The New York Herald Newspaper, December 31, 1876, Page 3

ASHTABULA'S HORROR. Details of the Dreadful Calamity on the Lake Shore Road. AN IRON BRIDGE SNAPS LIKE GLASS. One Hundred and Twenty Human ‘ Beings Perish. CRUSHED, BURNED, DROWNED FROZEN. Sixty of the Passengers Wounded--- Only Seven Escape Unhart. GRAPHIC STORIES OF SURVIVORS. Heroic Efforts of a Brooklynite Amid the Wreck. [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.] ASHTABULA, Obio, Dec, 30, 1876, The most disastrous railroad accident since the Angola horror in 1868 occurred at this station, sixty- tive miles east of Cleveland, last night. A heavy full of snow, accompanied by a gale of wind, had prevailed during the day, and on gil sides the snow had drifted into hvge mountuins, and trains going either way were greatly delayed. The Pacific express, which Jett Buffalo at twenty minutes past twelve P. M., and was due at this station at a quarter past nine, was over two hours late, and upon reachingthe iron truss bridge which spans the Ashtabula River a few rods cast of the sta- tion, the structure gave way, precipitating the trains of eight coaches and the three baggage cars into the chasm. The bridge was an iron truss of 150 feet span, the track being sixty feet abovo the water level, The train was drawn by two locomo- lives, the forward one bresking loose trom the othor as the bridge gi way, and escaped on the very brink of the feariul gulf; tho other engine following the quivering mass of humanity and crushing coaches and adding tothe horror by the rushing steam that camo from the crushed monster. SURROUNDED BY FLAMES, Hardly had the falling coaches reached the ground after this tearful leap ere the flames burst forth on all sides, and the blecding and mangled bodies became food for the pitiless fire, The groans of the dying, the cries of the wounded and the agomzing appeals of those whose bare chance tor life was being swallowed up by the flames wendered the scence one of unparalleled horror, the Fécollection of which will never be forgotten by those ‘whio lived through that hour of indescribable agony. Therd, were 172 passengers on the train at po: Sa of the disaster, and of this it 18 believed that about two-thirds mere killed outright so complete was the Wreck, and so rapid and entire the destruction by fire Mbat but whirty-four bodies have up to this time— ‘twenty-four bours after the disuster—been recovered) and itis believed that but tew more will be found, others being entirely consumed. Of the number re- cvrerod but six bave beew Identified, the balance being Yadistingutshable mass of charred and biackened flesh and bone, horrible to look upon and enurely be- youd identidcation, Asuiptaxce BY citizens, The citizens of the village, about a mile distant from * the station, heated by the Mayor, turned out en masse to the aid of the sufferers, and hotels and private resi- dences were converted into temporary hospitals, Everything possibie was done to alleviate the sufler- ings of the wounded. Tnese numbered iifty-nine, the greater portion of wuom are but slightly injured. Many of these proceeded on their journey this after- ‘Boon. AN INQUEST ON SUNDAY. An inquest will be held on Sunday, beginning at Dine o’clock, by H. P, Hepburn, Mayor of the village, which will be coutinned uatil all the bodies are re- Covered. The work of clearing away the débris will be resumed at daylight. The officials of the road havo been on thé ground since last evening. THR BRIDGE SUSPECTED TO BE UNSAPR, The bridge was built elevon years ago, ana it is said that the erection of a truss bridge at this point was strenuously opposed by the Cliet Engineer, Mr. Charles Collins, but be was overruled by his superiors, and there are rumors to tbe effect that the bridge bas been regarded unsafe forsome time. Those reports may, however, prove entircly unfounded, but the truth will undoubtedly be developed ut the inquest, SCENES AT THE WRECKED TRAIN. CuRvELaNv, Dec. 30, 1876, The following isefrom a special despatch to the Cleveland Leader from the wreck at Asltabula:— The baggard dawn which drove the darkness out of this valley of the shadow of death seldom saw a phastiier sight than was revealed with the coming of this morning. On either side of the ravine irowned the dark and bare arches from which the treacherous Umbers had fallen, while at their base tho great heaps of ruins covered the hundred men, women and chil- dren who had so suddenly Leen valied to their deavh. The three charred bodies lay whero they had been placed in the burry aud confusion of the night. Piles of irun lay on the thick ive or embedded in the shallow water of the stream. ‘The fires smiuuldered in great heays where many of the helpless victims had been all consumed, while men went about in wila excitement, seeking some trace of a lost one among the wounded ordead. The hist of the saved and wounded having been already sent the sad task remains of discovering who may be among the dead. The later task will be the most aiificuls of all until the continued absence of & iriend here or there will allow of but one explana- tion—that he was umong thore who took this lutal leap, THE SCENE DESCRIBED. All the witnesses so far ugree as to the main facts of the accident, It was about eigbto’clock, The train Was moving atu moderate rate of speed, the Asita- Dula Statioa being just this side of the ravine, Sud- deoly and without warning the train plunged into the abyss, the forward locomotive alone getting across in satety. Almost instantly the lamps and stoves seb fire vo the cars, avd many who doubtless were only stunned and who might otherwise have veep raved fell victimato the fary of the fames, Oa the arrival Of the Clevelaod tram the surgeon of the road organ- ized a corps of assistants aud made a tour of the ‘Vatious hotels, where the wounded were attended to, tach help beiug given to cach a8 was possible, The People of Asntavula lent willing bands, and al! that homan skill could do to save life or ease pain was done The train which came from Cleveland lor this purpose backed into position, and long be- ie persons least wounded were being Prepared fur transporiation to Clevelaud to be sent to ‘\he hospitals or to their homes. SIGHTS AMONG THE WOUNDED. The scene among the wounded wus almost as sug- gestive of borror as the wreck in the valley. The two hotels nearest the statiou contained a wajority of the wounded. They were scattered about on iemporary beds on the floors of the dining room, parlors and offices. 