The New York Herald Newspaper, August 31, 1872, Page 3

APPALLING DISASTER ON THE SOUND. The Providence and New York Steamer Sunk by Collision, Crowded with Passengers and Laden with Freight. A Seene of Darkness, Horror and Storm. The Ship Sinking---Buchling on Life-Presery- ers--Lowering Boats---Clinging to Bales of Cotton. RUSH FOR THE HURRICANE DECK. It Parts from the Hull and Forms a Raft. PRAYING FOR THE DAWN Washed Ashore at Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Revenue Steamer Moccasin Picks Up Survivors. The List of the Saved---Bodies Identified and Known To Be Missing. THE UNIDENTIFIED DEAD. tatement of Captain Burton, of the Metis. QGraphic Narratives by Res» cued Passengers. AFFLICTING. INCIDENTS. “Tiss Me, Mamma, for I'm Going to Sleep.” : “Fourteen Lives Worth the Loss of a Boat.” Watcn Hixt, R. L., August 30, 1872, The steamer Metis, Captain Burton, running be- tween New York and Providence, was wrecked this morning shortly after four o’clock, off Watch Hill, with the loss of seventy-two human beings. It was the most heartrending disaster that has ever oc- curred on the Sound, not excepting the tate of the Atlantic, which went to picces off Fisher’s Island twenty-five yedrs ago. The Metis, which is 1,359 tons burthen, was laden with cotton and ‘fruit, ana left New York yesterday evening at quarter past five P.M. Once fairly in the Sound A VERY STORMY NIGHT SET IN, and, what with the wind and rain, few of the pas- sengers, of whom there were 104, went on deck. The crew all told consisted of forty-five men, and ‘with some children there were altogether on the Metis 156 souls. Towards midnight it blew nearly a gale, while a pitchy darkness prevailed. The pas- sengers had long since retired to rest, and with the exception that the vessel was rolling somewhat, owing to the roughness of the sea, nothing oc- curred to mar the progress of the trip. Shortly after three o’clock a schooner hove in sight about four miles west-southwest, of Watch Hill light and not more than five miles from the shore. It was at this time raining hard, and, as it appears. the ‘weather was somewhat thick. Suddenly and with- out a word, without a sound of warning, the schooner, heavily laden with lime, RAN INTO THE STEAMER forty feet abaft the stem on the port side, and then Squared away on her course. The deep, dull thua ‘Was felt all over the steamer. Men and women ‘were aroused from their slumber, and some less frightened than the rest rushed on deck half dressed and made for the pilot house to learn the cause of what seemed a collision, The captain nad already made inquiries from the engineers and the cheering news of “all right’ at once allayed the alarm of the terror-stricken crowd. Some re- tarned to their berths, but others, not satisfied with the announcement, or perhaps uneasy as to Tesults, remained on the hurricane deck. Fifteen minutes later and THE DEATH KNELL WENT RINGING THROUGH THE VESSEL, ‘The Metis was leaking badly, and the news spread like wilafire. Stateroom doors were thrown open, and the passengers scrambled to the upper deck to be farthest from the water. It was a fearful scene. Deck hands rushed up and down, warning passen- gers to look to their life-preservers, for the Metis ‘was going down, and there were some whom even the first shock had not awakened, but who, now that the shrieking and hammering had begun, quickly jamped forth to the terrible realization of their peril, Down gradually deeper went the ves- Bel, until HER BULWARKS WERE UNDER WATER and the waves came sweeping over the deck. Nearly every sou! on board had tried to reach the upper deck, Some succeeded; some failed and were lost. Others plunged into the sea and were washed far away. A rush was made for the boats, which were promptly lowered, and, amid, the wild- est shrieks, the terrificd passengers made desperate exertions to crowd into them. The Metis had now sunk below her guards, and several persons had just run up from their berths only to meet a ter- rible fate. The main deck was packed with huge ales of cotton, and as they began to float about many of the passengers got hemmed in, and were EITHER DROWNED OR ORUSHED TO DEATH. But the scenes above were truly appalling. Death stared every one in the face. Of the entire number of souls only some fifty-three remained on the hurricane deck. The others had disappeared in the darkness. Meanwhile Captain Burton and the officers of the vessel were behaving with com- mendable coolness, and, in compliance with orders, all hands were provided with life-proservers, At length the deck upon which stood the terrified people parted from tlic hull, owing, doubtless, to the great pressure of the cotton bales, and in a few minutes the Metis sank to rise no more, leaving THE FLOATING DECK WITH ITS HUDDLED CROWN to the mercy of the waves, The collision had taken place at exactly twenty minutes to four o'clock, ‘| selves somewhat secure, fears were entertained | ‘and about three-quarters of an hour elapsed from that time to the ‘ of the deck from, the bull of the r. It is impossible to give ‘iny“ides of what ensued. Bewildered