Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-31
THE DEVILS BRIDGE DISASTER.
Detectives Securing the Personal Effects
of the Lost.

of the Lost.
A special from New Bedford to the New
York Herald, of the 29th, says: A few of
the friends of tbs lost still remain here.
The patrOlmen reported at noon at Gay
Head that they had not found any bodies.
The fact that no life preservers had been
found is the subject of much comment. II
shows that they were in all probability
utilized by the passengers and that they
nave Deen taken out to sea by the lifeleSs
bodies to which they were attached
Whether worn by the passengers or not
the fact that none to speak of have been
found upon the shores would naturally
lead to the belief that they as well as the
90 uncovered bodies have been carried
to sea. 1t is fair also to presume that the
steamer was well supplied with life pre-
servers.
FLOTSAM AND JETsAM.
Quite a number of articles have been
found since my last at various points be-
tween here and Martha's Vine
yard by the State detectives.
At the house of Abram Rodman
was secured a trunk marked go. B. R.''
This trunk was of ordinary dimensions,
covered with russell leather and guarded
by strips of wood. Peter Johnson was in
terested in its recovery, and at first OBJ
jected to its delivery; but the officers were
provided with letter from District Attor-
ney KnOwltOn to the effect that the State
could pay no salvage on articles, and it
was doubtful, moreover, if any salvage
could be collected on personal property: /:
and that if it should finally be
decided that such was the
case, the expenses of procuring it
would be greater in many cases than the
articles would amount to. Then again
the letter said the most important thing
to be considered was the light in which
the transactions of the salvOrs if they held
the articles would be viewed by the peo-
pie at large. 1t is but fair to say that in
nearly every instance, when application
has been made, the people, although poor
and needing all that they saved from the
wreck to make them comfortable. cheerilv
gave up what they had secured, taking
the receipt OF the officers. Messrs. Cooper
and Vanderhoop, of the Selectmen, ac-
companied the officers all through Gay
Head, and used their influence to secure
the giving up of all the personal property
in the hands of their toWnsmen.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY.
The trunk spoken of had a check num-
bered 326 and contained large quantity
of clothing, such as handkerchiefs. collars
and underwear, and also some crOckerv-
ware and silverplated knives and forks.
the latter marked so. b. r." This trunk
was delivered up to Selectman Wander
hoop. At the house of Mrs. ROsanna Rod
man an open-faced, Old-fashiOned silver
watch, stopped at 1920 O'Clock. with the
plated chain and a memorandum book
supposed to have been taken from the
same body, and 81 in money taken from
several other bodies, were secured. These
bodies were washed on shore at Cav
Head. At the house of Eugene l.. ThOmp-
son the officers secured a chased gold
breastpin having a cluster of imitation
coral for setting and pendant composed
OF single bead Of the same substance
Also a pair of earrings to match. This
Jewelry was enclosed in a small box
which was washed ashore. Charles II.
Mingo had at his house $15 in money found
IN clasp purse taken from the body of
Charles +. James, of Everett. There was
also on the body a letter of recOmmenda-
tiOn from the Odd Fellows of Everett to a
lodge in Florida, gold ring with a red
stone, which was taken in charge by DR..
Leach of Vineyard Haven. At the house
of Thomas g.. Jeffers was a trunk. in
which several parties had an interest. but
after some talk it was delivered to the
officers. 1t was Of russet leather, COW
cred with strips of wood to protect it, but
it had been broken open by the force of
the waves. The contents consisted of
blankets and sheets and a quantity of
liquor. 1t Is supposed to belong to one of
the crew of the steamer. Mr.. VanderhOOf
also gave up check numbered 40, which
he found in the pocket. The above named
articles comprised all that was recovered
in Gay Head.