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THE
MARINERS BURYING GROUND
Second
of two markers erected in 1995 at the Rockville (Sand Hole) Cemetery, Corner of
Ocean Avenue and Merrick Road. The obelisk referred to
in the text was paid for with money taken from those who had drowned.
This obelisk marks the common grave of 139 Irish
and English immigrants who drowned in the wrecks of the ships Bristol and Mexico
off Long Beach
in the winter storms of 1836-37.
The cemetery contains the graves of 67 members of
the Pearsall family, including that of Wright Pearsall, namesake of Pearsall`s Corners, the former name of Lynbrook.
The Wreck of the Bristol - November 21, 1836
Following are two contemporary newspaper accounts of the tragedy of
the ship Bristol, which struck a sand bar
off Long Beach
or Rockaway in the early morning hours of November 21, 1836. As Benjamin
Thompson put it in his History of Long Island, (1843), "thus
perished some 60 and 70 souls, almost within sight of the port of their
destination." Approximately half of the bodies were recovered
and buried in the Sand
Hole Cemetery.
Sunday
Morning News
Reprinted in The Hempstead
Inquirer, Hempstead, LI
November 30, 1836.
Available in the Long Island
Collection at Hofstra
University.
On the 16th of October the ship Bristol, of
New York, commanded by Capt. McKown, sailed
from Liverpool for New York.
The vessel was a new one, as we learn, this being her second voyage, and was
commanded by a gentleman long, and favorably known as an able and experienced
shipmaster. She had on board an assorted cargo, such as coal, railroad iron,
crockery, dry goods, etc. and a large number of cabin and steerage
passengers.
After a pleasant and prosperous voyage, she arrived off the Highlands [of New Jersey] on Sunday
evening last, about 8 o'clock. On making the light, captain McKown hove the
vessel to, and hoisted signals for a pilot. About 1 o'clock, as it began to
blow very fresh, Capt. McKown brought the ship to the wind, and stood off
shore, under easy sail.
Just before 4 o'clock, on Monday morning, she struck on Rockaway shoals,
five miles west of the Pavilion -- the night, or rather morning, being very
dark and thick. She struck so lightly that little alarm was exited on board,
but in a short time the wind increased to a violent gale, and the sea made a
clear breach over her. The captain and officers advised the passengers to go
below, as they would have a better chance to work than if they encumbered the
deck..
In about an hour, a tremendous wave struck her. Boats, bulwarks, and
everything moveable were instantly swept from the deck. The hatches, which
were well secured, burst, and in a moment the vessel filled with water.
Eighty-two steerage passengers were below, and save a few who chanced to be
close to the hatchways, none were preserved.
Not a sound, a moan, was heard. The work of death was instantaneous. Sixty
persons were hurried, unwarned and unprepared, into eternity.
The scene that now presented itself on deck, beggars
description. Fathers rushed around, anxiously enquiring for their children --
wives for their husbands, and children for their parents. Every spot that
could afford shelter from the sea, was filled by
some of the survivors, who lashed themselves to the sails, the rigging, and
the masts. At daylight, the crew cut away the mainmast in hopes that the ship
would lie easier, or at least, hold together, until, the crew and passengers
could be saved.
The shore, which was about a quarter of a mile from the wreck, was crowded
with persons, looking on, but unable to afford any assistance as the surf ran
so high. The ill fated persons on board the doomed vessel saw those who
would, but could not assist them -- and their feelings may be imagined, but
not described. The vessel was hourly expected to go to pieces, and once that
work commenced, hope was indeed gone.
Towards moon, as the tide ebbed, the surf was lower, and a boat, manned by
four gallant, hardy men, reached the wreck. This boat made two trips, and
succeeded in bringing safely to land all the females and children that were
alive. Before the boat could go the third time, the surf again rose, and
further assistance must be delayed until midnight.
Meanwhile the ship broke in two and the foremast went by the board. Lashed
to it were the two Messrs. Carlton and Mr. Burtsall, cabin passengers. Mr.
Burtsall alone was preserved, as in falling he caught hold of one of the
bobstays, and reached the bowsprit. Soon after the mizzen mast went. But
before it did go, those who were lashed to it, and in the mizzen top, had
time to leave it, and lash themselves to the taffrail.
When the boat first came off to the relief of the unfortunates, the
females were taken off. At second trip, Mr. Donnelly and his family, who had
been in the mizzen top with Capt. McKown, got into the boat, leaving Capt.
McKown and a servant maid still in the top. Before
the boat pushed off Mr. Donnelly declared he would not go ashore in that
boat, but that the servant maid should take his place. Capt. McKown urged
himself very strongly to save himself then, if possible; but he refused, and
returned to the top, with the captain. The servant went ashore in his stead.
