The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-04

WHEELING
the first breaker over their heads, and
abandoning all hope sank without 3
struggle. Others, either washed or leap
ed of the wreck, would almost seem 10
have committed suicide, 80 deliberately
did they seem To bury their heads beneath
the waves and meet their doom.
Towards evening the second officer, Mr..
Cousins, having behaved with admirable
gallAntry throughout the day, proposed
q passage TO shore, and taking leave OF
the narrator left the ship. Falling foul
Of the mass Of wreck under the ship's
bow, which had been fatal TO many dur
ing the afternoon, here he became entan-
gled, but the gallant fellow, using asmall
pocket.knife, labored on, while dozen
heavy breakers passed over him, and
succeeded In cutting the several ropes
that confined the mass Of the wreck to the
hull, and was swept away with It to the
northward, along the beach. / am happy
TO say he succeeded in exlricating him.
self and in landing safely.
The foremast falling at, and the fore.
sail being still partially spread, several
| were either killed by iB fall or buried
beneath the mass Of the sail in such
way as to make death CERTAIN.
One young man particularly conspicu-
Gus for his bravery during the day, at
last sought refuge on the topsail-yard,
evidently in hope that the mast would
fall over the bows or side. OF course, in.
slant death was the result Of his mistake.
On the fall Of the foremast, at about 4:S0
or perhaps 5 P. NJ, the midship body Of
the hull, the fore body being already gone,
began 10 break mp rapidly. While /
urged all who could listen 10 me to trust
themselves TO Providence, the waves and
their life.preservers, many did so, and the
majority with success.
At length the closing scene was upon
us; the lower deck beams gave way and
the starboard broadside giving a few more
heavy shocks from the surf, sank slowly
beneath the waves. Then the narrator,
assured that neither advice nor example
could be OF service longer, struck out for
the beach, and fortunately reached it, bnt
| in such an exhausted state that he Ger.
tainly would have gone to sea victim
OF the undertoW but for friendly hands
and aid.
The Captain and his officers are highly
commended. Quartermaster Poland made
three attempts TO get line ashore, and
only gave up when the line proved too
short, and Timothy o. 'Brien, on reaching
shore himself, returned into the water
and rescued some fifty persons as they
were dashed toward him BY the waves.
The scattered dwellers along the coast
are given warm praise Tor their prompt
and muniicent hospitality.
CARING FOR THE SURVIVORS.
WASHINGTON, February 2.-The Sig
nal Service Station at the wreck Of the
steamer Metropolis reports that the sur
vivors would leave at noon to-day for
Norfolk. They are destitute Of clothing
and most all are barefooted and bare
headed, but are we'll cared for by the
people.
PHILADELPHIA, February IA fund
Ia TO be raised here for the relief OF the
families OF the men lost by the wreck of
the Metropolis.
Thomas Collins left to-day for Norfolk
to sec that every attention is given the
living and care taken Of the dead. Phillip
Collins remains here, answering all tele-
grams.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT uPeEEEEIRieES OF LIFE
WASHINGTON, February S.-Thc Cen
eral Superintendent Of the Lille saving
Service has received tefegrams FROM the
keepers Of life.saying stations Nos. 4 and
s, coast OF North Carolina, 10 reply to q
demand for information made by him,
from which it appears that the crews Of
both stations did all in their power 10
save the lives OF the unfortunate men on
the Metropolis. The stations are about
thirteen and a half miles apart, and the
wreck unfortunately occurred nearly half
way between them and just at the hour
when the pstrolmen had come in from
their severe night march upon the beach.
The maximum velocity OF the wind that
morning at Cape Henry, about four sta.
tions above, ia given by the signal office
at sixty miles an hour. When it is con-
sidered that the lightest life. saving appa-
ratus weighs from 200 TO ] 500 pounds,
and that this has TO be dragged by a
crew Of ak or seven men for several miles
through yielding sand and in gale Of
such violence that the men could scarcely
stand against It,, it ia easily understood
why the wreck was not reached earlier.
The loss upon this occasion is simply
referable TO the fact that the stations are
too far apart.
TALE OF HoRRoR--vAsDALIsH AND
GIouLIsA.
Nav York, Feb. 3.--Specials from
Norfolk giYe full details OF the wreck OF
the Metropolis. One correspondent says
the story OF the wreck is one OF horror.
It speaks with no uncertain words, and
will cause a Just and righteous indlgna-
tion against those who put at the mercy
Of the waves two hundred and fifty lives
10 vessel that was in every respect un-
seaworthy; that was rotten as punk, and
could we'll be likened TO death
trap. The owners, contractors and
United States Inspectors are re-
sponsible, and they should be held TO
strict account. The route over
the beach was thickly studded with the
newly made graves OF the victims. They
we're marked with rude boards, and In
some cases were buried Eve and six in a
grave. In the immediate vicinity OF the
wreck was true realization Of the terri.
BILE word wreck, and 10 the shame Of hu.
manity and civilization there was van.
dalisu, the evidence OF which were hard
to believe. 1t was ghoulism almost in.
credible, committed mostly by negro
residents OF the beach and closely aided
by number OF whites. They took all
the valuables and even clothing from the
dead bodies that had been washed ashore.
Ohio Legislature.