The Portland daily press., 1878-02-02
THE LOST METROPOLIS.
One Hundred and Sixty
Lives Lost.
The Vessel Unseaworthy and
Overloaded

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The signal station at
the wreck Of the Metropolis reports the follow
ing:
The steamer Metropolis at 8 p. M, January
30, started heavy leak in the RAIDER case.
Finding they could not gain on the leak with
the pumps, they concluded to tighten by throw
ing over the coal, and to bear away for Hamp-
ton Roads. At midnight the circulation pump
gave out. At 3 a. m. a heavy sea boarded the
vessel, carrying away the smOke-stack, boats,
doors, forward saloon and letting in large
quantity of water below. The ship was COM
pletey manageable, and finding nothing
could be done, the crew attempted to reach the
beach to save what lives they could. At
out and the engine stopped. They set all head
sail to drive her on the beach. The surf was
very hard. At four o'clock word was passed
for all hands to prepare themselves with life
preservers. At 645 the ship struck the beach,
and at il a. ~ a man on horseback made his
appearance on the beach, waving his hat and
promising assistance.
At 80 the life saving service made an
appearance, but came poorly provided to save
life. All the assistance they could render was
to get the people out of the surf as they came
ashore. Had they come to the scene during
the forenoon, nearly every one could have been
saved. At p m. the steamer broke up COM
pletely, throwing all into the sea.
The following officers were saved Captain
J. K. Aukers, Charles B. Dickman, the 1st
officer, d. III. Cousins, I'd officer, Bartlett, the
purser, Soule, the chief engineer johnson the
carpenter, Mediator. LIST assistant engineer, and
one oiler and two fremep.
The signal service station at the wreck
ported at a. m. that the steamer had 260
passengers and about 100 were drowned and 100
saved. The steamer is a total wreck and
nothing is left above water. No bodies are on
board. She sprung aleak about - o'clock at
midnight, and stranded at in the morning.
The only way of saving life was by swimming
ashore, as the vessel was in a sinking condition.
This is statement of L. McQaillar, one of the
saved.
The signal station reported at a. m. that the
state of affairs this morning was terrible.
Dead bodies are lying along the beach for two
miles. They are all being laid in proper places
back from the beach, and the living are being
cared for. About one-third of these found are
dead. The two saloon women are known to be
dead, with their husbands. Eight out of IA
iremen are known to be dead. The men saved
are destitute of clothing
NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-George d. Lunt, one of
the owners in this city of the wrecked steamer,
says the Metropolis was of wood, $40 tons,
rebuilt in 1871, and her timbers were believed
to be staunch and strong. She had one pro-
peller, was fitted with double engine and was
brig rugged. There was a partial insurance on
the vessel in New York, aud the cargo was in
sured in Philadelphia The owners are NJ. H.
Simpson of Boston, and q. w. Copeland and
Lunt Brothers OF New York. She was former
~ in the West India trade. She was chartered
| specially to transport the aborers and material
for the Madeira and Mamora railroad in
Brazil
'Messrs. T. & ?. Collins of Philadelphia were
contractors for the railroad, and their agent,
MIR. White, was in charge of the passengers.
NORFOLK, Va, Feb, 1.-The steamer Cygnet
arrived from Carrituck this afternoon at 4
O'Clock, bringing Richard w. Brooke, one of
the survivors of the wreck of the Metropolis
Mr.. Brooke left the wreck yesterday morning,
and fully sustains the facts of the wreck hers.
tofore given by Captain Aukers and others.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1.-The insurance on
the wrecked Metropolis was 1921, 1000 in the
Delaware Marine and Fire Insurance Company,
and the same amount in North America.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. News of the wreck
of the steamer Metropolis caused most intense
excitement here this morning. The office of
the contractors, Collins Bros, was besieged by
relatives of many of those on board Since
early morning scenes have been witnessed
agonizing in the extreme. Women and chill
drea were wringing hands and weeping for
husbands and fathers. Special policemen on
duty took the crowd under control, 1t is now
believed the steamer was unseaworthy and
overloaded,