Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-04
FURTHER OF THE LOST METROPOLIS

The Saved Received at Norfolk and Kindly
Cared for--Story of the Wreck by a Sur
vivor--Large Treasure Lost in the Mails.
NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 2.-The Associated Press
correspondent has returned from the wreck of
the Metropolis, and reports the situation to-day
as follows: The sixty eight bodies recovered
have been buried and records made to secure
future identification. The beach for a dis
lance of fifty yards to one mile north of the
wreck is strewn with debris of the ship and
cargo The ship was evidently completely bro
ken up. Her starboard bilge from the
tore to the main chains drifted on shore
somewhat compact and containing
dozen or twenty of the rails that formed
part OF the cargo. The wreck itself is station
airy where the ship grounded. The boilers and
part OF the engine was visible above the break
ers, and confined to the bottom. In the same
way, sWaylng IN THE surf. was portion of the
port DOW, and ragged ends of the stern and
quarter. There are no doubts entertained of
the recovery of all the iron slowed in the lower
hold, as the ship drove well on the beach, and
the wreck now lies in about six feet at mean
low water.
MANAGEMENT
Inc management on board was admirable
under the very adverse circumstances attending
the disaster. The nearest life saving station to
the wreck was over fallr miles distant, and its
crew and apparatus failed to reach the scene
until 2:30 p. M, fully five and a half hours
after the ship was beached, and the Metropolis
did not have the necessary mortar and lines
Tor the purpose of establishing COM
munication with the shore in this case
otherwise perfectly feasible. Mr.. w. H. Sow
tella Q. s.. MarineHospital service, having been
despatched to the scene of disaster with medi-
cal stores, arrived at Vanslack's landing this
morning and took charge of the sick and in
jured survivors all of whom, with the we'll ar
rived tonight at seven o'clock on board the
Cygnet. They were met by committee of
citizens headed by the mayor, and were we'll
provided for, every arrangement for their com
fort having been made.
DR.. Sawtell says most Of the patients are not
in dangerous condition and the majority of
them will be able to proceed to their homes at
once, they suffer mostly from distress incident
to exposure.
STATEMENT OF A SURVIVOR.
NORFOLK, Feb Flames F. Alcorn, tempo
rarily attached to the Metropolis, former officer
of the United States navy and journalist in
Boston, makes the following statement
Wednesday at nine o'clock was called by the
mate to assist the carpenter in stopping the
| leak around the rudder trunk. I found the
stern post loose and SO reported Remained at
my post, using all possible exertion to stop the
leak or prevent It's increase until about $50 D.
M, when was called on deck and found the
ship partial wreck, one of the post boats
hanging over the side by her bow tackle to the
davit smoke stack gone, and the
ship heading for the beach. Reached
the fore cutter, and in obedience to an order
from the Captain, commenced to start the wa,
ter in the casks stored forward, to tighten the
ship assisted in SO doing by the carpenter and
one Of the quartermasters, who was afterwards
drowned. Finally the mate suggested that sail
should be made by setting the foresail, and on
! getting his consent, went aloft, and assisted by
Chas. Seaman, loosed the foresail and succeeded
in setting the sail, which remained but few
minutes until carried away, and it was neces-
! sary to clew up the port wing of the sail
| Shortly after the ship struck heavily amid
ships, evidently breaking her back, but she
continued to drive on the beach. The admira-
BILE management of the helm, assisted by the
\ foresail, maintained the ships position until
fairly beached. then took my station on the
hurricane deck with a desire to assist the
commander and officers in maintaining order
Some one raised the cry of fire, which was
quickly found to be false alarm.
! Soon after this the main mast went and she
began to break up rapidly. The first seas tina,
boarded her having destroyed OF crippled all
the remaining boats but the dingy, which was
attached to the starboard forward the davits,
upon that boat placed my chief hope of safe
| ty, provided ] could maintain possession OF
! the boat for sending line ashore at low water.
the boat was lowered and my purpose defeated.
At length
THE CLOSING SCENE
was upon US. The lower deck beams gave way
and the starboard broadside given few more
| heavy shocks from the surf sank slowly be-
meath the waves. Then the narrator, assured
that neither advice nor example could be OF
| service longer, struck out for the beach and