The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-04-16

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every respect unseaworthy, that
was as rotten as punk, and that
could be likened to a death trap.
"While the deep censure should
be put upon the guilty parties
who were responsible for sending
the hulk of the Metropolis" to
sea, a like censure is due the
Government for the miserable
apology of what is termed life
saving stations. To think of it, on
a coast like that of Currituck
Kitty Hawk and Hatteras, coast
that is strewn with milestones OF
wrecks, dismal gravestones OF
disaster, that stations are pro-
vided some 16 and 20 miles apart,
stations with only a crew of
seven men to each, this force to
patrol a beach of the length
stated, with no appliances in the
shape of horses, or teams to move
with clerity, the life saving ap-
paratus to give aid to the wreck
ed, is a crime unpardonable-a
crime that cries aloud for re-
dress"
While the metropolis" would
not be considered a large vessel
today, she was, back in 1861, a
vessel of considerable proper
tons. She was 189 feet 6 inches
long, "a feet 2 inches wide, with
a tonnage of 879. P. and T. Collins
of Philadelphia concluded con-
tract with the National BOLIVIA
Navigation Company for the con-
struction of a railroad of 100
miles in length around the rapids
of the Madeira River to a point
on the Mamore River. The work
was begun in 1868. A grant Of
100000 acres of land was Sc
cured from the Brazilian Govern
ment.
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 suppliesss with
over 200 passengers, of whom the
majority were engineers and
mechanics, 800 tons of cargo,
rails, machinery, etc. She was ex-
pected to reach Para on the lower
Amazon in Is days, but IL days
out she ran short of coal and put
in at the Barbados.
The Metropolis was a double
masted steamship. Under the
name of 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 Metropolis
to be seaworthy.
The ships doctor, a 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, 70 miles away, dur
ing 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; everyone wore the picture
of utter despair, all were expect
ed to be lost; the night was in
tensely dark; the seas were pour
ling over us. They all deserve
great. credit for their heroism
and bravery.
"At IL o'clock the water reach
ed our engines and our only sal
walton 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 YOUR
SELVES THE BEST YOU CAN.
WE ARE WRECKED" then the
scramble commenced to get
through the skylight.
''Men who were utterly ex-
hausted did their best to climb
out by 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 des-
cription. The eyes alone can tell
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