Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-24
Further About the Pomona.

The loss Of the emigrant ship Pomona, near
Wexford, was the saddest Ocean calamity oi
the season. The total number Of persons on
board was 444, Of whom 42O were lost. The
passengers numbered cabin, 1893 intermediate
and steerage, the crew A. Twenty eight o
the passengers were English, Scotch, anC
34s Irish. The Pomona was wrecked the tirs
night after sailing from Liverpool, the Captain
mistakinp the Blackwater light for the Arklow
She ran full stem on the Blackwater Banks
struck again and again, the sea continually
breaking over her, and with such force as t,
wash two of the boats from the dayits Tn,
leaks were fast gaining, the men passengers
were set to work at the pumps and the women
and children kept below. The masts were cot
away, and attempts made to reach shore with
boats, which were swamped as soon as launch
ed. The terrible final catastrophe sthus de-
scribed
About two o'clock heavy sea struck astern,
carrying her over the Bank into deep water,
bat at the same time increasing the leak. The
scene at this time was most fearful, the passpn
belle that she was sinking, some of them lie.
ing washed overheard by the waves which
carried her hopeessy before them; broadside
on Again the Captain essayed to calm the
multitude around him, but this time in vain
All appeared 10 know that the last struggle
was at hand-husbands and fathers fursoOk
their wives and children in the vain hope Of
saving themselves, aud brothers and sisters
madly struggled with each other to get to the
boats, which they saw the seamen eudeayornu
TO lower. The captain and his mates let 10
The anchor, hoping, no doubt, to bring her
round ana still keep her afloat with the pumps;
some Of the crew in the meantime lowering the
long boat and getting IN her beating Of the
passengers that crowded after them The boat
was dashed against the side as the vessel
rlghted to her anchor, and those ia her fiudnp
her damaged, aud with tue instinct Of self
preservation cut her loose, stutling their Jack
cts ia the hole which had been stove in her
Away she drfted towards the shore, followed
by the agOni2ed cries OF those left on the crowd
ed deck, more than one OF whom jumped over
board in the vain hope Of being picked up, but
n reality only Fastening their own end by
lew short minutes Ii is said, bu fer the sake
u our common humanity we cannot credit IT,
chat the sailor inmateg OF this boat, fearing that
she was too heavily lreghted, actually threw
put the few passengers who had succeeded ia
getting seat IN her. II such baseand diaboli-
;al conduct did in reality take place before the
boat could reach the shore 1t was upset by the
sert, and all therein, save two, met the fate
they had sought to shun. Within half an hour
rom the time she came of the bank, the water
had gained upon the vessel 80 much that the
iow persons below were forced from their berths
70 the deck. calling for help where no help
could come The last boat was lowered and
uearly filled by the seamen three passengers
jnly obtaining o seat; the last link between
nope aud utter despair for those left behind
vas surrendered, and nothing stood between
chem and death but few frail planks, through
which the waters were pouring AS though eager
10 swallow u9 its victims, when, with one
jminous roll, the doomed bark was carried high
On the top OF mighty waye-the last simu
.aneous cry OF agony arose from her decks
,nI down the white wild cataract on the other
side she rushed to her ocean tomb, carrying
with her the precious freight Of near 400 souls
OF those in the boat last leaving the ship
uoae were lost the whole coming safe to sho.e,
before reaching which, however, they lost sight
Of the yessel-which had sunk at her anchor.
~ From the returns Of the Assessors, we
Nha ..f Ill a., D..