The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-06-03
DISASTER AT SEA.

A French Fishing Barque Run Down by
tho steamer City OF Rome and Twenty
Two Lives Lost-only Two Men Saved.
New YORK, May 29.-The steamer City
of Rome, of the Anchor line, from Liver
pool, when off the banks Of New Foundland
on the 25th inst, ran over the French barque
George Johns, which sank Immediately.
She had twenty-four persons on board, OF
whom only two were saved. The passen-
gers Of the City of Rome signed testimo-
nial praising the captain of the steamship
and the officers for promphess In putting
out two life-boats and doing everything pos
sible in trying to save life. A dense fog
prevailed at the time The lookout could
not see the barque, which was at anchor.
All had sunk except five when the boats
were got out and three sunk before the
boats got to them.
Captain Munroe, of the steamer City OF
Rome, says that the French fishing barque
was at anchor, and owing to the dense fog
prevailing at the time, could not be seen by
the lookout on board the City Of Rome. The
steamers life-boats, which were quickly
lowered, could only rescue two Of the
twenty-four persons who had been aboard
the barque. The rest either went down
with the Inflated craft or sank after strug-
Cling for brief period with thewaves. The
steamer remaining near the spot for some
time until it became absolutely certain that
no more lives could be saved.
The following memorial was afterwards
prepared and presented TO Captain Munroe:
We, the undersigned passengers on board
the steamship City of Rome, being on
voyage from Liverpool to New York, while
deploring the sad accident which resulted IN
the lamentable loss of twenty-five lives, de.
sire TO express to you Captain Munroe, ana
the whole of your officers and crow, our ap-
probation of the skill and promptitude with
which everything was done that could be
done to avert the disaster and TO save lie
after its occurrence.
Some OF us are old voyagers and have been
in serious collisions and we are prepared 10
affirm that we never witnessed anything so
perfect as the discipline maintained through
out those few trying moments, during which,
despite the fog which prevailed, you brought
your ship over the exact spot where the un-
fortunate craft had gone down; lowered
port and starboard llfe-boats the instant it
was possible TO do so. and used every exer.
ton to rescue the three or four men who
alone were visible after tho wreck went
down. Unfortunately, these efforts were
only partially successful, but the two sur
vivors are living witnesses to tho gallant
conduct and good seamanship which
snatched them from watery grave.
This was signed by oil the adult male
passengers, cabin and intermediate. The
barque belonged to the port Of st. Heliers,
Jersey Channel Islands.
A passenger on the City Of Rome said:
There was hardly shock felt on board
the steamer when she run down the barque.
We cut through her like pasteboard. There
was, therefore, no occasion for panic, but
we were horror-strcken when we learned
what had happened. The steamer could
not be stopped until she had gone, should
Judge, quarter Of a mile, though she had
been running slowly on account Of the dense
fog.
When she started back sho ran as fast as
possible, but was stopped skillfully almost
on the spot where the collision occurred.
We could see four or five men clinging Ia
floating fragments Of the barque. The
weather was very cold, and the sea high.
The passengers all leaned over the sides
and watched the life-boats disappear in the
fog. They were guided by cries for help
from the unfortunate men. One of the life
boats soon returned with two Of the ship
wrecked men who were nearly dead from
exhaustion. The boat put out again, but
suddenly the only remaining member of the
barque's crew appeared close to the steamer,
clnging TO mattress. His sudden appear
ance, where all the passengers could SEE
him, caused intense excitement. A life
preserver was thrown to him, but he was
too weak TO put II over his shoulder.
'Pll give R100 to any one who will save
that mans life," exclaimed passenger, al
Englshman. The fourth officer slid dow
rope which was made fast 10 the steamers
side and succeeded In fastening line 10 tn
drowning mans body. The sailors begaI
TO haul in the rope, but before the man hat
cleared the water the rope began to slip ant
he had not strength enough to hold ou TO \
with his hands. In his desperation h
caught the rope with his teeth, and wa
raised nearly half way up the steamers sid
when he gave out and dropped back into tn
water. The steamer remained at the seen
about half an hour longer and then pro
ceeded on her way. The steamer was no
damaged at all.