Long Beach in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Wreck of the Mexico (1837)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 24, 2019
1. Wreck of the Mexico (1837) Marker
Inscription.
Wreck of the Mexico (1837). . In October 1836, the 179-ton, three-masted American barque Mexico left Liverpool, England for New York, filled with cargo and immigrants, most of them Irish. The ship reached the entrance to New York Harbor after a stormy, 69-day crossing, and waited for a pilot to lead the ship into port. But it was New Year's Eve, and the pilots were celebrating in a Manhattan tavern. A storm arose, driving the ship back out to sea and onto a sandbar just 200 yards off Long Beach. The temperature fell to 3 degrees above zero. Captain Raynor Rock Smith of Freeport made the only rescue attempt. Shockingly the captain and crew jumped into Smith's boat, leaving 115 people behind to freeze to death overnight on the deck of the Mexico. Almost half of the victims were women and children. Their unclaimed bodies are buried in a mass grave in Lynbrook. Poet Walt Whitman wrote about this wreck in his famous poem, Leaves of Grass.
In October 1836, the 179-ton, three-masted American
barque Mexico left Liverpool, England for New York,
filled with cargo and immigrants, most of them Irish.
The ship reached the entrance to New York Harbor
after a stormy, 69-day crossing, and waited for a pilot to
lead the ship into port. But it was New Year's Eve, and
the pilots were celebrating in a Manhattan tavern. A
storm arose, driving the ship back out to sea and onto a
sandbar just 200 yards off Long Beach. The temperature
fell to 3 degrees above zero. Captain Raynor Rock Smith
of Freeport made the only rescue attempt. Shockingly
the captain and crew jumped into Smith's boat, leaving
115 people behind to freeze to death overnight on the
deck of the Mexico. Almost half of the victims were
women and children. Their unclaimed bodies are buried
in a mass grave in Lynbrook. Poet Walt Whitman wrote
about this wreck in his famous poem, Leaves of Grass.
Erected 2018 by Long Beach Island Landmarks Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1836.
Location. 40° 34.987′ N, 73° 39.146′ W. Marker is in Long Beach, New York, in Nassau County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Boardwalk and Lincoln Boulevard, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Long Beach NY 11561, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The LIRR Station (approx. ¾ mile away); Cobble Villa
More about this marker. The marker is located on the ocean-side of the boardwalk, approximately where Lincoln Boulevard would run into the Boardwalk, if Lincoln actually ran into the Boardwalk.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 24, 2019
2. Wreck of the Mexico (1837) Marker - wide view, looking east
The marker is next to the lamppost on the left.
James Fulton Pringle (image courtesy of the Long Island Museum of Art), 1837
3. Wreck of the Mexico (1837)
Drawn by H. Sorret(?), engraved by N. Currier (of Currier and Ives), 1837
4. Wreck of the Mexico Engraving
Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 814 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 4, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
