The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-09
W R E c X E D.
Details O. The Loss Of the George Washington
and George Cromwell
FRENCH MISTAKEN POINT
The Iron-BOund Coast and Stormy Seas
of Newfoundland.
ST. MARY'S CA Y S.
Mutated and Scorched Bodies Washed
Into the Gulch.
DYNAMITE OR STEAM :?
Report Of Commander Robinson, R. N-Ac'
cusing the Dead.
THE ROIC COON B S..
ST. MARY'S CAY S.
Mutated and Scorched Bodies Washed
Into the Gulch.
DYNAMITE OR STEAM
Report Of Commander Robinson, X. Nae
cuSng the Dead.
THE RO1C COOMBS

ST. JOINS. N r., March !, 1871.
Later Investigations and discoveries have removed
all doubts as 10 the fate Of the illstarred steamers
George Washington ana George Cromwell, OF the
Cromwell ne aud II Is now certain that both vessels
were lost iron bound southeastern coast OF this
island Since teegraphed to you OF the hndihg oil
ufe preserver marked 'Cromwel" on the 10th OF
february many new facts have come 10 light From
he information have been able to CLEAN am strongly
Of the opinion TINT the George washington was de-
stroyed by fire or explosion.
APPEARANCE THE BODIES.
The bodies which have been discovered Of those who
we're passengers or the OF the vessel show unms.
akabIy that some such accident occurred. Whatever
nay have been the cause OF the destruction OF the
George Cromwell it morally certain that an explo.
ZION OF some kind took place on board the George
Washington The torn and fragmentary condition OF
The recovered bodics also the shrvcled and
icorched appearance of some leather and pork that
drove shorcward Long Beach-all testify 10 the
deadly work OF fire or steam.
a STARTLING THEORY.
Is possible that dynamite has been ut its fell work
again Has Thomassen left an nheritor 10 his diabo
cal ingenuity and to the boundless possibilities OF
:rlme that had their representative in the mind Of
that supreme vIilanf Beyond all doubt the steamer
George Washington persisted through the agency Of
explosion. II may have been through the bursting Of
boiler but It may also have been through the sue
sessul accomplishment of a design similar to that
which failed with Tnomassen
wRxcK THE GEORGE WASHINGTON
The story of the wreck OF the Washington can
only be surmised from the data furnished by tho date
Of her departure from port and tho finding of the
debris aud mutilaled bodies on the coast Judging
from the loss OF the ship due to which
he mos. expert seamanship could not avert On the
18th OF January the George Washington left Halifax
.or St. Johns with general cargo She couI scarcely
have been forty Eight hours when strong
breeze commenced blow IRON the south and veered
IN a few hours TO the southwest Whether this wind
had effect OF diverng the ship from her Is
question tina, Will remain forever doubt, mono
OF her passengers survive to tell the story.
All that Is known OF her tate DO told u few
words
DEBRIS DISCOVERED
On the 23d and Gath OF January some OF tho nhabi-
tants OF Gulch Cove French Mistaken Point, DIS
covered on the beach articles Of bedding and the
toilet marked IN large red letters, ~. s. George Wash
inglon, and about the same time thirteen dead bodies
drawn out Of gulch into which they had been
washed by the sea. Later several fragments Of
human bodies picked up--legs arms and heads-
bearing unmis,akabe evidence Of having been torn
violently the trunks The flesh these disjecta
msnabra appeared ! 10 be parboied and
large pieces of scalp, while the brain protruded from
every part OF the battered skulls No more is known
of the awful catastrophe that hurried the passengers
and oil the unfortunate steamer into eternity.
COVE, MISTAKEN
The scene OF the wreck of the George Washing, on
Is calculated to inspire awe in the most unimpres-
sonabe spectator even when the waves luiled TO
rest and the sonbre cliffs casting their deep black
shadows over the sea. The coast line presents an
iron bound front TO the ocean, which forms i'm
pregnabe bnwark to the terrific assaults OF the
waves The cliffs perpendicular, and when, ut
the present time. their tops are covered with snow
their appearance Is most muJcstc The contrasts be-
the tall black faces of he rocky walls the foam.
.oppcd waves that lash their feet with indescri babe
Jury, the snowy mantle that covers the unduIating
and behind and the gloomy sky overhead make up a
picture at once grand and terror inspiring Away Ia
The east the coast line trends with equal rugsodness
until meets the promontory on which the lighthouse
OF Cape Race keeps watch and ward over The scene,
like sentinel posted a battle field, surrounded
with all the wreck and ruin Of deadly warfare. The
from the summit Of the cliff overlooking the
gulch OF terrible grandeur, aud would prove
loo much for the nerves of ordinary morals The
guich is about two hundred and fifty feet Ia depth
from the general coast line The ellis. which 201
feet high, overhabg The water, SO that there is nc
southeast or southwest gale is blowing the waves
roll with irlghtiu force INTO tins chasm and break
with thunderous sound the great cliffs, sending
showers OF spray far above their tops.
Into this gulch the wreckagc and the dead were
swept by the winds and the sea, and there DASHED
ceaselcssy and fro until discovered by the fisher
men described. II Is possible that some Of tho
muration OF the bodies occurred in this terrible
mill, where, between rock and wave, the bodies were
being ground 10 pieces II is supposed that the George
Washington was lost tho night OF the 2Olh OF Jan
uary Ia southeast gale and a snow storm. Tho pc
:uIiarity OF the ntorai this coast may b,
estimated when is remembered that many bodie.
Eere collected together In one place by the action
the sea.
Tug HERO WRECK.
twas no easy task to reach the bodies In the guch
rhe chns NJ the point where tho bodies ioun,
break abruptly and sheer the 1t would b,
impossible TO save the lives Vi snpwrecked crew IL
such hole, for the thundcrs with fury tho bias,
Of the rock the wind is IRON any souhcry point
made l. my business to so the scene Of the wrecI
md ma Ike inquiries oil the nob
work OF rescue The nero o the perilous expedition
y Patrick Coombs, OF Portugal Cove. Coombs is &c lie
,ratcu Tor his daring and endurance. and the reader
u the HERALD may remember him a the rescucr o
fourteen persons from the wreck OF the Germana
He u an honest simple fellow, and tells the following
aory--
FINDING THE BODIES
ssuu the 29th of January 1 noticed several bodies
coating around In the guch with pieces OF wreck an'
,.s,c,cr. OF sparsL got William Kennedy. John Neal
rbomss xaIloy and Edward MaIoy to let me dow
s1p rope 70 the waters edge, 30 that might brin
si.s toss~s ap They lowered me down 200 ect Thos
sn ths ca,s. could see the bodies washing In aud GU
III tbe rsjeb We gated tho bodies aud took out in al
asvpi ftrtesD.
.-one mup bad lady taitoocd on one arm and bir'
Apc hsu ~ fbs ether Another was marked !. H. o