The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-07-04
ON THE ROCKS.
The Inman Liner City Of Chicago
Trecked or TIE Coast Of
ireland.
Her Bow Badly Stove In Bat It II
Thought She Will BE
Fl0ated.
Passengers Suffer Much Discomfort
From the Weather But All Are
Safely Rescued.

&
LONDON, July 4.--Advices from
point inside of Kinsalehead, where the
steamship City on Chicago from New
York for Liverpool, went on the rocks
Friday evening, state that all the pas
sengers OF the unfortunate vessel are
safe and well. The steamships propel-
lor was working ahead throughout the
night to prevent her drifting of the
rock on which her stem was caught, tn
which event she must have foundered,
as her forward compartments are re-
ported completely stove in.
Signals of distress were fired immedi-
ately after the vessel struck. The first
response was from the Kinsale coast
guards. who hastened TO the relief the
stranded steamer, Upon arrival on the
cliff which overhangs the beach opposite
the rocks where the City of Chicago
struck, the coast guards fired q. rocket
over the wreck. The aim was true, but
too short, and the rocket did not quite
clear the vessel. 1t struck among the
crew, who were gathered on deck and
knocked one of the sailors down. The
man had his arm broken but was not
otherwise seriously injured. The rope
thus thrown to the beleagured vessel
enabled the life boats to be quickly
brought into use and the passengers
were transferred to the beach as speedily
as possible and with as little discomfort
as ever attends such exciting expert
encss.
Meanwhile the life savers had lowered
rope ladders from the cliG, which at
this point is quo feet high, and springs
almost perpendicularly from tbs beach.
Up these strong but unsteady ladders
the passengers, piloted and encouraged
by hardy coastmen, slowly climbed in
the darkness Of the night until over two
hundred Of them had safely reached the
top Of the palisade. Among those who
undertook this novel and somawhat
difficult serial Journey we're many
women and children. The women were
given the frst chance 10 make the trip,
but many declined, not being able to
nerve themselves 10 the task after the
shock and excitement they had under
gone IN the stranding of the vessel and
their unceremonious transfer to the
beach. The only mishap that occurred
was one thai threatened for an instant
to mark the City Of Chicago with the
sad loss of at least one human life, but
happily only for an instant. As one of
the women passengers was ascending
the ladder clasping her babe to her
bosom with one arm while she used the
other hand in climbing the ladder az her
escort helped her along, she became
faint, and, before the coast guardsman
realized her condition, she had relaxed her
hold upon the child. The little one fell
and cry of horror arose from the crowd
Of ofpassengers, ,seamen and life savers gath
cred ON the beach as the baby descended
to what seemed death. But asecond later
the cry was changed to one Of joy. "A
sailor who stood near the base or the
ladder saw the babe drop from its moth
er's arms and sprang forward with
arms npstretched just in time to
catch the falling morsel Of humanity.
The brawny arms received the little one
as gently as if it had been laid in d
cradle, and when the excited people
gathered round the rescuer they found
the child unharmed and Growing, as ii
such an event as falling hundred feet
or so from rope ladder down the face
Of . cliff was one Of its ordinary ex-
periences.
While the two hundred and more pas.
sengers who chose to leave the beach BY
the ladder were engaged In their upward
journey, arrangements were being made
for the disposal Of the remainder, wht
preferred not to test their nerves and
muscles on the swaying ropes Some
spent the night in tents hastily erected
on the beach, . few were accommodated
IN the coasting guard station, while 9th
en- found shelter, or at least safe repost
until daylight, in boats, q number Of
which had been attracted from pointl
along the coast by the signals OF distress
and the coast guard rockets
Many Of those who had Gscended II
the top Of the cliff found In near by
farm houses more comfortable shelter
than was obtainable on the beach
Those who could not secure suck accom-
modations at hand were It least able I.
seek IL elsewhere, and after the womer
folks and children had been housed III,
men started out on d tedious walk in th,
dark to Kinsale, where they found rest
ing places as good as the little town wa,
able to furnish.
The passengers and mails were after
ward transferred In tugs To Queenstown
and most Of the passengers left Queens