Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-18
The Wreck ofthe Pomona.
The English papers furnish full particulars
of the late wreck of the Pomona

The English papers furnish full particulars
of the late wreck of the Pomona
The splendid clipper ship Pomona, 800
tons burden. "f New York. left Liverpool
with a crew Of 80 sailors in addition Ia the
captain, Charles Merrlhew. and with pas
sengers for New York. IL the number of
about $50 She left the Mcrsev with fair
and full breeze, and everything seemed To
be going on we'll up to late hour, when,
almost in Il moment. the hopes Of her living
freight were hlIghted. the ship struck, and
nothing but death and de.olation lay before
them. Many of the passengers and Il por-
ton OF the crew had retired 10 their resprc-
tive births at nh early hour but, large mum
her, more cherriully inclined. had congre-
gated together in the saloons, and were
singing and dancing up t" a late hour,
there being both fiddler and piper Oh
board As the night advanced, how ever, the
breese freshened into strong gale, before
which the gallant ship few as it were to-
wards her destination, and most Of the
remaining passengers turned in. BY some
means which at present we have been
unable t. ascertain with accuracy, the cap
tain when nearing Tuscan. seems To have
lost hi4 reckoning and mistaken his po-
sition. for little past midnight the ship
wa. driven ON to sandbank some miles III
Ballyconigar, near To Blackwater the sea
making clear breach over her and sweeping
her decks. The passengers rushed IN crowds
To the deck, most Of them but partially dress
I'd, a.ll many with only their night-cIpthes on.
For II short time wild scene OF terror and
confusion ansued. which, however. gradually
subsidized as the calm ord ers Of the captain
were obeyed by the crew. and something
like order was established The pumps
ere quickly manned aud 1t vas found that
the vessel Was fast making water, hat the
captain was in hopes that If the weather
moderated hr should be able i'll the morning
to land all his passengers by means "l his
boats. in this. however, he was doomed Ia be-
disappointed, as the gale continued with III
creased fury during the whole of the day.
In the course of the morning an attempt
was made to launch the life boats but they
were stove in and their crews drowned
In this fearful state of suspense they re-
manned till towards evening when the sh Ip.
which had till then remained firm OH the
bank. slipped of 10y the stern into deep WA
ter, and commenced RAPIDLY u hi. The
whale boat ~ then launched. and Il number
of the crew and passengers rushed into her
The captain in the hope ofheing again driven
on the bank. let y" the best bower anchor, but
all his cXertons We're truitlcSS. AMI though
more than 10 men were working N the
pumps the water gained upon them :" last
that in less than an hour she sunk. The
heart-rending scenes that must have occur
red during that hour are fearful 10 tninR Of,
but are known only to God. for beyond those
in the boat not soul was saved. The cap
tain and first and second mates remained on
the sinking ship, the only officer lii the boat
being the third mate, Stephen Kelly. who
succeeded in reaching the shore IN company
with X others oi the crew, and three passon,
gers, five being washed out III their passage
from the vessel
In the meantime the intelligence Of the dan
gerous situation of the vessel had been brought
to Wexford by some of the coast guards, and
steps were Immediately taken by Mr.. Cogh-
Ian. the Collector OF Customs. to render assls-
lance, if possible in rescuing so large num-
Der Of his iellow-creatures from the perlous
position in which they were placed. For this
purpose he communicated with MIR. Devereux,
owner of the steam-tug Erin, who promptly
and generously placed her at the service OF
Mr.. Coghlan, the captain being directed to
take the Rossid,e. and another liieboat III tow
at any moment it was possible to get out OF the
harbor. For this purpose steam was kept up
many hours, but it was not TILL daylight yes
terday morning that the wind moderated sui
ticiently to admit of her leaving the river, and
then il was two late--the last sad scene was
over, and old and young had met an untimely
fate and persisted within sighto Of those shores
to which they had but few days before bid
den adieu, TO find homes and friends in
distant land Little of the wreck was to be
seen when the steamer arrived at the spot,
only the mizzenmast being above water
From this was taken the colors which were
flying when the vessel went down. the last
sad memento of the departed"