davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
NOTES AND INCIDENTS.
Statements by Other Maine Passenger
aud Other MATTERS OF Interest.


Horace Waterhouse OF Bath, one OF the pas
sengers, tells the following story: ~ thought
heard the ship strike, bat concluded WAS
mistaken, when she struck again. Thou I
found she was casting over, and the water
was running iu. We all rushed on deck, I'D
got up on the side that was highest, good
many going aft and up the rigging there.
Nothing could stand these waves, though, End
it wasn't many minutes before every person
except one was swept of. / was up in the
rigging, but il was so dark couldn't see all that
happened"
The insurance on the steamer City Of Colnra-
bus is S244 $50.
NEW BEDFORD, Jan. 19.-Purser SDaulding,
second assistant engineer Collins and frem3.3
Butler and Kinds, left Gay Head on the stean-
er Hunter for Woods Holl, At noon, ana they
will probably reach Boston on the first train
Monday morning.
QuartermasLe% Mcdonald and passenger
Brown stay here tonight and 20 to Boston on
the first train in the morning.
Arrangements are being made 10 have all tbs
bodies found at the various points brought &c
New Bedford tomorrow.
BOSTON, Jan. 19-The mate Of the steamer
Glauous, of New York, states that the Colums
bus having taken a southerly course, and the
Glaucus q northerly, the latter passed the
wreck at considerable distance, eight or ten
miles at least, At the time the wreck was
sighted by the Glaucus, there were forty hu-
man beings in the rigging, but the mate AYERS
that he concluded the wrecked steamer was on
the reef, but after prolonged scrutiny through
a glass, he could discover no evidence Of ha-
man beings.
Horatio NJ Pease, keeper Of Gay Head light,
does not believe the buoy shifted, and says the
City of Columbus was two miles out OF her
course.
1t is reported tonight that J. A. Msrrill's
body has been found at Woods Holl, but this
is unconfrmed
A party from the tug Nellie boarded the
wreck to-day and report finding three coats in
the rigging, their owners having evidently
dropped odt of them into the sea, leaving the
garments hanging in the ratlines. No bodies
can be- seen in the wreck.
The bodies OF the lost members of the Rand
family have not as yet been found. To
bodies of r. B. Bellyea and two grand ohil-
dren are still undiscovered.
Surprise is expressed that the steamship
company have not sent a steamer here to eX-
anime the coast along No Mans land and other
islands as the tide was setting that way whom
the wreck occurred and probably many corpssl
are stranded there. 1t being isolated and de-
serted there these points have not been heard
from.
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
A CONFLrCr OF OPINION.

Statement of Quarfermastcr Mcdonald.
New BEDFORD, Jan. 2O.-Quartermaster
Mcdonald who was at the wheel when the yes
sci went on Devils Bridge said 81 am badly
bruised about the chest and legs, but glad to
be alive. was steering tn City Of Columbus
when she struck the lodges. The second mats
was in the wheel house with me, and the
captain also was there most of the time About
two o'clock Captain Wright said to me as We
were passing Nobska light, "set her course
southwest by south" and did so, and kept
her on that course until she struck. ct may
be mentioned here that Captain Wright in
his original statement said the vessels coarse
was southwest by west, and it is possible some
misunderstanding occurred concerning this Or
der between Capt. Wright and the quartermas-
ter.) When she struck the ledge she turned her
ahead two points toward the east and then
slswed back again head on to the rocks. /
stood by the wheel until Capt. Wright came
and said, "Never mind the helm, that is of no
use now" The vessel keeled over, filled and
then righted. 1 saw the passengers rush from
the main saloon, and saw them swept off the
deck like straws. Some then clung to the rig
rigging. was ordered by Capt. Wright to get
ont the boats, and l launched the port boat,
No 6, but she was Immediately stove and went
adrift. then launched port No. 5 boat, and
in 80 minutes after the ship struck we boarded
boat No. 5.
The life boat crews of the Massachusetts Hu-
name Society, were the bravest men ever
saw. Those men saved that morning, 20 men,
seven of whom were landed here, and the cut
ter Dexter took Is from the volunteer crew
boats. Neither of the life boats dared come
nearer the vessel than fifty feet, so we we're all
Obliged to leap from the rigging into lthe angry
seas, and swim for our lives. When the first
boat came, we jumped in turn into the ssa.
and were picked up. The first life boat landed
us on the beach, and the second took 13 mole
ter Dexter.
Two much cannot be said of the half breed
Indians who composed the humane society
volunteer crew.
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
VIOLENTLY SHAKEN.

