Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-03-02
THRILLING. NARRATIVES.

THRILLING NARRATIVE.
The following affecting account Of visit
| To the barn near Hampstead beach, where
were collected the dead Of the barque Mexi
| CO, was written by gentleman in this city Ia
his friend in Boston. We copy from the
Mercantile Journal:
/ On reaching Hampstead, concluded 10
go somewhat off the road To look at the place
where the barque Mexico was cast away. In
bali an hour we came to Louis tavern, some
four or five miles this side fihe beach, where
the ship lay, and here, in his barn, had heen
deposited the bodies Of the i'll fated passen>
gers which had been thrown upon the shore
l went out 10 the barn. The doors were
open, and such scene nv presented itself 10
my view, | certainly never could have con-
templated. II was a dreadful, a frightful
scene Of horror.
Forty or Fifty bodies, Of all ages and sexes,
were lying promiscuouslv before me, over
The floor, all frozen as stiff az marhle-and
all except few, in the very dresses in which
they Perished. Some with their hands
clenchcd, as if for warmth, and almost every
one with an arm crook ed and bent as il would
be elingi0g 10 the rigging.
There were scattered about among the
number four or five beautiful little girls,
from SIX 10 sixteen years Off age, their cheeks
and lips as red as roses, with their calm blue
eyes open, looking at you in the lace as il
they would speak
could hardly realize that they were dend.
touched their cheeks, and they were frozen
as hard aud as solid as rock. and not the
least indeniion could he made by any pres
sure fthe hand. could preceive a resem-
oiance to each other, and supposed them 10
he the daughters OF a passenger named Pops
seI,o t<,.ra 80 g., 4.
all the family.
On The arm of some were TO he seen the
impression Of the rope which they had chung
to--the mark of the twis, deeply sunk into
the flesh ! saw one poor negro sailor, a tall
man, with his head thrown hack, his lips
parted, and his now sightless eye balls turn
ed upwards, and his arms crossed over his
breast as ifimploring Heaven for aid. This
poor fellow evidently had frozen, while in
the act offervent prayer.
One female had a rope tied 10 her leg, which
had bound her 10 the rigging-and another
little fellow had been crying, and thus fro
zen, with the muscles OF The face just as we
see children when crying. There was "a
brother and sister thrown On the beach lock
ed in each ciher's arms hut they had heen
separated in the barn. Al! tie men had
their lips firmly compressed together. and
WIN tno tn0St dg0biZtng expression on tne1r
coantenances ever heheld
lille girl had raised herself on tiptoe
and thus was frozen jest in that position !,
was an awful sight-and such "a picture Of
horror was before me that became uncon-
sciously fixed TO the spot. and found myself
trying to suppress my ordinary breathing,
lest should disturb the repose around me.
was aroused from the reverie ty The en-
trance OF a mana coroner
AS was about to leave, my attention be
came directed 10 girl, who I afterwards
learned, had come that morning from the
city To search for her sister She had sent
for her 10 come over from England, and had
received intelligence that she was in this
ship. She came into the barn, and the Sc
cnnd body she cast her eye upon was hers
She gave way In such burst of impassioned
grief and anguish. that could not behold
her without sharing in her feelings. She
threw herself upon the cold and icy face and
neck OF the lifeIess body, and thus, with her
arms around her, remained wailing, mourn
ing, and sobbing, till ! came away and
when some distance off, could hear her cal
ling her in the most frantic manner
So little time had they to pr.pare for their
fate, that ] perceived bunch Of keys and
half eaten cake fall from the bosom Of girl
whom the coroner was removing The cake
appeared as if part off, had just been bitten
and thrust into her bosom, and round her
neck was ribbon, with pair Of scissors
Suspended.
And to observe the stout. rugged sailors.
Too, whose iron frames could endure so much
hardship-here they lay masses Office. Such
scenes show us indeed how powerless and
feefle are all human efforts. when contend
ing against tho storms and tempests which
sweep With resistless violence over the face
Of the deep. And vet the vessel was 40 near
the shore that the shrieks and means of the
poor creatures were heard through that bit.
ter, dreadful night, till towards morning the
groans died away, and oil was bushed in
death. and tie mUrmur Of the raging pillows
was all the sound that then met The ear.
Exu vv.