There was very large South Amer
lean mail on board the Metropolis. The
registered letters receipted for by the
purser containing about $150,000 in
money, drafts, etc. The Norfolk AS
sistant-Postmaster went to the wreck to
look after the interests of his depart
ment, and, of the eleven bags contain
ing mail matter washed ashore, sue
ceeded in recovering two intact, an
other being used as tobacco bag by
one of the survivors. OF the contents
nothing could be found, nor could any
thing be found of the other bags or con-
tents. Parties on the beach say the
bags were cut open and ritled, and the
letters, after being opened, were strewn
along the beach.
One correspondent says: "The story
of the wreck is one of horror. 1t tspeaks
with no uncertain words and will cause
a just and righteous Indignation against
those who put at the mercy of the
ocean waves $50 lives in a vessel
that was in every respect unsea-
worthy; that was as rotten as punk,
and that could well be likened to a
death-trap. The owners, contractors
and u. 5. Inspectors are responsible
and they should be held to strict ac-
count The route over the beach was
thickly studded with newly-made graves
of the victims. They were marked
with rude boards, and, in some
instances, were buried five and six in g
grave. In the immediate vicinity of the
scene was true realization of the ter.
rible word Wreck, and to the shame
of humanity and civilization there was
vandalism, evidences of which were
hard to believe. 1t was ghoulism al
most incredible, committed mostly by
negro residents of the beach and clost
by, aided by number of whites. They
took all the valuables and even cloth
ing from the dead bodies that haC
washed ashore. The sacred person o
female was not bar to the worst sor
of barbarism.h
The Captain, first and second officers
purser, chief and assistant engineers
carpenter, oiler and two firemen ar
among the saved. The total numbe
lost is about 100.
ALCoRN'S STATEMENT.
James +. Alcorn, temporarily at
tached to the Metropolis, formerly al
officer in the U. S. Navy, makes tn
following statement:
Wednesday night at nine was called by tn
mate to assist the carpenter in stopping lea
around the rudder trunk; found the stern pos
| loose and so reported; remained at the pos
using all possible eXertion to stop the leak @
| prevent increase until about $3.50 a, m, whe
| / was called on deck and found the ship pal
| tial wreck; one of the port boats was hangin
| over the side by her bow tackle to the davit
| the smoke-stack was gone and the ship wa
heading for the beach reached the fore cutie
and in obedience to the order of the Captai
commenced to start water in the casks store
forward TO tighten the ship; was assisted
so doing by the carpenter and one of the qua
teTmasters, who was afterward drowned; finC
ing the mate, suggested that sail be made b
setting the foresail, and on getting his col
sent Immediately went aloft, loosed III
foresail, and succeeded in setting til
sail, which remained but few mil
utes until carried away and 1t was me-
essary to clew up the port wing of the sal
Shortly after the ship struck heavily amit
ships, evidently breaking her back, but 81
continued TO drive on the beach. The admin
bic management of the helm, assisted by ii
foresail maintained the ships position har
on until fairly beached. then took my ST.
tton ON the hurricane deck, to assist the con
mander and officers IN maintaining Orde
Soon after this the mainmast went, and 81
began to break up rapidly, the first seas tn
boarded her having destroyed or crippled q
the remaining boats but the dingy, attachC
to the starboard forward davits. Upon tn
boat placed my chief hope of safety, provide
could maintain possession OF the boat for Il
purpose of sending line ashore at low waite
But while my attention was otherwise engag,
the boat was lowered and my purpose d
feated, while she, without any manageme
save the providence of God, was borne to h