The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-05-18
COMMUNION xurpwRE X,
FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY PERSON
DROWNED


The American ship Pomona, Captain Merr,new'
which sailed from the Mersey, for New hefN. y"
,ha a-,h min vas wrecked on Biack~ater Bank,
near vex ford. ireland, on Thursday, Apri, 2s.--
Che baa sr5 pssesnxers aid crew OF 81 mee.-
ssxenteeu OF the forsasr are reported saved, and
three Of the latter. The rest were drowned, the
shlp sinking iu aiue tatholis water. The Wexford
Consultation gives the following details Of the ter
rible disaster:
she lest the Mersey with fair aud full breeze,
ard evsrythiug seemed TO be going oE well up to
lats hour when, almost 10 . moment the hopes OF
the living freight we're bightod. the ship struck,
and nothing bat death and desola,ion lay before
them Many Of the passengers aud portion oil
the crow had retired TO their respective oeftns
at az early hour, euta large numb.r no'e eoeet"
saloous, aud were singing aud dancing up
20 late hour, there being 10th hdaier
aud piper on board. Az the night ADVANCED
however the breeze frsshensd Int Aatrong gsie,
before which the gallant ship hew as II were to-
wards her destination, and most Of the remaining
passengers turned In. By some means, which At
present we have been unable to ascertain with acs
curasy. the captain, when nearing feskar, seems
60 have lost his reckoning, and mistaken bis posts
ton. for little past midnight the ship driven
on 70 q sandbank some seven miies OF BAilycoai.
gar, near to Backwater, the sea making Clear
breach over her and sweeping the deck. The pas.
ReDgef1 rusned IN croWus 10 the oeck most OF them
but partially dressed, aad many with Only their
night clothes on. For short time wild scene o
terror and confusion ensued, which, however
gradually subsided rs the calm orders OF the cap.
tain were obey ed by the crew, and something like
order was established. The pumps were quick y
manned. aud il was found that the vessel wat
fast making water, but the captain Was 10 hopet
that IL 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 e
l.aA IA tad Al GA al
creased fary during the whole of the day. In the
course OF the morning an attempt was made e
launch the iifeboats, but they were stove in and
their crews drowned. In this fearful state Of sus
pense they aimed until towards evening, wher
the ship, which had till then remained hrm OF
the bank, slipped of by the stern into deep wstel
ard commenced rapidly to all. The whale boa
was then launched, and number OF the crew and
passengers rushed into her. The captain, 10 the
nope OF being again driven on to the bsnk, let &C
the best bower anchor, but all his exertIons were
fruitiess, aud though more than forty nen wers
working at the pumps, the water gained upon
them SO fss. that In less than an hour she sank
The heart rendDg 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
rot seui Was saved. The captain, nrst and
second mates remained on the sinking ship, th,
only officer 10 the boat being the third n,ate
stephen Kelly, who succeeded 10 reaching til,
shore in company with eighteen others IT The crew
and three passengers, i've being washed oat II
their passage from the vessel.
On the beach at Baliyconigar, however, ver,
found the lifeess remaius of several of the unfor
tuuate passengers, which were removed 10 TIT
boathouse hear there TO await an itquest.
0Ie of the ilss bodies rescued from the ~ayo
was shat Of lady, apparently about 40 years O
age, who, in life must have been handsome wo
msu, and evidently moving 10 a respectable sphere
of life. Here, however, we blush to record II, w
must notice act of barbarian gross that IL 1
hardly credible that asy person in this ege 0
civi!iz alton could be found guilty of it. The bod!
of this lady when found by the coast guard WA
stripped OF all it's Clothes with the exception OF
body linen, aud it was ascert tanned that this dia
boiicsi act had been committed by one of,he sam'
ssx,s woman residing in the village OF Blackwater
who had their desecrared the dead body and made
of with the clothes. On the arrival OF the con
stabniary, however, q body OF whom, under th,
command Of sub-inspector Strain and head consta
BILE Harding, left here early in the morning, this
brute in human shape was made to give up be-
piupder, aad tx 10 to be hoped that she will NEE
with the Just reward such inhuman conduct de
serves. eidress of this unfortunate lady con
sisted of q black silk jacket, with small whit
rpots, black satin skirt, two fue flannel skirts
linen corset, white cotton stockings aud slippers
Two larg, and handsome gold earrings were also
found with the body, to which was attached oil
India rubber Lille belt.
Near 10 the spot where this body was discovered
there was after wards found the body OF young
man, apparently about twenty-five years Of age
black haired, and dressed n black with life belt
attsched) and, according to the statement of the
third mate and some of the sailors, the son Of the
lady above ertisned, who is reported to have
been the widow Of an American captain, aud te
have had with her a daughter about sixteen OIL
seventeen years old.
The next body come to was that of gentleman
Of middle age, dressed in black, on whose person
was found silver lever watch, pocket book con.
tanning letters and private memoranda, and some
few pounds In gold and silver, but nothing leading
to dentiication. Near to this body was also
found that OF male 10 FAINT of about six months old
and that of young woman of about twenty, par.
TALLY clothed, with black stuff sud flannel skirt
black stockings, &c. With the exception of a fine
linen skirt, and barrel with M. Shannon
painted thereoD) containing potatoes and Other
provisions, evidently the property Of a steerag'
passenger, nothing else was discovered near th
spot-the nearest point to the scene of this awfu
catastrophe, aud We resumed our search along thi
coast towards Wexford.
From Currscioe to the Raven Point the shOr,
was strewn with pieces ofthe wreck Including door
and panels from the saloons and cabins, beautiful
Iy painted asd gided, handsome carved chairs snt
c3uches, pateut line seats, beds aud bedding, tn
cabin skylights and other fittings, with the re
mains Of two shattered life seats, first attempted
to be launched.