Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-09-14
DREADFUL sHIPwRECK OF THE FLOR.

DREADFUL SHIPWRECK OF THE FLOR.
ENCE OF NY FIFTY LIVES LOST!
BY Captain McCurdy, of brig Attention, which
arrived on Monday ut Boston, from st. Johns,
Newfoundland, the Mcssrs. Topliff received the
following melancholy narrative of the loss OF the
Florence, of this port, with fifty lives The par
ticulars were furnished TO Capt. McCurdy by
some person on board the lost brig and are ou-
thentic. The Chief mate of the Florence arriy-
ed in the Attention. The Florence was we be-
ieve, a new brig; she sailed from Boston last
spring for Rotterdam, and was on her re,urn voy-
age to this city
Narrative. The following disaster is one Of
those awful occurrences of which the south cas-
tern coast of Newfoundland is often the scene
The brig Florence, OF and for New York, SAINT
el Rose, master, sailed from Rotterdam June ~,
with crew of eight persons and seventy -nine
passengers. Cargo ballasls and few casks OF
wine. They were favored with pleasant weather
until nearly up with the eastern part Of the banks
of Newfoundland, when they were assailed with
succession Of gales, attended with fog aud rain,
up to the time of the shipwreck.
On Sunday morning, August 8, die man OIL the
lookout cried "hnrd down the helm, br akers
ahead" The helm was Immediately put n Ice,
but before the sails were taken aback, the brig
struck the rocks on hes sarbeard side. moment
before, she gong the of seven or eight
miles the hour. She instantly filled and fell over
on her side, when scene of confusion and terror
presented itself. the horror of which better be
Imagined ihnn described. Here were the wife
and husband bidding each other last farewell
the frantic mother clasplng her infant TO her
BOSOM MS If even death itself shoald not separate
meanwhile some few. who had no relations on
board, were endeavoring to secure what money
they had, by fastening ii to their bodies but which,
alas proved the means of their destruction For
that which they vainly thought would secure 10
them comfortable home in the fertile lands of
the far west, changed their destiny To at eternal
home in death. On attempting to swim to the
land the weight OF The money sank them to the
bottom.
Captain Rose, with a cOmmendable GOODNESS,
commanded all to remain by the wreck until
some means were devised fox escaping with safe
ty. For this purpose Mr.. William Robbs of
Springfield, Mass, took the cad of line and
sprang from the vessel to ledge which lay be-
tween her and the shore. An overwhelming
wave, however, overlook the devoted sailor, and
dashed him against the rocks, a niangled corpse.
! Captain Rose next attempted this, the only means
of saving the lives of those board. He was
more fortunate, and reached the land in safety
The crew were all saved except the second mate.
But only 80 of the ~ passengers were saved, and
Of these, many were saved by Captain Rose and
Mr.. Scofed, chief nate, at the imminent peril of
their own lives, and by the time these were saved,
about three hours after the brig struck, there were
scarcely two of her planks together. All were
literally in splinters.
Thus thirty. seven persons were thrown Ashore
without food on barren and to them al unknJw
part Of the coast. Many Of them w"it hut half
clad, aud most of them were withou, shoes. Not
n solitary biscuit was saved. In this pitiable con-
dton they commenced their journey through
thick woods and swamps, and over bleak and rug
ged hills in hopes OF fading some human habita-
ton.
For four days they continued their course gov
| erned chiefly by the wind, the sun, moon, and
stars being obscured nearly all the time by the fog
and rain squalls, which latter were very frequent
sometimes eating the bark from the trees, and
what few berries they could find. Early on the
morning of the 18th, Capt Rose and Mr.. Scho-
field assembled hill, in hopes the fog might clear
off, and afford them view of the surrounding
country. At nine o'clock the weather cleared II
little ana they enabled to see the harhor and
village of Renouse. The happy Intelligence was
soon communicated TO the rest, and they resumed
their march with lighter hearts When they en-
tered the village, it's hospitable inhabitants wei
corned them with every thing which their need
; demanded. Mr.. Goodrich, of whose benevolence
s the crew aud passengers speak IN the warnlest
i. terms of gratitude, gave money and clothes to
them, and furnished vessel to convey them 10
St. Johns, the residence ofthe United States Con-
sular agent
Arp. NJ on Saturday, the 18th, they were lam
ded at St. Johns. The news of their arrival soon
brought to the shore rich and poor old and young,
> some thrusting bread into the hands OF the ship
e wrecked Strangers and others taking the poor
e wretches home with them. Nothing was spared
. which pity could suggest TO alleviate their wants
0 and sufcrings. The next day being Sunday, no.
thing was publicly done Tor them; but on Mon
r day handbs were posted up requesting meet.
ing to take place at the Chamber of Commerce, to
s devise to relieve the necessities Of those
:. whom fate had thrown upon their shores. Some
!, seventy eighty pounds were collected in shor
= time, and resolutions were passed to raise suffi
), cient sum whereby the emgrans might be ena-
: bled TO reach the place of their destination.
It committee was appointed to receive clothing and
: money from all who felt disposed 10 give. Capt
h McCurdy did not hear the result, as he sailed OF
Is the following morning, but thinks from the phi
S, anthropic spirit manifested by the people of ST
e Johns that these unfortunate people were amply
II iovded for.
.Herico The Federaists in the city of Mexico