The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-24
THE GREAT DISASTER.
Captain Wright's Theory Of a Rock
Outside the Buoy Apparently
Confirmed.
SEVERAL PARTIES VISIT THE
WRECK.


WRECK.
No More Bodies Recovered.
BOSTON, Jan. 22.-The Herald's New Bed
ford special gives some important information
obtained at the scene of the wreck today
by the Storm King. Proceeding to Gay Head
the surf boat engaged to convey the diveer to
the wreck came off to the tug from the shore,
and start was made for DEVILS bridge. Ar
irving here Mr.. Duncan, the diver, Captain
Baker, and the correspondent proceeded d1-
rectly to the steamer, while the Storm King
went off to the buoy to sound for shoal water
reported off that point. Repeated casts of
lead were made without finding less than FIVE
fathoms, when suddenly the leadsman sang
ont, "Three and one-quarter tathoms," and at
last the mysterious rock upon which the City
of Columbus struck was found.
The United States steamer vertena, Captain
Gibbs, was sounding near the spot, and Capt
Mcdonald told him of his discovery. Captain
Gibbs at once sent away his boat, and succeed
ed in finding three more boulders quite close
together, with 81 fathoms on each. These
rocks lie about northwest by north from the
light house, and north one-half west from the
buoy, the distance being about 455 yards. The
ledge runs runs west-northwest and east
southeast. AS soon as Captain Gibbs got the
besrings of the reef he Immediately set spar
buoy on it temporarily.
This discovery confirms the statement Of
Capt. Wright aud lookout Leary that they
saw the buoy on the steamers port bow. 1t
is evident the vessel struck on one Of these
bouders, and when the jibs were set she
drifted off, and on to Devils bridga
Capt. Gibbs stated that this reef is entirely
separate from DEVILS bridge. The present
position Of the steamer is 20 yards away from
the shoalest spot in shore.
Capt. Vandenhoff of Gay Head says he
knew there were rocks off the buoy with about
three iathoms Of water on them, as he had
fshed ON them many times. Other Gay Head
men told the same story. All present were
positive that it was on these lone rocks that the
steamer struck.
While the diver and party were on the
wreck pair OF trousers was noticed in the
port rigging on the foremost and when taken
down found to belong to Capt. Wright. How
siderable interest.
New LONDON. Jan, 23.-Wrecker Scott, of
this city, left last night for the scene OF the
wrecked steamer City of Columbus, ou the tug
Alert, engaged by hull underwriters to make
an examination and report. Mr.. Scott will
probably be given the contract to raise the
steamer.
Condition of she Wreck.
TTz no II -
whose brother, the Turkish consul is among
the lost, established. to-day, an important fact
in connection with the present conditions of
things on board the wreck. Mr.. Iasigi, who
had chartered tee tug confidence, took crew
in small boat to the wreck, where soundings
were made. The result Of these soundings was
the establishment beyond a doubt of the fact
that the lower stateroems ON the port side, aft
of amidshipa, still remain intact and are not
more than two fathoms beneath the surface.
The house was torn off at the time of the
wreck zon both the port and starboard side
forward and on the starboard side aft, leaving
heiower statefooms aft in position. Mr.. Isaigi
is positive from his search today, that many
bodies still remain lin the wreck and as his
brother occupied stateroom aft on the port
side he hopes to find his body there. The
Storm King will send diver down again to-
morrow if circumstances are favorable. The
Confidence will also visit the wreck again to
morrow. No more bodies have been heard of
In this locality.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Jan. 23.-Commander
McRitchie of the United States steamer Speed
well, ordered the arrest of two of the crew of
his vessel this morning on suspicion of their
stealing gold watch from the dead body of
one of the Gay Head victims picked up by the
Speedwell. Some evidence has been obtained
against them, and they are now under arrest
NEW BEDFORD, Jan. 23.-The steamer Mon
ohansett brought here today the body which
was at Vineyard Haven yesterday supposed to
be Mrs. Pinkham. 1t is not known that any
body remains on the island.
Steamer Storm King left Woods Holl this
afternoon with divers to assist at the wreck
Steamer Monohansett has taken large party
of friends of the deceased to Gay Head, and
will return at o'clock. Reports of mercenary
conduct of residents of Gay Head are much
exaggerated. The only thing known is that
one body has been found minus finger ring.
The finger had not been injured, but the de-
preston where the ring had long been worn
could be seen. The town authorities and other
citizens have shown exemplary conduct in the
care for valuables belonging to the dead.
Visit TO the Wrecked Vessel.
The tug Storm King arrived here at p. M,
having been at the wreck during the day.
VIM. ID. Duncan, a diver, boarded her at the
main rigging and got down to the deck. The
tidal current was so strong that he was swept
off his feet. Unable to do anything he after
wards got on the bow, which is out of water,
and attempted to get below from this position,
but without success. Capt. Baker, of the
Baker Wrecking Company, who has charge of
operations, believes there are bodies in the
staterooms on the port side OF the steamer.
Another attempt will be made by the diver to-
morrow. The Storm King picked mp several
boxes of shoes, and reports much wrecked
stuff floating about. Capt. Baker brought
away gold watch and chain given him by the
Gay Head authorities. A tug visited No
Mans land, where no bodies or wrecked ma
terisl have been seen.
Another Visit TO the Scene.
Edward T Pierce agent of the New Bedford,
Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket Steamboat
Company, today placed the steamer Monohan-
sett at the disposal of the friends of the vic
TINS here seeking bodies, and took them to
Gay Head that they might see the scene Of the
ulsasLoE. Auout LOU porSUub portlcipatou III
the trip. The position of the City of Column
bus is unchanged portion of the deck for
ward remains. The masts are standing. The
United States steamer Verbena was In the
vicinity, and placed an obstruction spar-buoy
near the buoy on Devils bridge to warn pass
ing vessels of the situation of the wreck. A
londing was made at Gay Head, and the mem
bers of the party wandered about the shore
and light house, gathering bits of wreckage
from the steamer as momentoes of the catas-
trophe. The steamer returned without secur-
ing any more bodies.
A Patrol.
Captain Baker of the Storm King, acting un-
der instructions of Col. Rand, today arranged
patrol of the island shore from Squibnocket
TO Gay West Chop. This patrol includes IL
men, six being Gay Head Indians, and the
others trusty men from Vineyard Haven.
They will report to Captain Baker tomorrow
morning.
BOSTON,, Jaa. 23.-A despatch from Kings
ton, N Y, published today, states that it is
supposed that G. Willett, a steerage passenger