New-York tribune., 1880-02-22
MARGARET FULLERS FATE.

sHIPWRECK.
TO the EdftOr Of The Tribune
SIR: Mr. Congdon in his "reminiscences week
ago Sunday, recalled the tragic end of Margaret
Fuller. have had for some time in my possession
the following sketch. drawn up at my request by
Mr. John G. Schumacher, of Brooklyn. which is
given almost in his words. Perhaps 1t may
prove acceptable to your readers. G. l. f.
Brooklyn, Feb. 2l. 1850.
| do not remember having seen Bayard
Taylor but twice IN my life, and these meetings were
some twenty years apart The first was al Babylon,
L. L. on the occasion Of the snipwreck of the bark Eliza
BETH ON board of which the Italian Count OssO.
with his wife Margaret Fuller Osso and his only child.
all Of whom were drowned. This was the summer.
think OF 1919 or 80 Mr. Taylor at that time
reporter OF THE TRIBUNE aud visited the OF the
dislstcr IN that capacity. He came 10 Babylon Late
in the afternoon Of Saturday. AT that time the
train the Long Island Railroad stopped AZ Farm
ingiale. which WAS six seven niles from Baby
lOn and the remaining distance taken by stage II
was almost dark when Mr. Taylor arrived at Babylon,
and the bottman who ordinarily conveyed passengers
Fire Island where the wreck refused 10 take hlm
across. Ia tns emergency Andrew Jacobs called The
General" boatman. after much persuasion, was III
duced to make the trip. on condition. however. That
some third person should accompany them, who
would return with him. On my promising to do-eo We
started IN spite Of the darkness aud fog.
Mr. TAYLOR. though known all IN the village by rcpu
tation had not given OF hs name, and having
no ncqulmiances in the village. was known by no ouc
and the last Jacobs wished 90 back uut. even
after l had promised to accompany MIN. NJ. I"y.or
WIS at this tmc q tuin, WITS young man, 30 dr-' ant
retiring not even saying that he represented TIE
lEBu>E Hld he made mention 81 Ms 9oi'es' ,N'it
would nave been no delay, Tor Jac"U' hdd great
respect for newspapers. We Wcui down 10 lOHl
-m'll'- Point at the end of Boy0n's Lane embtked
on Jacobs saitbQat " 9IOd,-ty" AID aiter tWO
1ours, sail rclcird Fire Island IN safety. Mr
Tus spoke but uttc duunS the TRIP. and snied out
at the helm. " Meet her. meet her. as tho sail
when ana where r. Nh Taylor, who was more OF
sailor than was. undrrst 'Vd the meaning or the term
meet her," which did not. We landed him - Dem
ng's Dock, on FIe leland, ana, without even saying
good night he TOOK his htte satchel and walked alb
iocobe a1J / rrtnrnrd 10 l3abylon Jacobs asked me
SAWYER who did you say that fellow was Z He Is an
neous ~asa word hat the General" always used
when he wished TO express llS iecings a9out AnyhnS
he knew the meaning " the word, Out he employed II
ouite frequently.
Count and Countess Ossou were never found but the
body ol the child MAS washed up. and was buried on
the beach the next day of,er Mr. TAYLOR reached the
spot Bayard Taylor ~ this time looked like young
German Hebrew he md all the features OF that race
eyes, nose aud compcAlon. can recall 10 my MIND
e GU lcR coat hi coth vest and tousers and
storm hat. lie no beard, hut slight lnustache;
was scene OF copfu,ion The bark had gone pieces,
aud The sand strewn Tor "a mIe OF two with OIL
paintings, olive oil bottles. CASTLE soap aud
SEWN ak The breakers dashed Lgh aud the articles
were tossed far up the beach The body oi the child
was buried the beach to protect 1t from the OF
tie sun the day intensely not and there no
shade IL Rfterward taken up by the parents or
Margaret Fuller. Mr.. Taylor returned TO the the
following Monday, having spent sunday AZ Fire Island
His report OF the which passed that day
member TO have read IN THE TRIBUNE at tue time
In talking with Mr. Taylor on tnat sunday he me
his name, Turning To Jacobs, he asked lin how he |
could take the name of General" when he sea
frug man and said that he ought 10 have 10 changed
Commodore Jacobs toid Il ID tht II was because the
Initials OF his similar 70 those Of General |
Jackson.
Tho next occasion ~ seeing Mr.. Taylor many
wears afterward he had become fnmOus traveller
ana lecturer. L. thr Brooklyn AtueaGun. When |
fhe lecture was over was introduced TO him. and on
him OF former meeting saw the same sad
smile light mp his face as Il had The sail boat, While
hlm aud he soon changed the subject Iueyer him |