American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-04-04


From the Nsw Haren (ConnectieutJ Hera,d
MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE.
We have been favored with the following ex,r.,,
Of letter from a respectable ship-master os
this port giving an account of the destruction oe
the whole Of the Methodist Mission familv l.
Gated at the Island of Antigua. by shipwreck' !,
| is dated
"ANTIouA, March 5,h, 1896
"A most distressing and melancholy shipwrecL
occurred near this island the past week, ATTENDED
with such circumstances as seem almost ncre5ibIs
and we can only say, that, for the wisest purpose
though often to US inscrutabe, the Lord has dons
lii.
"About four weeks since, there was a yea,,,
general meeting at ST. Kits, of the Methodist mis-.
sionaries from the neighboring islands from ,hs
place went the Rev. Mr.. White, wife, three chill
dren, and servant Rev. Mr.. HilIiar, Rev. M,
Oake, Rev. MIR. Jones, wife, and infant child. Thev
left St. Kits few days since, TO return to this ii.
and, having added to their number Mr. -, anoth.
er missionary, and his vile. The vessel in which
they embarked, called at Montserat; the number
Of the mission family, at that time, amounting 10
thirteen souls, as above, including one servant. Al
Montserat, their friends advised them to leave the
vessel in which they we're, (beng dull sailer,l
and go on board the mail boat Maria then ready 10
sail Tor this island. They did SO; and young Ia.
dy also took passage with them. The schooner
which they had left, arrived here seosonably, and
brought the baggage Of the mission family, which
they did not think best to take out. the ordinary
passage being only few hours. Some alarm (afer
the schooners arriva was felt for the safety Of III.
mail boat but as the wind was very high, II was
supposed tina, she had probably lost some of her
sails, and put back. On Friday, P. M. the Sd inst
hnr nrd hrn IN tnrpn hok -
the wreck was seen on the Weymouth with two
persons on il. Two or three boats Immediately
went down TO her, and found it to be the wreck Of
the Mail boat Maria and The only survivor Of twen.
ty.onc souls Mrs. Jones, in state Of nsensibi.
lily. 1t appears that she had been placed by the
captain, (W hitney) between the bow-sprit bits,
where she could not wash away. She was in her
night dress only, with her husbands cloak or coat
on, and sailors cap on her head. The body Of
Capt. Whitney (and the only one found) was lying
near the wreck He had not been dead, pro.
badly, more than an hour, as he was seen on the
bow spirit about O'Clock in the afternoon. Mrs.
Jones, it is hoped, is slowly recovering and so fer
restored to her recollection, as TO say, that she
knows all the circumstances OF the shipWreck; but
the doctors forbid her being questioned at present.
The following circumstance, however. have been
communicated by her The vessel struck on the
reef, in the night. Three or four days had elapsed
when she was taken off. Mr.. White, his wife, three
children, and servant were all swept away together.
clinging TO each other: Mr.. Hiar attempted to
swim to Sandy Island, and was drowned in her
sight; her infant was washed away from her arms;
her husband died on her lap, the night before she
was taken off, and was washed away. AS returning
recollection opens to her the horrors of the scene
she has witnessed, / am told she often exclaims.
!" 0, captain Whitney, why did he save me - She
must, indeed, be an unhappy, lonely woman; and
time can never efFace from her remembrance this
mournful event. She is undoubtedly most to be
pied, for We have good reason 10 indulge the hope,
that her kind friends in hcayen--that the scenes
OF Weymouth shoal were but passage to the ha-
ven OF bliss. Dark, deep, and mysterious, are the
ways OF righteous and unerring Providence!
With wonder and astonishment, we behold deli
cate, slender woman, OF twenty years, for four days
without sustenance, exposed to the inclemency Of
the weather, supported; while hardy seamen were
dying around her, and finally, the sole survivor Of
twenty one persons We see, in few short hours
the whole mission family Of this island, called from
their earthly labors, but to receive, as we trust,
heavenly reward: but who can stay his hand Z or
who shall say to the Supreme Governor o! the
Universe, wha, doest thou Shall not the Judge OF
all the earth do right3"
shoal, about four miles from the harbor, and only
halt a mile from small island called Sandy island