The Portland daily press., 1884-01-21

to position in the main rigging, where he re-
mained until he leaped off fsr final struggle
for life, in the afternoon of that day. When
the ship struck the captain says he looked out
OF side port before going on deck, and could
distinctly trace the different coloriDgs of the
ground Of Gay Head, so light and clear was
the night. After daylight, when objects could
be distinctly discerned all around be noted the
position OF the buoy near by, and saw that
there were breakers outside of it, although the
ship was lying inside, and came to the conclu.
| sion that the buoy was out of position. Be-
tween and o'clock in the morning he saw
| steamer of New York freight line pass to the
Westward going North the Glaucus), and
wondered why abe took not the slightest no.
tice OF the terrible tragedy, which was enact
ing SO near her position. He says that from
| his outlook in the rigging of the City of Co.
lumbus, he could have distinctly seen man
standing against the white house of the pass
| ing steamer, and cannot conceive how the
crowd of human beings in the rigging of the
wrecked vessel should have been overlooked,
especially as each had on a white life preserv-
er, which must have given the black mass
dotted appearance at their distance away.
There was no Stacking of speed or alteration
Oh course SO far as he could see, on the part OF
| the passing steamer.
The wind was not blowing what he would
call heavy at the time. and the sea did not run
| nearly SO high then as later in the day. The
revenue cutter found no difficulty in anchor
| ing in the vicinity, and the efficient work of
thO iuttOA COmpaHy was pSItUElnCO ldtSClJ
| while she thus lay at anchor. The smoke
| stack of the City of Columbus had not
| fallen when the New York steamer passed.
] From his position on the side of the ship,
| while she was sinking aft, Capt. Hammond
| assisted a number of struggling persons
| to a like position from the house and deck.
| Women and children stood no chance at all;
! they we're washed overheard as relentlessy as
| though walking the p,auk from pirates rail-.
| strange and unwonted scene on shipboard
| took fplace when the boats were cut away.
| vi discipline such as is usually observed on
| board American vessels of high class, there
| was little to be seen during these operations.
Boat after boat was cut away, taken in charge
| by oitlcers or crew, or both, of the ship, and
| manipulated without the slightest referapce to
| the passengers. The first boat was cast off at
| one end. and left hanging by the others to
pound to atoms against the ship, a result
| which soon followed. Another was launched,
and went to sea empty. Another was manned
| by few officers and men, without passenger
or half Ia complement, and disappeared, the
| captain never knew whittier. Still another
| was cut loose, veered off alongside and drifted
outward, secured only by her painter, where
she foated all day among the debris. seriously
interfering with the operations of the rescuers
| who were obliged to be particularly careful
and wary OF the floating distractions, which
utterly prevented their close approach to the
wrecked craft The currents and eddies all
around the vessel were very powerful so that
once beyond limit not far from the ships
side, any object or body in the water would
be carried rapidly still farther off but imme-
diately alongside, OR over the submerged decks
things were swallowed mp and returned to the
surface again in all sorts of fantastic ways. In
this condition of things human bodies, some
alive and Others dead, plunged about wildly
under the very faces of those who were hang
ling for life to the rigging, and who were able
| to do nothing else but hang on for themselves
and absolutely nothing for their mora helpless
neighbors. Thus hour after hour passed the
| wind cold and Epnumhin0 rha OF in,
shiyering drizzles, men, women and children
dead all about, and dying at short intervals on
the scene. When the smoke-stack fell, it top
pied over upon the topmaSt, upon and near
which was the largest gathering of survivors
Captain Hammond crawled downward
through hole in the top and secured a COM
paratively safe position, realizing that the
event must soon occur, and, at the same
time he halloed a warning to his companions
to look out for themselves and get upon the
safe side of the mast. Some did so and saved
their lives thereby, others would not or could
not, and thus met misfortune in new form.
when the stack was struck, one man was
killed outright; and two others were Desperate
~ wounded, as if anything could add to the
horrors of their situation. Captain Hammond
assisted some TO position alongside, or near
himself, and did what he could in the way of
advice, relief and practical direction, being an
old sailor, and we'll and strong of heart and
limb.