1p one place & man with a broken jeg would be under the Lauds ol a surgeon, Who rapidly and skilluily per- formed bis work. Another man, vovered with bruises and tooked as though be hud been svowed upon, except where the dark lines of Diood ucrosa the tace or limbs told a different story. lu anotuer corner a poor woman moaned trom te cuuid not cunceal, while over asl there brooded tue bash of awe which always accompanies calamiues of (bis character, VERY DERP sxow, Toward morning the cold increased and the wind Diew aseariul gale, which, with the sow that had ted waist Geep at points along the line of the roaa, made the work extremely difficult, THX HOSPITAL SLEEPING CAR, NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1876. —TRIPLE SHEET. special train were made up, and such of the wounded as could be moved were transferred to the car. THE BRIDGE AND ITS STRUCTURE. From Mr. Charles Coilins, chiet engineer of the road, 1t is ascertained that the bridge was a Howe tru: built entirely ot iron and about eleven yearsold. lt was 69 feet above the water. and had an arch 150 fett long tn the clear, the whole length of the oridge bei: 157 feet. 18 bas been tested with six locomotives, and at the time of the disaster it was considered in perfect condition, Mr. Collins gives no opinion as to the cause of the accident, expressing bimeel! as being ut- terly unable todo so, He estimates tho loss on the bridge alone at nearly $75,000, but he has no opinion as to the total loss on cars, ka A NEW BRIDGE IN TEN DATS. As soon as tho débris ‘s cleared away and the bodies are all taken out, which wil! occupy acouple of days, a temporary bridge, which was built for the Wilson avenue crossing ard is at Collingwood, will be put up. He expects to b: a@runping counection made within ten days. HEAPS OF HUMAN CINDERS. I have just returned trom the ruins, and have seen the smouldering remains of at least a dozen bodie: only one of which has any resemblance whatever to a human body, By the side of another heap of embers was found a pair of scissors, also a tuft of grayivh hair, No other means of ideatiiication could be found, although the hunt may be more successful when the removal of the upper rubbish begins. The iron of the bridge ts twisted in endicss confusion with that of the cars, while the locomotive is wrecked in every part. By this time neurly all the woodwork is burned away. A BRAVE BROOKLYN MAX, Charles S, Carter, of Brooklyn, N. Y., says he was sitting ina palace car with three other persons, en- gaged in a triendiy game of cards, when suddenly be heard the window glass breaking im the forward part of the car and almost instantly the car began to tall. He was seated with his back toward the front of the car, and as be went down be sut as quietly as ne could and held on, A CARD Party. When the car struck the bottom of the ravine he found himself almost unhurt, although one of tne men who was playing cards with him, whose name be did not know, was killed, while another, a Mr. Sheppard, of New York, bad hisicg broken. Mr, Carter says the front of the car was much jower than the rear and that the flames in front began to eat their way upward and spread with great rapidity. SOME BRAVE RESCUING. Ho turned to assist Mr. Sheppard, and, with great difficulty, succeeded in getting bim out. When Mr. Sheppard was fairly out Carter returned to the assis- tance of a woman, who was calling for help at the tront end of the car. He got ber out, and, as she was quite thinly clad, gave her his overcoat, Alter reach ing a hotel be found himself severely bruised in several places, Inthe great peril of the houra mau rushed down tothe scene of the disaster ready to help in rescuing, He sawa woman struggling for Iie and went to her assistance. “HELP ME, MOTHER.” He carried her by main force to solid ice, and then, urged by the cries of the mother, went back to rescue her daughter, a sweet child of three or four years. The treacherous wood in splintering bad caught the child in is grasp and the fre completed the horrible work. The man was compelled to see the child enveloped in flame, and tohbear ber ‘help me mother”? ringing out in an agony of death. Ina mo- ment she was lost, swept up by the sharp tonguo ot fire, whiie the mother, in helpless agony, feil to the earth in » deadly swoon, + BIRTH OF A CHILD, There was on board a family named Bennett, on their way irom New York State to Jeflerson, Ashtabula county. The father and mother got vut of the wreck and tne children were only saved by being tossed from the arms of one man to another over the pile of burn- img wood. One of the four children was seriously in- Jured and all were slightly scratched, This moraing the mother, who was enceinte, gave birth to @ child, the event being hastencd by the excitement she had un- dergoue, MRS. FRAME, OF ROCUKSTER, who was so badly burned about the lower part of the body, isin a critical condition, apd has but a slight chanee for life, MR. SHEPPARD LOSES HIS LEG. Mr, Sheppard, whose rescue was previously do- scribed, bad one leg fearfully crushed, necessitating its amputation, and he ia now doing well. % TUR