The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-03
The Wreck Of the Ship Powhatan.


By the last mails we received full de-
lails Of the loss Of the ship Powhatan, Cap.
Mn Meyers, (of Baltimore,) and crew,
witA> 81 l passengers, on Long Beach. on
the night of the 10Th inst. We subjoin
.hs following:
Statement Of Captain Jennings.
On Saturday the wind blew with great
violence from the northeast. The sea ran
worry high all day, aud I supposed that
there would be many = wreck along the
coast from Bernegat 10 Egg Harbor. On
Sunday morning observed ship Of
about $50 tons thumping on the bar about
une hundred yards from the shore. i'm.
lnediAtely sent those men who were with
NE 10 the governments station house, dis.
INT about six miles, for the life car, NOR
tar and other shipwrecking apparatus.
During tho day the ships deck was crowd
ed. with passengers, and when the surf ran
onl 1 could get within seventy yards OF the
vessel, which found out 10 be the ship
PewhataE. cf Baltimore. Capt. Meyers. on
her voyage from Havre 10 New York.
The surf ran mountain high. Indeed |
never saw such q sea in my life. Several
psssons began now TO be swept overheard.
Captain Meyers hailed me through his
aessking trumpet. aud asked me for Gods
saks 10 try and save some Of those who
might happen to wash ashore. II told him
! had went down the beach to where the
bodies came on shore, but found them all
desd. and il was no use trying to save
them, as they were all drowned before
thsy got half way to the beach.
Captsin Meyers asked me just before
said hoped so, rs four men had been
sent down to the government station for
that purpose.
Captain Meyers again called out to me
to.ssve any Of those who might wash ashore
alive. Il replied that would see TO it. and
went down about two hundred yards on
ahe beach where the bodies were being
washed on shore. Women and children
came on shore FIRST.
The vessel then lay E. S. E., and had
shiIisd from the N. E. Her foremost was
gons ai this time. suppose she lost il
before che struck on the bar. About 8
o'clock. p. NJ. on Sunday, the ship keel
"a over 10 the windward from the shore.
Tho sea then. OF course, made . clean
heesch oyer her, and passengers began to
s.. washed off in great numbers. The
-. summing mountains hiph: and com.
pletely hiding the vessel from my view,
veuld no longer hold any communication
Uithlhs captain. never saw him since.
et Themain and mizzen masts soon went
bv the board, and bodies appeared float
ins in the surf in great numbers. Some
twenty Eve. dead bodies, mos,ly women.
came on shore about Q nile south of the
wreck. -. .a
About dark the sea ross to q great heigh,
and one large wave, fully hundred fee,
hiph. atruck The unfortunate vessel, and in
one moment the. hull was scattered into
eaaussnss, which tossed wildly through
the :surf. The .shrieks Of the drowning
crea turas were melancholy indeed. but I
could render them no aid, ~ the sea ran
@ hiah cosad moi gel near the unfortu.
Aass pseesss In . few moments all dis
appeared beneath the surface Of the water,
,exeapt . iaw fragments OF the wreck
Never did |. sec such. eight in my life.
Never do | remember witnessing such q
dreadful .rals or such high running sea
lnamsnys places il made complete breaches
over The island, and carried, no doubt
naoy. =, poor fellow into the bay behind it
Sit GOT back the asxt morning
(io,R tie government station, ,house with .
Efttbeat.s mortar and the usual wreckine
apparatus, but Il was too late. as all o.
1oeSH tie ILL., I.fated PosOhGtGn had perish
IL IL e..