The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-14

many plants which had been driven out
Of Greenland, but preserved in SOUTH
crn ATTITUDES of North America, would
reappear in Parry Islands and Labra-
dor. Mr.. Markham dwelt upon specu-
lations like these, and upon facts con-
nectcd with the mineralogy, meteorol-
ogy, ethnology, ETC., of Greenland, to
show the value of Arctic exploration
for its contributions to science, as well
as for the encouragement of that mari
time enterprise to which our country
owes so much Of its greatness and re-
Times.
The Metropolis Disaster-Statement Of
Survivor.
James +. Alcorn, temporarily at
tached to the Metropolis, formerly an
officer in the United States Navy, and
a journalist in Boston. makes the fol-
lowing statement:
On Wednesday night at nine o clock
l was called by the Mate to assist the
carpenter in stopping Il leak around
the rudder trunk. Found the stern
post loose, and SO reported. Remained
at the post, using all possible exer-
tions to stop the leak or prevent its in
crease, until about $50 a. M, when l
was called on deck, and found the ship
Il partial wreck. One of the port
boats was hanging over the side by
her bow tackle to the davit, the 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
water in the casks stored forward to
lighter the ship; was assisted in so
doing by the carpenter and one OF the
Quartermasters, who was afterward
drowned. Finding the Mate, suggest
ed sail should be made by setting the
foresail, and on getting his consent
went aloft and, assisted by Charles
Seaman. loosed the foresail and sue
ceeded in setting the sail, which re-
manned but a few minutes until carried
away, and it was necessary to clew up
the port wing of the sail. Shortly aft
er, the ship struck heavily amidships,
evidently breaking her back, but she
continued to drive on the beach. The
admirable management of the helm, as
sisted by the foresail, maintained the
ships position head on until fair
ly beached. l then took my station
on the hurricane deck, with the
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 mainmast went, and
she began to break up rapidly. the first
seas that boarded her having destroyed
or crippled all the remaining boats but
the dingy, which was attached to the
starboard forward davits. Upon that
boat placed my chief hope Of safety,
provided could maintain possession of
the boat for sending line ashore at
low water. But while my attention
was otherwise engaged, the boat was
lowered and my purpose defeated,
while she, without any management,
save the Providence of God, was borne
to the beach-a perfect "ark of safe
ty" for the six or seven poor fellows
who had the courage to secure the OPP
portunity.
During the trying hours of the day
several of the Inflated passengers,
bravely intrusting themselves to the
tide, evidently lost heart with the
passage of the first breaker over their
heads, and, abandoning all hope, sank
without a struggle. Others, either
washed or leaping off the wreck, would
almost seem to have committed suicide,
SO deliberately did they bury their heads
beneath the waves and meet their
doom.
Toward evening the Second Officer,
Mr.. Couzzins, having behaved with adj
mirable gallantry throughout the day,
proposed passage to the shore, and,
taking leave of the narrator, left
the ship, falling foul of mass
of wreck under the ships bow,
which had been fatal to many during
the afternoon. Here he became en-
tangled, but the gallant fellow, using a
small pocket-knife, labored on, while a
dozen heavy breakers passed over him,
and succeeded in cutting several ropes
that confined the mass Of wreck to the
hull, and was swept away with it to the
northward along the beach. 1 am hap
ply to say he succeeded in extricating
himself and in landing safely.
The foremost falling aft, and the
foresail being still partially spread,
several were either killed by its fall or
buried beneath the mass of the sail in
such a way as made death certain. One
young man, particularly conspicuous
for his daring during the day, at last
sought refuge on the topsail yard, evil
IDENTIFY in the hope that the mast would
fall over the bows or side. Of course,
instant death was the result of his mis-
take on the fall of the mast.
At about half-past four, or perhaps
five p. M, the mid-ship body of the
hull, the fore body being already gone,
began to break up rapidly, while
urged all who would listen to 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 ad-
vice nor example could be of service
longer, struck out for the beach, and,
fortunately, reached it, but in such an
exhausted state that he would have GER
tainly gone to sea, victim of the under
tow, but for friendly hands and aid.
The Captain and his officers are high
ly 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 the 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 for prompt
aid and munificent hospitality.
"A good thing to put in practice, q
young lawyer.