ana shuddering at the~surroundings, many at once jumped off the floating deck and were drowned. Women clung to their children, resolved that they should perish with them. Owing to the darkness they could not maké ont wliere they were, and as the awful feeling prevailed that the deck was drifting out to sea it was indeed a night of horrors. AT LENGTH THE MORNING DAWNED and the shore of Watch Hill was discerned, but the wind had not abated muvh, and although by this time those on the deck had made. them- lest the heavy sea then running would sweep them off, Nearer and nearer the floating remnant of the vessel approached the shore, and finully struck the bottom. This was the signal note, and in haifa | dozen seconds the nearly exnausted and perishing passepgers plunged into the surf to trust to fate. The deck soon after went to pieces, and many seized hold of the débris and were swept ashore alive. In one instance a lady with her two chil- dren, one under each arm, was carried safely through the surf; human beings struggled in all directions; some were struck by the floating tim- ber and swept senseless high upon the beach; others, unable any longer to hold out, succumbed, but were finally washed aghore ia dying condi- tion. NOT MORE THAN FORTY PERSONS WERE SAVED by the instrumentality of the floating deck ; but while the terrible scenes were being enacted in the surf the people of Watch Hill came rushing in crowds to the beach, and the assistance rendered was prompt and timely. CHRISTIANLIKE RELIEF AND HOSPITALITY. Hotels and private dwellings were alike thrown open to the sufferers. Several medical men came quickly to the scene, and all that could be done by the warm-hearted sympathizers was cheerfully performed, WHERE ARE THE OTHERS? ~.,, * Now about the remainder; and here comes the dreadtul mystery which will take time to solve. ‘The passenger list, it is said, was lost. but even that did not contain all the names of the missing ones, a3 many purchased their (aha on board and were not registered, Of the ito soulé elighty-three are saved; and now that the livelong day has passed and that number has not been increased, the fearful conviction vividly presents itself that seventy-two persons have gone to their final account, At the present writing fifty-three are at Watch Mill, twenty-two were saved by the revenue cutter Mocassin, and eight were picked up by a fishing smack and con- veyed to Stonington. NOBLE EFFORTS FOR RESCUE OF LIFE. Captain Larkin and the Keeper of the lighthouse dashed out in the government lifeboat and picked up several who were clinging to pieces of the steamer, and so did Captain Loper’s yacht Josie, Indeed hours and hours were spent in the noble search for those missing. LIST OF THE PERSONS SAVED. It must be borne in mind that many were rescued whose names could not be ascertained; but so far as 1s known the following is a list of those saved :— Edward D. Arnold, of Rhode Island. Alfrea McCullough, of Rhode Island. W. E. Sheridan. John Driscoll, of Boston. Rudolph, wife and child, Hulhen Rudolph. _Mrs. Remmington, of New York. ©. Young. Miss M. Holland, of New York. John W. Causiand, of Providence. Alfred L, Notting, wife and child, of Littlefall, N.Y. William Phelps, of Boston. W. N. Keid, of Boston. Jacob Higgins, of Greenville, N. J, Arthur P. Schmidt, of Boston. O. Max Rabinvintz, Michael Buckley and Matthew Dickens, of Deaville, R. I. George MckYel, of Nova Scotia. William Piednick, fireman, of Providence. James T. Jackson, second head waiter. Francis Weston, officer, James McCord, waiter. ° “ ss Jou Mullin, of Brooxlya, deck haya. Frances Harris, stewardess. Bartlett F, Dolan, of Whitesville, R. 1. Lawrence Higgins, of Ireland. Michael W. Clear, of New York, Charles'L. Stone, of New’York. — Capron, of Philadelphia, Charles T. Record, his (Capron’s) nephew, also of Philadelphia. Miss Emily Cushing, of Providence. John B. Gartley, of Providence. A. Steiner, of Abraham, N. Y. Elliott Sandford, of New York. Miss Remington, of New York. —— Butler, of Providence. L, D. Blanding, of Providence. George L. D. Blandon, a pantryman, George Clarke, of New York. J. Pordeliar, steward, of New York. Mrs, Jerard and two children. . Mrs. Blackburn. Lewis K. Bell, of New York. Thomas McBierney, of Jersey City. William Cooke, of Boston, Frank Joseph, deck watchman, George Sturges, of Philadelphia, John Lewis, deck hand, of New York. John H. Latham, purser, of Groton, Conn. Miss O’Brien, of Attleboro, Mass, Malachi Keough, of Ireland, G, G, Gill, of New York. Mary A. Reilly, of Providence. E, D. Elliott, wite and sister, of New York. C. Young, of Attleboro, Mass. M. Holland, of New York. W. Hendrick, of Waltham, Mass, D. P. McBrien, of New York, Charles L. Burton, captain of the Metis. George B. Hull, agent and inspector of the line. Richard Dawes, of Providence, Edwin Turner, of Providence. Mr. Capron’s nephew, John B. Gately. E. 8. Squire, of Paterson, N. J. ‘William Anderson, of New York, Lizsie Blackburn, of New York. One of the lifeboats landed on the beach this af- ternoon, containing the following persons :— Albert 8. Gallup, one