The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-02-07
statement of n Survivor.

James T.. Alc0rn, Temporarily attach
ed to the Metropolis, formerly an Off
Ger in the United States Navy, and a
journalist in Boston, makes the follow
ing statement:
Wednesday night at 9 O'Clock l was
called by the mate to assist the carpen-
ter in stopping leak around the rudder
trunk. I remained at the stern-pOst and
made all possible exertions to stop the
leak or prevent its increase, till about
5 80 a. m, when | was called on deck
and found the Ship partial wreck, one
of the pOrt-boats hanging over the side
by her bow, the smoke-stack gone, and
the ship heading for the beach. Reach
ed the fore-cutter, and, in obedience to
an order from the Captain, commenced
to start the water in the casks slowed
forward to Tighten the ship; was as
sisted in so doing by the carpenter and
one of the quartermasters, who was
afterward drowned. Finding the mate,
| suggested that sail should be made by
setting the foresail, and, on getting his
consent, Immediately went aloft, and,
assisted by Charles Seamen, loOsened
the foresail and succeeded in setting the
sail, which remained but a 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, evidently ,., 1870
BREAKING HER BACK,
but she continued to drive onthe beach.
The admirable management of the
helm, assisted by the foresail, main /
tanned the ships position, head on, I'M /
til fairly beached. / then took my sta
ton on the hurricane deck, with a
desire to assist the commander and
officers in maintaining order. Some /
one raised the cry of ''fire, F" which was I
quickly found to be false alarm. Soon /
after this the mainmast went, and she /
began to break up rapidly. The first /
seas that boarded her having destroyed /
or crippled all the remaining boats but /
the boat which was attached to the star |
board forward davits, upon that boat |
placed our chief hope of safety. provided /
could maintain possession of the boat /
for the purpose of sending line ashore
at low water, but while my attention was 1
otherwise engaged the boat was lowered /
and my purpose defeated. while she,
without any management save the prov
idenee of God, was borne to the beacha
perfect r5r.f4R y
ARK OF SAFETY
for the six or seven poor fellows who |
had courage to secure the opportunity. /
During the trying hours of the day sew
eral of the i'll -fated passengers, bravely |
entrusting themselves to the tide, evil
IDENTIFY lost heart withthe passage of the /
first breaker over their heads, and, aban-
doning all hope, sunk without a strug
gle. Others, either washed or leaping off /
the wreck, would almost to have /
committed suicide, so deliberately did /
they seem to bury their heads beneath /
the waves and meet their doom. To-
wards evening the second officer, Mr..
Cousins, having behaved with admira-
BILE gallantry throughout the day, pro-
posed a passage to shore, and, taking
leave of the narrator, left the ship, fall
ing foul of mass of wreck under the
ships bow, which had been fatal to
many during the, afternoon. Here he
became entangled, but the gallant fell
low, using a small pocket-knife, labored
on while dozen heavy,breakers passed
over MINI, anu SuCCeeucu III culJlug sew
eral ropes that confifed amass of the
wreck to the hull and WASTE ga
f SWEPT AWAY WITH 1T
to the northward along: the beach.
am happy to say he succeeded in extri-
eating himself and IN landing safely.
The foremost falling aft and the fore
sail being still partially spread, several
were either killed by its fall or buried
beneath the mass of sail IN such way
as to make death certain . One young
man, particularly conspicuous for his
daring during the day, at last sought
refuge on top of the saiiyard, evidently
in the hope that the mast would fall
over the bows. OF course instant death
was the result of his mistake On the
fall of the foremost, at about 4 80 or
p. m, the midship body of the hull, the
forebody being already gone, began to
break up rapidly Il 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 J.