AWFUL LEAP. It seems thatthe train had just about covered the bridge when It fell, as fragments lio ucross the ravine touching the base of tho abutments on eithor side, When one stands at the foot of the ravine and looks up it seems ap utter impossibility that any man could take a leap from so great a height and live; yet a number escaped comparatively unharmed, and had it not been for the fre provabiy not one third would have becn lost, The water in the creek is only about three feet deep, and it is thought by some that when it is dragged number of bodies may be found. THE STOCK DROVER’S STORY. A stock drover is another witaess as to the rapidity with which the fire did its work. He says he was one ol the first out of the wreck, aud that five minutes had not elapsed before the whole thing was atlame. DOING THX RIGHT THING, The railroad officials did ali in their power for all the auderers, They also seemed anxious that the tacts shoald be all published, and desired to suppress nothing. Every facility was given to representatives of the press to gu to the bottom facts in every instance. A HOSPITAL TRAIN. A special train, loaded with some of the injured, lett Ashtabula ata quarter past eight o'clock this morn- ing, consisting of an express, passenger and palace car, In the latter the beds had ali been made, and in them were placed the worst of the victims, those able to sit up being accommodated in the front car. The names and destination of them are as follows :— Peter Livoborough, No, 26 Koss street, Cloveland, Wiliam Dinan, Charles Recker, A. Gibson, W. B. Sanders, Joba J. Lader, R, Monroe, A. Burnham, R. Austin, Walter Hase, Charies Patterson, all go to the hospital at Clevelana, R. Harrold, Cincinnati, Mrs. W. H. Low, No. 31 Walnut street, Cleveland, — Folsom, No, 346 Lake street, Cieveland. — Tilden, No. 52 Hamilton street, Cleveland, Dr. Griswold, No. 503 @ avenue, Cleveland. H, D, Champlin, No. 53 Water street, Cle’ ad, Mrs, J. A. Davis goes througb to Cineinvan. ‘The above arrived at Cleveland in safety, THK KILLED. Bradley, Mrs., the child and nurse, of Chicago, Coggswell, M. P., Chicago. Gage, Clarence, Charieston, 11). Lapigan, Lawrence, express messenger, Meyer, Mr., and his little daaghter. Nuevaum, Victor. Waite, Toledo, Ohio, Washburn, Rev. a. IL, rector of Grace church, Cleveland, Ohio, Tun WOUNDED, Austin, R., Chicago, burned. Arvold, Mavel, North Adams, Mass., slightly in- jured. Bradiey, Mrs, Witham H., Chicago, slightly inj ared. Bingham, Mrs, M., Chicago, leg broken. Burnhem, A., Milwaukee, slightly injured. Beauchee, Lewis, Kent Pisins, Conu,, injured in head aud hip severely. Burdeti, J, E , Chicago, slightly injured, Brews H. L., Milwaukee, slightly injured, Clark, B H., of Massachusetts, bead slightly hurt, Carter, Charies %., Brooklyn, N. Y,, shgntly injured, Champlain, H. D., Cleveland, 0., legs nurt. Color, Frank L, Elmira, N. Y., dangerously in- jured. Karl, J. Co, Chicago, Ii, slightly :njured, Fastman, Mra, Kochester, N. injurpd. Frane, Miss Mary, Rochester, probably tatally in- | jured. Folsom, G. D., engineer, Cleveland, Otuo, right leg broken ad bead cut, Grabam, Mre. Anna, New York, slightly injured, Gibsou, Andrew, Carey, Oulo, slightly injured, Griswold, Dr. U. A., Fulton, LiL, back aud head injured, Hewitt. A. E., Bridgeport, Conn., slighly injured. Hazleton, J. B., Charleston, til., probably fatally ine jored. Harald, Richard, Cincinutti, slightly mjured, Hayes, Walter, Lexington, Ky., dangerously ine jure Hitcheos«, Alexander, Port Clintou, Obio, At six o'clock the beds in the sleeping car of the | injured ou head aud legs, Y., probably fatally | | | | Lyons and R. 8. BcGee, of Jackson, Thomas, Waterbury, cond, back and hens) injured. Jones, C, E., Beloit, Wis., slightly injured. Lew, Mrs. W. H., Rochester, slightly injured, Lobaeil, J. W., Troy, N.Y., mternally and probably fatally injured, * Lewycollius, P. B., head severely injured. Marmondeville, C, D., Albany, bead and stomach injured. Monroe, Robert, Rutland, Mass., leg, back and head injured. Martin, J. N., East Avon, mbs broken, Maillard, A., of California, back and head injured. Morris, Alexander, Somerville, Mass, leg broken. Mowry, J. W., Hartford, Conn., ribs injured. Osborn, F., of Michigan, heaa injured, Ormsby, F. A., Boston, head slightly hurt, Paislue, Altred H,, Wood's Museum, Chicago, shoul- der injured. Patterson, Charies, probably fatally injured; anable to tell his residence. Read, G. G., Cleveland, Obio; injuries not given, Rickard, Charles T., Biddelord, Me., ari, head and leg injured. . Sanderson, William B., Auburn, Mo, slight!y 1n- Jured, Shepherd, Henry W., Brooklyn, N. Y., leg ampu- tated Sawyer, Bernard, Chesterfield, Essex county, N. Y., bead burt and injured internally. Swit, Mr. and Mra, North Adams, Mass, both slightly injured. ° Tabor, John L., Chicago, slightly injured. Thompson, J. 4., of Calitornia, bead burt, Tyler, C. H., Louis, band broken, Tomhnson, H. T., Bridgeport, Conn,, arm and leg injured. Trueworthy, F, D., Oakland, Cal, ribs injured. White, Jonu, Boston, leg broken, White, Heary N., Wethersfield, Cona., back and bead injures, =, White, George A., Portland, Me., slightly injured. Wright, Thomas C., Nashville, tenn., bip seriously injurea, Zerenboras, Peter, fireman, slightiy injured, THE MINSING AND THE DEAD. Among the few known to have escaped without in- Jury were Miss Marion Shepard, of Wisconsin; B. B. jew York. Tho following persons, known to have been on the train, are missing :— P. B. Stowe, Geneva, Ohio; David Chittenden, Cleve- land; Phil, McNeal, baggage master; 1. C. Crane, New Haven, Coun. ; Levy Hart, Akroa; Abner Strong, George Kepler and 4. H. Stockwell, Ashtabula; and Airs. Eliza Copier, Chippewa, Ont, The tollowing bodies have been identified:—M. P. Coggswel!, Chicago; Waite, Toledo, aud