New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-03
THE GALE OF MONDAY NIGHT.
LOSS OF THE AJAX.
Uncertainty Of the Fate of the Crew.
SAFETY OF THE MARY @. DYER.


coast during the storm of Monday night. When the
Ajax was driven to the beach there seven per-
SOD. on board the fate of whom is "a yet involved in
the most painful uncertainty. The bark above named,
II will be remembered ran aground on the outer bar
rear Barnega Inlet on the 9th of January. Capt Is
rae Merritt who had been sent doF by the Board of
Underwriters TO her assistance, succeeded, after light
eIing her cargo in driving her the bar, in deep
water inside and then anchored her snugy in Bsnega,
Bay.
On Sunday last, the Ajax went down for the purpose
of towing the bark into port. About o'clock Monday
morning she came out of the Inlet with the bark in
tow and for little while made pretty fair progress
Toward noon, however, the wind hauled TO the east
ward and soon increased to gale, accompanied by
heavy fall of sleet. The little ting kept brsvey at
work as long as it was prudent but, finding that the
wind was constantly driving both vessels toward the
beach, her captain, as night came on and the gale
reshened seeing that if they remained together both
vessels must inevitably go ashore signaled to the
bark to cut loose. Capt. Merritt, who vas on the
bark at A. o'clock severed the steamboat hawser,
ard let go the starboard and port anchors.
The bark brought up with jerk, which parted the
-tarboard cable; but by paying out about yfathoms
on the poi anchor heaving the kedge, and drop
ping some sixty fathoms of the heavy sarboard cable
without any anchor, she was enabled to keep of
shore. Those who were outside of Sandy Hook on
Monday night state that it was one of the widest
nights they ever knew. The bark rode out the storm
bravely however, though she rolled and tugged at her
anchors in the most alarming manner. The severe
strain to which she was subjected started her leaks
anew but not enough to seriously endaner those who
were on board.
tuO uao mot IN
bark about one mile south of Shark River and steamed
off in the teeth OF the nor easeror Sandy Hook, but
had not accomplished more than seven of the fifteen
miles toward when she went ashore. How this dis
aster occurred not yet known in the city, nor what
has become of those who were on board. Captain
Merritt. after riding out the gale through the night,
hove his anchor about noon yesterday and getting
what sail he could spread upon the bark, headed her
once more for port About five miles from his anchor
age he met the steam-tug VIM. II. Webb, Captain
Hazard, and engaged her to tow him to town.
Soon afteward they passed the wreck of the untor'
tunate Ajax on the beach at Long Branch She was
stem on with her bow broken entirely just forward of
the wheehousa- The port OF the boat was then
about five feet above water, and the wheehouses were
standing. This was between and 9 p, M, when the
tide was about half ebb. Her two eboats We're high
I'D on the beach There several persons on board
of her. who waved their hats as the Dyer passed, but
whether these persons were Mr.. Wardlc and his
wreckers or the captain and crew Of the vessel Capt
NJa,,;.t ,...,.iv as,vrtciI trvrO toie
scope on board the bark. From her position
il might be inferred that her machinery had
broken down, ard she had been driven on
the beach sternforemos. But Capt. Merritt is of opn
ion that seeing she must otherwise founder Capt Mar
shall headed her for the beach, when after striking
the sea throw her around wrenching off her bow.
There were on board the Ajax when she stranded,
Capt. THOMAS MARSHALL.
JoHN BowEY, engineer.
JonN ASHLEY BROWN, OF Barnegat, sou Of the I'm.
derwriters' Agent of that name.
GEoKoF HYATT, deck hand.
JACOB -, cook.
A FIREMAN, name unknown.
A DECK HAND, maine unknown.
As we before stated the fate OF these people s not
yet known in the city tdings having been received
from the beach. Perhaps Capt. Marshall, if alive,
may have remained at the Branch with his men to
save his property; but Mr.. Brown, who was coming
to the city to settle his accounts with the Underwriters,
ought to have reached here yesterday. We shall no
doubt learn something definite to-day.
Our Ship News Reporter says: Capt. Hazard re-
ports on Monday at ?. NJ, off the floating light he
spoke the plot.boat Mary Taylor No. D. who informed
him OF having seen steamtug with dismasted bark
in tow 20 miles south Of the Highlands, and in want of
assistance. Capt. Hazard Immediately in search
Of her. and after going fsr as abreast of Shark River
seeing nothing OF her and night setting in, returned
anu anchored inside the Hook until Yesterday morning.
when he again went out, and found the bark coming
toward the Hook under sail. Capt. H. reports the
night 10 have been perfectly wild md the gale very
violent from T.. to E.S.E.
The steamship Atlanta Capt. Gsger, from Savan-
nah also reports having experienced the gale from E
n. T.. The steamer Augusta, CrcweI, from Savan-
nah anchored inside the Hook at 10 PAN, having pre-
viously fel, the gale
The Aiaz was built in Hoboken three years since,
l63 tuns and valued at $4,000. There is no insurance
on her except against fire. She was owned by w. A.
A. & P. A. Douehery, Capt Thomas MsrshaI aud
John Thompson.
There were aboard Of her when she left this ely
Captain Msrshall. John Bowen engineer fireman,
name not known; George Hyatt another deck hand,
and Jacob -, the cook. Whether they have
been saved or not We cannot say az the teegraphIc
wires between the Hook and Long Branch have been
pTostra.ed by the gale
TIE COLLINS LINE.
We a,e authorized to state that the reports concerI-
ing the Collins line originated in MISUNDERSTANDING
TIE Company i somewhat embarrassed by IA win
holding O. the money due them BY Government 10
carving tie MATS but they have no idea OF abandon
ing thei. enterprise. Consequently the story tha,
Cs,ts;ns Cons-o,k md West have gone 10 Englan
for the purpose Of making sales Of the Baltic an
.,i,r.io : pn+,ue Tire Atlantic will leave New-York
on February I2. and tie o.her steamer will follow IN
regular succession
POISONED HERSELF AND HUSBAND.