Great Havoc by n Gas Explosion in Bss-
fOn-One Building Demolished and Oth,
ers Damaged.
BOSTON, Jan. 19.-The whole northern sec
tion of the city proper was violently shaken BY
terrific explosion few minutes before mid
night last nighs. The explosion occurred in
the double three story brick building, Nos. 16I
to 161 Hanover street, corner of North Centre
street, and its force was such IS to entirely de-
molish the structure. The building adjoining.
numbered 1885, at the corner Of Hanover and
Blackstone streets, was shaken so badly that it
will probably have to be torn down. Doors
were torn from their fastenings, great and
small window panes were blown out, ant
crockery thrown from shelves in almost cound
less houses in the vicinity. People were evil
IDENTIFY thrown out of thoir beds in the Robert
son, Rhode Island and Marshall houses, and in
the tenements near by, and general and almost
indescribable havoc was created everywhere
within a radius of some rods from the scene.
Two men were buried in the oebris and con-
siderably injured. 1t is thought that no lives
were lost. 4 horse car passed just before the
explosion. Fire broke out, bat the iremen
soon subdued it. The explosion was probably
due to gas, for there was no boiler in the struc-
ture, and nothing of an explosive character in
sufficient amount to create such fupden and
extended havoc.
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
AN UNPAR ALLELED SCENE.
The Thrilling Experience of John L..
Cook of Portland.

Ahe EhrHIkHMS experience OF .SOhn L.
Cook of Portland.
Among the surviving passengers who came
to Boston by the special train Saturday morn
ing was Mr.. John L. Cook of Portland, Me-,
formerly of the Bunker Hill district. His de-
scription of the disaster is both melancholy
and graphic. He says he never saw more
cheerful company than those who embarked
on the City of Columbus Thursday afternoon
Almost upon ths departure of the steamer the
passengers began to fraternize together, and all
were looking forward to an nnexceptionaby
pleasant trip Though toward evening the
wind was high and the sea heavy, yet there
was not the slightest suspicion or dread of dis
astsr until almost tho moment that
the steamer struck. Everybody had
had confidence in the stability of the
craft and the capacity of the officers and crew
to bring them out safely. This was the pre-
valent feeling among all the passengers when
they retired to their staterooms and berths in
the evening. Mr.. Cooks stateroom was only
space. The captain had retired only few
minutes before the first premonitions of the
disaster, and Mr. Cook was still awake.
Though the crash seemed something unusual,
yet he did not feel specially alarmed until he
heard the captain dressing him. Almost in
stantly the other officers of the boat gave the
alarm to the passengers that the steamer had
met with disaster, and that it would be wise
for them to provide themselves with life pre-
servers. The scene at this moment Mr.. Cook
describes as one of melancholy confusion. The
boat vas rapidly sinking the fury of the storm
was increasing, and not one soul on board saw
the smallest possible chance of escape from a
watery grave. Strong men, many of them, as
well as the women and children, seemed to
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
A TERRIBLE SCENE.
Parser spaulding's Narrative of she Dis
aster.

