The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-02-02
THE STRANDED STEAMER.
Full Details Of the Wreck O
the Metropolis.
A Terrible Panic When She Struck III.
Beach-Ineficiency Of the Life
Saving Service.
OF ESQ Passengers Only 100 Are Saved
The Beach Sirewn for Miles With
Dead Bodies-A Terrifying Tale.

Service station at the wreck of the Me
tropolis reports that the Metropolis
Capt. ]. H. Ankers, left Philadelphia
at 9 a. M, on the 29th of January; dis
charged her pilot at II p. m, at the
breakwater; at p. m. on the Both the
vessel started
HEAVY LEAK
in her rudder case, and finding that he
could not gain on the leak with the
pumps the captain concluded to tighten
the steamer by overthrowing coal and
hurrying away for Hampton Roads.
At midnight, the circulating pump
gave out, and at 3 a. m. heavy sea
boarded the vessel, carrying away her
smoke stack, bob, and engine-room
doors, forward saloon and netting. AS
large quantity of the cargo was below
the ship was completely unmanageable.
Finding that
NOTHING COULD BE DONE
for the vessel, the captain attempted to
reach the beach TO save what lives could
be saved. At 6 O'Clock he made the
beach. At that time the fires were out
and the engine had stopped. He set all
head sail to drive her up the beach, and
the surf being very violent, at 4 O'Clock
he passed the word for all hands to pre-
pare themselves with life preservers.
At 6:45 the ship struck the beach. AT
IL a. m. man on horseback made his
appearance on the beach, waving his
hat and promising assistance. At 1890
the life-saving service made their ap-
pearance, but came
POORLY PROVIDED
to save life. All the assistance they
could render was to get them out of the
surf as they came ashore. Had they
come to the scene of the wreck during
the forenoon nearly every one could
have been saved. At p. m. she broke
up completely, throwing us all into the
sea. When the vessel struck panic
ensued, creating CONSERVATION of the
widest character. All order and dis
cipline was at once at an end. Many
were drowned by the sea washing them
overheard. The vessel is
COMPLETELY BROKEN UP,
no piece of the wreck being visible ex-
cept what strews the beach. The total
number of passengers was 26o, of whom
100 were drowned and the remainder
saved. The steamer is a total wreck.
Nothing Is left above water. There are
no bodies aboard the steamer. The
wreck was caused by the vessel being
unseaworthy. She sprang leak about
midnight and stranded at a. IN. Jan.
3lst. The only way of saving life was
by running line ashore, as the vessel
was in sinking condition. This is the
statement Of Ian McQuillan, one of
the saved. At 8 o'clock this morning
the state of affairs was terrible. Dead
bodies were lying along the beach for a
distance of two miles. They are being
placed in proper position, back from
the beach. The living are being cared
for. Travellers along the beach are
picking up the living and the dead.
The latter constitute about one-third
of all recovered. The two saloon
women are known to be drowned, with
their husbands. Eight out of fourteen
iremen are known to be dead. The
men saved are destitute of clothing.
RETURNED FROM THE WRECK.
Norfolk, Va, Feb. 1.-The steamer
Cygnet arrived from Couinjack this
afternoon, bringing Richard W. Brooke,
one of the passengers of the Metropolis.
Brooke left the wreck yesterday morn
ing, and fully sustained the report
heretofore given. The vessel was be
yond all doubt
WEAK AND UNsEAwoRTHY,
and being deeply laden, labored in a
heavy sea, which caused her to oper
seams and leak. Capt. Ankers did al
that skill and judgment could sugges
or experience devise, but when th'
fires were out it left his vessel power
less. He therefore was unable to draw
her upon the beach, as he anticipated
or keep the vessel from going broad
side or exposing the deck to be swep
by each succeeding sea. The steame
Cygnet returned at once to bring t
this city all survivors, who will be dul
provided for by charitable people amon
our citizens. The survivors will b
sent north via Baltimore or the Clyd
line, as they may select.
THE NEWS IN PHILADELPHIA.
Philadelphia, Feb. 1.-The news @
the wreck of the steamer Metropoli
created the most intense excitemen
here. The office of the contractor.
Collins Bros, was besieged by relative
of those on board, and special police
men are keeping the crowd under cor
troll. 1t is believed that the Metropoli
was not only unseaworthy, but over
loaded.