The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-09-07
A Steamship Lost.

A Steamship Lost.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF
THOSE ON BOARD.
The City Of Savannah Went
Down in the Storm---All on
Board Saved.
SAVANNAH, Ca, Aug. 3o.-The
steamship City Of Birmingham, of the
Ocean Steamship Company, two days
over due, arrived at 7 p. m, bringing
portion of the passengers and crew
of the steamship City Of Savannah,
wrecked at S O'Clock Monday morn
ing on the shoals six miles from St.
Helena lighthouse, South Carolina.
The City Of Savannah left Boston
Thursday afternoon. She met one
storm after another, there being
three storms in all. Sundays storm
was worst of all. The steamer beat
about all day Sunday, when her steam
whistle was knocked off and the water
began pouring into her hold and
threatened to stop her engines.
Seeing that the ship could last bu,
a few hours longer Captain Savage
headed her for shoal water. All night
long the vessel ran in the storm, pas
sengers expecting death every minute
Early Monday morning the steamer
was heard humping and scraping
against the bottom and the passsen
gers knew they had reached shoa
water. The vessel was run as fa1
as possible. She could not be gotten
into an easy place, however. The
huge waves broke over her with in.
creasing force and beat the boat tc
pieces. The cabins were smashed and
carried away, first on one side and
then the other.
Captain Savage and the officers and
crew used every effort to prevent los:
, of life among the passengers, and
wonderful as it may appear, they were
successful. Nat life was lost from
aboard the ship. The passengers were
moved from one side to the other
where the waves seemed to beat with
less force.
No signs of rescue appearing and
the boat being undoubtedly doomed
Captain Savage took steps to save hi:
passengers.
Monday afternoon small boat, with
three sailors who volunteered from the
crew, was sent out to find place or
he shore where the boats could land
They did not return and it was no
known whether they reached the shore
Tuesday morning the two liteboats
the only two left, were manned, the
first officer being in command of one
and the second officer of the other
Four of the strongest sailors of thu
crew were picked for each boat. The
boats were filled with women and chill
dren, about fifteen in all, including tn.
stewardess and female employees of th'
Savannah.
DR.. G. w. Lamar and anothe
passenger, being young and able
bodied men, were called upon to g
in the boats, which they did. DR.
Lamar's wife and two little childrer
were in his boat. The boats set GU
for the shore and sailed out of sigh
of those on board. They arrived
at Coffin Point, St. Helena Island
where they are at present.
| Those who remained on the CITY o
Savannah were rescued by the City 0
Birmingham, which left New Yorl
Saturday, August 26, and had a roug
experience also.
| Tuesday at E p. m. the City Q
Savannah was sighted ashore in tn
breakers about six miles Southeast c
St. Helena lighthouse. A boat wa
lowered and First Officer Johnson wa
sent to her and brought back tn
message that it was the City Of Sayan
nah aground in the breakers thre
miles from shore, going to pieces wit
her passengers and crew, numberin
in all about seventy, in the rigging
They had been there since Saturda
night. 1t was impossible to atteml
to rescue the unfortunates until day
light.
The Birmingham was anchored
and Wednesday morning boats il
charge of First Officer Johnson AM
Second Officer Hamilton reached tn
ship, and the rescue of those on boar
was effected with safety.
1t was brave act to reach the shi
with the breakers around and abou
her, but Officers Johnson and Hamil
ton did this with their sturdy crew.
and brought from the Savannah tn
passengers and crew that were hangin
about her threatened with death, a
departing in safety.
The Birmingham was then heade
for Savannah and everything possibl
was done for the rescued ones by th
:, passengers and crew. The passenger
, of the wrecked steamer, who wei
seen at the ship, spoke in the highe:
terms of Captain Savage, of the So
Oannah, and also Captain Berg, {
the Birmingham. To the bravery (
:, these two men they said they owe
their lives.