The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-04
BY TELEGRAPH.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT.
TO THE DAILY LNTELLIGEN0ER
WRECK OF THE METROPOLIS.
sixty.Eight Bodies Recovered and
Buried.
Interesting Statement ofa Surviving
Officer.
Valuable Brazilian Mail Washed
WRECK OF THE METROPOLIS.
Valuable Brazillau Mail Washse
Ashore and Plundersd.


the wreck Of the Metropolis, and report
that a terrible surf is breaking al
along the shore, with strong southerly
current. Nothing Is visible Of the wreck
but her stem.drivers, all the wood work
being gone. The Cygnet and other steam
ers that went by the way Of the cana
will not arrive here until late tonight
or early in the morning. 1t is the gener'
al opinion Of the wreckers that the Me
tropolis grounded at low tide, which KEPT
her from forging closer in shore, having
nothing but her sails to hold her head
on. The vessel, from the force OF surf,
came TO with her side exposed 10 the
sweep OF the surf, thereby causing sc
much loSs Of life the people on her decks
being unable to hold on.
axrY-EIGHT BODIES BURIED.
The Associated Press correspondent
has returned irom-the wreck Of the
steamer Metropolis, and reports the situ-
alton to-day as follows: The sixty-eight
bodies recovered have been buried, and
records made TO secure future identifica-
ton. The beach, for distance Of from
fifty yards to one mile north OF the wreck,
is strewn with the debris Of ship and
cargo. The ship was evidently completely
broken up. Her starboard bilge, from
the fore to the main chains, dritted on
shore somewhat compact. and containing
dozen or twenty OF the rails that formed
part OF the cargo. The wreck itself is
stationary where the ship grounded. The
boilers aud part Of the engine were Wis
ible. Above the breakers and confined TO
the bottom in some way, swaying In the
surf, was a portion Of the port bow and
the ragged ends Of the stern and quarter.
There are no doubts entertained Of the
recovery OF all the iron stored In the
lower hold, as the ship was drove we'll on
the beach, and the wreck now lies in
about six feet at mean low water.
The management on board was admi.
rablc under the very adverse circum'
stances attending the disaster. The near.
est life.saying station 10 the wreck was
over four miles distant, and lis crew and
apparatus failed TO reach the scene until
2;;30 in the afternoon, fully FIVE and a
halt hours after the ship was beached
and the Metropolis did not have the
necessary mortar and lines for the pur'
nose Of establishing communication with
The shore in this case; otherwise it was
perfectly feasible.
SURVIVORS AT NORFOLK.
= LIr. s-TI.PSIWInIIh,z-k.I- J,rEAs-in+--.s-
Marine Hospital service, having been
dispatched to the scene OF the disaster,
with medical stores, arrived at Van
SIack's landing this morning, and took
charge Of the sick and injured survivors,
all OF whom, with the we'll, arrived TO-
night at ] | O'clock, on board the Cygnet
They were met by committee Of the
citizens, headed by the Mayor, and were
we'll provided for, every arrangement for
their comfort having been made.
DR.. Sawtellc says moat Of the patients
arc not in dangerous condition, anil the
majority OF them will be able to proceed
to their homes at once. They suffer
mostly from diseases incident 10 ex.
posure.
VALUABLE NAIL LOST,
There was a very large South American
mail on board, consisting principally oi
business letters, which had accumulated
since the calling Of the last regular mail
steamer for Brazil The purSer's room
containing the mail, was washed ashore
and the mail bags we're found along the
beach. Ii Ia understood that the regis
tered letters receipted for by the purser
contained about $4,000 in money
drafts, &c.
S. L. Shipr, Assistant Postmaster al
Norfolk, went 10 the wreck to look after
the interests Of his department, and ot
eleven mail bags containing mail matter
washed ashore he succeeded in recover
ing two intact, and another, being used as
a tobacco bag by one OF the survivors, OF
the contents nothing could be found, nor
could anything be found Of tho other
bags or contents. Parties on the beach
say the bags were cut open and riiled, and
the letters, after being opened, we're
strewn along the beach.
STATEMENT OF \ SURVIVOR.
James F. AlcOrn, temporarily attached
TO the Metropolis, formerly an officer ID
the United States Navy, aud journalist
in Boston, makes the following state
ment:
Wednesday night at ! was called by
the mate To assist the carpenter in stop
Ming leak around the rudder trunk
found the stern-post loose, and 80 re-
ported; remained at the post and made
all possible exertion 10 stop the leak OF
prevent ia increase till about $50 A. NJ
when was called on deck, and found the
ship partial wreck; one Of the port
boats, hanging over the side by her how
tackle " the lAvit, 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 for
ward, to tighten the ship. Twas assisted
in so doing by the carpenter and one oi
the uuartermasters, who was afterwards
drowned. Finding the mate, suggested
that sail should be made by setting the
foresail, aud on getting bis consent i'm
mediately went aloit, and assisted by the
seamen, looSened the foresail, and sue
ceeded in setting the sail which remained
but few minutes, until II was carried
away and Il was necessary to clew up The
port wing OF the sail. Shortly after The
ship struck heavily Amidships, evidently
breaking her back, but she continued tC
drive on the beach. The admirable
management Of the helm, assisted by the
foresSil, maintained the ships position
with head on, n,until she was fairly beached
| then took my station on the hurricane
deck, with u desire TO assist the com
mander and officers In maintaining order
Some one raised the cry Of sire" which
was quickly found 10 be false alarm.
Soon after this the mainmaSt went, and
she began 10 break up rapidly. The lirsl
seas that boarded her having destroyed
or crippled all the remaining boats bui
the boat which was attached 10 the atar,
board forward dAyils, upon that boat
placed my chief hope Of safety, provided
could maintain possession Of that boat
for the purpose Of sending line ashore
at low water. But while my attention
wH otherwise engaged, the boat was low
cred and my purpose defeated, while she
without any management save the proVi-
dence OF God, was born to the beach q
perfect ark Of safety for the six or seven
poor iellows who had the courage tc
secure the opportunity.
During the trying hours OF the day
several Of the ill.iGted passengers, brave
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