DAILY POST
MAY 2nd 1859
WRECK OF THE POMONA
From the Wexford Constitution Apr 30th 1859
SHIPWRECK IRISH COAST
Nearly 400 Lives Lost Clipper POMONA 1,500 tons of New York left Liverpool wednesday, Crew of 36, Capt Charles MERRYHEW, 380 Passengers. Met high winds a little after midnight when nearing TUSKAR was driven into sandbank seven miles off Ballyconigar. The sea breached over her sweeping decks, as morning approached attempts made to launch life boats by crew. Lifeboat stove in hitting side of vessel crew perished. They remained in fearful suspense till evening when stern slipped off sandbank into deep water filling Clipper rapidly. The Capt and 1st and 2nd mates stayed on the ship, 3rd mate Stephen KELLY made it to shore with 18 crew and 3 passengers. Coastguards informed Wexford of situation.
William COGHLIN Esq Collector of Customs contacted Mr DEVEREAUX owner of Steam Tug ERIN , she towed the ROSSLARE and another lifeboat to the scene, when steamer arrived only the Mizen mast was above water, from this the colours were taken down.
On the beach at Ballyconigar were found the lifeless remains of several of the unfortunate passengers A woman of about 40yrs well dressed and handsome, a young man about 25, an American Captains wife and their 17 yr old daughter, a 20yr old woman of beauty and poorly clothed and a 6mth old baby.
Unfortunatly an act of barbarism occured, the well dressed woman of 40 was found stripped to her under linen. A woman from Blackwater was found to have desicrated the unfortunate soul. Sub Inspector STRAIN and Head Constable HARDING had the brute in human shape give up her plunder, she will meet her just deserves.
Under the direction of Frances HARPER Esq agent for Lloyds and William COGHLIN Esq all survivors were removed to Wexford. A Wexford man Michall HAYES perished in the sinking.
SURVIVORS
PASSENGERS,
Matthew LEES,
Bartholomew REILLY,
John RABER
CREW
Stephen KELLY 3rd Mate
Richard LONG Boatswain
Michael MORIARTY
John SMITH
Richard EMMENT
Thomas BARNES
Thomas JORDAN
John SULLIVAN
Harry MILLAR
Rudolph TOMM
Jeremiah WILLIAMS
George MERVILLE
George NOTT
John RODGERS
Charles JACKSON
Charles THOMPSON
James WEST
William MURPHY
John McCORMACK
John MEEHAM Passengers cook
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