Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-17

APPALLING CATAsTRoPHE-LoSS of Three
Hundred and Fifty LiceS-The American yes
sci Pomona, which was wrecked on the coast
of Ireland, on the night of the 18th of April,
sailed from Liverpool the preceding day with
upwards of 400 persons on board She left
the Mersey with a fair and full breeze, and
everything seemed to be going on well up to
late hour, when, almostin moment, the hopes
of her living freight were blighted the ship
struck, and nothing but death and desolation
lay before them. Many of the passengers
and portion of the crew had retired to their
respective berths at an early hour, but large
number, more cheerfully inclined had congre-
| gated together i'll the saloons and were singing
and dancing up to a late hour, there being both
fiddler and piper on board AS the night
advanced, however, the breeze freshened into
strong gale, before which the gallant ship
| flew as it were towards her destination, and
most Of the remaining passengers turned in.
BY some means, which at present we have
been unable to ascertain with accuracy, the
captain when nearing Tuscan, seems to have
lost his reckoning and mistaken his posi-
ton, for little past midnight the ship was
driven INTO sandbank some seven miles off
Ballyconlgar, near to Backwater the sea
making clear breach over her and sweeping
her deck. The passengers rushed in crowds
to the deck, most of them but partially dress
ed, and many with only their night clothes on.
For short time wild scene of terror and CON
fusion ensued, which, however, gradually sub
sided as the calm orders Of the captain were
obeyed by the crew, and something like order
was re-estabshed.
The pumps were quickly manned, and it
was found that the vessel was fast making wa
ter, but the captain was in hopes that if the
weather moderated he should be able in the
morning to land all his passengers by means of
| his boats. In this, however, he was doomed
| to be disappointed, as the gale continued with
increased 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 fear
full state of suspense they remained till to-
wards evening" when the ship, which had till
then renamed flrm on the bank, slipped off by
the stern into deep water, and complenced ram
idly to fill. The whale boat was then launch
ed, and number of the crew and passengers
rushed into her. The captain in the hope of
being again driven on to the bank, let 20 the
best bower anchor, but all his exertions were
frultess, and though more than forty men
were working at the pumps, the water gained
| upon them so fast that in less than an hour she
sunk. The heartrending scenes that must
have occurred during that hour are fearful to
thlnK OF, but are known only to God, for be-
yond those in the boat not a soul was saved
The captain and first and second mates remain
ed on the sinking ship, the only officer in the
boat being the third mate, Stephen Kelley, who
succeeded in reaching the shore in company
with eighteen others Of the crew and three
passengers five being washed out in their pas
sage from the vessel. OF the three hundred
and eighty passengers only three were saved.
About thirty of the crew reached the shore in
boats.
CONSUMPTION IN FRANcE.-We take tho
following interesting account of the Conscrip-
ton in France, from the English United Ser
| rice Malnaine. II l. knnun Ihnl "a L. Il, ~.