Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-01-26

One of the most heartrcnding and terri
BILE disasters that has occurred for long
time occurred Friday Of last week. The
steamship City of Columbus, left Boston
on Thursday afternoon at three O'Clock,
struck IL reef OF Gay Head, at the south
western extremity of the Island OF Mar
tha's Vineyard, at 3.45 a. m. Friday and
became at once total wreck. The steamer,
which was in command of Captain IL. T..
Wright, of Boston, had successfully
threaded the dangerous passage between
Monomy Point, at the southern end OF
Cape Cod, avoiding numerous shoals and
reefs. and had arrived off Gay Head Light
house when she struck on the last obstruc-
ton in her course, and, Immediately ca
reening, became coffin for lo2 OF the l2O
persons who were on board.
The passengers, numbering elShty-ohc,
were all asleep in their staterooms and
berths when the shock rudely awakened
them and they rushed to the deck in their
night clothes, most of them providing
themselves with life-prescrvers as they
emerged from the cabins. The steamer
carcened AS soon as she struck and her
port side was ut once dashed in, the sea
breaking into tho cabin.
Captain Wright, whose GOODNESS seems
not to have deserted him, Immediately had
the boats cleared away, but they were
swamped as soon rs launched, for gale
was blowing stiff from the westward anu
the sea was very high on the reef. The
lire-raft Jared better and seven passengers
who entrusted themselves to it drifted
away in safety.
Meanwhile passengers were being wash
ed overheard by dozens. Some forty OF
them took to the rigging, but even they
were not all safe, for the waves now anu
then snatched one and bore him or her
off i'm their lev embrace. twas ten O'Clock
before succor came in the form of the Gay
Head life-boat, which took off seven per-
sons. An hour later another lite-boat
came and then the revenue cutter Dexter
came I'D and look Oh board the remainder,
twenty-one, and started with them for
New Bedford. On the way four OF these
rescued persons died, and thus tie num-
Der saved dwindled to twenty-four.
One of the survivors gave the following
graphic description of the scene when the
vessel struck: "Whcn the ship righted
and settled there WAS terrible scene OF
confusion OH the deck. Men and women,
some with children in their arms, climbed
up to the deck. clinging frantically to
every available projection that offered re-
sistauce. They crowded upon each other
so fast that they could not be counted as
they rushed upon deck, only TO be met by
some INDUSTRIOUS wave, and swept of into
the sea. Groans, yelis and curses con-
tended with the fury of the gale; women
shrieked, and men shouted themselves
hoarse. Men and women olutched each
other regardlessly, shouting all the while,
and struggling with each other in frcn-
lied attempts to secure every coign OF
vantage. But this soul-renGing sight
could not last long. Sea after sea swept
over the ship, carrying off everything not
made of iron. 1t had been blowing mod
erately when | retired, but now it was 4
hurricane. Still the moon shonc brilliant
" and the land was plainly visible. |
saw Chief Steward Pitman on deck and
told him to take to the rigging. saw ut
this time eight or ten men hanging to the
starboard rigging. The chief steward and
| went into the main-top with a passenger.
A very few moments after the vessel
struck she kcecd over aft, then shifted her
position slightly, rs if sliding down oil
the ledge, and the after-part of the ship
filled and sank"