The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-24
ONE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
The Terrible gh.pwrech OF = Savannah
stenmshiP.


BosroN. January lS.-The vessel re-
ported loat off Gay Head, Martha'e Vine
yard, proves to be the steamer "City OF
Columbus" Capt. Wright, of the savan-
nah line, which left Boston for Savannah
yesterday afternoon at g o'clock. F. w.
Nickerson & Son, agents of the line have
received the following dispatch New
bedford, Mass., January 1S.-F. w.
Nickerson Il Son: The steamer City Of
Columbus is ashore on Devils Bridge,
Gay Head, and is fast breaking up.
About one hundred lives lost. Will
leave on early train in morning. Saved
by revenue cutter 'D"-.sr.' Signed. S.
+. Wright, Master"
NEW BEDFORD. Mass, January 1s-
The following is Capt. Wright's state
ment regarding the loss Of the steamer
CITY Of Columbus:
The City of Columbus" left Boston at
3 P. IN. on Thuruday, carrying 80 passen.
gers and crew of IS. At 3.45 a. m. on
Friday, Gay Head light bearing South
half east. the vessel struck on the out
side of Devils Bridge buoy. The wind
was blowing gale west by north. The
vessel Immediately filled and kneeled
over, the water breaking in and flooding
the port side of the saloon. All of the
Passengers excepting few women and
children came on deck, nearly all wear
ing life preservers. All of the boats
we're cleared away, but we're Immediately
swamped. The majority Of the passen-
gers left the vessel on a life raft and
about forty more took to the rigging. At
1920 a. m. Gay Head life boat put off
and took seven persons. Another life
boat put of between - and l o'clock.
The revenue cutter Dexter" came along
at about 1890 o'clock. and sent off two
boals. Twenty.one persons, one Of whom
was dead, we're placed on board the
Dexter" and after all the peraons we're
taken from the vessel the dexter" pro-
ceeded to New Bedford. Three persona
died after going on board the "Dextor." !"
-Four dead bodies were brought to this
city on the Dexter" They all mon.
One is not identified. Two are identified
as Helon Brooks of Northboro', Masa.,
and Fred Chandler Of Hyde Park, Mass.
The other 10 q man supposed from o card
found in his pocket to be one of the
firm of G. Richardson & Co. Of the Clin.
ton Market, Boston.
One Of the passengers lost was A. J.
Morton, lately connected with the Boston
GLOBE, who was going South for his
health.
The ledge on which the "City of Co.
lumbus" struck is considered by mariners
to be one of the most dangerous points
or the coast: The hedges ccnsis. of a
formation of submerged rocks, constitut.
ing double ledge, the outer stratum Of
which is called the Devils Back, both
Lodges being called the Devils Bridge.
The ledges are abreast of Gay Head light
on the mainland, and extend q little to
the Southward Of it. The outer ledge
or Devils Back is about an eighth of q
mile from the mainland. On either side
Of the outer ledge lie very deep water.
The upper part of the ledge is formed
like the Gable of house, 60 that vessel
striking it diagonally would naturally
heel over on her beam ends. The course
of vessels is around Gay Head to paas BY
the outer ledge on the south.
The City of Columbus" had eighty
hrst-class and twenty-five steeFage passen-
gers, about one third of whom we're Ia
dies and children, and crew Of forty
five. The total number Of persons saved
is twenty.three. Five dead bodies have
been recovered, and one hundred end
nineteen souls are thus unaccouuted for.
Seventeen of the saved and four of the
dead were brought here, and ak gu opposed
to be living anu one dead are at Gay
Head.
The following arc the names of those
taken ashore at Gay Head, one Of them
is known to be dead, but it is not known
which one: Henry Collins, third eugi.
Kennedy, ~ai.ss; Edward o'Brier. dee.
waiter; John Holmes, pieman. Ono
passenger, name unknown.
Capt. Wright says in addition to tie
foregoing that he passed the Cross Rip
ligh.ship 81 12 o'clCek and cSnt;nue,! ~
east and west. The sea was choppy.
with a strong breeze west southwest.
Passed Nobska with course weat south.
west, and stepped into my room to warm
myself It was very cold. Everythipg
was working we'll. went below short
time and soon after heard tho second
mate, who was in the pilot house with
the mate, sing ou: TO the quarter master,
to port helm. jumped out of my room.
thinking We had como across q vessel
bound down tho sound. I then cried
out: Hard o port" not knowing it wao
not vessel, aud in the moonlight saw
the buoy on the DeviPs Bridge, on tho
port side, about two points forward of
the beam and about 500 ysrds distant,
She Immediately struck. / ordered tho
engines reversed, and abe backed about
twice her length. The steamer immedi
ately stopped and ordered tho lib hoia-
ted and endeavored to head her 10 north
but she filled forward and listed over 10
the port side 10 that the plankshear ssas
about four feet under water. / went an
and told the passengers 10 keep cool and
get life preaervers.. ] next told the
officers Of tho deck to got the boats ready,
The steamer settled down at and righted.
It was blowing very hard and O hsavy.
aea was running. / launched port No. 8
boat, which was Immediately cepsized.
The sea was breaking over the steamer.
The deck and ntern being entirely under
water, We we're forced to re upon the tor
OF the houses. staid there awhile, but
we were finally obliged to take to the
rigging. The matc, eecond mate, chief
engineer and fourth engineer took to the
ran. think the steamer struck on Lone
Rock.
The captain is positive that he struck
outside OF the buoy, and 10 backing
drifted inside.
= "A mole. on the nose indicates that a
man will be a great traseler-probably