The females were landed in safety, and Capt. McKown with Mr. Donnelly,
remained on the top. While there, Capt. McKown, conversing upon the
melancholy disaster, remarked, that he feared he was undone forever and would
never be able to obtain command of another vessel. Mr. Donnelly endeavored to
cheer him up, and told him that so much confidence had he in his conduct and
capability, that if he could not procure a vessel, he would give him one
himself.
Soon after this, as Capt. McKown had reason to fear that the mizzen mast
would go, he proposed descending, and lashing themselves to the taffrail, to
which Mr. Donnelly consented. Capt. McKown went first, and having procured
one end of the running rigging, lashed himself securely to the taffrail. Mr.
Donnelly followed, and Capt. McKown threw him the end of a rope, but it fell
short. Mr. Donnelly attempted to reach it, and while in the act of so doing,
a tremendous wave struck the vessel, and washed him overboard. He was
drowned, and fell a victim to his own philanthropy.
All on shore thought that the vessel must have gone to pieces; but as
faint moans and cries of distress were occasionally heard, amid the howlings of the storm, a boat put off at midnight, and
reached the vessel with difficulty. All who were alive on board,
were put into her, and she reached the shore in safety. In three or four
trips, all the living had been rescued from the watery grave.
Capt. McKown was the last person to leave the wreck. He had been
repeatedly urged by the boatmen to save himself, but resolutely refused,
until all under his care were safe. He has saved nothing; not even the ship's
papers. All his own clothing is lost, and he came ashore in his vest and
pantaloons. He was so much bruised and injured by the washing of the waves,
that he is obliged to be taken to the wreckmaster's
house. A distance of seven miles from the wreck, where he now lies, seriously
ill
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The Hempstead Inquirer
Hempstead,
LI November 30, 1836
Wreck of the Bristol
Unluckily for us, our paper went to press last week before we had heard a
syllable in relation to the dreadful loss of human life by the wreck of the Bristol. Had we
received information in time, we should have proceeded to the spot in order
to have collected all correct particulars. Numerous accounts both true and
untrue, respecting the wreck have been in circulation during the past week.
It is one of the most dreadful disasters in the annals of shipwreck that have
ever happened.
We observe from numerous accounts, pretty much all the blame is attributed
to the indifference manifested by the New
York pilots. They are undoubtedly at fault, -- but
we understand from an individual who has conversed with some of the crew of
the ill-fated vessel, that on Monday morning, after being unable to procure a
pilot, the captain gave orders to the officer on watch to stand off shore,
and to remain on a certain tack two hours.
It seems the officer must have slept on his watch, as, when the ship
struck the bar off Rockaway, they had been four hours on the same tack. The
captain came ashore in his vest and pantaloons, which shows that he must have
retired to his berth.
We have been assured by one who is experienced in matters relating to the
ocean that, when near port, and especially in the [most] critical time, it is
not customary for the captain of a vessel to be off his vigilance. It,
therefore, seems that if the officers had been properly on the alert,
notwithstanding the negligence of the pilots, the Bristol would have been saved, and the
consequent destruction of human life avoided.
The number of bodies that have been already floated ashore is variously
stated. Some of the papers have made it out as many as sixty -- but it must
be an exaggeration -- not more than twenty at the most.
Too much condemnation cannot be bestowed upon the conduct of certain
lawless individuals who have visited the wreck for purposes of plunder -- perhaps
murder, as represented in some of the New
York papers -- though we believe the accounts are
distorted. -- That men so utterly nefarious should exist in a country
boasting of the elevated state of society as this, is most disgraceful. It is
the heart-felt desire of every one who possess the
least moral capacity, that these wretches may be apprehended and visited with
severe and condign punishment.
On Thursday last, the United States Marshall, of New York, dispatched a number of deputies
to the scene of the wreck, for the purpose of preserving such property as
might float ashore. Three miscreants, caught in the act of plunder, were
arrested and taken to the city. -- They were examined before the proper
authorities on Monday last. We are happy to state that ample means for the
apprehension of those worse than pirates have been instituted; and that all
who have been engaged in such lawless scenes are likely to be arrested and
punished accordingly. We since understand thirteen individuals have been
arrested, and are now in custody.
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Other references:
Thompson, Benjamin F. - History of Long Island, 2nd ed., vol. II,
Gould Banks & Co., NY, 1843, pgs. 268-274. Available in the Lynbrook Public Library.
Rattray, Janette Edwards - The Perils of the
Port of New York, Dodd, Mead & Co., NY, 1973, pgs. 54-7.
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