The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-04
THE LOST METROPOLIS.
Arrival Of the Survivors
at Norfolk.
A LOUD CRY FOR JUSTICE.
Captain Ankers Insists that the
Vessel Was Seaworthy.
STATEMENTS OF THE SHIPS OFFICERS.
A Series Of Terrible Incidents
and Accidents.
WOMAVS BRAVERY AMID THE STORM
How a Devoted Husband ana
Wife Were Saved.
HEROlSM OF TIMOTHY O'BRIEN.
A Series Of Terrible Incidents
and Accidents.
wOMAyS BRAVERY AMID THE STORM.
How a Devoted Husband ana
Wife Were Saved.
HEROISM OF TIMOTHY O'BRIEN.
[BY TILraRApH TO THE HERALD.

[BY TELE0RAPH TO THE HERALD
NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 8. 1878
The survivors OF tho Metropolis wreck spent the
day very comfortably in the quarters provided for
them by the citizens OF Norfolk. Large crowds were
collected the the building anxiously In
tervewing every they could and listening eagerly
to the terrible experiences related policeman. was
stationed tho door, who refused admtancc to those
who had no business with tho passengers who had
no acquaintance umong them. They made tho
recipients OF every attention. and boots Shoes hats
shirts, and almost every article OF clothing were
literally donated to Thorn by the sympathizng msr-
chants and citizens.
Mr.. Thomas Collins, OF Philadelphia. one Of the
tractors who engaged the to 60 Brazil, arrived
hero this morning to make tho necessary arrange.
to take the survivors back to Philadelphia, but
up to late had been decided whether they
would embark by Philadelphia steamer or one OF tho
O.d Dominion line to New York.
WHO RESPONSIBILITY
Among the survivors the opinion. in fact the gen.
eral verdict in relation to tho disaster that the
owners snip brokers government the
parties who should be held to strict accountability
the loss OF life by the wreck. Was the ship which
had been laid up for months and which had such
disastrous record inspected by the proper ofcersP
they ask. II So the guilty source OF tho crime Is
within easy reach the scattered remnants OF that i'll
fa,ed vessel bearing helming testimony OF either
their incapacity wiliul misrepresentation IN
giving certificate OF seAworthness of any class.
II not they then, IL would seem that the owners
entirely responsible In daring to offer, for either
business or insurance. vessel whose history, fully
known to them through her logbook, must have
teemed with evidence of her utter unseaworthiness
As Tor the brokers they regarded equally culpa
BILE " ith tho owners. Whoever the guilty parties
tho survivors, who do not claim to DO judges, demand
prompt and iull investigation and that justice which
viii only strike terror 10 Tho hearts OF the guilty,
but also render forever impossible repetition of their
crimos. Thor prayer is that this investigation shall
be speedy and enectuaL
ARRIVAL CAPTAIN ASKxRs.
Captain Ankcrs, COMMANDER OF the late Metropolis,
arrived this evening by the overland route, at
four O'Clock He did not leave tho beach until all the
Survivors had departed for this city. Tho captain
was saved In one OF Boy TOMS lilo saving rubber
suits, the only board Tho captain at first
fused make any statement at present. concerning
the Disaster but ut length consc Ho denies
tho ship was unseawortny, notwithstanding the ex.
tensively published statements and the well known
history Of tho vessel 10 the contrary.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN ASKERS
Captain j. h. Ankers makes the following corrected
statement III briei:-
OF January for weather favorable. ~ o'clock
+. N. the wind blow from the eastward. AT six N.
we had fresh gallo and bad sea, the ship laborng
considerably; we reduced salls. and meantime
lake sAIu u. calls A. eight O'Clock dis.
covered that the ship was making water
rapidly by the rudder post caused by seas striking
her under the counter started al tho passengers
passing up coal from the alter hold ard concluded 10
make FOR Hampton Roads. Al this time we wero be-
tween sky and seventy miles east Of Cape Henry.
At three O'Clock A. II. nado light. but weather beng
very thick coad not distinguish u, vessel being IN
twelve fahoms water hauled oil Shore head 10 tho
sea boarded Us and swept away the
smokestack and boats and stove IN forward saloon
ship and rendering her unmanagable; then, finding
II impossible 10 save the ship. after consulting my
oflcers, concluded to beach ner. TO save al lives
possible
At four o'clock A. NJ. the fires were put out by tho
water and steam stopped We then made the beach
under sail, passengers being provided with no
2.s' H. called 'I ali naEds ' on deck '' ana
ordered them forward 10 prevent beng
| washed away. The passengers were cool and obedi.
sale stored the three ladies' IN The pilot house with
their husbands The pilot house WIS washed away,
and lady, Mrs. Myers was drowned at my feot BY
u terrific while IN tho act OF assisting her.
The others, Mrs Harrison and husband, took rouge
on hurricane deck, from which Mrs HurrIson was
CONDITION OF THE snIr
considered the ship 10 be seaworthy and 10 good
her owners TO make her Sc, and faithfully ondeavored
iulnl their orders have followed Tue sea twenty
years and have been master Of vessel twenty
years. have been numerous voyages, and surely
would not have started out IN u snip that l
Metropolis being unseaworthy at Norfolk
during last December when chartered
TO take a cargo from Norfolk To Wilmington n. c.,
and that she arrived Hampton Roads IN distress, Is
without foundation. When We were coming from
hampton Roads 10 Norfolk that timo The pilot
aground on Craney Island fats but no damage what.
ever was done 70 the vessel After Tying IN vain to
Get or by OWE power ordered the boilers blown
down 10 tighten the ship ait. The United STATES
tug Pirta then came along kindly offered ~ tow
US 10 Portsmouth, which offer accepted. then re-
ported TO the railroad agent that We were ready 10 re-
ceivc freight The the vessel was Tot used
that occasion was because the party who chartered
her had authority TO do so. On settlement OF the
charter we returned 10 New York. considerable ter.
rible that beiell tho Metropolis to have
beer from the severity Of the gae and not from any
detects 10 machinery or hull nor IRON negligence
STATEMENT OF THE ruRsxR
Mr. H. Bartlett, The purser, makes the following
/ belong TO Newburyport, Mass, and was going to
Brazil business, and could only 30 out as purscr
We sailed away from Pnadclphia very pleasantly
ami everything was all right Wednesday was beau
tiful DAY, spent the most oil the time In stor
ing trunks distributing lo prescrvers and inspecting
quartefs IL came on 10 blow at ono +. NJ nnd bo-
came very cloudy. howsvsr we wen. along SWIM:
four O'Clock went into the pilot house There was
ono Quarlermaster Al the wheel and lent .
hand. All the crew were at work ON deck
storing the anchors which had got adrt owing 10 the
pitching Of vessel The ioreopsaii sheet was car.
RED away on account OF the ioreliit giving way. 1
stayed al tho wheel until hafpast six. Tho wind
blowing so hard that tho quartermaster below could
not hear the ships bell anu went below after him 10
relieve tho Quarlermastcr at the Wheel Alter called
him Went INTO tho saoon 10 see alter the passen.
gers There found the tace set Tor dinner and all
the dimes smashed the pantry iuli OF water tho
passengers able to sit up were hanging on TO anything
thoy could get hold Of While IN tho saloon the
sistanL steward brought IN having been struck by
the and Injured internally We did what we could
for him, thon went forward tor orders from the cap
he sent ait alter the steerage passen-
gers.
AN ALARM FIRB. 81
On my return found tho ,nd mate opening tho
49, h. tar Gro fho pn0