The Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, August 8.

We have the following melancholy Account of the Shipwreck of a Vessel from Ireland, which lately happened at the Isle of Sable, as related to us by one of the Freighters, whose Life was saved.

On the 4th Day of June last past, the Snow Catherine, of Workington, in Ireland, Burthen about 110 Tons, Robert Walker, Commander, Messrs. Adam McNeal, and David Thompson, Freighters, sail'd from North Rush, in Ireland, bound to Boston, in New-England, having on board Two Hundred and Two Persons, Men, Women, and Children: They had the Prospect of a good Passage, till they came near the Isle of Sable, when on the Lord's Day the 17th of July last, they had very thick hazy Weather, the Wind blowing very hard at S. S. E. and a very high Sea beating over them; their Tiller being lash'd close down was broke in Two by the Force of the Sea against the Rudder, and
By distress of weather in the night, the vessel was drove upon a reef of sand, about a mile distant from the high land, at the east end of the said island; but beating over that, the wind and strong current setting against her, drove her directly ashore, where all the sea with a vast force beat against her and broke over, and first carrying away her main-mast, in a few minutes after, stove her in pieces, and left the whole company to the mercy of the waves and the broken pieces of the wreck. Very pitiful were the cries of the poor people for mercy, in that distressing moment. Ninety eight persons perished in the mighty waters; among those of note were Messrs. Archibald and Charles McNeal, and their wives, Mrs. Margaret Snell, and two wealthy cloth merchants, who were coming hither to set up the manufacture of diaper. The remaining hundred and four persons were washed ashore by the surf of the sea, some being much bruised by the waves and pieces of the vessel, and others being much spent by the fatigue. Three or four of them died soon after. After day-light appeared, they all got together on the lee side of a hill, and having taken up the main-sail, which happened to cast ashore, they made a sort of a tent, to shelter them from the inclemencies of the weather, and cut open a great number of feather beds that were also drove ashore, and with the ticks covered themselves. Most of the dead bodies were washed on the shore and buried by the spared company. The long-boat being rendered very leaky and unfit for service, on Monday they went to work upon her (having sundry tools providentially drove ashore in the carpenter's chest) and with pieces of boards and staves, with some canvas, so patched her up, as that on Wednesday the 20th of July, the master, mate, freighters, and five more of his sorrowful company, ventured in her to Canso, which is about 32 leagues distance, where they arrived on Friday 22d about five o'clock in the afternoon, and waited on Governor Cosby and some other gentlemen there, and relating to them the circumstances of their late disaster, they compassionately received them, and very readily administered to their relief, presently fitting out Capt. Richard's in a schooner, to bring off these distressed people from that desolate island. They sailed on the Lord's Day the 24th, and the next day they got there, to the great joy of those poor creatures, and having took them all on board brought them safe to Canso, though some remaining weak, and others much wounded, were put under the doctor's care. About half of the number that were saved came in a schooner to Piscataqua, on Friday last, most of whom went from thence to Londonderry, or Nutfield, and 3 or 4 of them are come hither by land.

The loss of so many lives in such an instantaneous and awful manner, must needs be very affecting to every tender-hearted Christian, but will certainly be more so to the near friends and relations of the deceased.

We are also informed, that the substance was very great which was lost by this disaster, most, if not all, of the estates of several persons and families being on board, with themselves; and 'tis thought, by a moderate computation, that only the silver and gold on board, in plate and specie, amounted to above 3000 l. Sterling; she being accounted the richest vessel that ever sailed from the North of Ireland.