Lawrence Lanigan, express messengers; Clarence Guge, Charies- ton, Ith, and Mr, Meyer and his little daughter. Tho four former nave been forwarded this afternoon to their friends. Victor Nusbaum, one of the wounded, bas since died from his injuries. Chittenden, David, Cleveland, Ohio, Coffer, Mrs. Etiza, Chippenwell, Ont. Crane, L. C,, New Haven, Conn., conductor, Hart, Levy, Ashtabula, Kepler, George, Ashtabula Krow, A., Asbtabula, MeNeil, Phil, baggage master of sleeping car. Stockwell, A. H., Asbtubula, Stowe, G. B., Geneva, Olio, Strong, Abner, Ashtabula. THE UNINJURED Davis, Mrs. F. A., Indianapolis, Henn, B., conductor, Buffalo. Lyons, B. B., New York. Shephard, Miss Marian, Wisconsin, CLEVELAND'S SHARE IN THE DISASTER, Cinxcrxnat!, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1876. A special despatch to the Commercial, via Cleveland, at twenty minutes to twelve P. M., says thirty. four bodies hud been taken out of the wreck at six P, M., none in a condition to be identiied, The killed cannot number leas than 100 and may reach 120, as ouly 54 out of 170 or 174 passengers have been found. Rev. A. H, Wasbburo, rector of Grace Church, Cleveland, ts among the lost. ‘Thirty of the wounded bi been brought to this city and distributed among the hospitals, Mails ana baggage have all been lost. A temporary bridgo caunot be ready for trains in lees than ten days, Most of tho dead seem to havo been New Engiand and Llithots. Very te Cleveland were on the iil-tated train, The cara are entirely consumed, and a majority of the bodies were reduced 10 ashes, Thote which im any degree preserved wero saved from being entirely burned by the water. The bridge was an iron Howe truss of 150 feet Span, buile in 1865, and was considered ono of the best bridges on the road. Its fail is attributed to the action of the frost on the iron, The only remaining portion of the train :s the lead- ing ongine, which, at the moment of the accident, broke its coupling ard leaped forward, the tender jumping from the rails, The other engine lies com- pletely wrecked, with the wheels uppermost, at the botiom of the ravine. The wreck will not be cleared before Sunday night, IN THE CLEVELAND NosviTaL. The following are the naines of those brought to this city from Ashtabula this evening and place in the Cleveland Hospital: A. Gibson, Cairo; Charles Ricker, Bedford,, Me. ; Waiter Hayes, Lexington, Ky.; A. Barnbam, Milwau- kee; Charles D. Patterson, Waterloo, N. ¥.; John Lallor, Chicago; Robert Monroe, Rutland, Mass; W. B, Sanderson, Auburn, Me ; William Donor, Niagara Falls, ANOTHER BROKEN BRIDGE. A TRAIN ON THE RUTLAND RAILROAD FALLS FIFTEEN FEET IN10 OTTER CREEK WITHOUT FATAL RESULT. New York sons trom Rvrsayp, Vt, Dec. 30, 1876, The accident to tho Montreal express train on the Rutland Railroad, near Pittstord, Vt, last night, was Strangely destitute of the usual tatal results of such occurrences. There were about forty passengers on tho train and none were very seriously injured, wuile the three cars and engiue composing the train are com. plete.y wrecked. The cngineer and firemen went down with the engine, which was overturned, bat they both escaped uohurt. Captain Ford, ot Montri and Mrs W. J. Chambers, of Binghamton, are the only persons severely braised. A RAIL REMOVED, The accident was caused by the train running off the track, from which it is supposed some fiend had removed a rail, and, striking the bridge, precipitated it und the cars to the ice, fifteen feet below. A train was made up here and sent to the scene of the disas! and the passongers aud baggage reached here at half past two A. M. The bridge was of wood, 150 feet long, aud spanned the Otter Creek just southward of Pittsford Station. STRUCK BY A TRAIN. Pitrsvixiy, Mass, Dec. 20, 1876, The Housatonic train arrived to-night seventeen hours jate, Mr. John F. Bartiett, Superintendent ot Bridges, was struck by a train while walking ahead of it and his recovery is doubtful. RUN OVER AND KILLED. PortLaxp, Me., Dec, 30, 1876. Charles Nixon, of Lewiston, was run over and kiiled to-night by a train in the depotof the Grand Trank Ratiway bere. * A NARROW ESCAPE, While Mrs. Helen Jayne, wife of Dr. Jayne, of No, 925 West Twentieth street, was crossing Broadway and Twenty-tirst street yesterday moruiug, she was knocked down and severely injured by a car of the Broadway line, The driver, Charles Weeks, was ar- rested by Officer Quiuian, of the Twenty-ninth pre- ciut, and discharged by Justice Bixby, the evidence being tasaflicieut to establish any negliconce on his part Mrs, Jayne was taken wo her residence. DIPHTHERIA ON STATEN ISLAND. Diphtheria ts now prevaicutin the several villages on Staten Island. Two schools have been closed in consequence, oue at New Brighton und the other at Concord DISASTER UPON. DISASTER. Second Wreck of the Doomed Ship Circassian. NOT TO BE SAVED. Twenty-eight Lives Lost in Friday ‘Night’s Storm. ONLY FOUR SURVIVORS. A Night of Agony and Effort Dawning Into Death, LASHED TO AN IRON MAST. (BY TELEGRAPH r THE HERALD. } Sac Hakuor, 1. I., Dec. 30, 1876. At about four o’ciock this morning a terrible acci- dent occurred at the wreck of the British ship Circas- sian, which has been on the beach since the morning of the 11th of December. The story of the wreck is fresh in the minds of the readers of the HxxaLD, and with the sad sequel of to-day’s accident closes one of the most terrible murine tragedies ever enacted on this coast, At the time of the beaching of the Circassian all bands were saved. Somo of those fortunate enough to be saved on that occasion were among (hose lost in to-day’s disaster, Since the 12th inst. the wreck has been in charge of the Coast Wrecking Company, which contriacted+to savo the ves- sel and cargo, The task of discharging the cargo wa: avery dangerous