FuraeE EpauldxngS narrative OF tine dis
aster.
NEW BEDFORD, Jan. 20.-Purser Spaulding,
who was found in the lightkeeper's parlor
gives the following story of the wreck of the
City Of Columbus: "I retired at 10 o'clock
when the City of Columbus was off Pollock
Rip lightship l was awakened by the shock
when the vessel first struck on the ledge and
hastily threw on my clothing and rushing out
of my stateroom inquired of the first person
met what Time it was. A passenger replied
that it was half past three. The vessel kent
grinding on the rocks for several minutes
after the first shock, each heavy sea alternately
forcing her on and off the slopes Of the ledge.
/ met First Officer Fuller moment after 1
came out of my stateroom, which was on the
hurricane deck. Fuller was then at the port
side smidships, working at the davits. said
to Fuller, "What does this mean?" He re-
piled, "It seems to me that we are on the Dew
lis Bridge, aud if SO we are lost" l asked
him how much Ieeper the ship would sink
''No DEEPER" he replied. 1 then went into
the cabin and saw there Charles Hawes, Sec
ond steward, and said to him, "Get your
crowd out; knock I'M doors and pull the
passengers onto their feet" remember
having heard him toll at least two Of the pas
sengers in their staterooms to lget up and 90 to
the social hall on the hurricane deck. He
went through the starboard side of the main
cabin, knocking ON all the doors of the state
rooms and went through the port side doing
the same. raped at every door on my side
of the cabin but before got to the last door on
the port side the vessel heeled over.
1bnrQ VUac a punn her 0f in, %ba
loon and called out to them to save them
selves as best they could. I then rushed
through the main saloon and up the stairs,
climbing up to the weather side of the deck
The vessel keeled over more on the port side
SO that all the staterooms on that side of the
ship were completely submerged. On the
weather side of the deck there were three or
four passengers. When the ship righted and
settled there was terrible scene of confusion
on the deck. Men and women, some with
clinging frautically to every available proiec-
tion that soffered resistance.
They crowded upon each other so fast that
they could not be counted. As they rushed
wave and swept off into the sea- groans,
yells and curses contended with the fury of the
gale. Women shrieked and men shonted them-
selves hosrse, Men and women clutched each
other regardlessly shouting all the while, and
struggling with each other in frenzied atten1 pts
to secure every coigne of vantage. But this
soul-rending sight could not last long. Sea
after sea swept over the ship, carrying off
everything not made of iron. It had been
blowing moderately when retired, but now it
was hurricane; still the moon shone brill
liantly, and the land was plainly visible
saw Chief Steward Pitman on deck, aud told
him to take to the rigging. 1 saw at this time,
eight or ten men hanging to the starboard rig
giDg.
The chief steward and [ went into the main
top with passenger, A very few moments
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
LATER NEWS.
A Party Visits tfae Locality of sEae Wreck
Several Bodies Recovered
TaIe of tho Trim

A Party Visits the Locality of the Wreck
Several Bodies Observation-Disclosures
Tale of the Trip.
NEW BEDFORD, Jan. 20-The awful feeling
of gloom which has prevailed all along this
part the coast since the terrible disaster to the
Columbus grew more intense as the morning
dawned and showed heavy banks of lowering
clouds which seemed to hang over all the
coast like funeral pail. The hotels are filed
with people who have for two days been rush
ing here on every train in hopes of obtaining
some intelligence concerning loved ones. There
has been but little information to give to these
anxious inquiries as all of the bodies thus far
brought ashore have been Unidentified as quick
ly as they have been landed and then SEM to
their late homes. But little business has been
done here since the disaster. There has been
a deplorable lack of system 10 regard to the
disposal of the bodies which have been picked
up at various points along the coast. Stray
bodies OF victims have been recovered by
various craft plying through Vineyard Sound
and been taken to widely separated points It
is reported here that several bodies have been
picked up BY schooners and landed at Edgar
town. Woods Holl and Vineyard Haven. 1t
is positively known there are now II bodies at
Vineyard Haven but the number at other
points cannot be ascertained at present owing
to no regular communication between these
various ports.
Today for the first time since the disaster
communication was held with Gay Head,
which point has been the center of interest
concerning the wreck, but which has been
hitherto inaccessible owing to heavy sea
which has been running along the coast for
several days. The steam tug Nellie, Captain
Church, of this port, has made herself the
chief topic of conversation among residents
and visitors by her remarkable success picking
up bodies. Yesterday she crnised about off the
eastward point of Gay Head and took five
bodies out of the water, all of which were
identified here excepting one, which is held by
Medical Examiner Taylor.
at daylight this morning several newspaper
correspondents here chartered the tug Nellie
for cruise off Gay Head with the object, if
weather and sea permitted, to board the wreck
| and make a landing at Gay Head, which latter
| point had not yet been visited. Several gen.
-tlemen who had lost relatives by the disaster,
| ana who were eager to visit the point where
information could be quickly obtained, accept
| ed an invitation extended them to make the
cruise, among them the following: Rev. G. A.
Duhnlng OF Lawrence, who is looking for the
remains of his brother-in-law, Mr.. Henry L.
Batchelder, retired Boston coal merchant;
MT. A. j. Morrill,, Boston tailor, looking for
the body of his brother, James A. Morrill,: DR..
Kellogg of Boston, in search of his mothers
remains; Q. e. Daniels of Lawrence, overseer
OF the Pemberton Mills, making a sorrowful
search for his wife and 17-year old son; G. H.
Hartwell of Lawrence, looking for the remains
Of ms sister, wife Of @. e. Daniels; j. 81.
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
AN uNrEnLrGENr OBSERVER.
Statement of Capt. Il. r. Hammond, One
of the Survivors.