of the directors of the com- pany, of Providence. Hugh Carroll. of Stonington, John Lawior, of New York. Patrick Howard, of New York. Benjamin Josephus and Antoine Forrest, the last two from the Western Islands, and all the deck hands. Mr. D. R. McBryan and wife, of Board of Excise, are also among the saved. A FEARFUL SURF. At noon several of the passengers and the freight clerk were in a boat off Watch Hill Lighthouse, but there was such @ fearful sea running that boats were not able to land. INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER. It may be,mentioned that the captain and agent of the line refused to go into the life boats, but were subsequently washed ashore on remnants of the pilot house. . RIVE DEAD BODIES CAST ASHORE, Only five dead bodies have come ashore, In the pocket of one man were found cards bear- ing the name of Augustus A. Hemingway, piano- forte tuner, 126 Tremont street, Boston. ‘The body of a large woman, evidently killed by the floating timber, was also washed ashore, Her name could not be ascertained. The body of a child was found on the beach at midday, and the mother, who was taken in an un- conscious state to the hotel, has since died. Never has there been such a scene on the beach of Watch Hill, BEBRIS OF THE WRECK. ‘The wreck is scattered for fully a mile and a haif along the shore. Stateroom doors, bedding, bag- gage, broken masts, and, in fact, all the miscel- laneous floating articles of the upper deck may be seen far and wide, and I regret to add that it re- quires some? surveillance to ward off thieves who would wantonly appropriate articles belonging Perhaps tothe dead. The greatest excitement pre- vails, and while the terrible anxiety laste it will be almost impossible to obtain @ complete version of the awful disaster. It is enough to state that the harrowing picture presented this morning by the floating deck, the indescribable terror of its occupants, and the anxiety of those on shore who fin would help them, the ever-prominent idea that at least fifty human beings had gone down with the wreck, crushed and drowned, tended to cast a ‘gloom over the jocality that many a long day will not remove. STATEMENTS OF SOME OF THE SURVIVORS. It is as yet premature to go into the actual de- tails of the collision, but I append a few state- ments which will doubtless prove interesting in connection with a catastrophe which will ever have notable place in the record of sea disastors:— WILLIAM PHELPS? STATEMENT. Mr. William Phelps, of Boston, one of the passen- gers, in speaking to me about the afmir, stated that he was lying on the mattress on the floor of the saloon, the staterooms having been ll taken, He says he felt the shock and immediately went to the bow of the boat. While standing there he saw a schooner approaching at some distance and within eight or ten minutes the collision took piace. In reply to inquiries by the captain it was reported that no damage had taken place and the vessel steamed ahead. Twenty minutes Jater it was reported that the Metis was leaking, and soon alter he saw people putting on life preservers. ‘The waves began to wash over the vessel, and he jumped overboard, and after great dificulty gota hold of the stern of the yawl and got into her. Others followed him, and when near the beach she capsized and he was washed ashore. There Were about eight persona in the boat. One man and 4 woman lost their nold and were washed away. Several persons caught, gripped him, and he lost, but regained his hold. Mr. Phelps reached the shore about half-past eight o'clock. His watch stopped at five o'clock. He and many others were bag, injured by the floating timber. CHARLES STONE'S STATEMENT, Mr. Charles’ Stone, of New York, had just left the city for his: vacation, He had a stateroom on the starboard side of the Metis. Although he felt the shock he did not apprehend any danger, but he got up and gressed himself, and says he went out into the saloon, Mr. Stone did hot at fliat’ notice ‘Any con fusion, Some one asked a deck hand whether there was anything wrong, and he replied in the negative. The first intimation he (Mr. Stone) had of any danger was a deck hand rushing up stairs, taking with him a number of life- Preservers. He then saw that every one on board ‘was provided with one. From the time the vessel was struck till the hull parted from the hurri- cane deck was about three-quarters of an hour. He was one of the persons on the floating deck, on which he remained three or four hours. When ap- proaching the surf the captain called all hands for- ward in order to regulate their plunge for the beach. Mr. Stone says that the captain was very cool throughout and did everything he could to save the passengers. MR. CYRUS BUTLER’S STATEMENT. Mr. Cyrus Butler, of Providence, and Mr. Alfred Schroeder, of New York, and others, give corrobo- rative statements about the time of the collision and the scenes surrounding the wreck. His watch stopped at thirteen minutes past five. CAPTAIN BURTON'S POSITION. Captain Burton, who has been ing in his efforts to render and who manfully stood by his post