undertaking, for ever since tho ship | drove ashore the wind has been high aud the sea angry. Qn Thureday last the vessel was relieved of most of her freight and it was hoped that she would be drawn off the beach yesterday. Tho weather proved unfavorable, however, and the task as postponed until to-day. The delay proved fatal, for now the vessel is a total wreck, and twenty-eight lives bave been lost- it ap- pears since the Wrecking Company took charge o! the ship the company’s employés have been quartered on board, as was a!so Williams, the captain of the Circas- sian op her unfortunate trip from Liverpool to New York. Like a true sailor Captain Williams refused to leave bis craft, and he has paid the price of his fidelity with bis life, The men on board tho Circassian had finished on Friday nightall the necessary preliminaries for attaching the hawser with which sho was to be drawn off. During the early hours of the night the wind freshened a little and the sea began to rua very high, until ws about six o’clock it began to break clear overher. The mer, apprehending danger, went into the fore rigging, where they were ordered for greater saiciy, All on board—thirty-two souls ali told—re- mainod thus exposed until early ia the mormiug, when 1t was deemed advisable to shilt quarters, as the falling of the top hamper, caused by the rolling of the vessel, made it diMcult to holdon, The crow was safely transferred to the ‘mizzen, where signals of distress Were repeated. HORRIBLE HOURS. All this time the shoro was plain in sight; the moon was shining brightly, and fires built by the crew of the Ife saving station showed plainly the ugures of the crowd on thé beach hurrying to and fro in vain endea. yors to aid the men in the rigging. It was an awful suspense for the poor fellows lashed to tne mast and yards of the ship They saw attempt alter attempt made to vstablish communication with them fall, and each failure seemod to measure their purchuse upon life, Every effort to get a boat off shore proved futile. As often as it was attempted the sea drove it high und dry on the beach. THROWING A LINE. Captain Henry Hunting, of Lite Saving Station No. 10, now brought a mortar into service, aud several balla with a rope aitacued were thrown out to the ship. But one of the cords reached the ship. Its hold was not very secure aud it presently tell off, and the slender thread upon which thirty-two human lives depended was snapped forever. The wind was blowing a periect gale from the direction iu which the balis were shot, and most of the bails fell far short of the wreck. Finally an extra charge of powder was Tammed into the mortar, the last churge in the mag- azine of the station, With that charge the mortar whanged the death knell of the ill-fated crew, AN AGONIZING siGUT, The station mes, all the while these endeavors were being made, could see the men in the rigging quite plainly and hear their cries for help. Muny of the weather-beaten heroes on sivore, who huve been wrecking vessels and saving lives since boyhood, were moved to tears by the piteous importunities of the wretched men off shore, The violence of their efforts to save mitigated the suspense they woul! otherwise have felt during the early hours; but when the last charge was shot off and nothing else possible to human eflort or bravery romained to be dono | they became uomanned and many of them wept, The nervous excitement and the sudden juactivity atterly iocupacitated them for any duty. They could not leave the spot, and it only rematued for them to re- main Inactive and see their fellows perish belore their eyes, To leave the beach would only add to the ter- rors of the death that stared its victims in tho face, and to remain inactive would probably give cause for unjust reproach from the poor, helpless waiters on the wreck. Superintendent Huntiog and his men remained and tried to answer tno calls {from the wreck, but nothing that’ was said on shore was heard on the ship on account of the direction of the wind. 1a terror and suspense the morning wore on; the wind baving veered arourd in the meantime to west southwest. During the early part of the night, velore the men went into the rigging, the cables were slacked, but the ship moved only a short¢istance and continued through tne night to strike the bottom, FACING THEIR DOOM. Every tim struck the men thought she would lose ner masts, to which they bad Jashed themscives, Whilo conscious of the great danger and the utter im- possibility of ‘ing themselves i! the mast should go by the board, it beiwg of iron, they were unabie to siacken the lashing, Some of them with more ssif- possession thum others bad taken this contingency mto their calculations, and bad not securely lashed themselves, aad among these were the only fuur saved from the wreck, THR CRASH AT Last, At ball past four A, M. the long-dreaded crisis came and the mizzenmast went by the board with a crash carrying the mainmast with it. A tremendous swell had ‘uck Circassian aft and raised her very high, When it receded sbe thumped heavily and the terrific Jar threw tbe mast over theside, The masts being iron went to tho bottom immediately, carrying with them twenty-eight souls. OUT WiTh THE TIDE. There is no prospect, immediate or remote, of recov- ering the bodies, for the tide has set strongly to gthe eastward and those of them tat have been freed irom the masts ond rigging bave been driven out beyond Montauk Pot, SWIMMING TO SHORE, Three of the Circassian’s crew und one of the coast wreckers alone reached the shore. A® soon as the mast went by tne board these men ed to cling to a fender that was torn off the side by the failing masts, and io less than five minutes aiter they fell Into the water they were on shore and im the bospitabie hands of the life-savers. All tour are doing