New-York tribune., 1886-07-20
THE STEAMER GATE CITY SUNK,
SPLIT ON A ROCK IN 1.-THE GRAVEYARD"

AGROUND IN SIGHT THE PLACE WHERE THE
CITY OF COLUMBUS WAS wRECKED-ALL SAVED
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. July 19.-The steamer
Gate City, Captain Hedge OF the Boston and Savannah
Steamship Line, while passage from Savannah to
Boston, went ashore the south siio OF the Island oil
Naushon in Vineyard Sound, at 7l5 yesterday In
thick fog and lies In about fifteen feet Of water.
Tho tad been In the fog all day and for four
hours had had her engine stopped. When she struck
she was going under one bell, and had a man heaving
the lead. She struck Just as the man called out: I'VE
have no water" boat put OF from the steamer and
in search of help Near Tarpauin Cove the boat
encountered the steamer william o. Brown which went
to the City, and took of thirty-sx OF her hfty-wo
passengers and brought them to this city, where they
took the train ut 525 a. to-day for Boston. The
rest Of the passengers and remained the Gate
City, until the arrival OF the steamer MOnohanset from
Cottage City. Tho latter reaching Woods Holl, this
ming, found the mate OF the Gate City there with
a boats crew, took them aboard aud steamed along
Vineyard the direction OF the wrecked steamer
On the way the MOnohaDset passed Captain Hedge and
another boats crew bound for Woods Hol, but did not
stop to pick them up When the Monohanset got along
side the Gate City, the remaining passengers sixteen In
number, were transferred with their baggage. and
brought to this city, where they took the train at 1055
q. m. for Boston.
The wrecked vessel lies the south OF Robinsons
Hole point at the southwest end Of the island Of
ISLANDS six miles the west Of Woods IIol She rests
with her hows toward the shore little more than her
length from the beach. She has list to port She Is
close TO the passage between Naushon and Pasque
Islands her position is considered by seafarng men
to dangerous The place is five aud one-haf miles
northeast of Devils Bridge where the City OF Columbus
OF the Boston and savannah ine. was wIecKei ON Jan
uary Is, 1884, when l0l lives were lost
CAPTAIN Hedge, upon reaching Woods Uo mado the
following statements: On sunday afternoon, dense fog
prev allied with a smooth We made Vineyard Sound
ghtshlp on bow and Pigs Ledge all right passing
right OF her. and then shaped my course down
Vineyard Sound, purposey hugging the north side.
intended to feel my way along carefully until made
land; then there would be trouble. About 7:l5 while
sounding along from time to time and running slow
under last ort of fourteen fathoms having
Just been made discovered land and had got the wheel
hard aport when at the time the leadsman came
running up with the report OF soa water and the ship
struck Immediately. She was heading east northeast
the proper course single length OF the ship would
have carried her by the point The ship struck on
compartment about under the boiler and the fires were
put The pumps were startei but was impossible
to free her.
rhe POSITION OF the ship dangerous one but the
smooth aud the passengers could ut any time be
Immediately boat under charge Of the mate was sent to
re the Disaster but after several hours OF wander
habatoh he returned to the ship lie was then sent
by boat to endeavor t. reach Woods ioll with DIS
patches At mi might the tug George W. Brown, OF New
BE ford, her way to another wrecked steamer hap
pened along aud charteeed to return to New Bed
ford many OF the passengers she could carry
some thirty five At a III. to-day started from the
sh for this place to steamer TO go TO our assist
and take OF the remaining passengers and secured
the steamer MonOhansett OF the vineyard ne on her
morning trip from Cottage City, The accident
occasOned by the fog rhe ship was being navigated
with the utmost 1t sIossible that the tide had
occurred well known to ship owners and mariners
about Vineyard sound and Is called TIE Graveyard
rhe passengers speak in high erms OF the c"olness and
Captain Hedge and his Ofhcers ana say iEat
owing 10 their prOmptness there panic. All was
done for the OF the passengers that was pos
sbe and blame for the accident attaches to those In
and when the struck II was impossible 10 see
me re than few feet ahead, although after she struck
the LITE and land could be less than the steam
ers length ahead Tie passengers saved all their bag
gage The steamer had large number OF waterrDeons
freight.
diver examined the ship's bottom and reported the
keel forward 81 lit and broken. one piece Elk feet In
lenrth up The garDoard is started and there
are two holes in ships bottom. big boulder which
the diver higher than his head directly under
the ship amidshps and has penetrated the ships
bottom The after compartment Ia ied with water.
from the deck There twenty-for feet OF water un
der the shI and she draws only eighteen feet II
the smooth until tue steam pumps arrive,
she can be saved.
The Gate City was built in 1873 by John Roach Son
at their Chester yards for the Ocean steamship Com
pany and for four years ran between New-York and
Savannah. In September. 1882, she sold to the
Boston and Savannah Steamship Company. The Gate
City 255 feot Ia length 3s7 feet In breadth 1877 feet
and has carrying capacity or 1897 tons. She
ntted with compound engines OF 800 horse power. 42
feet stroke. steering and hosting
She has accommodations for ia cabin pas
sengers Ia lighted throughout with electricity and
900 candle electric light at her bow She carries
metal life boats RATS and 200 life preseryera
1
CONTLSSING BIS IECULA7IONS