Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-04-27
From the New York Evening Post.
TERRIBLE SHyPWRECKS ON THE COAST

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY LIVES LOST.
The wreck of the ship Powhattan, which we
mentioned yesterday, is one of the most lament
able disasters that has occurred on our coast
for many years. Capt. Meyers was among the
persons drowned. The Herald of this morning
gives an account of the unfortunate event, from
which We make the following extracts
The ship Powhattan, Capt. Meyer, the two
hundred passengers on board, of Baltimore,
bound from Havre to New York, was cast ashore
on Saturday on the outside bar, about midway
between Barnegat and Egg Harbor inlcts
When first discovered by Capt. Jennings, of
Long Beach, which was on Sunday morning,
she lay with her head to the south, the decks
were crowded with passengers, and the sea was
making clean beach over her The wind blow.
ing perfect gale from the northeast, the waves
ran mountains high, twisting the ship about in
the sand as il she was merely cork boat. See
ing the condition of the vessel, Capt, Jennings,
who is stationed as wreck master ON the beach,
sent all the men that were at his command
though the snow storm was raging violently, to
the Government House, in order to bring down
the life car and other wrecking apparatus, and
stood Oh the shore himself watching the effects
of the pillows upon the ill-fated vessel Hour
after hour slipped by, but the men did not re-
turn with the life car. The vessel became unea-
ser, and many unfortunate people were swept
off by the heavy surf. About five o'clockP NJ,
one immense wave washed fully one hundred
persons overheard, who were carried away down
the beach by the undertow Some of them
came ashore and were picked up lifeless by Mr..
Jennings, who searched in vain amongst the
number for asurvivor, but all had breathcd their
last before they reached the beach, being aw-
fully mangled by the force of the waves pushing
them against the hull of the vessel and throw
ing them with violent force upon the beach.
At this time Capt. Meyers, who was on the
deck of the Powhattan all this while, called out
in loud voice to Mr.. Jennings, entreating him
to try aud save some of those who might be
washed ashore. Capt. Jennings replied that
all those who might be washed ashore were
dead and that it was no use looking for them
as they were all killed before they got out of
the water.
About seven o'clock, the ships mast went
by the board, and almost Immediately after
wards the hull bursted in two, and every soul
on board was launched into eternity. The sea
presented u black mass of human heads and
floating pieces of the wreck, but in few mo-
ments all had sunk to rise alive no more. The
beach was strewn with the dead bodies of wom-
en- and children, pieces of the wreck, the bag
gage Of the passengers and empty casks Moth
ing remained to mark the spot where the ILL
fated ship went ashore, except surging waves
beating upon fragment of the hull which lay
upon the beach.
The crying of the drowning men and Shrek
ing of the women and children was hushed--all
law in the deem Numbered with the dead while
the wind walled loud and mournfully, adding
still more horror to the awful catastrophe. All
| had sunk--captain, officers, crew and passengers