Adams Sentinel
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
October 8, 1849

Distressing Case- Sad Suicide- On Monday evening, a young woman, about twenty-one years of age, a native of Ireland, named Elenor McCracken, committed suicide near Pittsburg, by drowning herself. The unfortunate woman had been betrothed in Ireland, to a young man, and they took passage in a vessel for America, delaying the solemnization of their nuptials until their arrival. That mysterious and fatal disease, the ship-fever, hovered around the barque. Amongst the earliest victims was the lover of the poor woman, and that sad event seems to have inflicted a shock upon her mind from which she never recovered.

_________

     An English journal mentions that the family of OLIVER CROMWELL has just become extinct in the person of Mrs. Russell, daughter of the late Mr. Oliver Cromwell, the biographer of the Protector, from whom he descended in the direct line.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alton Telegraph and Democratic Review
Alton, Illinois
Oct 26, 1849

     It is stated that the British brig St. John, from Galway, Ireland, and bound to Boston, struck against the Grampus Rocks, on the morning of the 30th ult. and sunk almost instantly, having gone to pieces. The captain, crew, and ten of the passengers, saved themselves, with difficulty, on fragments of the wreck; but the remainder, supposed to number about 100 souls, unhappily found a watery grave.

Burlington Hawkeye
Burlington, Iowa
October 25, 1849

New York, Oct. 6, P.M.

    Dreadful Shipwreck- Loss of One Hundred and Fifty Lives.- I learn from Boston that the British brig St. John, from Galway, Ireland, for Boston, struck against the Grampus Rocks on Sunday morning last, about 9 o'clock, and sunk almost instantly, having broke in pieces. By this painful calamity it is estimated that about one hundred and fifty passengers were saved by floating on pieces of the wreck. Twenty-five of the dead bodies were washed ashore and picked up on Monday morning. The captain thinks the loss of life is not so great, but others saved believe it cannot be less than above stated.

Watertown Chronicle; Watertown, Wisconsin; 24 Oct 1849

Loss of the St. John.

     Yesterday morning, melancholy intelligence reached this city, that the British brig, St. John, Capt. Oliver, from Galway, Ireland, with 120 souls on board, had been wrecked near Cohasset on Sunday morning, about 9 o'clock, and that 99 of those on board perished. It appears that the brig stood into the bay on Sunday, having passed Cape Cod the previous evening, but the weather becoming foggy, the captain deemed it prudent to haul off. Accordingly the vessel was put under snug working sail, and was  brought to the wind. She stood to the north shore, made the land, and wore round on the other tack, head to the southward.
     At 6:30 A.M., she made Minot's ledge, so close aboard, that it was almost impossible to weather it. There was not room to wear; to stay was impossible. In the dilemma, the captain saw a brig at anchor inside the light, and resolved to run for her.- He did so and anchored; but the heavy ground swell, and the fury of the gale, soon brought the anchors home. The masts were cut away; but the anchors would not hold, and eventually she struck the ground; and as the tide fell, her bottom was literally separated from her upper works.
     Previous to breaking up, Capt. Oliver says - "the jolly boat was hanging by the tackles along side, but the stern ringbolt broke, and the boat fell into the water. The captain, second mate, and two boys jumped into her to clear her, when about twenty-five passengers jumped in and swamped her; the passengers, together with the second mate and two boys perished. The captain caught a rope hanging over the quarter and was drawn on board by the first mate.
    "The log boat was got clear shortly after, and heavy sea coming on board cleared her from the vessel, when a number of passengers jumped over to swim to her, but all perished. The captain, first mate, (Mr. Cumberford,) eight of the crew, and two passengers swam to the boat and reached the shore in safety. Eleven others, four men and seven women, came ashore on part of the deck. Total loss of life, 99- saved 21."
     The people of Cohasset witnessed the melancholy spectacle without the power to launch a single boat to aid the sufferers.
     The survivors, who washed ashore received every attention that humanity could dictate. The people of Cohasset vied with one another in their acts of kindness.
     Mr. Elliot, the English counsul, when he heard of the disaster, with commendable promptitude proceeded to the spot himself to render any aid that might be required.
     He returned last evening and from him we learn that 27 bodes had been received, viz; 21 females, 3 males and 3 children. The following are the names of the passengers who were saved:
     Austin Keran, C. Flanagan, Betsey Higgins, Mary Kane, M. Fitzpatrick, M. Gibbons, Barbara Kenely, M. Redding, H. Cullen, Honora Burke, and 11 of the crew.
     CABIN PASSENGERS LOST- Mary Flannegan, Nancy Hannagan and Margaret Hannagan, of Kilfinara, county of Clair; Bridget Quinn and Eliza O'Brien, of Instivan Clair.
     STEERAGE PASSENGERS LOST- Ann Slatterly,  Bridget Slatterly, Hugh Madigan, Margaret Keenan, of Instivan; Bridget Connelly and 8 children, Patrick Sweeney and wife and 9 children, of Kannamara [Connemara], county of Galway; Peter Greally, and James Greally, of Claronbridge, county of Galway; Patrick Gorman, Miles Sweeney, Thomas Burke-mother saved-Eliza Burke, Patrick Burke, Mrs. McDermott-sisters-Mary Love and child, Catharine Fitzpatrick, Bridget Burke, Bridget Mulligan, Peggy Purky, Martha Puray, of Galway; Michael Hannagan, Lalinch, county of Clare; Patrick Lahiff, John Lahiff, Thomas Riley, Bridget Maddigan, of Kilfanora, county of Clare; Hugh Glynn, of Instivan, county of Clare; John Belton, Mary Dolan, Thos. Fahey, Bridget Fahey, Martha Fahey, Honora Donnelly, Honora Mullen, Catherine Heniff and ___ Heniff - sisters - Mary Cahill, Patrick Noonan, Mary Landskey, Peggy Mullin and sisters child, John Butler, county of Galway; Patrick McMahan, Bridget McMahan, Catharine McMahan, Mary Nalon, Mary Frowley and child, of Kilmaly, county of Clare; John Dolan, Roan, county of Clare; Mary Freeman and child, Mr. Egan, wife and daughter, Martin Sexton, of Inns, county of Clare; Jeremiah Murphy, James Moran, Dysart, county of Clare; Margaret Keenan, Miss Brooks, of Instivan; Lanl Byrnes, Michael Griffin, Catharine Burns, Peggy Malloy, Ellen Hassett, of Arch, county of Clare; Patrick McGrath, Winny Galvin, Mary Galvin, Margaret Kane, Mary McNamara of Kilmaly- Honora Lahiff of Rohan, John Lahiff, Mary Mulkenan, Margaret Mulkenan, of county of Clare.