New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-21
STATEMENTS OF SURVIVORS.
WHAT THE MAN AT THE WHEEL sAYs-THE PURs-
ER'S ACCOUNT.

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUNE.l
NEw-BEDFoRD, Mass, Jan. 2O-Roderick A. Mac
Donald of Boston, the quarermaster of the City OF
Columbus saved in the only ships boat thatreached
the shore, tells the following story: Il went on
duty at II o'clock the captain and Mate Fuller be-
ing on duty also Fuller relieved at quarter
before 2, and the second mate Harding, took his
place. Nv watch was from IL to 4. 1t was clear
enough to see the light, but hazy on land and the
wind was blowing heavily, little Oh our starboard
bow.
after passing Tarpauhn light on Naushon Is
land our course has usually been southwest by
west, which ought to take us out clear In md
channel The captain went below from three
quarters of an hour to an hour before she struck we
were then above Tarpaulin to the west. Probably
a quarter q half hour before he went below, ne
gave me the course southwest by west and the
second mate was in the pilOt-house at the time;
but of course cannot say whether he heard il or
not He told me a short time before she struck
not TO 90 any to the eeward of the course steered
as straight course as | could. The second mate
was at his post all the time We could see the
shore but not plainly 1t was hazy and
we could not judge the distance very
clearly by the lamps. 1t appeared little
closer than usual to me; but l could not tell ex-
actly,
"Not long afterward, the man at the lookout
came to the pilot house and reported to the second
mate. did not Overhear BIN, but he told me TO-
day that he had reported tie buoy on the port bow
The second mate sung out to me Hard a-port.' |
put the helm hard s-port at once Just then the
captain came running up. He, 100, cried Hard
a-port!' But the helm was already there As he
iumped into the pilot-house she struck. He looked
out and said, There's the buoy; I'm outside OF It,
He saw the buoy, did not as l was not looking
for it, He backed the ship, put the wheel to star
hoard and gave an order to hoist the lib, to cant
her head out to the west. She did not seem to me
TO strike hard at first. She went off couple of
points and then swung back again. She wouldn't
back off: thereupon he tried to go ahead again, but
she would not move. Her head moved around
couple of points, each way, but she did not leave
the rock. She NAV have drifted some since
LAUNCHING THE BOATS.
"The second mate left the pilot-house before
did to get the jib on stayed till captain told me
to let 90 the wheel and get the boats cleared. met
the men pulling at the sail and told them not TO
mind it, but to get the boats ready and went down
mvself to get a knife to cut away the lashings.
wentto No. 9 boat on the starbOard slde where some
of the crew working. We got thecover oil her
aud the lee ashlngs cut, when the vessel canted to
port The boat got in such fix that we could not
lannch her. But men were working at the same
time on the port side; AMI whel she keeled over
the boats went under, aud only one was got loose.
| went 10 another boat on the starbOard slde and
saw the first engineer Mr. Morrison, pulling at the
fall went to his help. and found the second
mate also at the boat. We could not get that of
either.
BAILING WITH BOOT.
"Ilet myself down by painter to catch boat
that was adIift. and had got TO the wac, when /
saw a boat with seven persons in 1t o'e on the
port side jumped, but missed it, and fell over
board then got hold of the gunwale. | cried Tor
help, but no one helped me, was just about gone
when the boat filed with water and sea helped
me into her, When she filled two men aud woman
jumped overheard, leaving four in it. Oar boat
then got away from the wreck. We got ont the
oars and began to paddle. Some wanted go direct
10 the shore. but objected because was afraid of
the shore j told them TO keep her before the wind
and sea and found the tide carrying us Up toward
the lighthouse had great trouble in keeping her
ont as one of the sailors who stcered in the stern
II holding her in the bow would put her in. Ned
Learv sailor took off his boot To bale her out but
could not do anything. We didn't know then that
a hole had been slowed in her. Oar gnnwale5 were
under water. bat being life boat we didn't sink.
We followed the edge of the breakers till daylight
and then got ashore about two miles eastward of
the wreck. One OF the men, Charles +. James, was
dead before he got ashore; but we carried his body
with us. James Brown, passenger, was disabled
Aftera little exercise was able to walk mp to the
house and get help The other men who were saved
with Inc were James Brown and two sailors, Ned
Leary and Simon Galante."
ALAEMING THE PASSENGERS.
William C. Paulding the purser of the City OF
Columbus was saved by the life boat from the shore
OF its first trip. To-day, at tho lighthouse at Gay
Head he told the story Of his rescue as follows:
turned in at ten o'clock. when the steamer was
of Pollock Rip Lightship. / was asleep, and was
walked by the shock of the vessels striking. There
was al first great shock. and Immediately she be-
gan grinding and pounding on the rocks We wero
all provided with life-saving apparatus, having six
metallic life boats and life raft al i'll frs class
order. One of the boats always kept uncovered
and ready for As came out of my room on the
| hurricane deck, / met tho first officer Edward
! Fuller.
81 asked What does this mean9'
"He answered, The Columbus is lost. She's on
DEVILS Bridge
How deep is she going to sink asked
She'll go no deeper, he said.
"1hen ] said. III get the passengers out Tho
night was clear and beautiful. l could SEQ Gay
Head shore plainly. l hurried down into the main
saloon and met the second steward, Charles HOws.
To him said: Get your crowd together. If you
can't get them out, knock in the stateroom doors.
There were some passengers IN the main saloon, but
not many / heard Hows tell Two of them
to 20 up into the social hall on the hurricane deck
lie then took the starbOard and the pOr. main
saloon, and began 10 arouse the passengers.
There were seven rooms on side. l raped ON the
doors, but before j got to the last the Columbus
keeled to port so quick that am sure great many
passengers were drowned In their rooms. She