The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-03
CRIMINAL NEGLECT.
The Story Of the Wreck Of the
Steamer Metropolis.
STATEMENTS OF THE SURVIVORS.
A Rotten and Leaky Vessel
Sent to Sea.
TERRIBLE SCENES OF PERIL.
Gross Negligence by the Life Saw
ing Service Crew;
-FOUR HOURS OF DELAY.
One Hundred Men Doomed in
-FOUR HOURS OF DELAY.
One Hundred Men Doomed in
Sight OF Land.
SHALL THERE Be NO PUNISHMENT ?
rDx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

NORFOLK, Va, Feb 2, 1878
After three days OF tho greatest suspense the de-
tails OF the Metropolis disaster last received
here. Tho scene was so remote from every means OF
communication and so inaccessible that 1t could not
possibly DO Otherwise. Every resource of ingenuity
was exhausted to reach tha wreck. Tugs were not
available, for the that all of Thorn drew TOO
much water for the canal ana sound. There was one
chance lett, that of making the perilous and uncor-
tain trip overland in a buggy, over roads that
were nearly rendered impossible by recent
rains ana along tho quicksands OF q bleak
aud terrible beach, which were constantly washed
by a heavy surf and breakers. Who would
attempt this! There who did and this
was Mr.. NJ. Glennan OF this city. Sixty
miles had TO be travelled over. and with
trusty guido ana indomitable perseverance, he &C.
compshed this great feat. several times his buggy
was in danger Of being swampod in the qucksands
and MS often he had TO drive rapidly to escape from
incoming swells on the beach.
MEETING DEATH
As he went along the first intimation no had of
oeipg near the wreck was seeing tho ghasty corpses
OF Two men who had bean washed upon the
beach, but he was even then far from the
actual sccne At seven O'Clock yesterday life station
No. was reached, and hero were found some six Of
The OF the i'll fated Metropos from these
The narrowing details OF the were rst hedrd 1t
was story oil horror and hoart dug statements 1t
was said that nearly hundred had been lost but
this number has now dwipdled happily, down to the
much lesser numbcr-perhaps to eighty. The whole
coastwss covered with tho CHASTITY evidences of this
fearful wreck for miles to the northward south
ward OF IT,
CONDUCT TIE OFFICERS 4
IL gratifying TO recount that amid an the scenes
OF woe and death that all board exhibited hero.
ism and GOODNESS worthy Of the highest admiration.
Tho captain behaved with the greatest gallantry
and his conduct was an example that encouraged
ana chcered the passengers and Nearly all the
survivors were at the Currtuck Lighthouse and the
shooting club house, some sixty at the formcr ana
about nny at the latter.
DxsIIrUTIoN OF THE SAVED.
It is beyond the. power of description to picture
tho misery and wretchedness OF the rescued, whose
ptable plight a nakedncss and utter desttuion can
not be portrayed. They were huddisd together in
groups to keep warmth in their bodieA Numbers OF
them wounded and bruised, aud<al OF them were
hungry ana starving Too m UGH praisc cannot bc
bestowed upon Mr.. Dunton tho keeper Of the Curr
tuck Club House, who did everything that was pos
siblo to relieve tho sunerings of the survivors.
This also the whom the huron
was wrecked. This was of moro bench. to tho
survivors OF both wrecks than the combined govern
ment lie saving stations on that graveyard beach,
The story Of the wreck Is OF horror. 1t speaks
with no uncertain words, and will just and
righteous indignation against those who put at the
mercy OF tho ocean waves $50 lives In q vessel that
was IN every respect unseaworthy that rotten
as punk, and that could we'll be likencd to death
trap Owners, contractors and United States inspcc-
tors responsible, and they should DO held TO
strict account.
f NEW WORK FOR CONGRESS.
like censure Is due to the miserable apology of
what Is termed United States life saving stations.
They have on these two memorable occasions of the
Huron and Metropolis WRECKS been proved utterly
worthless Seven at each station, who have
10 patrol miles OF beach, with no appliances in
the shape OF horses teams for transporting their
apparatus! II is q crime objectionable that crics
aloud tor redress For three miles In its noighbor.
hood the leach was strcwn with debris In some
parts II was piled to the height OF four five feet
1t looked at times like travelling through mass OF
shattered timber resembling kindling wood Tho
steamer had completely broken up, OF the davits
and the boiler only being visible.
BURIAL PLUMBER OF THE DEAD.
The route the beach was thcKly studded with
newly madc graves OF tho Victims They were marked
with rude boards and In some instances
were buried 1--WE and six In a grave. In
Tho immediate vicinity the scene was
the true realization of tho terrible word
ton there was vandalism, tho evidences OF which
were hard TO believe. 1t was ghoulism almost In
credible, committed mostly by the negro residents OF
the beach and close by, aided by number
Of whites. They took all the valuables and
The clothing from the dead bodies that had washed
ashore Tho sacred person Of female was not bar
10 tho worst sort Of barbarism Some of the state
ments given below mention tnis-that especially OF
Or. Green, the surgeon Of the Metropolis. They are
, blot upon civilization that brings q blush 10 the
cheek aud sorrow TO the heart
USING THE TELEGRAPH.
At tho wreck woro found Mcssrs Davis and See
geeken operators Of tho United States Signal Service
who had como from Kitty Hawk and establish ed
IN impromptu telegraph Once at the scene
Pm tho morning Of Friday at ii.psst
three O'Clock. They established commun,ca-
lions with Washington, and to them is the
country indebted for the meagre intelligence of tho
wreck on Friday. But even here tho government is
again deserving OF censure. Each signal tee-
raph should DO supplied with team and
TENS to protect themselves and instru-
meuts and 10 havo also wire 10 make proper
connections For two days these men were ON tho
open beach without shelter exposed 10 all tho
storms OF Indictment weather prevailing during
Friday night The instruments were destroyed
by fire. and, but that DAVIS had an extra ono In
his pocket NO could have been received. To-day
twelve O'Clock the Survivors put board the
Cygnct aud they reached Norfolk to-nigh. where
they taken charge OF by a special committee Of
citizens and provided with comfortable quarters and
food and clothing.
TIN cHIxY oPgIcER's STATEMENT.
The statement OF the mate, Charles B. Dickman, Is
- foows:-
The steamer Metropolis left Philadelphia on Tues.
day. at eight O'Clock. wo passed the Brcakwater at
eleven O'Clock and discharged the pilot at hal.past
eleven and proceeded to The weather was line
and everything favorable Tor pleasant voyage. At
ons o'clock In the Afternoon the WIND commenced 10