Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-19
A Terrible Sea Disaster.

A COAST STEAMER GOES ASHORE OFF THE MASSA-
CHrsETTS COAsT-oyER 100 LIVES LosT-DETAIIs
OF TIE TRAGEDY.
| The steamer City of Columbus, Capt. Wright, OF
the Savannah line which left Boston for Savannah
Thursday, went ashore yesterday of Gay Head
over 1O0 persons We're lost. Capt. Wright, who
was brought to New Bedford on the revenue steamer
| Dexter, Says: The City OF Columbus left Boston,
carrying SO passengers and crew of As. At 3:45
a. IN. on Friday, Gay Head light bearing south half
east the vessel struck on the outside Of Devils
Bridge buoy. The wind was blowing a gale west
by north The vessel Immediately filed and keeled
over. the water breaking in and flooding the port
| side OF the saloon
All or TIE passengers, excepting q few women
ana children, came on deck, nearly all wearing life
| preservers. All OF the boats were cleared away,
but were Immediately swamped. majority OF
the passengers were washed overheard. Seven
passengers left the vessel life raft and about
Gay Head life boat put of and took seven persons
Another life boat put Off between IL and O'Clock.
me revenue cutter Dexter came along at about
1880 and sent off two boats. Twenty lone persons
one OF whom was dead, were placed, on board the
Dexter and, after all the persons were taken from
the vessel, the Dexter proceeded to New Bedford.
lhIee persons died after going on board the DeX-
| ter
TAXING SURVIVORS FROM THE WRECK.
The officers OF the Dexter say that the cutters
boat was sent to the relief OF the unfortunate peo-
the rigging was cleared OF the survivors, The men
| in the rigging were forced to jump into the sea,
and the crew OF the Dexter caught them as they
arose to the surface and pulled them into the boats
Some OF the men could not swim, but nearlyevery one
IN the rigging was saved: Capt; Wright was among
frozen SO stif that they were unable to renquiSh
their hold on the rigging, were at length the only
persons remaining on the steamer, excepting the
shouted: "Save these men first" 'They are frOZen,'
was the ileutenants answer; The captain then
jumped, and although lie could not swim stroke
he was rescued by Lieut. Kennedy.
HEROIsM OF A REVENUE OFFICER.
Lieut.. Rhodes performed heroic act. Two men
hung in the rigging unable to move from exhaus-
ton. He determined to save them at the peril Of
his life. Finding that he was unable to approach
the wreck, he got into life boat and, tying rope
about him, waited until he was within about thirty
feet OF the vessel, when he sprang into the sea-
He had nearly reached the wreck when he was
struck by a piece OF timber on the leg, and sank
He was pulled aboard the boat and taken to the
cutter. His leg was found to be cut but after
changing his clothing, as the smoother, he
determined to make last attempt He again set
out for the wreck, and this time the men were
reached One man was hanging with his feet and
arms through the ratlnes and his head was hang
he murmured: "For Gods sake, don't touch me-"
The man, who was afterward found to be Mr. Rich
ardson, was placed In the boat, but died before
reaching the cutter About $500 was found In a
wallet in his pocket. The second man, who was
the last person removed from the wreck, was the
rallnes in the weather rigging, and, although
breathing when placed in the boat he also expired
before reaching the cutter TWenty-three are
known to have been saved. The fate of those on
the raft IS unknown. Five dead bodies have been
found Most OF the passengers were from Boston
and vicinity. About 104 persons are unaccounted
for.
THE ILL FATED VESSEL.
The city Of Columbus was OF the finest vessels
ON the coast She was built in 1878 by John Roach
| & Son, at Chester, Pa, for the Ocean Steamship
! company, of New York. to run between that port
| and Savannah. The Columbus was built of iron
and thoroughly equipped. She was rated for 100
years. and was OF 1897 tons burden. She was 30
feet long and 80 feet beam. She was valued at
s3DO,OOO, and was insured for S25O,OOO, OF which
panieS.
The hands employed in the Petersburg WAY
tobacco factories, who struck some days ago In
consequence of a reduction in their wages, have
| IL iLnl alSn nl.lD llIaia.,