Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GRNEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 355
freezing. None would have survived if our master spirit had not
been there to cheer them by his words, and encourage them by
his example.
Monday morning at last dawned on the sufferers — it was
serene and beautiful — but its light revealed to the survivors the
sad havoc which death had made on that dreary night. The
quarter-deck was covered with the dead and the dying—blanched
and frozen bodies were lying in every position—some as they had
expired—others piled in heaps to give more room for the living,
or a breast-work to protect them from the piercing wind that was
seizing on their vitals.
Late on Monday forenoon, Dec. 28, relief came. Early in the
morning the .shore was thronged with people — some were collecting
materials, and others were building a causeway, from one cake
of ice to another, and thus a pathway was made to the wreck.
To relieve the living was their first care, and to distinguish
between some of them and the dead, was not easy. Barnabas
Downs, .Jr., lay on the deck motionless and apparently dead— ^yet
living and perfectly conscious. He heard the conversation — they
had passed by him as dead. He exerted all his remaining strength
to move, and exhibit some sign of vitality. He moved his eyelids,
which fortunately was noticed, and he was carried to the
shore — revived and soon after was able to speak.
Of the 105 who sailed from Boston on the Thursday preceeding,
only 33 were then living. Of these, nine died before the end
of nine days ; eight were invalids ever after, and sixteen entirely
recovered. Capt. Magee and Mr. "William Russell lived twenty
years, Barnabas Downs, Jr., thirty-nine years, and Cornelius
Marchant, Esq., the last survivor, died Oct. 1, 1838, aged 75
years. He was only 15 when he shipped, and during the storm of
Saturday and Saturday night he stood at the tafel rail, with
nothing to protect him from its violence.
The people of Plymouth, remarks Capt. Magee, with "that
tenderness and social sympathy which does honor to human
nature," then opened their houses, received the survivors as they
would a brother or a father, watched over them, and administered
to their wants everything which necessity demanded or kindness
could suggest.
The seventy-two dead, frozen in every variety of form, were
laid in Mill river to thaw before the rights of sepulchre were performed.
The bodies were afterwa,rds put into coffins, and removed
to the Court House where funeral services were performed.
So solemn and affecting a spectacle is rarely witnessed.
Around that ancient hall seventy-two dead were aiTanged. Their
friends were far away ; yet real mourners were there, the people of
old Plymouth attended (a mass. The profound solemnity of the
scene choked the utterance of the officiating clergyman — the