The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-02-07
A Survivors, Account Of the Loss Of
the Steamship Metropolis.

1
| James F. Alcorn, temporarily at
tached to the Metropolis, formerly an
| officer in the United States Navy, and a
journalist in Boston, makes the follow
| ing statement,
On Wednesday night, at nine o'clock,
| was called by the Mate to assist the
carpenter in stopping leak around the
rudder trunk. Found the stern-post
loose, and so reported. Remained at
the post, using all possible exertions to
stop the leak or prevent its increase,
| until about $50 a. NJ, when | was
called on deck, and found the ship a
partial wreck. One of the port boats
was hanging over the side by her bow
tackle to the davit, the smoke-stack
gone, and the ship heading for the
beach. Reached the forecutter, and,
in obedience to an order from the
Captain, commenced to start the
water in the casks stored forward to
tighten the ship; was assisted in so
doing by the carpenter and one
of the Quartermasters, who was after
ward drowned. Finding the Mate, sug-
gested sail should be made by setting
the foresail. and, on getting his con-
sent, went aloft and, assisted by Charles
Seaman, loosed the foresail and sue
ceeded in setting the sail, which re-
manned but few minutes until carried
away, and it was necessary to clew up
the port wing of the sail. Shortly after
the ship struck heavily amidships, evil
dently breaking her back, but she con-
tinued to drive on the beach. The adj
mirable management of the helm, as
sisted by the foresail, maintained the
ships position head on until fairly
beached. Ithen took my station on the
hurricane-deck, with the desire
to assist the Commander and
officers in maintaining order. Some
one raised the cry of fire, which
was quickly found to be a false alarm.
Soon after this the mainmast went,
and she began to break up rapidly, the
first seas that boarded her having de-
stroved or crippled all the remaining
boats but the dingy, which was at
tached to the starboard forward davits
Upon that boat placed my chief hope
of safety, provided / could maintain
possession of the boat for sending line
ashore at low water. But while my at
tention was otherwise engaged, the
boat was lowered and my purpose de-
feated, while she, without any manage
ment, save the Providence of God, was
borne to the beach-a perfect g ark of
safety for the six or seven poor fell
lows who had the courage to secure the
opportunity.
During the trying hours of the day ,
several of the Inflated passengers.
bravely intrusting themselves to the
tide, evidently lost heart with the pas
sage of the first breaker over their
heads, and, abandoning all hope, sank
without struggle. Others, either
washed or leaping off the wreck, would
almost seem to have committed sui
eide, so deliberately did they bury their
heads beneath the waves and meet their
doom.
Toward evening the Second Officer.
Mr. Couzzins, having behaved with adj
mirable gallantry throughout the day,
proposed passage to the shore, and,
taking leave of the narrator, left the
ship, falling foul of a mass of
wreck under the ships bow, which
had been fatal to many during
the afternoon. Here he became en-
tangled, but the gallant fellow, using
small pocket-knife, labored on, while
dozen heavy breakers passed over
him, and succeeded in cutting several
ropes that confined the mass of wreck
to the hull, and was swept away with
it to the northward along the beach. l
am happy to say he succeeded in eXtri-
eating himself, and in landing safely.
The foremost falling aft, and the
foresail being still partially spread, sew
eral were either killed by its fall or
buried beneath the mass of the sail in
such a way as made death certain. One
young man, particularly conspicuous
for his daring during the day, at last
sought refuge on the topsail yard, evil
IDENTIFY in the hope that the mast would
fall over the bows OF side. OF course.
instant death was the result of his mis-
take on the fall of the mast.
At about 4:30, or perhaps p. M,
the midship body of the hull, the fore
body being already gone, began to
break up rapidly, while urged all who
would listen to me to trust themselves
to Providence, the waves and their life
preservers. Many did so, and the ma
jority with success. At length the
closing scene was upon us. The lower
deck beams gave way and the star
board broadside, giving few more
heavy shocks from the surf, sank slow
ly beneath the waves. Then the narra-
tor, assured that neither advice nor ex-
ample could be of service longer,
struck out for the beach and fortunate
ly reached it, but in such an exhausted
state that he would have certainly gone
to sea victim of the undertow but for
friendly hands and aid.
The Captain and his officers are
highly commended Quartermaster
Poland made three attempts to get a
line ashore, and only gave up when the
line proved too short, and Timothy
O'Brien. on reaching the shore himself,
returned into the water and rescued
some fifty persons as they were dashed
toward him by the waves.
The scattered jewellers along the
coast are given warm praise for
prompt aid and munificent hospitality.
Black Wooden Dresses-Hints on
| Spring Styles.