The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-24
ONE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
The Terrible shipwreck Of . Savannah
Steamship.

BOSTON, January 1S.-The vessel re-.
ported lost off Gay Head, Marthas Vine
yard, proves to be the steamer "City Of
Columbus" Capt. Wright, of the Savan-
nah line, which lett Boston for Savannah
yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. F. w.
Nickerson & Son, agents of the line have
received the following dispatch "New
Bedford, Mass, January 18.-F. w.
Nickerson & Son: The steamer City of
Columbus is ashore on DEVILS Bridge,
Gay head, and is fast breaking up.
About one hundred lives lost. Will
leave on early train in morning. Saved
by revenue cutter Dexter Signed, s.
E. Wright, Master"
New BEDFORD, Mass, January 18-
The following is Capt. Wrigbt's state
ment regarding the loss Of the steamer
Getty of Columbus":
The "City of Columbus" left Boston at
8 p. m. on Thursday, carrying 80 passen.
gers and crew of 45. At 3.45 &. m. on
Friday, Gay Head light bearing South
half east, the vessel struck on the out
side of Devils Bridge buoy. The wind
was blowing \ gale west by north. The
vessel Immediately filled and kneeled
over, the water breaking in and flooding
the port side of the saloon. A of the
passengers excepting few women and
children came on deck, nearly all wear
ing life preservers. All of the boats
we're cleared away, but we're Immediately
swamped. The majority of the passen.
gers left the vessel on life raft and
about forty more took to the rigging. At
1890 a. m. Gay Head ife-boat put off
and took seven persons. Another life
boat put off between II and ! O'Clock.
The revenue cutter dexter" came along
at about 1870 o'clock. and sent off two
boats. Twenty.one persons, one of whom
WAS dead, were placed on board the
Dexter" and after all the persons were
taken from the vessel the Dexter" pro-
ceeded to New Bedford. Three persons
died after going on board the "Dexter."
Four dead bodies were brought to this
city on the Dexter" They are all men.
One is not identified. Two are identified
as Helon Brooks of Northboro', Mass,
and Fred Chandler of Hyde Park, Mass.
The other il man supposed from card
found in his pocket to be one of tho
firm of G. Richardson & Co. Of the Clin.
ton Market, Boston.
Ono of the passengers lost was A. j.
Morton, lately connected with the Boston
Globe, who was going South for his
health.
The ledge on which the "City of Co.
lumbus" struck is considered by mariners
to be one of the most dangerous points
on the cosst:: The ledges consist of a
formation of submerged rocks, constitut.
ing double ledge, the outer stratum Of
which is called the Devils Back, both
lodges being called the Devils Bridge.
The ledge, are abreast of Gay Head light
on the mainland, and extend little to
the Southwark Of it. The outer. ledge
or Devils Back is about an eighth of
mile from the mainland. On either side
of the outer ledge is very deep water.
The upper part of the ledge is formed
like the Gable of house, 60 that a vessel
striking it diagonally would naturally
heel over on her beam ends. The course
of vessels is around Gay Head to pass by
the outer ledge on the south.
The City of Columbus" had eighty
frst.class and twenty-five steerage passen.
gers, about one. third of whom were la
dies and children, and crew of forty.
five. The total number Of persons saved
is twenty. three. Five dead bodies have
been recovered, and one hundred and
nineteen souls are thus unaccounted for.
Seventeen of the saved and four of the
dead were brought here, and six supposed
to be living and one dead are at Gay
Head.
The following are the names of those
taken ashore at Gay Head, one Of them
is known TO be dead, but it is not known
which one: Henry Collins, third engi
neer; Wm. Spalding, purser; Michael
Kennedy, waiter; Edward O'Brieg,
waiter; John Holmes, pieman. Ono
passenger, name unknown.
Capt. Wright says in addition to tie
foregoing that he passed the Cross Rip
lightship at 12 o'clock and continued BY
east and west. The sea Was choppy,
with strong breeze west southwest.
Passed Nobska with course west south
west, and stepped into my room to warm
myself. 1t was very cold. Everything
was working we'll. went below short
time and soon after heard the second
mate, who was in the pilot house with
the mate, sing out to the quarter.master,
to port helm. Jumped out Of my room,
thinking we had como across a vessel
bound down tho sound. l then cried
out: "Hard port" not knowing it was
not a vessel, and in the moonlight saw
the buoy on the Devils Bridge, on the
port side, about two points forward of
the beam and about 800 yards distant.
She Immediately atruck. ordered the
engine. reversed, and she backed about
twice her length. The steamer immedi
ately stopped and ordered the jib hois.
ted and endeavored to head her to north
but she filled forward and listed over to
the port side 40 that the plankshear Was
about four feet under water. I went aft
and told the passengers to keep cool and
get life preservers. next told the
Officers of the deck to get the boats ready.
The steamer settled down aft and righted.
1t was blowing very hard and heavy
ses WAS running. ! launched port No. s
boat, which was Immediately capsized.
The sea was breaking over the steamer.
The deck and stern being entirely under
water, ne were forced to 60 up on the top
of the houses. l staid there awhile, but
we were finally obliged to take to the
rigging. Tho mate, second mate, chief
engineer and fourth engineer took to the
raft. l think the steamer struck on Lone
Rock.
The captain is positive that he struck
outside of the buoy, and in backing
drifted inside.
II mole on the nose indicates that