during the terrible crisis, was in the vicinity of the wreck allday. Though naturally anxious and excited he expresses himself confident that none of the awful responsibility rests upon his shoulders. In the course of conversation to-day he gave wis version of the affair to the effect that when about four miles to the southward of Watch Hill light he sighted a schooner a snort distance ahead, on the port bow, about pall-past three o'clock, He sheered off to clear her. The schooner was standing to wind- ward, and as she got close she luffed up and strnck the’ Metis forty feet abatt the stem, on the port side, near the pilot house. He (Captain Burton) inquired if the Metis was making any water, and the engineer said she ‘wag not, All this time the Captain remained in the pilot house. Finding, from the report that the vessel was all right he proceeded on his course, ‘and bad run about ten or fif- teen minutes when it was reported she was making water fast. He then headed her for the beach, being then to the southeast of Watch Hill light, but she went down in about twenty-five minutes after. The hull parted from the hurricane deck, owing to the bales of cotton forcing the lat- ter up, and many lives were saved in consequence. He hoisted the signal of distress. The water put out the fires and the vessel was helpless, The captain ‘maintains that he was keeping his right course throughout. RUN INTO BY THE METIS, After ¢iewing the scene of wreck I proceeded to New London, were I met the captain of the schooner Nettie Cushing, of and from Thomaston, Me., for New York, with lime, who stated that he was run into this morning by the propeller Metis, of the Provi- dence and New York Line, and lost bowsprit, head- gear, knighthead and all forward gear. He sang out to the captain of the steamer to “stand by” him, as he thought he was sinking, but the steamer went on her course. After clearing the wreck he made for New London, but could not make it and came to anchor off Goshen Reef, west of New London light. At the time of the collision it was blowing a gale from the southeast and was thick and rainy. He was steering west by south through the race, with Little Gull Island five miles distant, bearing west by south. The schooner was towed into New London this morning. STATEMENT OF THE PURSER OF THE METIS. The ‘purser of the Metis, John A. Latham, makes the following statement :—I was in my room at tte time of the collision. I woke up shortly before and found it was very rough. We were then near Race Point. I was hardly awake when the shock occurred. I jumped out of bed shoved up the window. My room was on the starboard side. As I looked out of the win- dow the schooner that struck us passed. She was standing off shore. We were struck on the port bow, about fifty feet irom the stem. The jibboom went into the room occupied by one of the unspar- assistance, oilers, He was asleep at the time. It awoke him up. The iron that secured the jibboom to the bowsprit dropped down upon him. As soon as I felt tne shock I jumped out and went forward. I stopped at the engineer’s room and inquired if there was any water in the fire room. He said, “No.” Iwent to the place where the vessel was struck, as the oMcers were there. It seemed to them as if there was mo damage done to anything but the light work. I went up to the saloon. All seemed quiet there. A few of the passengers wanted to know what the matter was. I told them I thought there was no danger. but in a few mo- ments it was said she was sinking. I saw the engi- neer running to the pllot-house, and asked if there was anything wrong. He said:—‘The ship had been broken.” As soon as I saw she was sinking my first thought was for the pas- sengers. I went to the saloon. There was littie confusion. I told them to get their life preservers and cork mattresses. The vessel was well supplied with these. We did all we could to save the pas- sengers. The water came in so fast we could not beach her. She commenced to sink, I stayed by the wreck when she filled, The top separated from the hull through the buoyancy of the freight. Istood on the wreck anda floated three or four minutes. When near the beach I took the boat with the first officer, Mr. Baker, and the freignt clerk, Mr. Anthony, and a man named Appleby. We started to Pick up those who were liable to be drowned by being washed from the wreck, I stood by them till they went on to the beach, After that we pulled out and picked up our second pilot, Mr. Palmer, and four or five, of, thé, passengers. The officers did , all, in their power to save the passengers., Captain Burton and Captain Hull risked their own lives to save the passengers. ‘There were 107 «passengers, and the officers and crew numbered fifty, 167 all told; of these elghty- five are khown tobe saved. I don’t believe the other. weventy.pwo. are lovt, I don’t think and over forty perished, I never saw @& crowd that behaved better. ‘There was no panic ; atall. The money and passenger lists were lost. I @id not dream of her sinking when the engineer ran to the pilot house and told the captain he would have to be.ch her. It was so dark I could not see the way back to the safe. The whistle was blown as long as we had a pound of steam to blow it with to attract the attention of passing vessels, The boat had everything that the law requires for safety of passengers. I waspicked up by the revenue cutter Moccasin and taken into Stonington, The Metis, as already mentioned, was 1,359 tons burden and belongs to the Providence and New York Steamship Company, was lately altered from a freight toa passenger boat and was valued at $175,000, Her cargo was valued at $50,000, sald thot an investigation wil! be immediately in stituted in reference to the harrowing calamity which has taken place. ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE Dis- ASTER. WESTERLY, R. I, August 30, 1872, One hundred and fifty-five passengers and crew all told, one hundred and fifteen accounted for, twenty-one dead bodies and nineteen yet to be heard from. Such is the story in brief of the Watch Hill disaster of to-day. In many respects it re- sembles the catastrophe at Revere on the Eastern Railroad scarcely one year ago. There was in both instances CARELESSNESS, INEXCUSABLE, CRIMINAL AND WICKED, without the shadow of an apology. The former ‘was the most disastrous of all ratiroad casualties before occurring in New England, but the disaster of! to-day is, in all its consequences, Sdecidedly the most serious and lamentable which has ever taken place in New England waters. The particu- lars, 80 far as they can be obtained at this hour— for Watch Hill, the scene of the calamity, is five miles distant from this locality—to the effect. that the steamship Metis, of the Providence and New York steamship line, was driven within five miles of the main land by the darkness and ne of last night, and collided with .. " 7 SCHOONER WHOM NAME 18 UNKNOWN and soon after went to pieces. The Metis was loaded very heavily, an effect produced by many causes; principal among them was the fact that excursion tickets had been issued by the managers ofthe line, good only till September 2, and the holders thereof, having conipleted their Summer ex- cursions, were compelled to hurry their return in order to avail themselves of the benefits of the re- duced rates, Freights, too, weighed down the un- fortunate steamer until she was laden with all which could be carried with any degree of safety. The accident, or fatality rather, occurred at forty- five minutes past three o’clock in the morning. The steamer, carrying her usual lights, was GROPING HER WAY SLOWLY THROUGH THE FOG and was entirely unaware of the presence of the schooner until just before the collision took place, andeven at that time there was scarcely any alarm. The passengers were for the most part sound asleep, and those who were awakened as- sured by the officers of the steamer that all was well, sauntered about the decks, little dreaming of the calamity which was so close upon their heels. Five, ten, twenty minutes elapsed, and suddenly the veasel began to-sink, and, panic-stricken, the bewildered victims rushed hither and thither for means of escape. Life preservers and stools were seized with great avidity, and there was a general stampede for the boats; but the sea, the storm and the freight caused the results as given in the opening paragraph of this despatch. Of the 115 passengers and forty officers and crew the following only are KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN SAVED. John Butler, Providence. L. D. Blanchard, Providence. George Clark, New York, pantry man, Joseph A. Cordeher, New York, second steward. Mrs. Blackburn and ish daughter Lizzie, of New York. ‘Thomas McBurney, cernen City. William Cook, Montreal. Frauk Joseph, Providence; deck watchman. Laurens Higgins, New York, Michael W. Clear, New York; travelling agent for Merrill, Wilkins & Co. Charies L. Stone, New York. C. Young, Attleboro’, Mass. Wiliam Capron and nephew. John B. Gately. Estena Abraham, New York. Emily Cushing, Providence. Elliott Sandford, New York. Mrs. Remington, New York. Miss O’Brien, North Attleboro’, Mass. Malachi Keough, New York. Mary Ann Riley, Providence. E. C. Elliott, wife and Mrs. Hallard, his sister, New York. Captain Burton, Providence. Edwin Turner, Providence. . D. P. McBrien, New York. George P. Hull, agent of the steamer. G. G. Guild, 83 Reade street, New York. Richard Davis, Providence. Atwood McCullough, New York, deck hand. Edwin E. Arnold, Greene, R. 1, Anna Randolph and child. Willie Hubler, Providence, W. E, Sheridon, of the Globe Theatre, Boston, John McAustin, Providence. Alfred L, Nutting, wife and baby, Little Falls, N.Y. William Phelps, Boston. William N. Reed, Boston. Jacob Higgins, Greenville, N. Y. Arthur P, Schmidt, Boston. Max Rafinowitz, Boston. Michael Buckley, Boston, Matthew Dawkins, Dyerville, R. I, George McKeil, Nova Scotia, William Pedrick, Providence, fireman, James Jackson, Providence, colored waiter. Francis Weston, Providence, colored waiter. James McCord, New York, deckhand, John Mullery, Brooklyn, Fanny Harrig, Providence, colored stewardess, Bartlett F. Dolan, Whitensville. Wilhelm Hendricks, Waltham, Masa, Enoch E Squire, Patterson, N, J, Willie Anderson, New York. ‘This comprises the list of those who we know to be at Watch Hill and Stonington. In addition to this list the following names are reported by Com- mander Ritchie, of the revenue cutter Moccasin, REPORTED SAVED BY THE MOCCASIN, Bridget Hines. , Isabella McCall. Fannie Brosher. Mary Ant Martin, Jane Brien. William Keene. George 8S, Harris, Horatio Branier. Edward Doane. Edmund Davis. C. E. Adams. Joshua C. King. Abraham Baker. Oris 8, Anthony. H. A. Lonnsbury, John 8, Dunn, John McCall.