The Irish standard., 1914-01-03

only the first mate was lost. But il
was later discovered that these men
jumped into the sea and clung to an
overturned boat. The first mate
couldn't reach it. No boat could live
In the sea. However, it looked as
though the officers and crew were
more anxious to save themselves than
the immigrants.
Curiously enough the lifeboat crew
at Cohasset had gone to the assist.
ance of the brig Kathleen that went
ashore just before the st. John, a
little farther down the coast.
Both the Kathleen and the st. John
had anchored inside the ledge. The
Kathleen, however, was several hun.
dred yards to the southeast of the St
John. The sea was running with such
fury that both vessels dragged thu ir
anchors. The Kathleen was the first
to break away and she was hurled on
the beach. All on board-officers and
crew-were saved. The life guards
started for the first vessel that
dragged, not knowing or realizing
that the other vessel was loaded with
human freight. 1t was almost dark
at the time and the storm was at it's
height. 1t is doubtful, however, If the
life-savers could have been of any as
sistance to the st. John, owing to her
position on the rocks.
Capt. Oliver, in his brief report,
said he passed Cape Cod Light, Satur-
day, at p. m. The wind was then
blowing from the southeast. During
the night the northeaster broke on
him. 1t blew hurricane from a. m.
Sunday morning and at 6:3O he made
Minots, where he dropped his anchor.
He gives no further details except
that 80 were lost and 81 saved, includ-
ing the officers and crew except the
first mate. OF the immigrants seven
men and three women came ashore
alive.
e Those who saw the catastrophe at
the time said it was a heartrendering
scene. The cries Of the drowning
could be heard above the storm. The
very first wave that broke over the
vessel when she struck the rocks
washed more than a score from the
crowded deck to their doom and each
succeeding wave took it's quota. The
vessel began to break and the rigging
to fall almost as soon as she struck,
and all was confusion on board. In.
side of Is minutes everybody had
been washed from the ship.
Most of the immigrants were in a
very weak condition after the voyage
when the storm was encountered and
were in no physical condition to help
themselves in much Of any way after
the vessel struck the rocks In Ire
land they had suffered from the ia
mine of 1S4S. In fact. these people
were flying from that famine, as had
IAOuoouuo VI oILSlo uuIIH5 luc IIcRt-
Gus IL months or more. They were
wasted and anaemic, and had no
strength to start with, and when to
this was added the misery of an ocean
voyage lasting for weeks in small
brig the condition of most of these
people may well be imagined. Only
those who had been through such ex-
periences could fully appreciate the
condition of these people when they
were overtaken by the last terrible
catastrophe when they were on the
very shores of the land of hope and
promise.
But they have not been forgotten,
for over that large grave in the Co.
hasset Cemetery the men and women
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of
this state are erecting a monument to
the victims Of that wreck, which will
be unveiled and dedicated next Memo.
rial Day.
The papers of the time contain very
inadequate reports of the wreck, and
some Of the Boston papers did not get
reporters on the scene before Monday
afternoon and Tuesday, when the big
funeral was being held.