Star.
London, England, 1830-12-03 00:00:00

WRECK OF

,INGTON.

We conversed with a friend the other day, who mentioned various
affecting circumstances connected with the wreck of this ill-fated vesseL
The ledge of rock on which the Mary struck is situated almost close to
the land ; but still, from the war of the winds and the waves, the gulf
between was fearful to look upon, and resembled, we understand, the
appalling turmoil and agitation of the St. Lawrence, immediately un-
der the falls of Niagara. As the seam* occurred in broad day-light,
the beach in the end was limed with& onsiderable number of spectators.
and great was their grief, we may about say agony, when they beheld
the crew and passengers streteblog flab their hands, and imploring that
aid they had not the means of granting. Imminent as was the danger,
one individual offered to man a boat, and was joined by a second ; but
as six men would have been required to give it the least chance to live
in such a tremendous surf, the proposal was abandoned, from the
impossibility of completing the p number of the forlorn hope.
After the main-mast fell over board, the crew cut away the other,
in the hope of forming a sort of bridge ; but by some mistake,
it fell nearly longitudinally into the sea. Speedily, the Mary
began to break up, and, as a last resource, nine persons leaped
into the small boat; but it had scarcely left the vessel's side,
when it was seen whirling round, like debris in a whirlpooL A
few moments more, and the boat was upset, and those who manned
it precipitated into the water; and though five of them succeeded
in reaching the shore, there were others who, from weakness were less
fortunate, and immediately sunk to:rise no more. One poor fellow, it
is said, was seen mounted on the hen-coop, or some other article be.
longing to the ship, and bad almost succeeded in reaching the shore; but
alas ! alas ! at the very moment be considered himself beyond the reach
of danger, and when the spectators were stretching their arms to re-
ceive him, the recoil of the waters carried him out to sea, and wrenched
even from the grasp of despair the article to which he_ had trusted for
safety, and which was traced a mile in the distance and more, long
after the unfortunate man had yielded to his fate. A rope attached to
a piece of wood was floated to the,thore, seised by the spectators, and
tied round the mate, who immedistelyidescended the vessel's side But
while buffeting his way it occurred to those on board that he was about
to desert them, and who from despair actually held him between the
ship and the shore till he was nearly drowned. Thus hampered he
took out his knife, cut the rope, and, fatigued as he was, swam to the
shore, but so far was he from resenting the treatment he had met
with, he exerted himself to the utmost in saving his companions. The
86 head of cattle mentioned in our last had been loosened in the hope
that some of them at least mightswim to shore ; but of the whole num.
bee not one escaped alive. The 37 recovered were sold very cheap,
some at 15s. and others at es. exclusive of the hide, and though rather
lean they bled freely, and will prove an acceptable mart to industrious
householders.—Lhemfries Courier.