New-York tribune., 1878-02-04
THE DISASTROUS VOYAGE.

| sINKING-ExCELLENT DISCIPLINE PRfsrRvEI
ON BOARD.
| NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 3.-Sufcient time ha.
elapsed since the wreck of the Metropolis to brnt
to light the facts relating to the disaster and the
survivors having recovered their composure and
collected their thoughts, are able TO make accurate
and consistent statements of the voyage and
the catastrophe which brought it to such
an awful termination. The TRIBUNE has
already printed an adequate account of the
railroad enterprise in which the Metropolis and hei
passengers were engaged, and of the circumstance
under which the vessel fitted out and dispatched
Previous descriptions however. of the storm which
overlook her and of the destruction which ensued
have been in many particulars inaccurate. TM
story winch follows has been made up from the care
| fully considered statements of the officers whs
escaped and other survivors, and is trustworthy
At about 9 p. IN. on Monday Of last week the Me
tropolis with her officers and crew and 2l0 passen
gers, swung ont into the stream from the Wlllow-st
wharf in Philadelphia. where she had been loadins
since December %. On Tuesday morning, at $3.50
O'clock she sailed. The passage down the river was
uneventfu and the vessel reached tie Breakwater
| in good time at / o'clock Tuesday night. Half an
hour later the pilot was discharged and the ship
stood out to sea. The passengers had recovered
from the grief of parting with their families and
friends, and with the prospect OF pleasant voyage
and profitable employment when they reached
their destination, were very cheerful company
Wednesday morning the weather fair, the yes
sci was TO all appearance in good condition, the
chef-engineer reported that the engines were work
ing uncommonly Well. and the voyage had certainly
begun auspiciOusly. During Wednesday morning
tli. wind was fair, and at about o'clock in the af.
ternoon 1t began to freshen but no apprehension.
were expressed that tempest was approaching
I'm 4 tba affa I'm /
harder toward evening rapidly Increased Ia violence
and at o'clock had become a gale.
The chief-engineer, Joseph J. Lowell, inspected
the engines shortly after O'clock and found that
they were running at half speed with thirty pound
OF steam on. The wind was blowing iercely, bat he
had no reason suppose that the vessel was III amy
way unseaworthy until soon af'erward, when he dis
covered four feet Of water in the shaft alley. Even
this didnOt create any especial alarm, for without
f,st-ass,stant and merely directed him to keet'
the pumps working. The water however,
continuing to gain after consultation among the EN-
gineers the captain was informed that the Vesse'
was leaking badly. and that the water was rapidiy
gaming on the pumps. carpenter was suhihohe'r
and he with the engineers and the chief mate made
their way through the shaft alley with the water
almost up to their arm-plts The leak WAS ciS
cover ed in the the captain now DeIeVeS I'D
the propeller-well-and to the dsinay OF those whs
made the discovery it was found that the water was
not merely coming through an opened seam, but was
forcing its way through the dead wood in all parts.
At this tine, according to the statement of the
chief mate, the vessel was about seventy mliea
from Cape Henry and it became evident that she
could not proceed on her course The captain. on
learning the condition of the ship, at once beaded
for the capes of Virginia, hoping to make hampton
Roads by Thursday morning. and the passengers
were all set at work passing up coal
from the after held to tighten the ship.
The men, more than 300 in NUMBER
worked WELL and the alarm. which had spread
among them when their perllous situation was made
known, subsided in great part when the ship was
headed for Land. 1t then seemed certain that there
WAS a good chance of escape. and the cOoness and
efficiency of the officers inspired them win
added confidence. The night wore on with
out further disaster until o'clock Thursday
morning, when the circulating pump gave Ou'.
The engines were running at high pressure and at 3
o'clock the chief mate reports, Cape Henry light
WAS siphted. Ii was then decided to head the ves-
sci ND TO the wind, and wait for the daylight. The
passengers continued at their work Tightening the
ship and the carpenter and his men dld not abandon
their efforts to repair the leak about the ster-post.
The sea was running violently, and wave after wave
broke over the vessel, carrying away the upper
works aud all the boats except one and put
ting out the lights. At 4:3O o'clock .
huge sea swept over the ship, washed away the
sm0ke-sack aud engne-rOom doors, through when
Il poured below. in part extngulshng the fires Tue
men were afraid to 20 below, for the engine-room
was flooded; but the chirf-engineer rallied thelr
courage with tine hope of saving the ship if the fires
could only be kept goag. aud all the moveapie
woodwork and Oartei of tallow were thrown into
the furnace.
# was now evilcn: that the only remaining hope
WIS i'm driving the vessel upon the beach, and at
little after 1870 o'clock she was headed for shore.
The engines still continued to work for time and
it was hoped there would be steam enough to keep
her head up and force her well on to the beach; but
soon after 3 o'clock the steam gave out and the
engineers went on deck. Al sail was kept on TO
keep Tie ship headed toward shore, and at 645
o'clock she struck head OF, but swurg about, her
broad side to the beach, and was exposed to all
the fury Of the sea. The vessel grounded about
100 yards from shore, aud soon after she struck
some of the passengers, most Of whom had suc-
ceeded in providing themselves with hfcpfeseryers.
Jumped INTO the water and swan for spre. Nearly
all however, remained board, IN the expectation
Of help from Life-savug Stations Nos. t End D.
about half way between which the vessel lay.
Charles Cownoly one of the passengers testiiies to
the discipline and GOODNESS Of the officers,
and attributes to this the quiet foriitude with
which all waited through the dreary hours
! of the morning for the relief which 1t
seemed would never come. About the middle Of the
forenoon a man Oh horseback was discovered on
the shore. He made signs to Indicate that he
would brng assistance, and then rode away About
1890 o'clock il the afternoon, the men from mo
station arrived, with scant ammunition, WIN only
one line, anl without boat. AT the sec0ad shot
from the mortar the line from shore passed over tho
foreyard, but in endeavoring to clear it from tho
jbstay it was severed. After two more ineiiectaal