DREADFUL SHIPWRECK ON BLACKWATER BANK.- UPWARDS OF SIXTY
LIVES LOST.- Intelligence has been received of the total
loss of the American ship Mobile, Captain Furber, which
sailed from Liverpool on Monday last for New Orleans. The
particulars of the melancholy occurence, so far as we have
been able to learn, are as follows:- The Mobile sailed from
the Mersey, as above stated, on Monday last, with upwards of
forty passengers, and a crew numbering about thirty men, and
proceeded safely until half-past two o'clock on Wednesday
morning, at which time she struck on Blackwater Bank, and
shortly afterwards commenced to break up. At the time she
struck, the wind was blowing a perfect hurricane from E.N.E.
[East North East?], with a very heavy sea running; the only
sails she carried at the time being the fore and main
topsails, close reefed. Shortly after, she struck efforts
were made to launch the boats, but, in consequence of the
heavy sea running at the time, they were fruitless. The
scene on board the ill-fated ship a few minutes after
striking baffles all description, the poor passengers running
about in all directions, crying out piteously for help; but,
alas! there was none at hand; and, at every succeding sea,
one or more of their number were washed off the wreck, until,
in a very short time, all had disappeared, with the exception
of eight seamen and one passenger, who had, fortunately,
lashed themselves to the channels. A few hours after the
vessel had struck the weather had moderated considerably,
and, about eleven o'clock on Thursday morning, two schooners
hove in sight, and immediately bore down on the wreck. One
of the schooners, which was bound to Glasgow, took four of
the sailors and the passenger on board; and the other took
the remaining four off, and landed them at Wexford. When
rescued they were in a very exhausted state from cold and
exposure. They were forwarded to this part in the Wexford
steamer, and arrived last evening, destitute of everything
but what they stood in. As an instance of the little chance
it was thought there was of anyone on board being saved, an
incident occurred which it is worth recording. In the cabin
was a lady passenger, who had upwards of £500 in gold in her
possession, and, thinking that she had no chance of being
saved, she brought the money on deck, and offered it as a
present to one of the sailors in case she was drowned, and he
rejected it, remarking at the time that "he thought he would
have enough to do to save himself." In a few seconds after
having made the offer, a sea swept over the vessel and
carried the unfortunate lady overboard, and she sank to rise
no more. The sailor was, however, among those that were
saved. Captain Furber, the commander of the ill-fated ship,
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together with all his officers, perished. He was well
known and much respected in this town. There is no doubt the
ship went to pieces on Friday, as great quantities of wreck,
cargo, &c., several water casks, and portions of a vessel,
were passed on Friday night and Saturday. The Mobile was a
fine ship of upwards of 1,000 tons burthen, and nearly new.-
Liverpool Albion.