weil, Wilson, the Circassian’s carpenier, ts the only one of the savea who injured. He is abed now, but will probably be abroad in the morning, Morle says he gave a life-presorver to one of tho Sbinnecock Indians named Walker, aud that he had it fastened around his body when he lashed himself to the most, Too much cannot be said in commendation of Captain Huniiiag aud his men for ther novio though fatile efforts, A BOAT AT THE CENTENNIAL, Tho wooden boat belonging to his station is still at the Centenpial, trom which it should bi been ree turned jong since, and some aro of tbe opinisa that it the buat bad been available it might have doue service ‘This opipion is not ¥ taken, as no boat could have lived in the sea that was running, THX WEEK, The Circassian 13 a total wreck, having broken into three parts, Nothing worth savimg has been left whole, Herforemast is stil! visible, but will in all probability have disappeared before morning. LOST AND SAVED. Tho foliowing is a lis¢ of the lost and saved :— CIRCASSIAN OFFICERS AND CREW LOST. Richard Willams, captain. Evan Johnson, third mate. —— Kepp, boatswain, Horatio Johnson, steward, Jobu Freeman, sailmaker. Thomas Orr, carpenter's mate. Thomas Grant, cook, James Scott, seaman, Andrew Tabogo, seaman, Frank Wright, apprentice. Allen Nodder, apprentice. Walter Hedge, apprentice, John McDermott, stowaway. COAST WRECKING COMPANY MEN LOST. Jobn Lewis, captain of wreckers, Philip Kernes, engineer, Luke Stellman, engineer. Patrick » engineer, LONG ISLAND WRECKERS LOST, James Thurston, Southampton, L, 1. Jarvis Cuffee, Shinnecock Indian. Wilham Cutfve, Shinnecock Indian. Oliver Kells, Shinuecock Indian. John Walker, Shinnecuck Indian, Lewis Walker, Shinnecock Indian, Robert Lee, Shittwecoce indian. Russell Buon, Shiunecock Lodian. Frauk Bunn, Sbinnecock Ingian. David Bunn, Shinnecock Indian, TUR SAVED. Henry A. Morle, first mate Circassian, Jolin Rowland, second mute Circassian, Alexander Wilsou, carpenter Circassian, Charles Campbell, of Newark, Coast Wrecking Com- | pany, engineer, THE LOST INDIANS, Awong the Indians lost William and Jarvis Cuffeo were brothers, the Walkers were brothers-in-law, and the Burns were cousins. They were all expert wreckers, WITH THE SURVIVORS, The four survivors of the disaster are quartered at tho house of J, H. Cooper, within sight of the ill-fated vessel, whose bows still reach above the water, They are Henry Marle, chief mate; Jonn Rowland, second mate; Alexander Wiison, Carpenter and Charles Campbell, ot the Wrecking Com- Pany. They have been well cared for, but aro entirely Without clothing. The men were in bed when visited by the representative of the HeraLo, but Alexander Wilson roused himself and told the tollowing story :— STATEMENT OF ALEXANDER WILSON. We had been regularly quartered on board since the 13th of this month. We had thirty-two men in all— sixteen of the men were of the Cireassian’s crew and the remainder belonged to the Coast Wrecking Com- pany. The storm begam about noon of Fri- day, ond = imervased all tho time, Tho ship at this time was lying on the outer bar. Captain Lewis, of the Wrecking Company, about four o’ciock in tho afternoon gave the order to cut the hawsers and if possible allow tho ship to drive in again to the inner bar, They were accordingly paid out, but the ship would not go back and began to thump on the bar, The wind increased and she thumped heavier and heavier all the time, but she didn’t make any water until about half-past five. About six o’clock the men came up from supper, when the ship suddenly tilled, and the water rose three or four inches above the be- tween decks, ‘he fires of the boilers and galleys were put out, and the ship settied down and stopped bump- ing. Tho sea then began to wash over ner, TAKING TO THR RIGGING, About seven o’clock all hands took to the fore- rigging. We stayed up about two hours, and the sou moderated. Wo then came down tothe deck again. Between six and seven o'clock the boats were smashed to pieces by the water that poured over the decks, ‘THE SHIP BREAKING, At the time we were in the rigging the ship settled over on her port side, and 1 heard a rattling kind of noise, Leanimg over, 1 lvoked down and saw the deck planks heaving up The noise made oy the nuts flying off the bolts as the ship set- tled. Her back was brokep, Captain Williams was in tho rigging with me, aod thought it was a “caso,’’? when the sides werelppening ap aud her bow and stern opening. About ten o'clock woe went into the deckhouses for shelter, The sea was very hoavy ut the time, and stove in the iron doors, We barricaded them up again, however, and were com- paratively comioriubie until midnight. ATTEMPTH ON SUORR AT RESCUER, Tho life saving station mado several attempts to throw rockets aboard, but they fell short, They burned fires ashore and did everything they could to help us. At midnight Captain Williams and Captain Lewis went out of the house and looked atthe deck. ‘they soon camo back and said :— “Boys, she is breaking badly, to the rigging.” We then took to tho rigging, It was very cold and whorever the spray struck it would freeze instantiy, We took tho mizzen rigging because wo thought it would be the safest and strongest. I was up pretty near the top. You had better take MEN WASHED OFF, About tour o'clock 1 saw three or four men washed off the lower mgging. I saw their bodies floating about, The sbip was gradually going to pieces from hall-past twelve until the mizzenmast went by the board about hall-past four in the morning, PRAYING FOR UELP. Between the hours of two and four I heard some of the men praying, and every now and again’ be § shouted for help, GONE BY THE BOARD, About half-past four o'clock the raizzenmast went by the board, and we were all thrown into the water. The alter part of the ship was