The New York herald., 1878-02-06
crowd. The fupd for the relief Of the sufferers
amounts thus lar to 81, 00o

amounts thus far TO $4,000
rIoN-BoDIEs TO BE ExHUMED FOR THE PUR-
POSE OF IDENTIFICATION.
wAsmsGros. Feb. s, 1879
The station at the wreck OF tho Metropolis reports
to the chiei signal oaicer the arrival of Captain
William Harrison, of Philadelphia, one Of the sur.
vvors OF the steamer Metropolis. who has been
and sent there by p. 7. Collins others give
correct report OF all the circumstances connected
with the wreck. II Is his intention 10 have
all the bodies taken up Tomorrow for the
purpose OF identlncatIon ~ far possible, ana has
brought collins 10 which place the bodies that are
The signal service operator wreck has beeu d..
rected 10 get the names OF those VINO are identified
ana any other p1s,pe pc raS essilpn ol
morrow, February Q, after getting the above nforma
tion.
Tho stati the wreck OF tho steamer Metropolis
reports 10 tho chief siguaI oticer at quarter past
zen, buried men yesterday, one OF them having
brown and light complexion, about nve teet eight
less; the olner ons was about the size. with
small mustache Tho bodies were not examined.
One OF them was marked with the letters III u" on
his arm. 4g-
THE INSPECTING OFFICER.
Supervising Inspector General Dumout has received
copy of the certificate OF inspection oil The steamer
was Inspected by Andrew Graft, assistant hull IN
spector, and John w Blake, assistant boiler Inspector
Captain Dumont has ordered thorough investigation
by tho inspectors at Philadelphia.
POUCH PICKED UP.
The mail pouch that was seat TO the south Atlantic
squadron by the late Metropolis was picked
OF tne lie saving service. Tue Postmaster General
has 10 Currituck beach, asking that the
pouch may be immediately sent to INC Navy Depart
ment, as 1t contains important naval dispatches
WHO is RESPONSIBLE p STATEMENT OF CAP-
TAIN ANKERs-rHE LIFE SAVING PATROL.
Captain J. II. Aukors, commander Of tho steamer
Metropolis at the time Of the wreck At Currituck
Beach, arrived in this city yesterday afternoon from
Norfolk and reported TO his employers. Aessrs Lunt
Brothers. No 92S South street. Here areporter ofhs
HERALD shortly afterward found him, and from hs
own lips obtained u statement touching the condition
OF the Metropolis we'll as the conduct OF the lilo
saving patrol at the scene OF the wrock. In response
70 q query OF tho reporter Captain Ankers stated
that tho Metropolis was thoroughly seaworthy and
in first class condition when she slartod upon
her voyage. "It had not known the vessel was
thorough sea-going craft" no said, 81 would mover
have placed my loot upon her deck Aud 10 subslsn-
tiate my statement am willing to take command OF
a duplicate ship to the Metropolis Tomorrow. She
by means rotten, but every piece oil timber 10
her comparatively new. She was not merely
heightened, but rebuilt throughout ana was, iof
was made by passenger named Hawkins the, no nag
picked up pieces deck which chippsd on beneath
his ieel, and the statement has been used
as a proof that the vessel was trustworthy. Now,
the fact Of the matter is that the deck upon which
Hawkins picked up those pieces was tue hurricane
deck that would not aGect tho calore Of the snip Ia
tho least
sln fact the hurricane deck nothing but prone
made deck, and 10 intended more tor ornament than
ss Sa aesps asot wsSe anu had only re-
Gently boon covered with canvas Alter The wreck
! inspected some OF the hmbers that came ashoro
and found them good and sound. Tnero may have
been some rotten tmbsrs IN the ship out
that's nothing, for nearly every vessel 'nat
floats has more or less rotten timber IN her, yet
she is not Injured by it, When ! was oD
Curritusk Beach, immediately aftsr tho wrcck, Cap
tain Creln OF the Board OF Underwriters, was tnerc
also and he laughed al the remarks which were even
being circulated that the ship was 10 an unsea-
worthy conaltiun He gave u as his opinion that
hip could live IN that not at all surprised
- soc the Metropolis breaking up as rapply as she
rHE LIFE SAVING PATROL
Is IL true asked tho reporter that the life saving
,ro! were Negligent in rendering you assistanceY.
1T is, replied Captain Ankers, "and IT 10 10 TINS
ascrbe the entire responsibility Tor the dreadful
OF lfc.' -
do not understand now they could not; for,
,ugt--,he morning was quite nszy, were still
10 see the lighthouse on me beaon, and quite dis
ly at that"
What did the patrol do when they reached tho
mn
VEN they aid absolutely nothing, unless except
act that they dragged some OF tho people out OF
urf after they had been washed from the vessel
the rescue Of the wreck with two
DIS OF powder ana three snot, together with a
ar and hali.inch line. Now. this was simply
.ish. They should have brought more powder
shot anu a stronger, we'll AS larger ins 1 un-
aand they had a keg OF powder At tne station
O. and II is u my ystery 10 me that they lett 1t be-
We then saw that little OF no help could be
cted IRON the patrol, SO We Jumped IN and swan
ere washed TO the shore"
OF the most perfect kind. wo had 270 Iife-saving
,ets, while the number OF souls on board was out
.. Every could have boon saved had not the
swept many away boorc they had time 10 collect
cir thoughts"
NOT ovERLADEN
"ls IL true that the vessel was overiadenf'
alt not The tonnage Of The vessel was 8I9, and
all had aboard were 900 tons OF railroad iron aud
the ships supplies"
'rhen you DO ascribo tac loss Of tho vessel TO
any fault ncr construction or outhtf"
II DO not II was caused by that irightiul gale. In
which no vessel coud llve."
SKETCH OF CAPTAIN ASKERs
Captain Ankers Is medium sized man, about forty
years He has followed the sea from his Uoyhood,
but his irst executive position was attained IN 1851
when he appointed chief oflccr OF tho irlgate
Poiomac His next post OF duty the qua rtcrdeck
the Crcassian, when he was ordered 10 the supply
rebellion. He next ordered TO the soop-
oi-war John Adams, and toward the close oi
States ir'snte Gcmsbok. Alter the war he CON.
mandcd ,nc brig j. W. johnson. owned by the hrm OF
ara CS G ns ' IN ns
executive officer OF tpe brig rle, owned Ny Messrs
Lunt Brothers, OF this city. He also chief officer
OF tho steamer Monterey when That vessel went on
her trip Peru The interests OF the Peruvian
erpmcnL In the early stages Of the Cuban war
Captain Ankcrs espoused Tho cause OF the In.
suruents. and wis made chief officer OF tho
insurrccionary steamer Hornet, winch LETT this
city in 1870 aud met foriiuPriuce by the 81.
Dvmiuro Com IN sson. Alter tho Hornet was &c zcd
and bciIed Captain Ankers joined party to explore
French Guiana, aud In that connection commanded
the Gamer Electric Spark. His next employment
was as chef officer oi the Henry Chauncey, ot tho
Pacihc Mail, with Commander Gray. With The latter
oilicer he was transferred to Acapulco. OF the
same line. He thch became commander OF the Henry
Chauncey and rau her until 1876, when
she was hauled or the service. Ho then 1T
ted out the steamer Fall River Hayian govern
ment, after winch ch lei onlccr Of the City
of Chester when that vessel made her first trip TO
California He also commander Of the Colon, OF
tue same line, tor time, until December oil last
ysar, when he took command OF the Metropolis.
Captain Ankers' employers, Lunt Brothers, speak
nj nts Cheney and skill us a yratOr