The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-20
OCEANS VICTIMS.
,pp,TtoNsL PARTICULARS OF WRECK
OF 1uE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

x,.,emcut OF the Captain-siannina the
Rsa,s DULY to See Them Swamaed-whst
,he officer. OF the Dexter Say-IIeroic Ac-
lion OF Licutcnart Rhodes.
From our northern exchanges we take
,he following additional particulars OF the
wreck OF the steamship City of Columbus:
Captaiu Wright says, in addition TO what
was published in the Dispatch yesterday
morning. that he passed the CrosS-Rip
Nghiship at 10 O'Clock. and continued by
East and West Chop, with strong breeze.
wcst-southwest. Passed Nobska, and. with
course west-southwest, stepped into my
room 10 warm myself. II was very cold;
everything was working well. went be-
low a short time, Snd soon after heard the
second mate. who was IN the pilot'house
with the mate, sing ont to the quarlermas-
ter TO port his helm. jumped out oil my
room, thinking we had come across aves,
sci hound down the Sound. then cried
out. "lIard sport !" not knowing II was
vessel. and In the moonlight saw the buoy
ON The DEVILS Bridge on the port. about
two points forward OF the beam and about
three hundred wards distant.
OK TIRE ROCKS.
She Immediately struck. ordered the
engine reversed and she backed about
twice her length. The steamer immediate
X Slopped and ordered the iib hoisted
and cndcavored TO head her TO the north.
hut she filed forward and listed over to
mort. so that the plank-shear was about four
feet under water. Went aft and told the
MESSENGERS to keep cool and get life
nr,>eryerS. ! next told the officers
Of the deck 10 get the boats ready.
TIE steamer settled down aft and
riohled. II was blowing very hard and
be,yy sea running. Launched port boat
No T.. which was immediately capSized.
The sea WIS breaking over the steamers
d.ck. the stern being entirely under water.
Ne were forced to go up on top Of the
houses. | stayed there awhile, but we
we're finally obliged TO take TO the rigging.
The mate. second mate, chief engineer and
fourth engineer took TO the raft | think
the steamer struck on a lone rock. The
cart6n is positive that she struck outside
the buoy, and IN backing driited inside.
SEEKING REFUGE IN TIE RIGGING.
The City Of Columbus had eighty first
class and twenty-five steerage passengers,
about one third of whom were ladies and
children. and a crew of forty-fiye. About
forty men took refuge in the rigging,
where they remained until half-past 10 A.
W.. when life-boat put off from Gay Head
and took away seven passengers, one OF
whom died soon afterward. shortly after
noon another liie-boat put off to the dis
trcs>ed vessel, and mean while revenue
cutter Dexter came along.
THE DExTER's EFFORTS.
The officers Of the cutter Dexter fur
uished the following statement: VI about
baf-DaSt - we sighted vessel ashore on
the reef near Cav Head. The wind was
blowing gale, and terrible sen was rum
ninc. As we approached we saw the YES
sci was a steamer. and the waves were
breaking over her. We anchored on her
.tarboard quarter two hundred or three
hundreds wards away. The cutters boat
was at once lowered and manned by i've
men in charge OF Lieutenant Rhodes,
who brought off seven men. \ return
4 trip was made, and one man was
4 brought 70 the vessel. Lieutenant Ken
nedy was then dispatched in the gig. |
with four men. and took off four or five |
men. Meanwhile the llfebOat transferred |
several men to the cutter, and al length the |
rigging was cleared OF the survivors. The !
vessel sunk in about four fathoms OF wa !
ter. and the railing on the bow was the !
only portion OF the hull visible. We found |
the men in the fore and maintop and rig
gng. 1t was impossible 10 row over the
rigging. as the boats would have been
pounded TO pieces. The men in the rig
ging were forced TO Jump into the sea, and
We caught them as they arose 10 the sur
face and pulled them into the boats. Some
Of the men could not swim, but nearly
every one in the rigging was saved
GALLANT ACTION OF LIEUTENANT RHODES.
Eugene McGavey jumped from the rig
ging. Lieutenant Rhodes jumped for him. !
but the boat was lifted fifteen feet on
crest. and il was necessary TO staTbOard to |,
avoid swapping him. The man was not |
seen afterwards. At the same instant !
nearly McGayey's brother was pulled into |
the boat. Captain Wright was among the !
last TO leave the ship. Two men. who |
were frozen so stiff that they were unable !
to relinquish their hold on the rigging, |
were at length the only persons remaining /
on the steamer excepting the captain. Lieu
tenant Rhodes asked him to jump, but he |
shouted "Save those men first" They |
are frozen" was the Lieutenant's answer.
The captain then jumped, and although |
he could not swim stroke he was
rescued by Lieutenant Kennedy. Lieu
tenant Rhodes performed heroic
act, which eicits hearty commenda-
ton. Two men hung in the rigging,
unable TO move from exhaustion. The Off
Ger determined to save them at the peril Of
his life. Returning to the cutter he asked |
captain GabridSen to give him man to
steer that be might swim to the wreck and
rescue the unfortunate men. The captain
granted the request, and Lieutenant Roath
was placed in the boat, but on nearing the
steamer it was found TO be folly to attempt
10 90 alongside. Lieutenant Rhodes re-
fused TO abandon the attempt, and sang out
10 The men in the life-boat to take him TO
the wreck.
IN SPITE OF HIS WOUNDS
Lieutenant Rhodes boarded the lifeboat,
and, tying a rope about him, waited until
ne was within about thirty feet Of the YES
sell when be spIang into the sea. He had
nearly reached the wreck, when he was
struck by piece OF timber on the leg and
sank. He was pulled aboard the boat
ana taken 10 the cutter. His leg was found
70 he cut, but after changing his clothing,
a. the sea was smoother, he determined
10 make last attempt. He again set
OUT Tor the wreck, and this time the
men were reached. One was hanging
With his feet and arms through the rat
lines. and his head was hanging down.
Lieutenant Rhodes put bovine about
him when he murmured. "For Gods sake.
l don't touch me-" The man. who was
afterwards found to be Mr.. Richardson.
Was placed in the boat, but died before
reaching the cutter. About 500 was found
in wallet in his pocket. The second man.
who was the last person removed from the
wreck, was in the ratlnes in the weather.