The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) August 5 1807
Boston, July 17
Melancholy Shipwreck
Extract from a letter dated Portland, July 12, 1807 “I hasten to inform you of a melancholy event which took place
last night, between twelve and one o’clock. Captain Adams, in the schooner Charles, with 18 passengers on board,
from Boston, bound to this port, turning in nearer than he was aware (there being a thick fog) struck upon a reef
of rocks a little to the westward of the lighthouse; the vessel was immediately thrown on her beam ends by the
force of the sea, and bilged. The passengers immediately running on deck were almost as soon swept off, by the
sea making a continual breach over it. The Captain with three men got on shore about 2 o’clock, but he, overcome
by the shrieks of his wife and passengers, attempted to get on board again, but failed and was heard to say, “I
am gone,” and was lost in the destructive element. One of the men (Sidney Tinxter) arrived here about 9 o’clock
this morning; he says, when he left the wreck there were 6 persons holding fast on the shrouds, viz, four men,
one woman, and a boy. I cannot learn who the lady was.
“I understand this moment that all the ladies were lost; that of 222 persons 6 only are saved, one of whom is Sam.
Richards, left to lament the untimely death of his wife and two children. Among the number drowned also were Mr.
Eleazer A. Jenks, Mr. Josiah Hayden’s wife and child, Mrs. Lydia Carver of Freeport, and Miss Richards, of Dedham.”
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]
