Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 4 June '86 21

r-Jersey Cape Historically VK I By John Merrill ^

The wreck of the brig (a two masted square rigger) Perseverence in the later part of December 1815, with 17 people on board is a typical example of the fickleness of nature when ships were depending on the wind and waves to determine the outcome of a journey. Bound from Havre (Le Havre, France) to New York City, the Perseverence was wrecked by a northeastern storm upon Peck's Beach (now Ocean City Beach). Containing a valuable cargo of silk, china, and glass, she was lured to her destruction by a vessel that the Perseverence had hailed. THIS MYSTERY vessel stated that they were 200 miles east of Sandy Hook, NJ, and had a few days more sailing time. The captain of the Perseverence. Captain Snow, being glad to hear that landfall was eminent, hoisted all sails into a strong northeastern storm. Sailing for a day with all sheet unfurled and with the winds not diminishing, the mate on watch screamed out that they were heading

straight for breakers when there should not have been breakers of any kind. FAILING TO maneuver quickly enough, the Perseverence Struck a sandbar and broke off her false keel. Unable to control the vessel, the Perseverence went keelfirst into the shallow waters of Peck's Beach, where she soon was being i pounded by the storm surf as heavy seas smashed the deck. i Passengers and crew were jarred awake (some still in their night clothes), i Six passengers and two crew members managed to launch a long boat and oared free of the brig. MUCH TO the fear and ; astonishment of the boat passengers, it was discovered that the long boat was attached to the i Perseverence by a hawser. I With the long boat no i longer navigable, it was soon swamped by the ocean. i All those who took refuge in the long boat were found drowned, lying on the beach when rescuers arrived. Included among the dead was a very beautiful French woman about

whom Dr. Maurice Bees ley commented when examining all of the victims. CAPTAIN SNOW, attempting to swim to shore, drowned. Those passengers and crew who managed to get to the highest point of the brig above the raging surf had to wait for the sea to subside before the rescuers could launch their vessel into the surf. * Of the 17 on deck at the outset of the wreck upon the beach, four were saved — two passengers and two of the crew. Three of those who remained aboard the brig were swept overboard to their deaths. A VERY portly passenger, Mr. Cologne, was caught in the rigging of the ship. Just as the wouldbe rescuers arrived, Mr. Cologne fell into the sea, was retrieved when one of the rescuers pulled him to the surface by his hair. He survived for a few days after the wreck, but because of his being in the i cold Atlantic Ocean in December, all efforts to I save his life failed. Mr. Cologne, his niece, (also one of the passengers), and the beautiful French woman were buried side by side in a cemetery in Beesley's Print. The others were buried in a unmarked grave now Host to history. SUCH IS the story of the wreck of the Perseverence. There are monuments to shipwrecks over our entire county in nearly every cemetery. All one needs to do is spend time and explore our cemeteries. The messages are clear, the" evidence of ship disasters are there, and in their way, the lives of victims are not forgotten. (ED NOTE: Merrill teaches social studies at Lower Cape May Regional High School and has lived in the county since 1975. // you're interested in a particular historical ■ (tern, write him care of this newspaper. P.O. Box 430, Cape May Court House. N.J. 08210).

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Seniors Set Luncheon AVALON — The Avalon Senior Citizens Organization will meet for a luncheon meeting at the Wildwood Country Club 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. June 10. Installation of new officers will take place following the luncheon. Reservations must be made by Friday June 6. to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Calomeni, 12 Fox Run Rd., » Court House, 465-7250.

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