Meanwhile, the revenue cutter was at the
scene, and her men worked nobly and with
the energy OF giants. They performed really
prodigious feats OF hard and fearless work, ac-
cording to the captain, who, because he could
donothiDg else, kept an eye on all that was 60
ing forward. By his account no praise can be
too great for the men of that cutter, and no
form or extent of difficulty seemed to deter
them from the most vigorous, and at the same
time intelligent action The lifeboat from the
shore also was manned By men of the same
quality, and splendidly did the two crews CO.
operate to succor the unfortunates of the
wrecked vessel. The boats of the cutter were
cockle-shell affairs, altogether too fmsy for
the service then required of them but they
were handled as though they were lifeboats,
which they were not, in any technical sense.
Ihe fallen sparS and sbrouds and rigging of
the wrecked vessel hoated out in q confused
mass around her, filling the water alongside
and for quite distance outward; and this
condition made the near approach Of the boats
impossible, and sadly prevented any favorable
action of the survivors in Drawing the waves
toward the boats. These boats lay usually
from 40 to 60 yards away from the submerged
ship, although at intervals they came a little
nearer, and sometimes, for brief period,
quite Close When one was rescued, he inva-
riably had to leap from the rigging as far out
as possible into the water, and then swim for
life, ii indeed he could swim, and float with
the current above alluded to, if he could not
swim. Men were hauled into the boats alive
or dead, if they could be rescued, and many
died after being thus hauled in.
Whlle the feeble body of d comrade-who
had some time before jumped for life, and who
nad peen dying by lncnes in the swir5 and ed
dies around ever since-was washed up and
down before his eyes, Capt. Hammond made
up his mind that his chance for salvation had
presented itself. The cutters boat was watch
ing the struggle of the comrade aforesaid, aud
trying in vain to reach him. Capt Hammond
seized upon the blight of loosened stay, con-
centrated all his strength for an outward leap,
realizing the mistake of the unfortunate COM
rade before him, let go the mast and dove
squarely forward. He had previously tied
handkerchief around each trousers leg at the
ankle to keep ant wind and water. His heavy
leather boots were on his feet and not a gar
ment had beel removed since he left his state
room soon after the ship struck. Thus equip
peds after clnging for ten hours to wreck, it.
self constantly groaDing and moaning in dy-
ing ago1les; having seen more than 100 VIC
tins yield up their lives before his eyes, with a
scene OF destruction, desoiation and tragic per-
form ance, the most terrible nature to be con-
ceived OF constantly in full view throughout
all these hours-he had now to swim 40 Yards.
over bowling sea, laShed to fury in all his
Immediate vicinity, and with breakers roaring
their terrible death-chant close at hand. Capt
Hammond reached the outer current. however
in safety, and Immediately the Forbes lifeboat
was after him. as their neighbor of the cutter
pursued his comrade He pressed steadily for
ward, and was finally hauled into the boat by
his rescuers, comparatively in good condition,
cNnoANOA1hS NO" b1onJ W0IO NJlHS 6N6A dlt6E
being saved from the water. Soon he stood
upon the cutters deck, his terrible experience
thing of the past.
CAPF. WEIGHTS STATEMENT.
Detailed Account of the Wreck Tho
Steamers Course, Etc.
New BEDFORD, Jan. 19.-Capt. S. E.Wright
Of the City of Columbus, remained on the rev.
enae cutter Dexter throughout today, assisting
in the search for the bodies of his late pas
sengers. In conversation Capt. Wright stated
that the steamer left Boston at $50 o'clock p.
m. On the 17th inst, having a strong wester-
ly breeze, with fine, clear weather. cat mid
night" said the captain, ''we passed Cross Rip
lightship, and a strong breeze from the west
southwest helped us down the sound in good
shape. After passing Nobska ordered west
southwest course steered and left the deck in
charge of Augustus Harding, the second mate,
while went below to warm myself. It was
very cold, and, having been on deck all day