StltcEhhthS UL Oapt. H. kss HRamnh1OmSts Gue
of the Survivors.
Capt. 7. R. Hammond of Gouldsboro, Me-,
was among the saved, after clinging about IL
hours to the wreck. Capt. Hammond has
been lifelong serfsying man, is a capable, in
telligent officer, and evidently saw things about
him with sbrewd eyes, wide open, during the
disaster, and appreciated the situation thor
oughly.
Capt. Hammond cannot account for the
ships position at the time she struck The
wind was blowing from the Southwest at the
time, and was very far from being gale-cer-
tainly not hurricane" common three
masted collier might easily have worked along
in the vicinity during that day, with all her
lower sails set. Not long after passing Nohos-
que, the captain went below, leaving the ship
in charge OF an officer, with directions to keep
her on the course then pursuing, which was
the usual course outward, and would have en-
snYed her entire safety ultimately, had his di-
rectious been followed. Why they were not
will perhaps never bs certainly known; bat no
prevailing gale, or anything of that kind, ne
cessitated q change of course. When the ship
struck, Capt Hammond left his berth, dressed
completely, and made his way on deck. The
bow first settled in the water, which soon re-
suited in the ship's careeping, so that she stood
nearly upon her beam ends, and he craWled
over the rail upon her side. All the Whlie the
water was pouring into the ports below and
the waves were washing the decks. while wom-
on and children were every minute making
their appearance on deak, and taking refuge in
the lee Of the partially submerged houses.
From these positions wave after wave would
wash them away, until, says the captain, 81
saw 100 souls Derish within half an hour"
No description can do justice to the fearful
situation,or properly set forth the terrors accom-
panying. After while the after part of the
ship aettied TO the bottom, the hulk righting
during the cperation. In this new position the
bow only was out of water, the remainder Of
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21

after the vessel struck she heeled over aft, and
then she shifted her position slightly, as IL
sliding down off ledge, and the after part of
the ship filed and sunk. As the stern went
down the vessel righted, and the swell carried
her head up again on hesledge, when she set
tied permanently apparently between boulders
or on hard bottom. don't think she shifted
her position more than fifteen feet after she
first struck. The sea, at this time, was max
ing clean sweep over the ship, and the wind
wss blowing head on. From the maintop
saw the life raft on the after part Of the hurri-
cane house. There were half dozen men
standing, as il waiting for a wave to launch it
into the sea. One of the fremen cut the lash
fngs of the raft with razor when the vessel
was lying on her port side.
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
A PEAcEMARERs FATE.
An Enoffensivs Young Man KILLED by
nruulxen ReIIigereua

Drunken BeIIigerent.
Dover, H., Jan. 19.-At nine O'Clock to-
night Stephen Grant, aged %, of Great Falls,
when on bis way home from grocery store,
hsard a scuffis in French-Canadian tenement
house. Two Frenchmen, drunk, were engag-
ed in desperate struggle. Grant went in to
separate the belligerents. One of them seized
kettle and hurled it at Grants head, striking
him in the temple, telling him to the floor and
killing him instantly. An alarm was given
and both Frenchmen were taken into custody.
Grant, who was an inoffensive young man, was
acting the part of peacemaker. The event
has caused much excitement in Great Falls,
where the population is 60 per cent French.
An angry mob gathered around the French
men as they were being conveyed to prison,
and threatened lynching, but better counsela
preyaled,
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
THE HERO OFF THE HOUR.
OG,cisI Record of lieutenant Rhodes, th
Dexfers's Brave ORicer.

Dexterss Brave OAicers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-LeN. John q
Rhodes of the United States revenue marine
service was born at Fairhaven, CT, Sept %,
1850, and was appointed from that State in
1873, serving as third lieutenant until May
II, 1880, when he was promoted to be second
lieutenant. His first duty was on the cutter
Boutwell, at Ogdensburg. His next was on the
Bolfax at Baltimore, Wilmington and New
York. He continued on this vessel until 1880
when he went to the Dexter at Newport. He
was finally ordered again to the Colfax, but, at
his own request, he was allowed to remain at
at Newport on the Dexter. Comparatively
little is known of him at the department., as he
has never had chance to distinguish himself
until now. He stands No. % on the list of
second lieutenants. He is said to be man of
quiet manners and faithful to every duty.
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
Served Him Right.

