New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-01
THE WRECKED METROPOLIS,


or THE ACTION OF NEw-YoRK AND PHiLADEI~
PIsIA LOCAL INSPECTORS. or THE VESSELS OF
FIcKIss AND OF THE IIFE-sAvING CREW.
The Solicitor of the Treasury, K. Raynor, has
made report to Secretary Sherman IN regard to
the loss of the steamship Metropolis, which was
lost on January so, 1873, on the Curntuck Beach,
North Carolina when nInety-one hives were lost.
The report is long and full Of detail il excupates
the owners from all blame, by stating that the
vessel was stauneh and strong when she left port.
He declares that the official action of the steam
boat inspectors Of New-York and Philadelphia
should be strictly examined. The Solicitor
believes il win be shown that they performed their
work inecenty. The conduct of the officers Of the
Metropolis, as well as that of the men connected
with the Life-Saving Station No. A. is also con-
Slen1ned and pronounced such as to demand further
action on the part of the Secretary of the Treasury
Various reports that have hitherto been made IN the
matter are also severely criticised. The substance
of the report Is given below
THE REPORT.
The steamer Metropolis was built at Mystic, Conn.,,
in 1861 and purchased by Lunt Brothers, Of PhA
delpha in 1871. Lunt Brothers subsequently carried
her 70 Newburyport Mass where she was heightened
about nifty feet and completely rebuilt by Eben Man
son. under most specific and elaborate contract.
Manson states George d. Lunt directed him to cover
ND with sound wood some rotten places or tmbeRs in
rnent of Manson becomes important aud relevant
matter OF inquiry in view of the fact that is put for
ward as an for the failure of the United States
JnspectOrs, who examined the vessel from time TO
time 20 discover alleged defects which caused the
loss Of the vessel It may be said that while this
stringent duty imposed inspectors is intended
for the protection of those who risk their lives
on steam vessels and of the of cargOes there
in IL also for the protection of the who risk
their who cannot be supposed to be persons
generally skilled in Judging of the soundness of vessels
An inquiry into the truth fsy OF Mansons statement
has become pertinent and important by the report OF
The Board OF Local inspectors at Philadelphia, made
the 2Sh day of March, 1873 This board assumes the
truth statement, and upon il nd that there
was defect in the of the Metropolis, skuly
concealed as eude vigilance of the inspectors and
therefore exonerates the inspectors from blame.
Mansous statement, TO say the east, is remarkable
one nasmuch as by it he cOnfesses himself guilty of the
crime Of having deliberately concealed an important and
dangerous defect the ship, by which the lives Of
nnetyOne persons were lost-a confession that he is
guilty of granddaughter. 1t is difficult to divine his mo
tive for making this confession admitting the facts
stated by him to be truo 1t is difficult TO discover also
what possible motive Mr. BHnt could have had in being
a party to the cOncealment OF rotten wood
in rebuilding this vessel His interest would
seem to have been quite the contrary.
He was of the owners who having the vessel
rebuilt at cost of nearly 100000 1t looks strange
that he should have been willing the the trng cost
OF replacing few rotten tmb in the stern, to risk
large an investment unless he designed either to sell the
vessel as rebuilt keep herconstanty insured
in an amount equal to or above her value The most
important fact in connection with this IS that the re-
building Of this vessel by Manson done for certain
sum of money, under a written contract with
the owners of most deliberately specific character.
The elaborate and careful character OF the contract ex
acted by the owners Manson. providing for first
class job all respects both regards material and
workmanship; the performance of the work under the
inspection of agent of the NewYork and Boston I'M
derwrters their rating the ship when completed as
No. the inspection of the work. during Its progress,
by the agents Of the Atlantic Insurance Company of
New-YOr and by the inspector of the Board OF Marine
Underwriters and by the inspector of the American Ship
masters Association; the many voyages performed
by the ship afterward, without accident Of
the repeated inspections and repairing aferward with
out discovering the defect spoken ofby Manson the i'm
preston that she was stanneh and seawothy made upon
Captains Ellis and NickersOn aud Ankers, who made
voyages in her her masters and how she stood
many severe gales-have all forced upon my mind the
conclusion that in 1871 when the work Of rebuilding
was completed, the Metropolis was sound
and seaworthy vessel IL appears also, that after
ward every requirement OF law was cheer
fully and completely submitted 10 by the owners.
II she was then unseaworty detective in any respect
the responsibility upon the United States nspect-
the useaworthiness. In addition to SIX yearly IN
spections and supplemental the inspection the let
day Of December, 1877, 1 have been furnished
with the certificate OF the inspection made only the
day before the vessel sailed and declaring her seaworthY
II must be borne ia mind that the Metropolis old
vessel rebuilt and thai of the old tmberS beng
sound in 1871. allowed TO remains especially was
This the case at the bow and stern. This ought to have
mt the inspectors their guard 10 these parts of the
vessel However sound and seawOrthy she may have
been IN 1871 these old timbers would aferward need
rep,trng from time time and ii the duty Of the
inspectors ascertain when and where such WORK was
needed, and to require Il TO be done,
II seems there have been made two official reports
tpon the wreck Of the Metropolis which raise and pre-
sent questions OF fact significant and important In
their character that deem it my duty to call especial
attention toheIa On the LIST Of February 177s, j. H.
perryman Captain. United States Revenue Marine In
unector was directed 10 make examination
into the subject. His report bears date Feb
ruary o, 1878. In speaking OF the appearances
OF the wreck, he says: "Ths fragments are
unusually small and her rottenness so apparent that
there was bat one opinion to her unseaworthness
amopg the many persons met ON the ground If this
no true IL is evident that the inspectors who had ex
amjped this vessel did not perform their duty anu tna
1n sy sssteme1t or Captain Merryman is
dcted by Captain AnkcFs the master OF me MetIopohs
and -, crsIIn The FIRST Of those last mentioned. Mr.
Graves u eminent naval aIeatset ana 1ase e nd
the last Mr. Cretn. an agent Tor the udef
All Of whom visited the site Of the wreck Tor the pur
nose OF Inspecting it, Their report Is very comPete
IN this statement they pronounce the Yesei 70 pave
heen sound The correctness of the facts set forth ~
he report IL also certified by Henry Merritt Of the
S.ast wrecxing Company OF New-YOrk. There Is much
other evidence showing that so far from tine wreck
showing amy unso0ndpess IN the vessel u shove she
- sound aud staunch. feel IL TO ho my dnty 70 call
afIentOM 20 Official report when seems
~ be so thoroughly contradcted by the evidence before
me brt which, II true, seriously involves all the IN
epeetors who have examined tls vessel US alleged
further. that the wreck disclosed tat the new meers
were improperly put in II this be true, 1t shows that
me INSPECTORS have grossly negleotfu OF their
dgty no not having detected sueh dangerous and
Dofsnf imDerfecti0n IN the vessel.
The second official report 70 which beg leave to call