The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-09-19
SHIPWRECK OF THE PACK
ETSHIP OCEAN MONARCH.

n.
burnt in the English channel soon after leaving
mort. and 80 persons persisted.
The Ocean Monarch, Capt. Murdoch, lett
Liverpool, August "a, with 360 steerage pas
senpers. 6 cabin, % second cabin passengers,
and with her crew; had OF board 59o persons.
She had not proceeded far. however, before The
utmost CONSERVATION was produced, by an an,
nouncement that the ship was on hre-ano
scarcely had the alarm been given: when she
was in complete blaze. The scene which
followed NAV be more easily conceived than
described. The passengers became frantic
with despair, and numbers at once plunged IN
to the ocean, TO escape the more awful death
which apparently awaited Them Husbands
were then severed from theirwives. and wives
from their husbands, and children from their
parents. The captain finding that all control
over the poor creatures was gone, and that the
fire was making rapid progress, ordered both
anchors to be lowered in the hopes of bringing
the vessel hard to the wind. In the act oflow-
ering the anchors, many of them, unfortunate
ly passengers, were dragged into the ocean, they
having seated themselves on the chain cables,
and were thus launched into eternity. At the
time the fire was discovered, the vessel was
about8 miles to the eastward ofthe great Orm's
Head, and several vessels were in sight. A
signal OF distress was at once hoisted, which
was Immediately answered BY yatch belong
ing 10 Thomas Littledale, and which was about
six miles distant. Mr.. Littledale was himself
on board, and at once bore down to render what
assistance was in his power. There was stiff
breeze blowing. and had the yatch ventured
alongside, it would have been total destruction
to all on board boat was, however, imme-
diateIy lowered, and proceeded 10 the ship, for
the purpose of rescuing some Of the untortu-
nate passengers. The scene which presented
itself To MIR. Littledale, Oh nearing the vessel,
was of the most appalling and narrowing des-
cription. That gentleman truly describes il as
awful, and such as he hopes never to witness
again. ..a
The flames were burning with intense fury
from the stern and centre of the vessel. So
great was The heat in these parts, that the pas
sengerS, male and female, men, women and
children, crowded 10 the fore part Of the YES
sci. Their piercing, heart-rending shrieks for
aid were carried across the blue waters. In
their maddened despair, women jumped over
board with their offspring in their arms, and
sunk 10 rise no more. Men followed their
wives in frenzy, and were lost. Groups of
men, women and children also precipitated
themselves into the water in The vain hope OF
self preservation; but the waters closed over
many OF them forever. No pen can describe
this awful scene. The flames continued to
rage with increased fury. In few minutes,
the mzen mast went overheard; in few mo
ments more and the mainmast shared the same
fate, there yet remained the foremost. AS the
fire was making its way To the fore part of the
vessel, the passengersand crew of course crowd
ed still further forward, TO the Jib-b boom, they
chung in clusters as thick as they could pack,
even one lying over the other. At length the
foremost went overheard, swapping the fasten
ings OF the jib- boom, which with its load of
human beings dropped into the water, amidst
the most heart-rending screams both of those
on board and those who were falling into the
water. Some of the poor creatures were en-
abled to again reach the vessel, others fioated
away on spars, but many met with watery
grave.
In about an hour and half after the yacht
reached the vessel, the Brazilian steam frigate
Alphonso came up; she anchored Immediately
10 the wlndward, and close to the burning yes
sci; she got rope made fast to the Ocean Mon
arch and by the use of the said ropes her boats
Were enabled TO go backwards and forwards TO
the burning vessel with great facility, and by
this means large number of persons were
saved.
The Prince of Wales steamer, which was on
her passage TO Bangor, came up shortly after
wards, and with the New World packet ship,
bound for New York, sent boats TO the rescue
OF the passengers and were the means Of saw
ing large number.
The Brazilian irigate Alphonzo was out on a
pleasure excursion. She was commanded by
the Marquis de Lisboa. There was also on
board the Prince de Joinville, his lady and suite
the Duke and Duchess D'Aumale, the Brazil
ian Minister, the Chevalier ID Lisboa, Adinira
Grenfell AMI daughters, and other distinguish
ed individuals. When the Al phonzo discover
sd the Ocean Monarch, no time was lost inl
bearing down TO her, and ii was intended to an
Choir right under their bow, but the wind chang
ed little, and prevented this from being ac-
compished. Four boats were. however, at
once lowered, and were soon followed by the
large paddle box boat. The Marquis D'Lisboa
jumped into one, and Admiral Grenfell the 9th
er, and were untiring in their exertions TO save
the poor people. The Prince de Joinville was
particularly assiduous in assisting the passen-
gers on board the frigate. OF those on board
the o. NJ, 81 were saved by the Queen of
Ocean, l60 by the Alphonzo, Is By a fishing
smack, and IL By the Prince of Wales, being
total of 225 saved, leaving l53 TO be still ac-
counted for. A subscription has been set on
foot for the relief of the sufferers. Messrs.
Barring, Brothers & Co., the agents for the ship,
have subscribed ESQ, Messrs. Harnden & Co. |
ESQ, Messrs. Brown, Shipley & Co. Ego 9th |
or parties have given from 9l to EGO each.-I
Prince de Joinville and party have also left
handsome sum in the fund. Those of the saved
passengers who choose TO proceed out by the |
Hope, on the 18th inst, or by the Sunbeam, on
the 81 proximo, will be sent out by Messrs |
Harnden, BY either of these vessels. Great
numbers of the saved however, have been so
terrified by what they witnessed and what they
suffered, that they yesterday called at the of |
f,.a IN, 10 tba oyI