Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-08-31
news BY TELEGRAPH.
From ALI Quarters.
WRECKEDBY HEAVY Seas
Steamer City of Savannah
is a Total Loss.
SHERMAN WOULD BUILD up SILVER.
0hio's Senator Speaks on
the Silver Question.
nIIBlrn ~ HansIV MN m aHr0
BURIED IN HASTILY DUG GRAVES.
Many Bodies Found i'm
GeOrgia's Rivers.
FACE TO FACE WITH Death.

FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH.
Terrible Experience OF the Passen.
gers and Crew OF the Steamer City
of Savannah - Batted About by
Angry Seas In the Storm of Sunday
Run Into Shoal Water to Save the
Lives of Those on Board-There the
| Waves Break Over Her and Pound
ed Her to Pieces Not a Life Was
| Lost-Rescued, from the Vessel by
the City of Birmingham and Taken
to Savannah.
SAVANNAH, Ga, Aug. 30.-The steam
ship City of Birmingham of the Ocean
Steamship company, two days overdue, ar
rived in Savannah at p. m bringing a
portion of the-passengers and crew of the
steamship City of Savannah, wrecked at
O'Clock Monday morning, ON the shoals six
miles from St. Helena lighthouse. South
| Carolina.
The City of Savannah left Boston Thurs
day afternoon. She met one storm after
another, there being three storms in all.
| Sundays storm was the worst. The steamer
| beat about all day Sunday, when her steam
| whistle was knocked off and water began
pouring into her hold and threatened to
| stop her engines. Seeing that the ship
could last but few heure longer Captain
| Savage headed her for shoal water. The
stokers we're piled with stimulsnts and
food, and every effort was made to reach
shoal water before the vessel sank. All
night long the vessel ran in the storm, the
passengers expecting death every minute.
Early Monday morning the steamer was
heard humping and scraping against the
bottom, and the passengers knew they had
as far aground as possible She could not
be gotten into an easy place, however. The
huge waves broke over her with increasing
force and beat the boat to 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 loss of life
among the passengers, and, wonderful as
it may appear, they were successful. Not
life was lost from aboard the ship. The
passengers were moved from one side to
the other low-wster portion of the ship,
where the waves seemed to beat with less
force.
No signs Of rescue appearing, and the
boat undoubtedly doomed, Captsin Savage
took steps to save his passengers.
Monday afternoon a small boat with
three sailors who volunteered from the
crew was sent out to Fl ID a place on the
shore where the boats could land. They
did not return and it was not known
whether they reached shore or not. Tues
day morning the only two lifeboats left
were manned, the first officer being In
command of one and the second officer of
the other. Four of the strongest sailors of
the crew were picked for each boat. The
boats were filled with women and chill
dren, about fifteen in all, including the
stewardess and female employees of the
Savannah.
DR.. G.. W. Lamar and another passenger,
Ben Young, sll able bodied, were called
upon to go in the boats, whion they did.
SO did DR.. Lama1's wife and two little chill
dren. The boats set out for shore and
sailed out of sight of those on board. They
finally arrived at Coffin Point, st. Helena
Island, where they are at present. The
shipwrecked people are we'll cared for by
gentleman who has q residence at that
place 1t is Senator Cameron's place.
Those who remained on the City of Sa-
vannah were rescued by the City of Birm-
| ipgham. The City of Birmingham left
New York August 20. The voyage was
pleasant until Cape Hatteras was reached.
| The cape was rounded Sunday between 10
| and midnight and about Q a m. the wind
| the eye could reach were enormous seas.
At l p. m Monday the storm began to
| abate, and just before dark the ship was
| again headed toward her course. At day
| light Tuesday parts of vessels, such as
| spsrs, portions of decks, lumber, and par
| sphernalia of all descriptions pertaining to
l vessels and cargoes were seen on every
| hand. At 6 o'clock the City of Birming-
| ham came upon the schooner 10 eph Suth-
| er, with Captain Harvey Hudson and
| crew of six men.
The vessel WAS wster-logged and the sea
| was breaking over her. The captain and
crew were rescued. A few minutes later
q vessel was passed bottom upwards.
Other vessels were seen with their mssts
and rigging nearly gone, and one with
hardly mast or sail left was spoken and
al offer of assistance made, but her captain
declined to leave his ship.
Tuesday a. 8 p m. a ship was sighted
ashore in the breakers about elk miles
south of ST. Helena lighthouse. Her cap
tain cav the Birmingham and signalled
Birmingham recognized the signal he ex-
claimed GOOD God. that must BIZ
the City of Savannah" A boat
was lowered and First Officer John
con was cent to her and put
back the message that 1t was the
City of Savannah aground in the
bars three miles from shore, going to
pieces with passengers numbering about
seventy. It was impossible to attempt to
rescue the unfortuna:es until daylight. The
Birmingham was anchored and Wednes-
day morning boats in charge of First OF
Ger johnson and Second Officer Hamilton
reached the ship and the rescue of all on
board was affected safely. 1t was brave
act to reach the ship with the breakers
around her.
The passengers of the wrecked steamer
who were seen in the ship spoke In the
highest terms of Captain Savage of the
Savannah and also of Captain Berg of the
, Birmingham.
To the bravery of these two men they
said they owed their lives. The passenger
. of the Savannah lost everything, scm'
being without hats or coats. They wer'
provided for. The City of Savannah wa
the Oldest ship of the Ocean Steamship
fleet. She was built in Chester, Pa, IL
1887 by John Roach & Son. She was O
1000 gross tons and 1858 net tons. He
engines were compound and built in 1877
She carried forty-six officers and men. Tn
r steamer ia total loss. Value of caIg
| upknown