The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-02-22

/ She was 1S9 feet 8 inches long, "a
4 feet 2 inches wide, with a tonnage
of 879. p. and T. Collins of Phila-
delphia concluded contract with
the National BOLIVIA Navigation
Company for the construction of a
railroad of $50 miles in length
around the rapids of the Madeira
River to point on the Mamore
River. The work was begun in
1868. A grant of 100000 acres of
land was secured from the Brazil
ian Government.
Was Second Ship to Sail
On the second of January the
Mercedita, the first steamer of the
line established by Collins to carry
laborers and supplies, with over
200 passengers, of whom the ma
jority were engineers and mechan-
les, 800 tons of cargo, rails, ma
chinery, etc. She was expected to
reach Para on the lower Amazon
in 16 days, but II days out she ran
short of coal and put in at the
Barbados.
The Metropolis" was a double
masted steamship. Under the stars
and stripes she was used in Cuba
trade during the Civil War as a
supply ship to blockade squadrons.
She was enlarged and provided
with extra boats to carry 225 men.
As was to be expected, Captain
Ankers said he believed the Me
tropolis" to be seaworthy.
The ships doctor, man by the
name of Green, gives a graphic
account of the disaster. He says:
''The ship struck one of the most
terrible storms known along the
coast. A leak was discovered, water
was fast filling the ship up, all
hands worked furiously to throw
the coal overheard, and only by the
wonderful exertions of the crew
were they able to reach shore, 20
miles away, during which time the
old ocean was rolling from side to
side, the breakers were dashing in
at every side tearing her to pieces,
cabin windows were breaking in,
skylights were gone, and at every
surge a heavy sea poured in,
throwing all into confusion.
Dozens who were on their knees
only had time to commence their
prayers before they were piled up
and smothered and pitched from
one end of the cabin to the other.
We all had our life belts on,
awaiting our horrible doom; every
one wore the picture of utter des-
pair, all were expected to be lost;
the night was intensely dark; the
seas were pouring over US. They
all deserve great credit for their
heroism and bravery.
"At IL o'clock the water reached
our engines and our only salvation
was to reach the shore by sail.
About Z o'clock the second mate
came to the hatch where we were
all holding onto ropes, fighting
salt water, and cried out: "Men,
all save yourselves the best you
can. We are wrecked" then the
scra m b e commenced to get
through the skylight.
"Men who were utterly exhaust
/ III i hAe 70 oil lNNY
ropes, hanging onto each others
feet, etc, pulling some back, and
the weakest never got out at all.
Terrible Picture of Death
"The scene was beyond descrip-
ton. The eyes alone can tell it
truthfully. One lady persisted on
deck through fright. There were
not enough life buoys. Many poor
souls were vainly seeking them.
One lady was washed into the fore
hatch and was never seen again,
and several men washed into it
and never came up again, the sue
ton was too great. did not jump
overheard until the last hope was
gone.
"We stood on the lee side of the
ship, holding to anything that had
the least sign of safety about it.
The after part of the vessel washed
to pieces in two or three hours.
The main mast fell over, smoke
stack was gone and every sea
surged over us all. Dozens were in
the water struggling for their
lives, and l saw many a good
swimmer killed by the rough debris
rolling over them.
I'VE were about 200 yards from
the shore, and those that could
swim were often carried to sea by
the undercurrent. Many persisted
from exhaustion, having eaten
+: nothing for twenty-four hours and
being chilled through with cold
water. 1t is really wonder to me
that so many were saved. When /
left for the shore, the foremost
was almost ready to go. Our last
hope had fled. Little assistance
| II