‘ Joseph Bannigan. Frederick Fishiar. Elinor Mason, Daniel Logan, J. H. Latham, William H. Baker, F. H. Ferney. N. McLean, J. C, Tendall. Thomas Wilson, 3. 8. Bradley. G. M. Luther. Stephen Stanley. William Appleby. William W. Palmer. Tt is | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1872—TRIPLE SHEET. —_—_--———————- C. H, Carpenter, - Jghn Hogan. Abraham Torry, William 5. Chase. George W. Howard,’ The greater portion of these named in this fist are bruised to a greater or less degree, aithough none of them will die, THR DEATH LIST comprises twenty-one names, seventeen bodics having been picked up by the revenue cutter and conveyed to Stonington and four bodies having been washed ashore at the Hill, Only three of the bodies have yet been identified. They comprise:— Two children of Frederick Garrard, of Providence. Mr. Hemingway, pianoforte maker, of Boston. Every endeavor is being made to discover the names of the missing ones, and the remains are being well cared for, Among the missing ones is the wife of Mr. Wil- liam E. Sheridan, of the Globe Theatre, Boston. MR. SHERIDAN’S STATEMENT, Mr. Sheridan, who is at the Ocean House, Watch Hill, says that he knew nothing of the disaster which had overtaken the vessel untli there was a great rumpus outside of his stateroom, ‘I rushed out, to find that the steamer was sinking, and hur- ried my wife into the lifeboat. There were too many of us in the boat. We had proceeded nearly to land, when the rough sea caused our boat to tip over, and we were all thrown into the water. It was a terrible moment. There were few of us who gould swim, and only eight or ten succeeded in laying hold of the boat. My poor wife was not among them.’ Mr, Sheridan here became very much agitated, and hid his face in his hands. In a@ moment he resumed, with @ broken voice :— “I have no physical trouble. My grief is else- where, I have telegraphed to Providence to learn ifmy poor girl was among those who were taken there by the cutter.”” Among the pathetic incidents of the disaster I re- member well THE DEATH OF TWO LITTLE CHILDREN. All last evening they played about the saloon, prattling gayly with the passengers, an dseemingly wrapt up in each other. When bédtime came one of them sald :—‘Tiss me, mamma, tiss me, for I am Folng to sleep,” ar@ F saw them no more alive, This morning their bodies were washed ashore on this beach CLASPED IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS. They were beautiful as in life, and their coun- tenances bore a placid smile, asif their death was painless. Our boat capsized close by the shore, and it was asad sight to us, who nad gained our lives, when we witnessed the struggles of those who, unable to withstand the terrible undertow, were drowned in our very faces. Their UPTURNED FACES AND DESPAIRING LOOKS will haunt me to my dying day. Mr. Sheridan is much prostrated by the shock which he has received. Another passenger, who does not desire to have his name in print, tells his story thus:— ANOTHER PASSENGER'S STORY. I left New York on the steamer Metis yesterday afternoon, and we came out of the East River with astif breeze. My wife and I retiredearly, and as she was seasick I was obliged to be up duringa great portion of the night. When she became better, however, towards morning, I laid down with my clothes on for a nap. Suddenly I heard a noise, which woke me up. I went to my stateroom window and opened it in time to perceive a schooner just outside, which SEEMED TO HAVE RUN INTO OUR BOAT. There didn’t seem to be any fuss about it, I wasn’t alarmed, nor did anybody else seem to be. Putting on my hat I walked along the saloon and down to the Purser’s office, aft, occupying per- haps ten minutes in the journey. The sea was running very high at the time and the walk took longer than usual. The Purser told me that a schooner had run into us. I asked if any damage had been done and he replied :— “Ofcourse not. It is of no use for these small craft to run into us, for they can’t hurt us any way.” I went back to my stateroom and laid down, and had scarcely closed my eyes when I felt the ship settling under me, and aroused my wife at once. This was about twenty-five minutes after I first heard the crash. I opened my stateroom door and found the saloons full of people, Many of them were not dressed, and all were in a state of fever- ish anxiety. They were breaking up the furniture and trying, ina wild way, to build rafts. All the life preservers had been taken down, and ONE MAN HAD THREE BUCKLED ABOUT HIS BODY. The cork mattresses were