uuder the water, SAVED, Alter 1 was !n the water some time I got hold of ono of the cork bucys belonging to the lifeboats, and floated ashore along with three others, all ou tho same buoy. 1 saw nothing of avy of my shipmates, except those that came ashore with me. I suppose that all the others hung on to the rigging and went down with it, We tour jumped clour of the rigging. TURILLING DESCRIPTION OF THE DisasTKR, Mr, Estabrook, of the Castom House, who was de- tailed by Collector Arthur to superimtend the land- ing of the cargo of the Circassian, arrived tn this city last evening, and gave tho following statement toa Hxnatp reporter respecting the wreck of tho vesse!:— “On Friday morning Captain Poarson, local agent of the Wrecking Company, and myself boaraed the wreck at about nine o’clock, The schooner J. lL. Merritt was lying alongside, waiting to take in cargo, vut as the swell came in £0 heavily from the sea she wus forced to leave, ‘There was a ry bank of clouds in the northeast, aod we saw that a gale was approach- ing. At ten o'clock, seeing that bad weather was coming on, we called the surf voat and were rowed ashore, the distance being aboat 600 leet, At one o'clock the sen commenced to wash over the wreck ; she headed right off shore, and was anchored with two large cables, ove of eleven inches and the other of seven inch diamoter, Shortly afterward Captain Lewis, of the Cuast Wrecking Company, had the cables siacked, which allowed the vessel to ride More easily. About three o’clock her stern was seen to swing wore to the westward, on the bar, and the seas broke over with redoubled force, ‘THE FLOATING OF THE WRECK, The idea of the agents of the company in hauling her lead on to the bar was to let her work her way over it, asa very high tide was expected on Friday night and it was confidently expected that sue could be havied outto sea by the large tugboat, the Cy- clops, which had already arrived At avout tour o'clock the tug, seerng that 0 attempt could be made that night on account of the horrible weather, stood out for Montauk, with tho intents of returning 48 sooN a8 the sea moderated, Althoagh the ship rolied and tossed considerably there was uo anxiety felt ashore for the saiety of those op board. At five o'clock it commenced to biow a per- fect hurricane, Three hours later the mainmast was seen to tupple over, breaking off like a pipe stem, car- rying three men with it who had gone aloft for pro- tection, These were the only men who went up, as far as we could sev. I havo pot been abic to obtain their names, At hall-past eight a rocket was seat up asa signal of distress from the wreck, In answer to this a wood Gre was built om ihe shore by order of ens 7 Major Perry, to snow that their signal was noticed, No boat could have lived to have gone out to ther rescue, as the sea Was @ boiling mass of white foam, About this time the wind veered from northeast tq southwest, becoming every moment more and more violent, About this timo the vessel was seen to settle, she doubtless having filled. Sea after sea broke over her, and her hull was oftentimes lost entirely to view, Her foremast and mizzeumast were, however, stand+ ing, and gave evidence that she still held together, Alten o’clock a cry was raised by Captain Pierson, as he heard a terrible crash, “My God, she’s breaking | in half!” and an openiog was soon seen in the vessel's | side near the foremast, The mizzen rigging wad tiled by the poor fellows patiently awaiting theis watery grave. Major Perry, with Captain Luntiey, of fe Saving station No. 9, located opposite the Circas- siab, endeavored to throw a rocket line by the aid of @ mortar into the vessel. Threo ineffectual attempts were made, and as their line had become clogged with sand and impossible to use with any precision, the firing party were forced to abandon the attempt. A MEARTRENDING SCENK. Amid the howling of the tempest and the roarof the waves there was borne to our ears the voices of the poor fellows in the rigging, singing bymns and pray- ing in chorus to God. There was hardly adry eye on shore amorg us as we heard these thrilling and sue preme appeals made to God. Among those on the wreck were ten Shinnecock Indians, who, as a rule, are very good men. During this agonizing scene, which lasted for hours, we heard these men praying. The beach was lined with hundreds of people, many of them women, sobving piteously. Some of them were the wives of the dvomed wen. The wind on shore raged with territle violence, driving people hither and thither. ‘The lite-saving crews of Southampton, distant dive aod a half miles, and East Hampton, about the same dis- tance, had arrived, bringing their mortara with them, bat did not attempt to a their life Moe when firing, as nothing | coukt be done. They, however, fired a number of blank shots to try aud reanimate the courage of those on board. Meanwhile Major Perry ordered the patrol of the beach for a distance of five miles, east aud west, to see if anybody should be washed ashore, Severai buoys, pieces of compunion way, pieces of spars, &c., were picked up, bui not a single body was found along (he shore, THE FOUR SURVIVORS, At twenty minutes past four o'clock the mizzenmast was seeu to go by the board, Adouble patrol was ine stantly ordered on the beach vy Major Perry. Tem minutes after four men were wasled ashore ou one of the fore-and-alt buoys of a lite boat, made of cork and covered wiih canvas, and which are geueraily put under the geats of the buat. ‘The party consisted uf Thomas J. Rowland, second mate of the Circassian, who was the first man brought to the life saving station, having been discovered a quarter of a mile to the eust of the wreck by Dr. Badcock, crawling in an exhausted condition on the Leach, The next man found was James Campbell, ot Newark, N. J., employed