Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-03
From the Connecticut Herald.
MFI ANcUOIY CATASTROPHE.

MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE.
We have been favored with the following e1-
tract Of letter, from respectable ship mas
ter of this port, giving an account OF the de-
struction of the whole of the Methodist Mis-
sion family, located at the island OF Antigua,
by sbipwreck 1t is dated
ANTIGUA, March 5H, ls26.-"A most distress
ing and melancholy shipwreck occurred near
this island the past week, attended with such
circumstances as seem almost incredible, and
we can only say, that, for the wisest purposes,
tho often to US inscrutable, the Lord has done 1t.
"About four weeks since there was yearly
general meeting at St. Kits, OF the Methodist
| missionaries from the. nelghborlng islands:
| from this place went the Rev. MIR. White, wife,
three children and servant; Rev. Mr.. Hilliar,
Rev. Mr.. Oake, Rev. Mr.. Jones, wife, and in
FAINT child. They left St. Kits few days since,
to return to this island, having added TO their
number Mr.. -, another missionary, and his
wife. The vessel in which they embarked,
called at Montserat the number OF the mission
family, at that time, amounting to thirteen souls
as above, including one servant. At Montse-
rat their friends advised them TO leave the YES
sci in which they were, (being dull saier,)
and GO on board the mail boat Maria, then
ready to sail for this island. They did so; and
a young lady also took passage with them
The schooner which they had left, arrived
here seasonably, and brought the baggage Of
The mission family, which they did not think
best 10 take out, the ordinary passage being
only few hours. Some alarm CATER the schoo-
ner's arriva) was felt for the safety of the
mail boat; but as the wind was very high, ii
was supposed that she had probably lost some
of her sails, and put back On Friday, = Nj.
the Sd instant, however, word was brought to
town, that part of the wreck was seen on the
Weymouth with two persons on it. Two or
three boats Immediately went down to her, and
found it TO be the mail boat Maria, and the on
" survivor of twenty-one souls was Mrs. Jones,
in state of insensibility. 1t appears that she
had been placed by the captain, (WhitneyD
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
a sailors cap on her head. The body Of Cap
tain Whitney, (and the only one found) was
living near the wreck He was buried yester-
day. He had not been dead, probably, more
than an hour; as he was seen on the bow-sprit
about O'Clock in the afternoon. Mrs Jones,
il is hoped, is slowly recovering, and SO far re-
stored 10 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 circumstances, howe
yer, have been communicated by her:--1he
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, cllngins
to each other; Mr.. Hilliar attempted to swim to
Sandy Isl,nd, and was drowned in her sight;
her infant washed away from her arms; her
husband died on her lap, the night before she
was taken of, and was washed away. AS re-
turning recollection opens to her the horrors
of the scene she has witnessed, am told she
often exclaims, 90, captain Whitney, why did
he save me!'' She must, indeed, be an unhap-
py lonely woman, and time can never eHace
from her remembrance this mournful event.
ST., is undoubtedly, most TO be pi:ied, for we
have good reason to indulge the hope, that her
kind friends are in .heaven-that the scenes OF
Weymouth shoal were but passage to the ha-
ven of bliss. Dark, deep, and mysterious, are
the ways of a righteous and unerring Provi-
dence With wonder and establishment, we
behold delicate, slender woman, OF twenty
wears, for four days without sustenance, expos
ed to the inclemency Of the weather, support
ed; while hardy seamen were dying around her,
and finally. the sole survivor OF twenty one per-
sons! 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?
or who shall say to the Supreme Governor OF
the Universe, what doest thou?-Shall not the
Judge of all the earth do right!
a shoal about four miles from the harbor, and only
half mile from a small island called Sandy Island.
Il Large Haul-On Sunday evening TWO or
three police officers and eighteen watchmen
visited noted gambling house in New.York,
and captured, and conducted 10 the watch,-hou.se,
forty out of forty three gamblers, found in full
play One of the three who escaped dashed
through second story window, carrying away
the sash upon his neck, in the manner OF the
English patent life preservers. Bait. Pat.