National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-13

bhis ana powder and dry line from the sta-
ton. Horses were unavailable,.and two men
were sent on foot. They obtained horse to
hasten their return, but arrived only when tho
tragedy Was ended. In the meantime Keeper
Chapel put on the Merriman saving dress
and attempted to reach the wreck with \ line,
but, greatly fatgued by his march and labor,
lie was unable to stem the strong current and
force his way beyond the breakers; and, after
two praiseworthy efforts, was compelled to
abandon the cndcavor exhausted.
Will Ii he believed that o man provided
with 4 similar dress stood on the deck OF the
Metropolis in this trying time, yet made no
offer to bring line ashore, which, properly
habitcd In the dress, with a stout heart and
bold effort, he might have done with compare.
tive facility on the incoming seasY
When the hapless people remaining on the
wreck realized that no further effort could be
made for their rescue from the astounding
remains Of the doomed Metropolis, they &C.
copied their last alternative, and singly, and
sometimes in groups, plunged overheard, trust
ing their lives to the treachorous waves.
The surf by this time was running high,
and tho waters were laden with floating frag.
mcnts of the wreck, among which, sorely aud
| in some cases fatally injured drifting north
ward, and driven by the rolling breakers
shorewsrd, came the struggling, drowning
people, to be received in the welcome arms Of
their rescuers, who, With precarious foothold.
|
breakers and undcrtow. Prominent among
these brave and humane men were Keeper
| Chapel and his surfmen, Samuel Tfllet and
Piggot Gilliken, together with s. G. Brock, j.
J. Duuton, William Jones, N. z. X. Jones, T.
J. voyner, Captain Everton, John Saunders,
and others resident in that vicinity. Even .
noble Newfoundland dog, owned by Mr..
Brock, melted by the example before him,
joined In the work, and plungng into the surf
safely brought To shore a hali-drowned man.
The labors of the rescuers In the surf were
| mceasiug,. but their greatest exertions were
required when the vessel finally broke up,
toward sunset, and the surf was thick with
people and fragments. The rcscuers, without
exception. were battered and bruised by the
wreckage, while extricsting the drowning peo-
pie from the masses of floating rubbish. The
scene may be better imagined than described.
II was one Of terror and wild confusion of
struggling heroes and perishing victims In the
greedy scas-while the air was filled with en-
couraging shouts and despairing shricks.
In the midst Of this last scene, q man, who
aftorward proved to be Captain Ankcrs, was
seen struggling In the surf, clad In a rubber
swimming or ife-saving suit. He was help
lessly tossed about in the sea, utterly unable
TO help himself. Observing this Keeper Chap
pei went further into the breakers, followed by
Surfnan Piggott Giliken and Mr. Brock and,
seizing the captain, brought him, aided by his
companions, safely ashore, much exhausted,
and with his rubber dress, from some uncx-
i nIoined cause nearly filled with water. He
was taken to Mr.. Brooks house, where he re-
manned, kindly cared for until the next morn
ing.
rescued, but II was thought to be more than a
hundred. The medicine chest was Of meal
cuable service, and several persons were re-
, stored from apparent death. The survivors
were distributed among the neighboring dwell
ings, the lifc-saving stations being too far
, away to be reached in their present cx.
hausted condition. The citizens fed and
clothed them to the full extent of their means
. and their generous hospitality is worthy Of all
{ praise In this regard the lighthouse keeper
E Mr.. Burris, and Messrs. J. J. Dunton, S. C.
: Brock, Josephus Baum, ana L. j. Poyncr dc
serve particular notice.
IL VIII be seen from the foregoing that th'
crew oil siation 10 not deserve the cen
h sure whlch mas oesn applied 10 them. ne
q garulng their conduct, iounu out one sen
: timent among the people OF that neig6orhoot
n w. 10 their mlthiui ana uhremittng enorts
u rescue the passengers ana crew OF the Metrop
y OILS Inc evidence oil all the witnesses Is
IS TINS emect; bnt quote IRON the testimony o
n the sighai.service observer william DAVIS
n whose position Afforded Propaoiy, the oes
u opportunity LOT nearing iuii expression .
IS opinion immediately after the event II
o states: AS near rs can ma out, the lie
h saving men did all That human beings cont
= do IN trying TO save life and care Tor the hy
& but Oh 'rfestip, qEfs'tI IdH, sheghng Peopl
9, striking them with great force in the rouy
VI sea.
IS Twas informed by the ctizsns who were a
d the wreck that the life-saving men WORKED
u faithfully. / was also Informed by the life
n saving men that the citizens all worked faith
" fully In saving lives, carrying those saved I
d their own dwellings, aud furnishing clothin
II for the naked. The life-sav wing men deserv
Is much honor and praise for their bravery Il
It risking their own lives to save those about [
perish. l will say that there. were only tw
r men who spoke against the ife.saying seryic,
IN One was the captain, and another who ha,
m charge Of the passengers.
L. much unfayorsble Comment has be.n mad
10 IN the fact that tha ,.roai ,.as ,"s Sie nav
C. Inv tho natroj rnd.r tLa o;r,nn,s,a,,oo. a.,
D. was imnoss;bIe porr,, ,ha had H. 49, ~
ID patrol from mdriabt Ken s,,,r; ~ ,u,.'
N Ing, returned In ne stat;on ~ s.vsm o'nioai
q aud nrohabIy noss"J a.. g. - a., ~.
r. occurred about dve o'ciocl n M IT. Roae,,
he the ne,t nntroIm,n south ha5 ,.r, ~ s,nSa
ID immediateIy nnnn th. rat,rn If p, a,
ID travelled n. Tho ut. of tbroa n,;I.s ,., go
Of M small tast throuah no 80 re- iV'.
t. then ssariy L;gh wstar accorI;na w. 49, w.
or survey I'd, t,Sles ts;Y n N, cor orsaon LIZ
l. digsrc,co a, C,r,i,,,n, s,,,auN So, ~
Of ssan thn - ahn,t 10 nv "oI ~, 10 \.
n In. shs 80 s,,ao''a.oi ~. ~ - ", @Jous VI
ar -, ". ,t, y S'Pl' ."' 'oheH'