New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20

back through the surf He insisted upon second
.ttemn, and no persuasion could prevent him. This
time he WAS successful In reaching tho wreck, and
the moor men were dragged into his boat In a
balf-frozen condition He tried every means TO
arouse them, but all in vain. When ne
had reached the side of the cutter both men were
dead In many of his daring acts OF rescue Lieu
tenant Rhodes was accompanied and assisted o9
Lieutenant Roach and all the officers, and all 'nc
crew of the Dexter are gratefully spoken OF by the
fortunate survivors for their daring III Iesculne 'n
shipwrecked passengers.
MIR. Cooke remembers particularly two meh-"ne
seaman, and the other a passenger-who helu
on to the rigging for five or six hours Up
10 the last moment they were conscious ana as tnS
relaxed their hold from the ropes and went down
their last words were Of their families and MONIES
One man who had held out was killed by ihe la,
ing smokestack just as he was about 10 DC =,
couple of the crew were 50 disabled py 'ho i','
of the smokestack that they only survived '"0
tempest few moments longer.
The cantain of the Columbus insisted upon berhs
the last TO leave the wreck. and If 1t had not oee
for Mr. Cooke he would probably nave ciliieu
ont his idea and been among the NS''
As the captain not swimmer MI Cooho
comneled him to take the water first, ana MI
Cooke followed.
STATEMENT OF Y. w. FAIRBANKS.
Fw Fairbanks of Gorhan. Maine. one of the
Survivors is man Of mid lie age. hale and hearty
and intelligent lie SAYS that he was In his berth
In the steeraCe but was awake and already some
what uneasy when the accident occurred. lie
is of the opinion that the steamer STRUCK
on the rocks several times-two OF
three at least-before she came upon them many.
He noticed these successive shocks and thoughV
they might be caused by the high sea hurIihg ico
against the vessel. When the steamer was ]amiheu
npon the rocks the water rushed into the steerage'
and be scrambled out, taking with him the greater
part of his clothing which he had already donned'
As the vessel filled she heeled over and he got mo
her main rigging, where he clung for hours WIN
the sea breaking over him at frequent intervals
At one time some of the rigging gave way
and fell upon him. He received stunning dow
across the forehead aud another across the chest,
but his fingers. which were then frozen, retained
their almost mechanical clutch and he was not
swept off. He attributes his safety from death
largely to the fact that he wore a gossamer rubber
coat. Tearing the skirts of this garment, he TED
the ends around his waist, and thus the clothing
about his body was not appreciably wet. He thinks
many moro would have been saved only for the
high sea which running, not only
when the steamer struck, but also when
helm was at hand This rendered il impossible for
boat to approach closely to the wreck.
JUMPING INTO THE WATER.
When Mr. Fairbanks's turn came he jumped INTO
the water and went down until he thought that he
was going to the bottom. AS he came up again he
hogan to tread water" only to be overturned and
at the same time to be swept within reach OF
those who rescued him. He saw TWO of those
who made the same leap washed away, and
he thinks that others met the same fate Be
fore the rescue attempted n single Doat'
with several Indians in it, came of from Cay Head
but they did not dare approach the wreck near
enough to render any assistance 10 thOse upon IT.
They were engaged in picking up floating matter,
and doubt less they would have saved lne me OF
anv one who could have reached them. but to SWIM
TO them the Only means OF reaching thenl' was dh
impOssibillty.
THE PILOT DESERTS HIS POST.
While they were i'll the rigging together the
pilot Mr.. Fairbanks states, said to him that he
fixed the course of the vessel and fastened
the wheel, and he was cold
he went to the smOkcstack TO warm himself. lie
remained there fifteen or twenty minutes ana
when lie returned to his post he found that the ship
had veered around. When he ascertained that the
vessel was among the rocks, and that TO save her
was probably impossible he put her right on shore
and ran her as high up he could, with the result
that although she drew seventeen feet her torcloo
was in eleven feet of water MI Fairbanks Is OF
the opinion that many of the passengers ora
not leave the cabin until ther h"dies
were washed out by the waves which soon tore on
furniture and baggage before the eyes OF the sur
VivOrs. He SAYS that Oscar laslgl was In the rlg-
rng with him and persisted before aid was at hand;
He says further that not one OF inc women alJ
chi dren was seen by him alive after the vessel
went ashore.