strewn about the sa- Joon generally, though the crowd behaved itself in acollected manner. Some two or three dropped on their knees and commenced to pray, anda few of the women shrieked violently, as if crying would float them ashore. There were quite a number who were beside themselves and JUMPED OVERBOARD IN DELIRIUM, but the most of us kept our wits about us, We launched and Joaded the life-boats, threw over bales of cotton, to which we had previously lashea the women and children, and tried in the short time we had to build rafts. Our time was lim- ited, however. We felt the vessel sink slowly. and surely beneath us, and all hands made a rush for the hurricane deck. The boat seemed to sink beneath this deck, for when it had reached the level of the. water it Noated away, forming a raft of itself, As we drifted towards land THE WATER SEEMED FULL OF HUMAN BODIES, They drifted about, some one way and some an- other—the most going towards land. Our raft pro- ceeded steadily on this way till we got close to shore, when a big breaker threw us all into the water. 1 was of the few who were gaved,”” Intelligence of the calamity at Watch Hill was communicated by a colored porter at the Larkin House. He rushed into the office at elght o'clock this morning screaming, “THERE 18 A LOT OF FOLKS DROWNED.Y And, sure enongh, bodies were seen floating in all directions. Lifeboats were despatched and as fast as possible the suffering ones were taken from the water and cared for at the hotels. There were two lifeboats, fifty passengers on the hurricane deck, and & large number elsewhere on foating material. The hotel doors were thrown open to them all, and the guests vied with each other in their efforts to grant relief and comfort. _ Fifteen of the crew, who were colored, are quartered at che Watch Hill House, among their own race, THB WRECK OF THE METIS which was not totally under water was driven to- ward the shore until struck by a huge breaker. It ‘was broken into fragments. No further particulars of the disaster can be ascertained at this late hour. In the extent of its misfortune it surpasses any- thing of the kind which has occurred in the Sound, and a judicial investigation will be held regarding the matter. STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE METIS. STonrNéToN, Conn., August 90, 1872. The following is the statement of Captain Charlies L. Burton, of the steamer Metis :— We left New York at fifteen minutes past five P, M. on the 29th of August. The weather was over- cast and rainy, with a fresh breeze from the south- east. At forty minutes past three A. M., when be- tween the two lighthouses of Montauk Point and Watch Hill, about five miles off the Rhode Island shore, the propeller was run into by an unknown schooner, striking us forty feet abaft of the stem, or nearly abreast of the pilot house. The propeller ‘was immediately stopped and turned round, and ‘we endeavored to find the vessel, but failed to do 80, Ieent the mates and pilot below to ascertain if the propeller was making any water. They re- ported to me that she was not, and we considered the damage very slight, We then proceeded on our way to Providence, After a few moments the engineer reported thar the steamer was rapidly filling. I immediately headed her for the nearest shore, and used every exertion in my power'to save the passengers and crew. At this time the wind was blowing a strong gale from the southeast, accompanied by heavy rain. It soon became evident that the steamer must go own. It ,Was ‘not longer than half an hour from the time she ‘Was headed for the shore until she sunk. ‘The Ufeboats wore lowered and filled at once » vo with persona anxious to be saved. One of the boats was swamped, but was soon righted by the chief engineer, who was in her. He se a ner up to the wreek and she w ngi boarded with sue » About fifty “ODS were left on tne upper deck, hich drifted with the . The storm stil! continued, and although several vessels came within sight none recognized us, We continued in this pe ous condition until about eight o'clock A. M we hacen on the bey The surf was very high yer was increased. By this time quite @ large number of people from the Watch Hill Ho- tel were on the beach proifering aid, but all was of nouse. ‘The roar of the surf prevented any com- munication, and it was evident to us that the deck on which we floated must soon go to pie Ina few moments the breaking up commenced, and we were all thrown into the surf. By the kindness of those on shore nearly all were saved from the pilot house and upper works, I am unable to say at present how many of the crew and passengers were lost with the hull. REPORT OF CAPTAIN RICHIE, oF THE MOCCASIN. SrTontnGTon, Conn., August 30, 1872, The United States steamer Moccasin has just ar rived from cruising off Watch Hill, where the steamer Metis went down, and has brought to this. port the following passengers and officers picked up between Watch Hill and Point Judith, also seven- teen dead bodies, which have been landed and placed in Borough Hall for Identification :— NAMES OF THE SAVED, Bridget Hines, for