Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-05-03
ZINC Wreck of che Shin Powhatan.

BY last nights mail we received full
details of the loss of the ship Powhatan,
Capt. Meyers, (of Baltimore, and the
crew, with 81 passengers, on Long Beach,
on the night ofthe Goth inst. We sub
join the follwing:
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN JENN1NGs.-On
Saturday the wind blew with great vio-
lence from the northeast. The sea ran
very high all day, and supposed that
there would be many wrecks along the
coast from Barnegat to Egg Harbour
On Sunday morning observed ship of
about 900 hundred tons humping on the
bar about one hundred yards from shore.
Immediately sent those men who were
with me TO the government station house,
distant about six miles, for the life car,
mortar, and other wrecking apparatus.-
During the day the ships deck was crow
ded with passengers, aud when the surf
ran out l could get within seventy five
yards Of the vessel, which found out to
be the ship Powhatan, of Baltimore, Capt.
Meyers, on her voyage from Havre to New
York. The surf ran mountains high
Indeed 1 never saw such a sea in my life
Several persons now began to be swept
overheard.
Captain Meyers hailed me through his
speaking trumpet and asked me for Gods
sake to try and save some of those who
might happen to wash ashore. l told
him l had went down the beach TO where
the bodies came on shore, but found them
all dead, and it was no use to try to save
; them, as they were all drowned before
they got half way 70 the beach.
Captain Meyers asked me just before
: this if any aid would soon reach them
l said l hoped so, as four men had been
sent down to the government station for
that purpose.
Captain Meyers again called out to
me to save any of those why might be
washed ashore alive. L replied that 1
would see to it, and went down about two
hundred yards on the beach where the
bodies were being washed on shore. Wo-
men and children came on shore first.
The vessel then lay East South East,
and had shifted from the North East
Her foremost was gone at this time.
suppose she lost it it before she struck on
the bar About o'clock, P. NJ, on
Sunday, the ship keeled over to wind
ward from the shore. The sea then, of
course, made a clean breach over her,
and passengers began to be washed off in
great numbers. The sea running noun
tains high; and completely hiding the
vessel from my view, l could no longer
hold any communication with the cap
: tain. l never saw him since.
The main and mizzen masts soon went
| by the board end bodies appeared floating
in the surfin great numbers, Some TWEEN
ty-6ve dead bodies, mostly women came
IN cbOra ohout 11ilo coUtI, oF 81
About dark the sea rose to a great
height and one large wave, fully hun
dred feet high, struck the unfortunate
vessel, and in moment the hull was
scattered into fragments, which tossed
wildly through the surf. The shrieks of
the drowning creatures were melancholy
indeed, l could render them no aid,
the sea ran SO high 1 could not get near
the unfortunate people. In few minutes
all disappeared beneath the surface Of the
water, except a few fragments of the
wreck. Never did l sec such sight in my
life. Never do remember witnessing
such dreadful gale or such sea. In
many places it made complete breaches
over the island. and carried. no doubt,
many poor fellow into the bay behind
it.
The men got back the next morning
from the government station-house with a
life boat, mortar and the usual wrecking
apparatus, but it was too late, as all on
60arGMe i'll. fated Powhatan had persisted
not one remaining to tell the fearful tale.
None of the crew or officers of the yes
sci came ashore, which is rather curl
Gus fact but think they will be found
some ten or fifteen. miles further down the
beach.
The luggage and portion Of the wreck
lay scattered along the beach. 1 have
found some money $500 in money belt
belonging TO some of the passengers. The
friends and relatives of the deceased can
have all the necessary information regar-
ding the effects of those drowned, BY in
curing for me at Manahawin, New Jer-
sey.
Capt EDWARD JENNINGS,
) Wreck Master.
- All along the shore for ten miles was
scattered the remnants of the chests and
; trunks of passengers, many of them ha-
wing names inscribed on the lids and sides.
Feather beds, cooking utensils, empty
casks and pieces of the vessel were to be
seen on every side. Letters of the dead
were scattered here and there, and bibles
and prayer books lay glistening in the
sun, the whole desolation presenting a
melancholy and heart rendering scene.
A letter dated Absecom, April 20,
, says -
, cone Of the women found was about
% years Of age, of handsome features,
and apparently an American. The clo-
thing of another of the victims, about 90
years of age, showed her to belong to a
; wealthy class of Germans. She was a
+ beautiful looking creature, even as she
lay in death. On her fingers she wore