by the Coast Wrecking Company; then Mg M, A. Morle, first officer of the Circassian, and the last of the little band was Alexander Wilson, the carpenter of the Circassian, who was completely exhausted and unable to waik, Great credit is due to the life saving crews, under Ma- Jor Huntley, for their vigilance. fhe Major took off bis underelothes aud gave them to the survivors, while others were getting suits of clethes for them, Subsequently the men were placed in beda in the lifes saving stations and stimulants given them, At day. light the beach was sirewa with aéoris from th¢ wreck, but up to the time of my leaving Bridgehampton, at hbalt-past one VP. M. tox day, no dead bodies bad been washed asnore, I cannos believe im the possibility of anyboay else being saved, 1 have brought up the ship's chronom- eters, und w.li deliver them to the Custom House om Tuesday, 1 have also the ship’s papers ia a tin box, which I sail hand to the Britwh Consul. Among the people particularly worthy of fat praise for the efforts they made to rescuo aud care for the upfor- tunate men on the Circassian I must mention the names of Captain Burney, of the surf boats for the Coast Wrecking Company; Captain Ludlow, a retired whaling captain, and also the good people of Bridges hampton. THE CINCASSIAN’S Last VOYAGR, The Circassian lett Liverpool for New York on the 6th of November last, and on the 30th of that month, when about 400 miles to the eastward of Montauk Point she fell in with the bark Heath Park, flying stg- nals of distress. The bark was bound to Liverpocl from Perth Amboy with a cargo of siate, and being ia a sinking condition the crew desired to be takon off, They were rescued by the sailors of the Circassiaa and the Heuth Park leit to founder, which must havo been her fate, as a gale of terrible power sPfung up immediately after the rescue, That galo cuused to the rescued und rescuing crews almost the identical sufferings which had betallen the fret far ous on the Atlantic. For several days after the euffering satlors of the abaudoned bark were transterred to the ship the latter expericaced the seVerest weather. The dock and rigging of the vesse! were thick with ice, and: while the snow was falling so fust that it was impose” sible to see the vessel's length ahead, she went ashore ou the 11th inst. , as already stated. Then came the third scene. The men ot the life. saving station wore promptiy on hand, and, atter @ terrible struggie with a heavy sea, succeeded in rescu- ing ull hands, The work was performed only alter boats baa Leen swamped audsrockets used. Worn out and almost dead from exposure the wrecked crews were brought to this city, when the Britisu Consul rendered them a!l tho assistance required and scot them home, Efforts were made to float the Circassian, and ald was at once sent from New York in the shape of the steamer Cyciops and lighters in charge ot the Coust Wrecking Company. They labored with much succe: a largo portion of the cargo being removed and sent te this port. On Friday aiternvon the manager of the Wrecking Company in this city received despatca from bis associate at the slip that if the storm then raging did not prevent tne Circassian would be floated offatthe next high tide, How tho storm did prevent this consummation, and how the vessel went to pieces in'the gloom of the morning, aud how those on board stroggled for lite with the cold piercing their vitals, and how at last they succumbed to the feartul ordeal and slipped beneath the waters, is told above, AUSTORY OF THE CrRCAssIAN, The Circassian was built in Belfast, {reland, 1856, as a steamer, ai iting the Jate civil war made sev- cral trips asa blockade runner, Hor machinery was subsequently removed, aud being rigged asa ship was put on the line between Liverpool and this port, She was of iron, 243 feet long, 39 feot beam, 30 feet depth of hold, 1,741 tons burden, and when loaded drew 20 foes of water, THE CIRCASSIAN’S PREVIOUS BTRANDING, On tho 1st of Decemver, 1809, the Circassian, then a steamship, telt New Orleans for this port and went ashore seventeen days later at Squan Beach, New Jersey. Her cargo was taker out of herand she was brought up to this city after being stranded for Ave daye. On another occasion she went ashore near Portland, Me., aod was got off by Captain Joba Lewis, of the Coast Wrecking Company, who is now among the lost. THE LOBT VERBKI’S CARGO. Mesrra. Walker & Hugues, average adjasters, No, 66 Wall street, 1urnixbed the following description of the Circassia which In tecbaical language is con- Pecnip-cient, segakteies eile h, shipped by J. ‘wenty-eignt bogi ash, # Musprat; & Sons to order; 62 Werces soda ash Pre & D. s. Riker; 45 caske of the samme to Lats Hn ; powuer aud Uicrces soda ash'to G. Wainon, Jr. ; ; 1 ied cones sauce to Joba Dunean’s Son; 281 bags ot hide pieceste shipped by B. Batterworth & Co. ant uate “old to order; 74 Werces soda ash to eng a | Bank of Commerce; 87 casks soda to Davis, W & Co. ; 110 Herces chlorate of lime end 128 Precnivengi mss ash oJ. L. & ». 8 Riker & Co. ; rces soda ash acd 60 ara caustic toda ‘to Edward Hill, 10 cavks a to tiga & Vanuorveck ; soda to L&D hiker; eo els 100 do. to Wing Co. ; 77 hogubeads tlerces baking powder Dpe . son & Co,; 280 barrels soda crystals ta Edward Mill 15 casww mnatebes to F, A. Mil; Leask tere “s 87 casks baking powder lor C. ¥, ‘The total weight of the cargo is estimated 1418 tons and its valuo about $6,000 Insured in tam country and England, ‘The ‘schooners J. L. Merritt, J. W. Stout and Meteor, of tne Wrecking Company, in several tripa saved irom the wreck about # third of the ov which ts now lying pa Robiuson’s Cougress st mores, Brooklyn, will be delivered ty the com at ous when weaved.” he pie junaranes oe VSS eae Te ne Mish companiea, Josep Swilt; Sumner,