Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-04
The Lost Metropolis.

The report to the General Superintendent oil
the Life Saving Service shows that the delay in
coming to the rescue of the p,ri3il!ng crow OF
the Metropolis was clusad by Tho great distance
that the two nearest stations were apart, and
the disaster happening about midway bntWcon
them. 1t also occurred about tho time that
the patrols had como into their stations after =
nights exposure to tha storm. After the intel
ligepce of the disaster reached them they had
| to drag their lghtcst apparatus for nearly seven
miles through the yielding sand, exposed TO
| wind blowing at The rate of six!y miles an
hour. % reaching the wreck on the second
| attempt line was lodged on board. but in pull.
ing it 10 with baWser attached the Ilnc, cX-
posed to the terrible current, broke. The APP
paratus not having another line and ball, q
messenger had to be dispatched TO the station,
! and 10 the meantime the balance Of the crews
| from the Two nearest stations did all they could
| in rescuiDg from the surf those WHO swan or
| wero washed ashore. Nearly al! OF them were
| Injured by being struck by pieces Of wreck, to
| which men We're c;inging. A man and woman,
who were apparently dead, we're rtSus3itatcd
| by the use of medicines and the application Of
remedies, ia which the crews are all we'll in
| formed. Most Of the survivors haze arrived at
| Norfolk, where they have been kindly treated
| and provided with supply OF clothing. sadly
needed By them, as they came ashore with bat
little on. The accounts furnished By those on
board prove that the steamer Wa; leaking soE
ousy and that her atcrGp03! was coEi pletcly
rotten. Il was the knowledge that il she con-
tinued at sea that sue would certainly 90 dow1
| with ell hands that prompted The captain to
/, toro hing tI,n iiur oi
those on board
WASHINGTON, D. e., Fen. 1.-The signal
service observer at the wreck OF The Metropolis
reports to the chief signal officer at S:45 c. Il.
as follows A woman washed up yesterday vas
placed in box aud buried by cltiZ Gus five miles
north. Mr. Thos. Piricr, living mile south
from here, will take care of the body near his
house until friends will call for it. Her
name is supposed to be Mrs. Niger. The night
patrol of No. station of the north side report
ed that the body ola young man Of about is
years of age has been fouad and buried by cit
zens five miles north of the station. yesterday
evening. 1t is thought probable that it is the
body of the cabin boy, Joseph Newton. No
other particulars 10 regard to Identification
given.
FATAL AFFRAY.-J. Hunter Smith, eldest
son of Col. Robert w. Smith, OF Alabama, and
formerly of Fauquier county, was killed by a
desperate named Johnson, last Saturday. while
attending the wedding of Mr.. Murphy, near
Choctow Bluff. The difficulty grew cut Of a
toast given by friend Of Smiths. In the me
lee the groom was MORALLY wounded. Smith
knocked down johnson with his f:t to protect
his friend. johnson then made al attack on
Smith with a knife, ibh;ciDg a wound upon
him in tho abdomen. Smith again knocked
johnson down with the barrel of bis revolver.
When johnson made third attack, knife in
hand, the groom interposed to separate the
combatants and received fatal shot from
Smiths pistol aimed at Johnson. johnson re-
tired and Smith steadied himself against the
wall. 10 that position he Was approached una
wares by johnson who sent bullet crashing
through his braio.- Warreason Indec.
The news of the untimely death of this brave
young man will be received with great sorrow
by bis numerous friends n this city and throug b.
out Virginia. MIR. Smith was educated ct the
Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, and
much of his youth was spent in this State
He will long be affectionately remembered for
his many manly virtues. in testimony of which
he laid down his life. His father, Col. Robert
w. Smith, of Mobile, Ala, has the warm sym.
patty of his friends 10 the Old Dominion.