The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-19
Ft0m The Bgston atlas.
Three PacI1et ships Host.

airy 10Th, .4h appalling accounts of the wreck OF
the packet hps Oxford, 81 Andrew, and Pennsyi,
vania-tls, two last almost IA total wreck, outward
bound sUih large and rich cargoes OF dry goods on
bou,4- and also with loss Of lives. The worthy
Captain Smith Of the Ponnsy lvania, IS among the
drowned in his own ship. The Lockwoods, Brit |
ish emigrant ship, Capt Sprout, for New York, is
wrecked, with great loss OF lives.
The gale began on Sunday right January 6, and
during The whole of Monday is said to be one OF
the most dreadful storms that has been experienced
in the course OF the present century. In Liver
pool the loss Of life to say nothing OF properyhas
been most iamontabie little if any less than TWEEN
ty deaths having been reported to the coroner
From the number of persons bruised, and other
wise injured, tits to be feared that That number,
large as it is will not include the whole of the
deaths in Liverpool and as for those at sea, and
the surrounding district very little was known. AS
several vessels were sunk in the docks, and not
less than fifteen were yng ashore at Bootle Bay,
the prob ability Is, that the casualties at sea w Ill
have been very great.
During the whole of Sunday the wind blew
strongly from the south. and the glass fell con.
sderably, but many vessels commanded by expe-
renced captains, went to sea, and there was moth
ing to indicate the frightful storm which followed
Suddenly, however, the wind shifted to the south
west and increasing rapidly, 1t became a perfect
hurricane after midnight. 1t continued to
blow in this dreadful manner for many hours, with
out Il moments cessation, sweeping down chm
neys and chimney pots, tearing up states by thou
sands, swapping in pieces large trees, casting down
thick walls driving vessels on shore, and spread
the whole night the crash of fall ing states in
cessant, and it is remarkable that the night police,
who exposed to the whole fury of the storm
should have escaped almost wholly without inJu-
ry
The Victoria (steam tug) came up 10 Liverpool,
January 9. with twenty six persons from the Penn
sylvania, and twenty-five from the Lockwonds -
Captain Smith, and tho second mate of the Penn
! sylvunia, were washed overheard January S, and
drowned two left in the main, and one
in the mizen top, all dead. About thirty persons
were lying on the poop Of the Lock woods dead
and several drowned in the cabin. The whole of
the survivors, except two who refused to leave the
Loockwoods, were brought on shore from both ves-
sells by the Victoria.
| The Pennsy vania was on shore the North
Bank Three of the crew and two passengers at
tempted TO themselves, January 8, in one of
the boats, but only Mr. Thompson, a passenger, got
safe ashore.
The shore presents melancholy appearance
! The Oxford, American packet which on the Sun
day afternoon presented so noble an appearance as
she anchored off Seaforth, lies now wreck on
the shore, scarcely TO be recognised except by the
bulk of the hull majestc vessel which but a
few hours before so saantly rode at anchor in the
port.
rose, and between that point and Liverpool, "a short
distance of barely three miles, are fourteen other
wrecks, one steamer. Four vessels lie the
shore together, as if carried with one gust ofwind.
Several bodies washed ashore in BOOTY Bay.
| The storm extended to Ireland, committing great
ravages in Dnbin and other places.
Ihe last intelligence OF tuesday night caused
the utmost anxiety, IN the interim Of suspense be-
tween that period and yesterday morning, as to the
of the endeavors for the preservation of the
passengers and property. The worst fears respect
ing the Inflated vessels reported 10 be In distress
unhappily confirmed. AT an early hour the most
earnest inquiries were made in all quarters where
it was likely to obtain information. 1t was soon
known that the New York packet ships Pennsy J..
vana and St Andrew were total wrecks, and that
the ockwoods, British vessel, was in a similar
condition.
The Victoria steam tug had in the of
Tuesday afternoon made every exerton to save as
many as possible of the seamen and passengers from
the wrecks She succeeded in bringing on shore a
considerable number from the Lockwoods and ST.
Andrew; but from eighty to one hundred souls were
left in the first named vessel. Amongst those pre-
served was an infant only eighteen months old,
whose father and mother were LETT on board. The
Pennsy lvana then lying in the surf, with her
hull nearly covered by the The captain,
crew, and passengers were in the rigging and had
been there since the vessel struck. The water was
making in a breach over her.
| Late on Tuesday night, Mr. Arthur, the active
manager of the steam tug boats. caused the crew of
the Victoria to be increased, and sent her to the
vicinity of the wreck, to see what assistance could
be rendered. Unfortunately, the night was
dreadfully severe: bostrous and piercing wind, a
keen frost, snow, thunder and lightning, continued
to augment the suffering of the poor creatures
who were so dreaduy exposed to the wrath of the
elements. 1t was eViden that, If the vessel kept
together till morning, many of the sufferers must
perish from cold.
Yesterday morning, at7 o'clock an inward bound
Dublin steamer saw the Pennsy vania and Lock
woods but could not render their and passen-
gers any assistance. The latter seen in the
rigging, and their cries described most
heart rending, The Victoria at anchor about
half mile from the wrecks, waiting the return of
daylight to renew her efforts to rescue as many
possible of the survivors.
In the course of the morning, another steam tug
| boat the Hero) sent outside to render what
assistance she could. The anxiety of those on
shore learn the fate of the vessels and the suffer-
ers became intense. 1t was mid day, however, be-
| fore anything certain was made known, and the
intelligence that then arrived was such nature
! as to make most melancholy impression on all
| who heard it. About noon it was reported that
one of the steam tug boats had arrived, bringing
with her the survivors from the wrecks.-F rom
her we learned the following melancholy particu.
lars.
On board the Pennsylvania, Captain Smith "a
commander universally esteemed,) the first and
second mates, about of :!ie crew and four OF
the passengers had all persisted. Fortunately six