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Archiver > TheShipsList > 1997-10 > 0876849054
From: <>
Subject: Re: Fw: Shipwreck on Long Island Sound...
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 10:10:54 -0700 (PDT)
You might want to try the U.S. Coast Guard. They have a historian office at
thier headquarters in Washington, D.C.. Do a search and get the URL. I know
you can do a request via email. I just do not have the address handy.
Chris Wilkenshoff
At 01:31 PM 10/13/97 -0800, you wrote:
>I don't know if anyone can help this fellow or not, if nothing else, it is
>an interesting CT shipwreck story.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: John W. Keating III <>
>To: <>
>Date: Sunday, October 12, 1997 10:28 PM
>Subject: Shipwreck on Long Island Sound...
>
>
>>I am seeking information on a shipwreck that occurred in November or
>>December of 1853 or 1854 (most likely, perhaps going into January of 1855?)
>>and am curious if anyone might know of such an
>>event or know how I might find information about such an event.. An
>>older relative of mine relates how shared ancestors were "taken ashore
>>at New Haven".
>>
>>A letter written by a child of those ancestors reads:
>>
>>"This was before steamboats came into use. They started on a sail boat.
>>The trip generally took six weeks; this trip took eleven weeks. They
>>were wrecked in mid-Atlantic Ocean at midnight. John C. Keating and a
>>watchman were the only ones on deck when the storm struck. The first
>>wave burst in the hatch on one side of the boat, and the water rushed
>>down on the passengers and crew in their berths. They were frantic, and
>>all rushed for the ladders. John C. Keating and the watchman stood at
>>the top of the ladder and pulled them up. Each person had a hold of one
>>ahead and would not let loose until their hold was broken. This made it
>>hard work; they had to pull until someone's hold broke; sometimes two
>>would come, and sometimes three. It was daylight before they got them
>>all up. Then in the meantime they got the pumps working and carpenters
>>boarding up the side. John C. Keating was the hero on this occasion. The
>>passengers presented him with a purse to show their appreciation."
>>
>>"This same ship was wrecked again when going through Long Island Sound.
>>It ran on a sand bar. There was a life-saving station there, and they
>>got a line to the boat, then a second line. They took the passengers off
>>two at a time loaded in the little boat (women first). So Father and
>>Mother were separated and landed at different parts of the shore. He
>>wandered and searched all night, wet, cold, and hungry, for Mother. It
>>was a cold winter night. He finally found her sitting on the steps of an
>>old building looking out at sea nearly frozen with her wet clothing.
>>They lost all their baggage. Of course, they still had some money and
>>the purse the passengers gave him. They drifted down to a small town
>>[Stamford - jwk] in Connecticut where he secured a job cutting ice
>>during the winter."
>>
>>While I imagine ships going aground are not that uncommon during this
>>period, I'm curious if there are lists available of these unfortunate
>ships.
>>Are there any descendents of other passengers of this ship (probably in
>CT)?
>>
>>Please respond via email, and I'll summarize and repost the responses.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>John Keating
>>
>>913 Lakeside Terrace
>>Bel Air, MD 21014-5123
>>Eve: 410-893-3550
>>Day: 410-931-2676
>>
>>
>
>
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