Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-04-08
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

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The following affecting narrative Oft visit
to the barn at Hampstead Beach, where were
collected the dead of the barque Mexico, is
from letter published in the Boston Mercan-
tile Journal -
On reaching Hampstead, | concluded
to go somewhat off the road to look at
the place where the barque Mexico was
cast away. In half an hour we came to
Loot's tavern; some 4 or miles this side
of the beach where the ship lay-and
here, in his barn, had been deposited the
bodies of the ill-fated passengers which
had been thrown upon the shore.
went out to the barn. The doors were
open, and such scene as presented it.
self to my view, certainly never coulc
have contemplated. 1t was dreadful
frightful scene ofhorror.
Forty or fifty bodies, of all ages and
sexes, were lying promiscuously before
me, over the floor, all frozen as solid as
marble--and all, except a few, in the very
dresses in which they perished. Some
with their hands clenched, as if for
warmth, and almost every one with an
arm crooked and bent as it would be in
clinging to the rigging.
There were scattered about among
the number, four or five beautiful little
girls, from six to sixteen years of age,
their cheeks and lips as red as ro-
ses, with their calm blue eyes open, look
ing you in the face as if they would speak
| could hardly realize they were dead
| touched their cheeks, and they were
frozen as hard and as solid as rock, and
not the least indentation could be madeby
any pressure of the hand. Il could per-
ceive a resemblance TO each other, and
another little fellow had beencrying, and
thus frozen, with the muscles ofthe face
just as we see children when crying.
There was brother and sister thrown
on the beach, locked in eachother's arms:
but they had been separated in the barn.
Allthe men had their lips firmly compress
sed together, and with the most agoni-
zing expression on their countenances
ever beheld.
A little girl had raised herself on tip
toe, and thus was frozen in that position,
supposed them to be the daughters of
passenger named Pepper, who perished,t 4
together with bis wife and family. =
On the arm of some were to be seen
the impressionofa rope, which they had
clung--the mark of the twist deeply SUNK,
into the flesh. saw one poor negro sai- !
lor, a talIman, with his head thrown back,
hislips parted, and his now sightless eye
balls turned upward, and hisfarms cross.
ed over his breast, as if imploring Heav-l
en- for aid. This poor fellow evidently
had frozen while in the act Of prayer. "a
One female had a rope tied to her leg,l
which had bound her to the rigging and
1t was an awful sight; and such pig
ture ofhorror was before me, that | be-
came unconsciously fixed to the spQt,
and found myself trying to suppress rSy
ordinary breathing, lest should d.
turb the repose of those around me.
was aroused from the reverie by th6en-
trance Of mana coroner.
As was about to leave, my atte ftionE
became directed to a girl, who, lftef.a'
wards learned, had come that mcfning
from the city, to, search for her lister.
She had sent for her to come overIfrom
England, and had received intelligence
hat she was in this ship. She catf IN
% the barn, and the second body shRcast| !,