Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-01-13
SIIIPWRECK-1O3 LIVES LOST.

The New York papers bring us the dis
,ressing intelligence Of the shlpwrcck of The
barquc Mexico of Portland on Hampstead
bar, one quarter OF mile from the shore,
with the loss Of one hundred aud eight per
sons. We take the following particulars
from the Courier g. Enquirer, which de-
rived it's information from :he Captain OF
the vessel. who was one Of tho few saved.
The Barquc Mexico, Capt. Winslow,
sailed from Liverpool on the 25th October
Inst, having ON board crew consisting of
Twelve men uud W.. i.""d-cd and four pas
scngcrs. in all one hundred aud sixteen
souls, She made the Highland lights on
Saturday night last at II o'clock and on
Sunday morning was Off the bar, with thir
~ or more square rugged vessels, all having
signals flying for pilots bat not a pilot was
there III sight. The Mexico continued
standing off and OH the Hook till midnight.
and at dark she aud the whole fleet of ships
displayed lanterns from the yards for pl,ue.
Still no pilot came. At midnight the wind
increased to violent gale from the north
west, the Barquc was no longer able to hold
to wililward aud was blnwn of Il distance
of some SO miles. At this time. SIX of the
crow were badly frost bitten, and the cop.
tam, mate, and two scatncn were all that
were left able to hand and reef The Sails
On Monday mOrning at o'clock, standing
in shore, they made tho southern end of the
woodlands, when she was wore round and
headed to the north, under close reefed
main top sn,l, reefed fore-saii. two reefed
try-saIl, and fore siay.sai'. A: 4 o'clock
the next morning, the mate took cast OF
the lead and reported to Capt. WinsIow
that he mad fifteen fathoms water. Sup.
posing from the standings, as laid down on
tho chart, that with this depth OF water, he
could still stand OF two hours longer with
safcty-thc Captain gave orders to That ef
| feet, and was he more induced TO do it, as
the crew were in so disabled q 81 ate aud the
weather so intensely cold, that it was I'm,
possible for any one to remain ON deck Ion
ger than half an hour at tune. The
event has shown that the information giveI
by the mate, as to tho depth of water wa,
incorrect, his error probably arose from
the lead line being frozen stiff at tho tim
it was cast.
Fifteen minutes afterwards the sh,
struck the bottom, twcn,y.slx miles east O
Sandy Hook q, Hampstead beach, and no
moro thas q cables length from the shore
The scene that cnsued on board, we leav
to tho readers imagination. For one hou
and three quarters she continued thumpin
heavily without making any water, tho Sc
however breaking continually over her,
Her rujLer was now knocked off, and III
Captain ordered the mainmast 10 be Gu
| r., nj cd
long boat hoisted out, and veered away no
der her bows with stout hawser, for tn
purpose of filling it with passengers, lettin
It drift within reach of the people VIII
crowded the beach, then hauling her bac
sgain. and thus saving the unfortunate pee
pie on board, but this mention was frustFs
ted by the parting of tho hawser, whic
snapped like thread as soon as the boa
was exposed TO The heaving surf. Tn
yawl was next got nlogside, and stove I
pieces almost Instantly. Al 7 o'clock IN
same morning, the ship blged, and file
with water. Orders followed from III
captain to cut away the foremost; and tha
every soul on board should come on dech
In inexpressiblc agony they thus rename
until 4 O'Clock in tho afternoon, when
boat was launched from the beach, and cue
ceeded in getting under the bowsprit ofth
wreck. This boat took of Capt. Winslo,
and men, and succeeded in reaching th
shore with them il safety. The stiemF
g however was attended with such mminer
n danger, that none could DO induced to 70
peat it. And now, tho horrors Of the seen
were indcscrbnble. Already had tho su
fcriugs Of the unhappy beings been such q