THE LATE STORM

APPALLING SHIPWRECK AT KILKEE

We ( Limerick Chronicle ) are grieved to record a most calamitous loss of life by shipwreck on our immediate coast and deeply grieved to add that all the victims are of this country friends, neighbours or acquaintances who sailed together from the port of limerick for New York. But alas in four days the gallant bark is a forlorn wreck in the Bay of kilkee.

She was named the Edmond of London John Wilson master, a bark of 399 tons register and was early last month chartered by John M'Donnell Esq of Limerick to convey passages to New-York. The total number embarked according to manifest signed at the custom house was 195 distinguishing 174 steerage and 21 cabin passengers including children. The crew consisted of the master two mates and 19 hands making the total no of souls on board 236.

She first struck on the Duggernah reef on Tuesday evening which runs half way across the center of the bay was blown off there , and struck next on the rocks under Sikes's house at the west end ,it was then between eleven end twelve o'clock at night. The crew had cut down the masts and rung the alarm bell Some persons gained the shore by clinging to the mast among whom were Mr and Mrs Browne of Rathkeale and their child.

The tide was very high and the vessel was again further driven up the same side of the bay in the bed of the little stream that runs through the sands opposite the baths house where she soon after went to pieces. Numbers were taken alive out of the wreck. The captain and the mate never left the unfortunate ship until the last moment and were then in so exhausted a state from their exertions that it required hot blankets and other restoratives to sustain them.

Glasgow Herald , Friday. November 29, 1850