Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-01-18
From the Pennsylvania Sentinel of Jan. ..
DREADFUL SHIPWRECK.
One Hundred and Eight Lives Lost.

peruS Oh the deep are tnc Sreutest, anu VIC
are prepared to receive intelligence Of &c.
casonal disasters but the following dis
tressing calamity, involving as it does an
awful sacrifice Of human life, and taking
place when the voyage had terminated, and
the vessel only waited pilot TO enter the
harbor--exctes the most melancholy feel.
ings. We gather the following particulars
from the New.York papers Of yesterday
morning.
1t is with sorrow and shame we again
take up the pen to record the particulars of
the wreck of another vessel destined TO this
port, when almost within sight of it; sor.
row, at the immense loss of life with which
the event has been accompanied, and shame
that our port regulations are insufficient to
guide the mariner to his haven, when he
has reached our coast.
The information we give below, has been
derived by our reporter from the Captain
of the shipwrecked vessel, and from per-
sons on the spot where the ship came on
shore. He reached town from the scene
of the disaster at an early hour this morn
ing, having been despatched by us thither,
as soon as the news of the horrid catas-
trophe reached us.
The Barque Mexico, Capt. Winslow,
sailed From Liverpool on the 25th October
last, having on board crew consisting Of
twelve men and one hundred and four pas
sengers, in all l16 souls.-She made the
Highland lights on Saturday night last at IL
o'clock, and on Sunday morning was off
the bar; with thirty or more square rugged
vessels, all having signals flying for pilots,
but not pilot was there in sight. The
Mexico continued standing off and on the
Hook till midnight, and at dark she and the
whole fleet ofships displayed lanterns from
their yards for pilots. Still no pilot came.
At midnight the wind increased to a violent
gale from the northwest, the Barque was
no longer able to hold to windward and
was blown off distance of some SO miles.
AT this time, six of the crew were badly
st-btten, and the captain, mate and two
seamen were all that were left to hand and
reef the sails. On Monday morning at III
o'clock standing in the shores, they made
the southern end Of the woodlands, when
she was wore round and headed to the north
under close reefed main top.sail, reefed
fore-sail, two reefcd try-sails and forestry
sail. AT four o'clock the next morning, the
mate took a cast of the lead and reported
to Capt. Winsow that he had fifteen fathoms
water. Surprising from the soundings, as
laid down on the chart, that with this depth
of water, he could still stand on Two hours
longer with safety-the Captain gave orders
to that effect, and was the more induced to
do it, as the crew were in so disabled q state
and the weather so intensely cold, that it was
impossible for any one to remain on deck
longer than half an hour at a time. The
event has shown that the information given
by the mate, as to the depth of water was
Incorrect his error probably arose from the
lead line being frozen stiff at the time it was
cast.
Fifteen minutes afterwards the ship struck
the bottom twenty six miles east Of Sandy
Hook at Hampstead beach, and not more
than a cables length from the shore. The
scene that ensued on board, we leave to the
readers imagination. For one hour and
three quarters she continued humping
heavily without making any water, the sea
however breaking continually over her,
Her rudder was now knocked of, and the
Captain ordered the mainmast to be cut
away. The boats were then cleared, the
long boat hoisted out, and veered away un-
der her bows with stout hawser, for the
purpose of filling it with passengers, letting
it drift within reach of the people who
crowded the beach, then hauling her back
again, and thus saving the unfortunate peo-
pie on board, but this intention was frustra.
ted by the parting of the hawser which
snapped like thread as soon as the boat
was exposed to the heavy surf. The yawl
was next got alongside, and stove to pieces
almost instantly. At o'clock the same
morning, the ship bilged, and filled with
water. Orders followed from the captain
to cut oway the foremost and that every
soul on board should come on deck.--In in.
expressible agony they thus remained until
four o'clock in the afternoon, when boat
was launched from the beach, and succeed.
cd in getting under the bowsprit of the
wreck. This boat took off Capt. Winslow
and 7 men, and succeeded In reaching the
shore with them in safety. The attempt
however was attended with such imminent
danger, that none could be induced to re-
peat it. And now the horrors of the scene
were indescribable. Already had the sui.
ferings of the unhappy beings been such as
to surpass belief. From the moment of the
disaster, they had hung round the Captain,
covered with their blankets thick set with
ice, imploring his assistance and asking if
hope was still left to them. When they
perceived that no further help come from
land, their piercing shrieks were distinctly
heard at considerable distance, and con-
tnued through the night until they one by
one persisted. The next morning the bodies
of many Of the unhappy creatures were
seen lashed to the different parts of the
wreck, embedded in ice. None, it is be.
lieved, were drowned, but all frozen to
death.
Of the one hundred and four passengers,
two thirds were women and children.
II is but justice to the people on shore, to
say that every thing which human beings
could accomplish to save the unfortunates,
was done that their means permitted. The
only boat which boarded the vessel was
hauled distance of ten miles and was
manned by an old man and six others, four
or five Of whom were the old mans sons
and gIandsons. For thirty years he
has been living on the sea-shore, during