New-York tribune., 1878-02-02
THE LOST VESSELS HISTORY.
IN THE BLOCKADING SERVICE DURING TIE WAX
GENERALLY BELIEVED To BIZ wELL-EU1LT AND
TITTED-NOT FULLY INSURED.


IN THE BLoCKADING SERVICE DURING TIE WAR
GENERALLY BELIEVED To BIZ wELL-EU1LT AND
TITTED-NOT FULLY INSURED.
The Metropolis was the second vessel which
rad sailed with material for the Madeira and Manore
Railroad in Brazil She had been laid up in the Atlantic
Basin BROOKLYN for time before abe was chartered
The steamer Richmond will sail with material for the
road in about month. The Metropolis was owned
Jointly by Luut Brothers. OF No. % SOul-s; Charles
W. Copeland, OF No. &C Broadway and N. II. Simpson,
of Boston she built in 1861 for the New-Iiaven
and Providence Steamboat Company, and at the break
ing out OF the rebellion was purchased by the
Navy Department for blockade service She
was brought to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and
fitted out for bockadng service, and was first
commanded by Lieutenant (nOw AdmiraD Reed
Werdon She then known the Stars and Stripes
and was considered capable for the service for which she
was intended. In 1871 she was sold at auction by the
Government, the Lunt Brothers buying her. She was
afterwards III two andsips, Heightened forty feet
ana thoroughly rebuilt for cOastinG service Her dlme
sops when completed were 10S2 feet In length 81 feet
beam and 1G feet depth OF hold. Her original tonnage
was 4l0 tons. but this was increased TO 80 tons
She was brg-rigged, and was ranked in Loyd's
Register as 1l2. having been reclassed last year
From tho certificates of inspection at the Office Of the
Local Steamboat Inspectors, il appears that she was al
lowed to carry f0rtytwo cabin and Sc Storage pas
sengers She was provided with eight lifeboats 300
feet OF fire hose, three fire exngushers eight and
2jO fe-preservers She built OF oak and chestnut
and mad board all Of the liiesavng and other app
ances required by law. The vessel was provided with
two compound engines OF sixteen and thirty inches
diameter OF cylinder, and two and half feet stroke OF
piston return tubular boilers seventeen feet in
length and seven feet nine inches In diameter made In
1871.
Commander McCook at the Brooklyn Navy Yard yes
terday said TO a reporter OF THE TRIBUNE that he was
familiar with the Metropolis having commanded her at
time when she in the United states service She
was then i'll good condition, well constructed and almost
The most of her naval service performed
part OF the South Atlantic Bocsadc Squadron While
lie in command OF her IN 1862 and 1863 Command
er McCOOk said, she had proved herself "a servceabe
and excellent vessel He said 1t would be
any opinion to the Of tho disaster until all the
circumstances were known. lie thought that great in
ia stce was done TO officers and by hasty
judgments passed upon them In such cases.
About three years ago. on homeward voyage from
Bermuda with cargo OF vegetables the crank-pln OF
the engines OF the Metropolis became broken. and she
was not heard until thirty days after eaying Ber
muda. She finally made her port under sail. cap
tain of OF the coasting steamers now III port, III
speaking OF the vessel Yesterday said tna she had been
very uucky, and during his term of over two years
service board of her he had seen very bad weather.
and many times thought that the vessel would founder
she was of those hatbOtOm, ighi-raft vessels"
he said. which labor very heavily III u sea way" lie
had never known her to leak ana thought that she was
very strongly built so far as her outside pankng had to
The Mcssrs Lunt Brothers stated that the Metropolis
valued at about 10000 but that ONLY their interest
and that OF Mr. Copeland were Insured. He secuted
the idea that she was overloaded, saying that she
drew only IL feet 2 inches foreward, and 13 feet
Mutual Marine Insurance Company, said that she
cOnlG be loaded 10 10 feet draft with safety. As TO
her seaworthy condition, the Underwriters had in
epected her while she in the dry-dOck about two
weeks ago, aud passed her as being proper condition
for the intended voyage He the utmost confidence
In Captain Ankers, who formerly commander Of the
steamship Henry Chauncey, belonging to the Pacific
Mail Company He had received letter from Captain
Apkers the trip down the Chesapeake Bay,
Tuesday night in which he said that all OF the depart
ments were working smoothly, the wind was moderate
from the northwest aud the night fine ana clear He
anticipated no trouble A letter from the purser
frmed these statements, and added that epreservers