The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-01-24
XArrihla uisastar.

The steamship City Of Columbus iron
Boston for Savannah was wrecked on th
rocks near Martins Vineyard at an earl,
hour on Friday morning and over on
hundred lives lost. The passengers wer
mostly people who were on their way !,
the South in search Of health or pleasure
The only Vsrmontsrs who were on beart
were DIR. Horace G. Bartlett and wife o
Lyndon, who were going to Florida OF
account OF Mrs. Bartlstts health. DR.
Bartlett was son Of the lats Hon. Thsmal
Bartlett. sx.M. c., and was about 80 year
old. Some years ago he practicsd msdi
cine in Marblehead two years and in Lynu
two years. bis home during tho rest OF hi,
life being IN Lyndon.
What makes the disaster nero appalling
is the fact that there does not seem 10
have been any good reason for it. The
steamer WAS comparatively new and we'll
built and thoroughly sea worthy. Moth.
lux was the matter with the machinery.
There was gale bio ing at the time but
there was no lex and tho light ut The
rocks where she found cred was plainly
visible. II is evident that the steamer
WAS out of l.r course and that some one
was cnlpably negligent or she would have
kept in the channel and away from the
dangerous rocks. No doubt thorough
investigation will b. held and the facts Ia
the Gaze fully established.
The New York Tribune discusses the
question Of responsibility as follows:
"Ths responsibility for the loss OF the
steamship City of Columbus seems TO lie
between the captain and the second mate,
Fnller. the first mate was not on duty At
tho time OF the disaster, having been 70.
lievsd by Harding, the second mate
Captain Wright went below 4 little less
than sn hour before the vessel struck, and
consequently Harding was the officer mi
command. The course had been fixed by
Captain Wright off Nobska. and ought 10
have carried the ship. he now says, clear
OF the rocks aud beyond Gay Head 10 the
open ssa within two hours. 1.-THE course
wss changed Harding was responsible for
the neglect 10 follow the captains orders.
The quartermastsr At the Shesl saws that
the course was not altered until the look.
out suddenly reported the Devils Bridge |
buoy GU the port bow. whom Harding gave
the order. Hard SPORT which aroused
the captain. II this I've true, Harding
ca1not be held accountable for the ships
course, bnt only for failing 10 find out
either that the captain bad made mis-
or else the tide and gale we're
,cnding the steamship TO lcsvard. The
lusrtsrmasssr SAYS that II bad occurred 10
him that the vessel vas little nearer the
shore than usual. but could not tell er.
,ctly. Gay Head revolving light vas
plainly visabls all the way from Nobsks.
md the other lights could be dimIy de.
'cr,sd through the haze. The man at the
could see the shore. although not
plainly. Apparently Hardings suspicious
vers 6nslly excited for short time before
hs disaster be cautioned the quarter.
Master not 70 60 10 lsswsrd Of the coarss.
IL did not, however. order soundings 10
'e taken, nor summon the captain. nor al.
Get the lookout 10 watch for tho buoy. He
oil precautions and biindly fol
owed the course SLich had been set by
liz superior officer.
The second oficsr's responsibility for
10 difssssr viii Ike greatly diminished i'll G
can bs shown that the vessel vas out oil
81 course II O'Clock. when the captain
stirred from the shselhonss. Upon this
olnt the testimony Of the captain Of the I \
samship Panther has 80 important hear. :