bys from Hampton, Conn, Isabel McCall, trom Blizabethport for dence, Fanny Brasher, of East Boston, for East Poston, from New York. Mary Ann martin, of Manchester, N. H., from Philadelphia, Jane O’Brien, of Pawtucket, for do., from Brook- lyn. » William Kean, from Philadelphia for Providence, George 8. Harris, of Burlington, lowa, for Boston, from New York, Commissioner of State of Ohio, Horatio Braynion, of the British Provinces, for Boston, Edmund Doane, of New Bedford, first assistant engineer of the Metis. Edward Davis, of Providence, bow watchman of the Metis. ©. ©. Adams, of Brooklyn, for Newburyport, Mass. John C. King, of Providence, chief engineer of the Metis. Urban Baker, of Wickford, R. I., quartermaster of the Metis, Orris 8. Anthony, of Providence, R. L., freigh clerk. H. A. Lorensbury, of Shirley village, for Shirley. John T. Dunn, of New York, for Providence. John McCall, of Elizabethport, N. J., for Provi- dence. Joseph Banigan, of Woonsocket, R. I., for New York. Frederick Feshbar, of New York, for Providence. Elmer Mason, of Brattleboro, Vt., for Boston. Daniel Logan, of New York, oller on steamer. John H, Lothatr, | of Groton, Conn., purser of steamer. William H. Baker, of Wickford, R. I., chief mate. 1. H. Ferney, of United States Coast Survey, for New Bedford. D. N. McLean, of Middle Haddam, Conn., steward of steamer. J. C, Kendal, of Milford, Mass., for Milford. ‘Thomas Wilson, of Williamsburg, L. L, for Prov dence. J. 3. Bradley, of Providence, New York, for Provi- dence, _G. N, Luther, of Cranston, for Boston. Stephen Stanley, of Attleboro, for Attleboro, Mass, William B. Applebey, of Jersey City, quartermas- ter of steamer. William W. Palmer, of Stonington, Conn., seconé pilot. William H. Robinson, of North Attleboro, Providence. Edward McGee, of New Jersey, for Providence. John Armstrong, of Providence, from New York. Wiliam H. Rurdy, of New London, chief cook of steamer J. W. McCrillis, of New York, for Provi- dence, @Charles A. Carpenter, of New York, for Provi- dence, John Hogan, of England, from New York for Lowell, William 8. Chase, of Providence, from New York to Providence. Abram Torry, of Mattituck, pilot. George W. Howard, of Rome, N, Y., for Paws tucket, Provi- for do, for THE DEAD IDENTIFIED, The bodies now identified are as follows:— Mrs. Mary Wilson, of Williamsburg, L. L, wife of Thomas Wilson, who was saved, Mrs. G. W. Howard, of Rome, N. Y., for Paw tucket, R. L.; husvand saved. Laura Brasher, of East Boston, identified by her sister, who was saved. Arthur Wieram, a child, of Brooklyn, and Cart Wieram, of Brooklyn. S. G. Martin, of Manchester, identified by wife, saved, BODIES NOT IDENTIFIED, Leaving cleven bodics not identified, consisting of two women and nine men, @ descriptive list of which is as follows No. 1—White woman; striped steel and black dress, No, 2—Colored man; elderly, with white shirt and heavy, gray beard. No. 3—Klderly white man; gray whiskers; ight overcoat. No, 4—Middle-aged man; black sult; watch; gold chain. No. 5—White woman; chemise; stout; about thirty-five. No, 6—Middle-aged man; black coat; brown pants, with black stripe. No. 7—Middle-aged man; Diack suit; watch and chain. No. 8—Middle-aged man; gray suit; goatee. No. 9—Middle-aged man; gray coat; watch and chain. No, 10—Aged man; gray beard; gray pants. No. 11—Elderly man; watch and chain; heavy beard; black coat; dark, striped pants, AID FOR THE RESCUED, Upon our arrival at Stonington with the ae and bodies of the lost we found the ladies of Ston- ington crowding to the steamer en masse to render every assistance in their power. Mrs. Dr. Hyde, Mrs. C, P. Dixon, Mrs. York, Mrs, Rev. A. @, Palmer and many others unknown to me were un- tiring in their attentions to the suffering and my worn-out crew. Captain. Osgood, of the yacht Fleetwing, gave $100 to divide among the suffer- ers. My officers and crew furnished the saved with all their spare clothing. Captains Larkin and J. Crandall, of Watch Hill, with their crews and life- boats and Captain Crandall’s private boat, which was stove, saved fourteen, who were placed on board of my steamer. Although Captain Crandall has lost his boat, yet he says he is well paid for the loss, Having saved fourteen lives with her. There was a heavy sea running, and it was almost impossible to approach the vessel with life- boats, . The wind biew heavily from the northwest, against a southeast gale of wind of the night pre- vious, occasioning @ very high crosssea. I start to-morrow morning at day light to cruise over the ground again. The yacht Fleetwing, Captain Osgood, will join the Moccasin in her cruis- ing to-morrow. Parties wishing to communicate respecting the bodies not identified will address Dr. Hyde or Harrts Pendleton, of Stonington. President 8. D. Babcock and Superintendent A. S. Mathews, of the Stonington line, have issued pesses to allthe survivors bound south of New Yors, and those bound eastward are rendered every facility for their transportation homeward, ‘The scene was awful and heart-rending to those engaged in saving the perishing, and can only be CONTINUED ON SEVENTH PAGE,