Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-24
TerrihIe Shipwreck.

The shin Pomona left Liverpool on Wednes-
day morning, the 9th ult, for New YORK.
with crew of forty men and three hundred
and niuety.seven passengers. chiefly third GLASS;
There were thirty-four children and seven ln'
ants. All went on we'll till the following mid
night, when, the wind having risen, ana the
Oaptain having mistaken his position, the vesse
struck on what proved to be Blackwater BANK,
and the sea made complete breach over her'-
The Wexford, Ireland, Constitution states ina,
he ship went on the bank some seven miles Oh
Ballyconigar. The passengers, half clothed, ran
ON deck. A wild scene of horror ensued, out
The Grew obeyed the captain, some degree Vi
order was restored. and the pumps were manned.
rhe Gale continued to increase. In the course
of the morning an attempt was made to launch
rhe life boats. but they were stove in and their
crews drowned In this fearful state ofsuspense
lbey remained till toward evening, when the
hin. which had till then remained firm on the
bank, slipped off by the stern into deep water,
and commenced rapidly to fill. The whale boat
was then launched, and number of the crew
and passengers rushed into her. The captain, in
the hope of being again driven on the bank, lei
20 the best bower anchor, but all his exertions
were fruitless, 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
sank. The heart rending scenes that must have
occurred during that hour are fearful to think of,
but are known only to God, for, beyond those
in the boat. not soul was saved. Thecaptain,
first and second mates remained on the sinking
ship the only officer in the boat being the third
mate, Stephen Kelly, and succeeded in reaching
the shore in company with eighteen others OF
the crew and three passengers, five being washed
out in 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 ooastguards, and
steps were Immediately taken by the collector
of customs to render assistance For this pur
pose steam tug was kept ready for many hours,
but it was not till daylight on Friday morning
that the wind moderated sufficiently to admit
of her leaving ths river, and then twas too late.
| 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
| On visiting the shore in the Deighborhood OF
the wreck at later hour on Friday, nothing
whatever was to be seen of the vessel, very
! little of which was washed ashore. On the
beach at Ballyconigar, however, were found the
ifeless remains of several of the unfortunate
passengers which were removed to the best
house near there to await an inquest. Among
those saved there are only three passengers
and of the seamen preserved there are several
! who are Irish, number of the crew being ma
tiyes of that country. The cabin passengers, all
of whom were lost, were Mrs. Paxton, son and
daughter, Mr.. Montgomery of Waterloo road,
Liverpool; Mr. Fox of New York and Mrs. Hicks.
We were informed on Saturday by gentle
man, Mr.. Allen from Wexford, that when the
vessel sank, the shrieks of those on board could
heard on the main land.