The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-19
The Vessel Strikes Rock, and, Being Unable
to Release Herself, Is Beaten to
Pieces by the Waves.
Five Bodies Recovered and One Hun
dred and Nineteen Missing.
The Officers of the Vessel Display the
Greatest Goodness and Bravery in the
Service of the Passengers.
A WRECKED STEAMER.
One Hundred and Seven Lives Lost by the
Wreck of the City of Columbus.


Wreck of the City of Columbus.
Boston, Jan. 1S-F w. Nickerson & Son,
agents of the Savannah steamship line, have re-
ceived the following dispatch from S. E. Wright,
dated New Bedford Mass:
"The steamer City of Columbus is ashore on
Devils Bridge, Gayhead, and is fast breaking up.
About hundred lives were lost Will leave on
the early train in the morning. Was saved by
the cutter Dexter"
The following is Captain Wright's statement;
The City of Columbus left Boston for Savannah
at o'clock on Thursday afternoon, carrying
eighty passengers anda crew of forty-ive. At
3;45 A. NJ. on Friday Grayhead light bearing
south half east, the vessel struck on the outside
of the Devils Bridge buoy The wind was
blowing a gale from the west by north The
vessel Immediately filed and keeled over, the
water breaking in and flooding the port side sa-
loon. All the passengers except few women
and children, came on deck, nearly all wearing
life-preservers The boats were cleared away,
but they were Immediately swamped. A ma
jority of the passengers were washed over
board Seven passengers left the vessel on
life-raft, and about forty more took to the
rigging. About 1890 A. NJ, the Gayhead
life-boat put off and took seven persons.
Another life-boat put off between IL
II
Dexter came along about 1890, and
sent off two boats. Twenty-one persons, one of
whom was dead, were placed on board the Dex-
ter and, after all persons had been taken from
the vessel, the Dexter proceeded to New Bed
ford Three persons died aftergoing aboard the
Dexter
The names of the saved are: Horace Water
house, Bath Me-; John White, Prince Edwards
Island F. W. Fairbanks, Gorham, Me-;
Thomas OLeary, fireman; E. t.
Briggs, Boston; Furban Hanson, Boston;
A. A. Pittman Brooklyn; Steward s. E Wright,
Boston; Captain G. D. Whitcomb, Hudson,
Mass; W. Fl. Farnsworth Townsend, Mass;
George W. Farnsworth, Townsend, Mass; John
L. Cook, Portland, Me-. c. H. Wiedman, Law
renee, Mass; Eugene McGary, alias Mccarthy,
Somerville Mass; H. A, Phillips first assistant.
engineer; John Madden, Charlottetown, Prince
Edwards island; I. R. Hammond, Goldsboro,
Me-
Eo,1p daad hOdiac xvara hro,1obt to 4l,ic Nv,
the Dexter One was not identified. Two were
identified as Helen Brooks, of Northboro, Mass,
and G. Fred Chandler, of Hyde Park The
other is supposed to be from card found in his
pocket member of the firm of c. Richardson
g. Co., Clinton Market, Boston One passenger
lost was N. J. Morton, lately connected with the
Boston Globe, who was going South for his
health.
The lodges on which the City of Columbus
struck are considered by mariners to be one of the
most dangerous points the coast The lodges
consist of formation of submerged rocks con
stituting double ledge, the outer strata of
which is called Devils Back, both ledges being
called Devils Bridge" These lodges are abreast
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 a hous e. so that yes
sci striking it diagonaly would naturally heel
over onto her beam ends The course of vessels
is around Gayhead to pass by the outer ledge on
the south
Additional Particulars of the Disaster
Boston, Jan. 12-The City of Columbus had
eighty first-class and twenty two steerage pas
sengers aboard one third of whom were ladies'
and children and of forty-ive. About
forty men took refuge in the rigging, where they
remaineduntil 10:30 A. NJ, when life-boat put
off from Gayhead and took away seven pas
sengers, one of whom died soon afterwartl
Shortly after noon another boat put
off to the distressed vessel, and meanwhile the
revenue cutter Dexter came along and sent off
two boats. Twenty one men were taken from
the wreck and placed aboard the Dexter, four of
whom died afterward. After all persons on the
wreck had been taken off, the Dexter sailed for
this port where she arrived this evening. The
total number of persons saved was twenty three
Five dead bodies recovered, and 1l9 souls
are unaccounted for Seventeen saved and
four dead were brought here. and six
supposed to be living and one dead, are at Gay
head The names of those at the latter place
are unknown. Following is
FULL LIST OF THE LOST
VIM. w. Wright and wife Boston; Z. S. Rand,
lawyer, and wife, Roxbury; It K. Hale, produce
dealer Boston; Levi Lawrence, residence un-
known Geo. Fl. Kellogg, residence unknown;