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After many fruitless attempts, they at last succeeded in getting
a rope on shore from the stern, by tying it to a dog which happened
to be on board, who swam with it to shore about daylight; when the
strongest made their way over the heads of the rest, to take
advantage of the only means left to save themselves, by this rope.
Many perished on the deck; others were washed overboard, with parts
of the wreck, when the ship fell to pieces, about 11 o'clock A.M.
most of whom were drowned. Her parting was noticed by those on
shore, and signified by them with the most dreadful cry of "Go
forward!" It is difficult to paint the horror of the scene.
Children clinging to their parents for help; parents themselves
struggling with death, and all stretching our their feeble arms to
save their children, dying within their grasps.
After getting on shore, they remained on the wrecks for the
night, and next day found a house a mile distant, occupied by
fishermen, who could afford them no other relief but fire and
shelter, and that for a few.
The whole of their property and clothes except what they
happened to have on at the time, was totally lost, so that they
remained until their arrival at Trepassey, in wet clothes, where
every exertion was made by the inhabitants to render their
situation comfortable.
Particulars of the fate of the officers and their families.
Fourth R.V. Battalion, Captain and Mrs. Prime, saved; three
children lost. Lieutenant Mylrea, his eldest daughter, about 18
years, and one son, Frederick, about 13 years of age; saved. Mrs.
Mylrea, Miss Rose, about 17, and Sophia, about 7 years of age;
lost. The eldest of the two latter was drowned in her father's
arms. Paymaster Stott; saved. Surgeon Armstrong, Mrs. Armstrong,
and three children; lost. Miss Armstrong, about 15, the only
surviving one of the family, was saved by the exertions of Captain
Willock, who also saved Miss Mylrea, and many others. Lieutenant
Wilson, an old gallant officer from the 3rd or Old Buffs, with a
son and daughter and one child under his care, (of the Royal
Artillery); lost. Mr. Wilson and Miss Wilson; saved.
103rd Regiment. Captain Willock and Lieutenant Gleeson, saved;
this gentleman, who got on shore early, also deserves the highest
praise for his exertions on this trying occasion, particularly in
saving Lieutenant Mylrea, who had thrown himself from part of the
wreck on a rock, where the waves left him; Lieutenant Gleeson got
two sailors to throw a rope, which he put round himself, and was
drawn up to a place of safety.
Total saved, 177. Lost, 208. |
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Halifax, December 6. Extract of a letter from an officer, who
was a passenger in the Harpooner, to his friend in this town, dated
St. John's, November 21. The master of the ship, a sober steady
man, supposed us to be a considerable distance from the shore, but
found himself mistaken, for, about a quarter past 9 o'clock, on the
evening of the 10th instant, we struck on the rocks, distant from
the land about a mile. Most of the people had retired to rest, and
the water rushed in among them with such rapidity, that many
actually perished, before they could get on deck; the sea
constantly dashing over us, and the frequent sight of some friends
or companions washed from the wreck, formed a scene inexpressibly
dreadful. At daylight, the 11th, a rope was passed from the ship
to a rock, on which a number were slid on shore in slings, but such
was the disorder on the wreck, that many attempting to get at the
rope, were precipitated into the sea, where the best swimmer that
ever was, had no chance for his life. Soon after 9 o'clock A.M.
the ship began to separate, and all who remained in her stern and
midships, found a watery grave. Those saved, experienced great
hardships, upon the rock detached from the mainland; not an article
of clothing or baggage saved, no shelter nor a morsel of food, and
in this situation, they remained until the morning of the 12th,
when the sea abated, and the sufferers passed over on a raft, with
the exception of three men, who perished in the attempt. At seven
o'clock we reached a house about a mile and a half from the wreck,
where a little bread, tea made from an Indian weed, and a good
fire, were all that could be procured, and on the 13th, pursued the
journey to Trepassey, 14 Irish miles, over a mountainous, rugged
country, where horses cannot travel, many without shoes, and others
almost destitute of covering. I could not have imagined it
possible for human nature to have supported itself through such
hardships and privations. What then must have been the suffering
of a number of ladies with us, whose delicate frames seemed
incapable of supporting the slightest fatigue.
My loss, though great, is but trifling, when compared to that of
many others; young lady, daughter of the surgeon, lost father,
mother, and 2 sisters; another lady, Mrs. Wilson, her husband, son
and two daughters. Lieutenant Mylrea, his wife and two daughters;
and the senior officer, Captain Prime, his three sons. The non-commissioned
officers and private men have greatly suffered. I
believe not less than 230, out of 380 who left Quebec, have
perished. The baggage and property of those embarked was valuable,
the savings of many years, and promised comfort to the owners, when
retired from the service, numbers that past forty years in his
Majesty's employ." |
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