New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-06
NO. s THE LOST PILOT BOAT.

NO DOUBT AS TO THE FATE OF THE COLUMBIA
THE MEN WHO WENT DOWN WITH HER.
All doubt in regard to the identity of the pilot
boat that was run down and sunk with all on
was ended yesterday by the arrival Of Pilot Con-
brought the steamship YOravia into port.
Barrett No, 8, of the New-Jersey pilot boats $50
miles east of Sandy Hook ON Saturday night, and
the Francis Perkins, No. 13, off Sandy Hook on
Tuesday night. Every boat was accounted for
then except No. s, the Columbia. Yesterday morn
ing it was learned that Nichols, the boat-keeper Of
No. 20 had seen the Columbia No. s, on Sunday
morning not on Monday, as he stated on Tuesday
afternoon. rumOr was atiOat on Staten Island
in the morning that fishing smack had come in
with wreckage of the Columbia on board. 1t
found after careful investigation that this report
was unfOunded. All the pilots who were about the
office in Burling slip during the day spoke in tho
highest praise of their four associates who went
down with the Columbia. They were unanimous
in their testimony to the sObeIness and steadfast-
ness of the four men, and great indignation was
contrary to this. All the lost pilots men with
pleasant homes and families. They were Ralph
Noble. Christian Wolfe, Thomas IL. bletcafe aud
Charles Arnold. Ralph Noble lived at No. ia
Eleventh-st., South Brooklyn He was born in
England ffty-three yeas ago. At an e rly age he
once and never left it. He had been pilot Tor
thirty, years. AT one time he was captain
ct [s the Went steam S5t PSOGpt HTGaG e
months ago: He leaves wife and four grown
children. Christian Wolfes home was at No. ll3
Rutledge-st., Brooklyn. He was born in Holstein,
Germany, and was forty-three years old. In 1864
he was licensed as q pilot. This was his first trip
on the Columbia since year ago. He leaves a VITO
and six children aud brother who is also pilot.
Thomas III. Metcalfe lived in st. Paul's-aye
Tompkinsvile, 5. |. lie was fifty-seven years ord
and had been licensed pilot since 1873 He joined
the Columbia in April last. lie leaves u
wife and four children, of his sous
being a pilot. Charles Arnold was thirty-liye
years old lie was a son-in-law of Captain Augustus
Van Pcit and lived with his father-in-law in Edge-
water, s. i. He had been pilot for six years and
was making his second trip in the Columbia, No.
3. William " hite, the bOat-keeper, was twenty
four years old and unmarried lie lived at
Tompkinsville and had been connected with the
lost vessel for three months. Henry Forbade. the
steward, was thirty-three years old. lie lived at
StapletOn and leaves wife and four young chll-
dren. John Brotherton, one of the sailors ON tho
vessel, had been with her month. He was stabbed
by Patrick Welsh boat Keeper of No. To- IN a quar-
rel ut the screw docks in New-YOrk last summer
The three other sailors were Swedes. They joined
the vessel on the day it sailed away and their names
are not known by the surviving pilots of Columbia,
No. 5, Captain Van Pet and Henry Seguine.
5. j. OSullivan who was "a passenyer on the
Alaska, denies that he heard any cries at the tine
of the collision, and says that lie first learned of t
in the morning. lie refused to sign the paper ex-
onerating the captain, because be knew nothing of
the circumstances of the accident.