Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-25

Fart of thr Passengers and Crew saved
Aftcr Clinging 10 the Higging Tor
Hours.
New BEproEp, Mass, Jan. 1S.-Thc
steamer City of Columbus of the Savannah
line Of steamers which left Boston ycscr-
day afternoon went ashore on Devils Bridge
at GaYhcad and is fast breaking up; 104
lives were lost. The following is Cap
tain S. L. Wrichts statement "Thc City of
Columbus left Boston at 3 p. III. on Thurs
day AT $40 a. M, on Friday, Gayhead
light bearing south half cast, the vessel
struck on the outside of Devils Bridge buoy.
The wind was blowing n gale, west by
north. The vessel Immediately filled and
heelcd over the water breaking in and flood
ing the port side of the saloon. All the
passengers excepting few women and chill
drcn, came on deck, nearly all wearing life
prcservers All of the boats were cleared
away, but were Immediately swampcd. The
majority of the passengers were washed
overheard. Seven passengers left the YES
sci on life raft and about 40 more took to
the rigging. AT 1890 a. m. Gavhead life
boat put Off and took seven persons. An
other life boat put off between II and o'clock
The revenue cutter Dexter came along at about
1890 and sent off two boats. Twenty one
persons, one of whom was dead were placed
on board the Dexter and after all per-
sons were taken from the vessel tie Dexter
proceeded to New Bedford. Three persons
died after going on board the Dexter. The
names of the saved arc Horace Warehouse
Of tnIi In IDI, ,NcD a
Island, F. W. Fairbanks of Gorham Me-,
Thomas O'Lcary, fireman; T. |. Briggs Of
Boston, Further Hanson of Boston, A. A.
Pittman of Brooklyn, steward S. f. Wright
OF Boston, Capt; G.. ID. Whitcomb of Hudson,
Mass, Ii. W. Farnsworth of Townsend, Mass,
Geo. w. Farnsworth of Townsend, Mass,
John l.. Cook of Portland, Me-, II. We'd
man of Lawrence, Mass, Eugene McGarvy,
elias Mccarthy of Somcrville, Mass, II. A.
Phillips, first assistant engineer Jno Mad
den of Charlottetown, p. E. l., T. r. Ham,
monds of Goldsboro Me.
-Four dead bodies were brought to this city
in the Dexter. They are all nel. One is
not identified. Two are identified as uelon
Brooks of Norhboro, Mass. and G. Fred
Chandler Of Hyde Park. The other is a
man supposed to be from card found in his
pocket one of the firm of G. Richardson &
Co., Clinton Market, Boston. Ore of the
passengers lost was N. J. Morton, lately
connected with the Boston Globe, who was
going South for health.
Capt. Wright said in addition that about
II o'clock he stepped into his room to warm
himself. 1t was very cold. Everything was
working well and he went below short
time. Soon after he heard the second mate
in the pilot house with the mate, sing out
Port the helm" IL jumped out of my
room, thinking we had come across a vessel
bound down the Sound | then cried out
Hard aport,' and in the moonlight saw
the buoy on Devils Bridge in port about two
points forward Of the beam and about 800
yards distant. She Immediately struck.
| ordered the engines reversed and
she backed twice her length. The
steamer Immediately stopped aud l en-
deavorcd to head her to the north
but she filed forward and listed over
to port, so that the pankshjrc was about
four feet under water. | went aft and told
the passengers to keep cool and get life pre-
servers. next told the officers to get the
boats ready The steamer settled down ait
ard right. 1t was blowing very hard and a
heavy sea was running. We launched boat,
which was Immediately capsized. The sea
breaking over the steamers deck, and the
stern being entirely under water, we were
forced to 90 mp on top OF one of the houses
/ staid there a while but we were finally
Obliged to take to the rigging. The mate,
second mate, chief engineer and fourth en-
gineer took to a raft. | think the steamer
struck on Lone Rock" The captain is posi-
tive that he struck outside the buoy, aud II
lacking drfted inside
The officers of the cutter Dexter say that
the wind was blowing gale and a terrible
sea was running as they approached the yes
SCl The railing on the bow aud only por
ton Of the hull were visible. 1T was i'm
possible to row over the rigging as the boat
would have been pounded to pieces Thu
men in the rigging were forced to jump int
the sea and we caught them az they arose I,
the surface and pulled them into the boats
Some of the men could not swim but ncarl
every one in the rigging was saved Eu
gene McGaryy jumped from the rigging
Lieut.. Rhodes sprang for him bat the boa
was lifted Il feet on a crest and it was ncccs
sarY to starboard to avOiC the rigging.
The City 0! Columbus was one of tn
finest vessels on the coast. 1t was built i
1873 by John Roach 4 Son at Chester, Pa
She was built Of IRON and thoroughly cquiy
ped and was rated A for 100 years. Sh
was valued at $500, 900 aud was insured fo
$3.50 COO
The hedges on which the City of Columbu
struck are considered by mariners onc of tn
ilpSl dangerous pOlns on Inc coast. Inc
CONSIST OF a formation of submerged rock
constituting Il double ledge, the outer STRAIT
of which IS called Devils Back, and bot
lodges are called Devils Bridge. They al
abreast Gayhcad Light.
The City of Columbus had 80 tirst.cat
aud 20 storage passengers, about one.thir
Of whom were ladies and children and
crew Of 40. Fifty-lvc first-class and
Storage passengers and 81 Of the Office
and crew were lost
Hho Bodies Found Scattered Anon
Nctghboring rOris-Discavcries q
the vineyard Coast
New BEDFORD, Mass, Jan. 20,-Thc stca
tug Nellie attempted to-day to visit Il
wrecked steamer City Of Columbus. She hi
on board large number of persons scekil
the remains Of lost friends. Owing to L
rough weather the tug could not approach
within quarter mile Of the wreck. 1t W
thought that three bodies could be Sc
hanging to the ratnes Of the mzzen riggin
The Nellie ran within an eighth of a mile
~ Nstho IF at n