Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-22
The Loss of the City Of Columbus

The sinking Of the steamer City of Colum-
bus of Gay Head on Friday morning ranks
a. one 81 the most dreadful disasters that
ever occurred on this rocky coast The
steamer, a nearly new iron vessel, stanch aud
we'll built, sailed from our harbor on Thurs
day afternoon with eighty 1.-two passengers
and q crew of forty Eve men Many of the
passengers were invalids and pleasure seek
ers Who were in quest of health and change
of scene in the South, and who doubtless
reckoned themselves fortunate to have Sc
cured passage on one of the finest vessels
plying between our Atlantic ports. All had
gone prosperously, the steamer had threaded
her wsv through the somewhat peril6us
course through Vineyard Sound, and but one
point of danger remained to be passed, when
at q o'clock Friday morning throu ,h some
cause as vet unexplained, and the responsible
ity for which one might we'll hesitate to assign.
she struck upon the reef known as the
Devils Bridge. and sunk . few moments
later. Except that the night vas clear, no
element ut horror vas wanting from the
scene. Abe wind vas blowing 4 gale from
the northwest. the air was cold and piercing
the sea ran so high that the boats which we're
launched could not live In it. Some Of the
passengers. half aroused and dased. we're
drowned in their ststerooms; others got
seas which broke over il; very few of the
crew and passengers got into the rig
sing. and clung there. drenched and freezing.
through the long hours which elapsed before
help reached them. Less than twenty five
out Of all on board we're saved, and among
these there we're no women or children. Five
or six of those who were taken OF died in
the arms of their rescuers. The fate of those
Who persisted in their state-rooms was far
preferable to that of those unfortunates who,
after hours of suffering and exposure. died
at last Just as help reached them.
An investigation doubtless will make it
clear how thi. disaster occurred, on bright
night, and who Was responsible for it II is
not tor us TO anticipate the results Of this
inquiry. Our only ofhee nov 10 60 express
the sympathy which all must feel for those
who have been bereaved BY this catastrophe.
and 10 bestow q word of well-earned praise
upon the brave men to whose gsllantry those
Who were rescued owe their lives. Many of
the lo.t we're residents Of this CITY and the vi
cinity, and their friends who babe them good
bye on Thursday are startled aud shocked
10 day as they realize that the farewell Was
final. As to the bravery Of the men in the
life-bost from Cav Head and those on the
revenue cutter Dexter, Who engaged in the
rescue. their conduct deserves Q high need Of
praise. Great emergencies Develop ehsrsc-
ter. and il is one Of the best evidences of the
inherent aud latent possibilities of human
nature that such emergencies rarely arise
without finding men heroic enough TO meet
them. Conspicuous among the rest stands
Lieut. Rhodes. who after repeated attempts
and very nearly At the sacrifice Of his own
life took of the last two men upon the wreck.
II furnishes q fitting climax to this tale of
tragedy that the heroic act vas unavailing.
and both Of the men died before they reach
the cutter Bosfos Josrnai 2Ist