The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-02-08
The pubic humble servant,
II. VI. WHITNEY.
Uonday Jan. 80, 1887.

The sufferers IN the Shipwreck of the
Herico. The following extract of letter,
written by gentleman in New York to a
friend in this city, gives nm affecting des-
crip,ion of the appearance after death of
The unfortunate individuals, who were lost
in the bark Mexico, lately shipwrecked on
Long-IsIand Beach. Bost. Mer. Jour.
son reaching Hampstead, | concluded
10 go somewhat off the road to look at the
place where the ship Mexico was cast away.
In half an hour we came to Lofts tavern,
some four or five miles this side of the beach
where the ship lay-and here, in his barn,
had been deposited the bodies of the ill-fa-
ted passengers which had been thrown upon
the shore. / went out TO the barn. The
doors we're open, and such a scene as pre-
sen,ei itself to my view, | certainly never
could have contemplated. 1t was a dread
fuI, frightful scene of horror
Forty or 6fty bodies, of all ages and SEX
es, were lying promiscuously before me,
over the floor, all frozen, and as solid as
marbe-and, all, except few, in the very
dresses in which they perished. Some with
their hands cIenched, as if for warmth, and
tIluDSt every ObC WIN III NhoohSb anu
bent, as it would he in clnging TO the rig
ging.
There were scattered about among the
number four or five beautiful lIltle girls,
from six to sixteen years of aye, their checks
and lips as red as roses, with their calm
blue eyes open, looking you in the face, as
if they would speak.
| could hardly realize that they were
dead. touched their checks, aud they
we're frozen as hard and as solid as rock,
and not the least indentution could be made
by any pressure Of the hand. l could per-
ceive resemblance to each other, aud
supposed them TO be the daughters OF a
passenger named Pepper, who pershed,
together with his wife and all the family.
On the arms of some were to be seen the
impression of the rope which they had
cllng to-the mark of the twist deeply sunk
into the flesh. SAW one poor negro SAILOR,
tall man, with his head thrown back, his
lips parted, and his now sightless eyebalIs
turned upward, aud his arms crossed over
his breast, MS if imploring Heaven for aid.
This poor fellow evidently had frozen,
while in the act of fervent prayer.
One female had rope tied to her leg,
which had bound her to the rgglng-nnd
another little fellow had been crying, and
thus frozen, with the muscles of the face
lust as we see children when crying. There
was a brother and sister dashed upon the
beach, locked in each Others arms /; but
they had been separated in the barn. All
the men had their lips firmly compressed
together, and with the most azOnllIng ex-
preston on their couutenances ] ever be-
held.
A little girl had raised herself on ,iptoe,
and thus was frozen just in that position.
II was an awful sight-and such picture
of horror was before tne, that became un-
consciously fixed to the spot; aud found
myself trying TO suppress my ordinary
breathing, lest should disturb the repose
of those around me. vas aroused from
the reverie BY the entrance of a man- a
coroner.
As wa. about to leave, my attention
became directed to girl, who, afterwards
learned, had come that morning from the
city to search for her sister. She had sent
for her 10 come ever from England, and
had received intelligence that she was ~ the
ship. She came into the barn, and the Sec
ond body she cast her eyes upon, was hers.
She gave way to such burst Of lmpassion-
ed grief and anguish, that could not be-
held her without sharing in her feelings.
She threw herself upon the cold aud icy
face and neck Of the llfeless body, aud thus,
with her arms around her, re NAMED wailiug,
moaning and .pb'ing, till | came away
and when some dr,ance off, could hear
her calm. her by name in the mos, frantic
manurr.
~ Ii'e iiut, II s7psar', hid ,hsy T. pr