The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-02
RRIBLE DISASTER ON THE JERSEY COAST.
Wreck Of the British Bark Argyle.
IS OF raE CAPTAIN AND NINE OTHERS.
ONLY ONE MAN SAVED,
rHRUIING ACCOUNT OF HIS ESCAPE,
DC, &c.

the COAST OF Jersey, about twelve miles south
qa iba. The following are the particulars of the
setg 'OAc&dned by our spsctal reporter who visited
orhcsd of the wreck =
ale fe. Captain James Burnton, left the port Of
cottsad, the 25th of December last, with
btinG saainy OF pig iron, ard consigned to J.
HtatHa Of Ehis cty Her numbered seven men,
10 captain and first ana second mates there
pasNeager on board-making eleven persons
Ae -oufy one of whom escaped from the wreck
Ii o6 -kauary they within sight OF the
coast and the weather being tolerably iair for
OF die year, they expected to make port in
ID H. attic utmost. On the afternoon Of the 23th,
Sunday the ~iud freshened and they obliged to
- e esseI under single reefed topsals At this time
Ae goirg at the rate of five knots hour, and
tsru vest Isy north half north About twelve o'cocs
he CRY Of sreakers aheadn reused the crew for the
irst time to 6ense Of the dagger and every effort
vas made TO alter her course. It was useless,
however; for three four minutes after the
slarm gTvsr, she struck, and became utterly
lnmanageabte. So sudden the shock that the
unable to get out the boats aud
obliged the deck and seek safety in the rigging
The waves began to break her with terrific
force, tearing away the boats from their fasenngs
They could the shore indstinctly, about thres
hundred yards Sa, but they could not venture
deck for the pxrrose Of forming raft they com-
wished for mning might bring them assistance
The passe niger, Who a Scotchman, aud one OF the
hands, boy a about sixteen years old swept
board with THE which carried away the boats
The survivors, with exception lashed themselves to
the masts and Inc the only person OF the whole
who saved This man, whose statement give
below, held t his hands in foretop and after
exposure OF fourteen hours the wreck succeeded in
reaching the Lard by swimming.
At length after Fix terrible hours of agony and suf
fering during which they drenched with spray and
exposed to s iercing winter wind the day began to
break, and they a vessel about half mile from
them. They xaaie signals and answered, but what
hope thsy ght have entertained when they first
observed her vanished she proceeded her
without taking further notice of them 1t was in fact
impossible 10 give them any assistance situated they
were in the Rddst Of the breakers No attempt, how
ever, made, and they watched the shore with
the most ,ntes anxety their last hope They were
gratihed with the sight OF man and in less than
half hour after there twenty or thirty on
she beach. Tbsy had been observed by some person
consected WITH The lighthouse, who obtained all the as
sstance he could. At this time there nine
the wreck, and It was believed that If rope
muncaton coaH be made with 1t and the shore, thai
they could be ved The accordingly brough
out, and bali, vith rope attached feed the
eel. One Of tue succeeded In seing it, and
proceeding to make fast TO CT the masts when
from CAUSE II gave way, and all subsequent at
fempts estzAksh q communication failed. It is said
by thai tkis failure attributable TO defect
in the mortar the other apparatus As it impos
sble to thxa by this Of the persons
fhe shore volunteered 10 60 IL any Others would
accompany hiss; but there daring enough
10 venture ter lives. All but this brave fellow
sdered IT impossible to get through .he surf which
of TAM fw.. a he hpacI
and he accordingly forced to remain passive spec
tator to the ,ezrihie before him.
About twelve clock OF the sailors fell from his
place sh~ fvcetop, and, striking the deck, was
killed. He afterwards found the beach with the
front part Of his skull broken in. The man who was
saved deserved several times in the act of undress
ng and dressing again. but did not venture to leave the
vessel till sbcrt two O'Clock, after fourteen hours expo
Then, without any article OF dress upon him. ex-
pt pair OF ctoo drawers he leaped into the sea and
made for the teach which he succeeded in reaching
,fter strugg Of twenty minutes with the waves, dur
ng which he frequently disappeared from the sight Of
hose shore. As he completely exhausted, how
ver. he would doubtless have been swept away by the
eceng waters had not Of the spectators gone into
he surf, with q rope fastened round his waist, and
,elped him out, He taken Immediately to
he house 0C Mrs Betsy Chapman about half
mile didant where he received proper care
nd attention. An hour after, the captain,
vidently emodened by the that attended the
rst attempt, seen making preparations to leave
he wreck. DsiAeratsy taking OF his coat and boots,
descended e rigging and running along the side of
be vessel jumped into the far he able As
appeared ts be powerful man, 1t thought that
would succrrs in reaching the shore safely; this
bought osnGrned, as they him about halt way
.om the vesssI struggling with undated vgor. Their
opes we're dir PEELED, however, they him
verwhemed Ly huge wave, after which he
TIN Es body was thiown up by the sea upon
ae beach amid the fragments Of The wreck.
The vessel began break up, and the poor suf.
.rers, exhsn<ted by cold and long exposure, fell of
ne by one, uusa only Ave left There they
ithin three huudred yards Of the shore; but those
ho saw them dare not venture to their assist
nee, A. the waves continued to run high, and II
most mpossise for any boat TO clear the surf Before
isht closed the fearful scene not living soul
II on the wrecx and the timbers tina. occasionally
lrown ON the shore showed that II would 20
eces Before the next morning not stige remained
the vessel except portion Of her bows which, II Is
pposed vsx attached by chain to the anchor which
beneath
An the bosies were found before Tuesday night
them elevvn miles from the Of the wreck. Four
ere taken to Sqaan, where they inferred in the
sthodist graveyard, with appropriate religious cere
onies- Three bsried at Point Pleasant, which IL
,out ten niles from the village Of squan. The four
hich were tzkeu TO squan recognized by the
led sailor, n Coste but unfortunately he did recol
rtanthsir OF the he knew only ave, whose
vere yosses, John, Augustus, Henry Proek, and
aniel. The fdbwing description OF the four bodies
TERED In the burial ground =; squan taken by the
stice Of the peace Mr.. Pierce. The bodies ali
imbered and ctsc aumber marked on the collins
No. 4. Henry Preek, coIored man, supposed 70 be
cut twenty seven years of age His name marked
"a India inn uTan one OF his and above it was
printed e1oss with the material II Is said By
me that this man was an Indian He shad on aim when
und blue Sbirt and an oilcloth coat.
No. 2. This vas The body Of Frenchman, named Au
tssus about twenty eight years OF age Hi, head
rribly mutlsocd De Coste says he was a: the helm