NEW HAVEN, Jan. 19-Dr. Charles A. Gill
in, house surgeon Of the Connecticut State
Hospital, was tonight dishonorably discharged
by the board of directors This is the first
instance of the kind in the history of the in
stitution. DR.. Gillin, while dressing the limb
gone amputation, lost his temper, and slapped
his patient in the face. This was the charge
coupled with that of profanity, brought against
him
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21

treatment caused the death of a 1O-year old
child they had taken from an orphan asylum,
we're hung Saturday morning by party OF
masked vigilants.
The National House, in committee of the
Whole Saturday, debated the Fitz John Porte r
bill, but no decision was reached.
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
UAPr. WEIGHTS STATEMENT.

O~AA L
Detailed Account of the Wreck Tho
Steamers Course, Etc.
New BEDFORD, Jan. 19.-Capt. S. E.Wright
Of the City of Columbus, remained on the rev.
enae cutter Dexter throughout today, assisting
in the search for the bodies of his late pas
sengers. In conversation Capt Wright stated
that the steamer left Boston at $50 o'clock p.
m. on the 18th inst, having strong wester-
ly breeze, with fine clear weather. CAT mid
night" said the captain, 1--WE passed Cross Rip
lightship, and strong breeze from the west
southwest helped us down the sound in good
shape. After passing Nobska I ordered west
southwest course steered, and left the deck in
charge of Augustus Harding, the second mate,
while went below to warm myself. II was
very cold, and, having been on deck all day
and night, I was thoroughly chilled, and I
seated myself on the floor with my back to the
radiator, my head reclining on my hand in
such position that 1 could hear whatever was
going on in the pilot house. had been below
but a short time when I heard the second mate,
who was in the pilot house, sing out to the
quartermaster to port. | sprang out of my
room, and, thinking we had come across q YES
sci bound up the sound and were in danger OF
running her down, cried out: Hard port!'
When 1 arrived on deck the bright moonlight
enabled me to see the DEVILS Bridge buoy
about two points forward of the beam, at about
Il cable lengths. A few seconds later she
struck I ordered the engines reversed imme-
diately she touched bottom, and the order was
promptly obeyed, the vessel backing about two
lengths Her way was then stopped. and the
jibs were set in order to pay her off to the
northward and stand across the sound until the
dangerous rocks were passed and clear offing
could be made. She payed off some, but soon
after she listed heavily to port, putting the
plankshifes OF that side some three or four feet
under water, and she commenced rapidly fill
ing forward. Convinced that she was sinking,
went aft, and, informing the passengers of
the fact, exhoTted them to be cool, and assisted
them in finding life preservers. Those who
were ignorant of their use I instructed in
the manner of adjusting them. then ORDER
ed the boats got in readiness for lowering, and
The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21
ENRrY-sEvEN LOST.

Corrected List of Names of the Victims
Narrow Escape of Capt. Vance, one
of the Passengers.
Boston, Jan. 2o.-The list of saved from the
wreck of the City Of Columbus foots up 80, in
Guiding those at Gay Head, whose names have
been ascertained. and the additional name of
Capt. S. Vance of North Truro, N. S. The
steamer Speedwell on Friday, while searching
for bodies at a distance of several miles from
the place where the steamer sank, came across
one OF the life boats of the City of Columbus,
full of water and sunk nearly to the water g
edge. In the boat, sloshing round in the water
as the waves raised or lowered the boat, was
found the apparently lifeless body of Captain
Vance, but when taken on board the steamer
it was found that life was not extinct, and he
was so far resuscitated as to be able to walk
with assistance when landed st Vineyard
Haven. He is being cared for at that place,
and although very weak and suffering severely
from his protracted soaking in the icy water,
he is doing as well as could be expected, and
there are strong hopes Of his recovery.
The corrected list Of the survivors is as fol-
lows:
PASSENGERS.
Horace Waterhouse of Bath Me-
james Brown of Lawrence.
f. w. Fairbanks of Gorhsm, Me.
Capt. S. Vance of North Truro, n. s.
Geo. w. Farms worth of Townsend.
Herbert Farnswvrth of Townsend.
II. Weidmaa of Law ence.
John L. Cook of Portland, Me.
Capt f. r. Hammond of Gouldsboro Me.
Eugene Mccarthy (steera2e) Of SomerVille.
j. II. Tibbets of Somerville.
G. I. Whitcomb (steerage) of Hudson.
OFFICERS AED CREW.
S. E. Wright, captain.
A. A. Pitmsn steward.
Harry Collins I'd assistant engineer.
w. H. Spaulding purser.
II. A Phillip, LIST assistant engineer.
e. L. Briggs porter.
Thomas O'Leary, fireman.
Furber Hanson, waiter.
John Madden, seaman.
Michael Kennedy seaman
Edward O'Brion, seaman,
John White, seaman.