Lynbrook in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Wreck of the Bristol - November 21, 1836
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 1, 2019
1. The Wreck of the Bristol - November 21, 1836 Marker
Inscription.
The Wreck of the Bristol - November 21, 1836. . The thee-masted, 450-ton American ship Bristol left Liverpool, England on October 15, 1836 with a cargo of 250 tons of iron bars, 50 tons of coal, 2,000 bushels of wheat, and dry goods. It had 95 passengers aboard, most of them Irish immigrants Included among them were tradesmen, merchants, and two medical doctors. After a pleasant voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the vessel arrived outside New York Habor where it waited for a pilot to guide it in to its South Street berth. Parents dressed their children in their Sunday best, ”in preparation for the disembarkation just a few hours away. But the harbor pilots never appeared. It was a warm and beautiful Sunday, and they had taken the day off. As night fell on the Bristol and the wind began to blow, Capt. Alexander McKown headed out to sea.
Around 1 AM, the ship grounded on a sandbar just 400 yards off Rockaway Beach. A huge wave struck the ship broadside, blasted off the hatch covers and filled the hold with water. In just minutes dozens of passengers were drowned. When rescuers rowed out from shore the next morning, Capt. McKown acted heroically by sending women and children off first. He was the last to leave the ship. The rescuers saved 44 passengers and crew. One hundred passengers and crew drowned.
Capt. McKown was a hero of the wreck - as were the rescuers from shore. But some Long Islanders acted shamefully. Thieves hid in the sand dunes just off the beach. They watched for waves to wash bodies from the ship's hold and roll them up onto the beach. These criminals rushed from their hiding places, searched the dead immigrants' pockets for gold and silver coins, and used knives to quickly remove any rings and earrings.
Sadly, it would take one more devastating wreck, that of the Mexico a few weeks later, before steps were finally taken to prevent such disasters. . This historical marker was erected in 2015 by Ancient Order of Hibernians of Nassau County, Historical Society of East Rockaway Beach and Lynbrook. It is in Lynbrook in Nassau County New York
The thee-masted, 450-ton American ship Bristol left Liverpool, England on October 15, 1836 with a cargo of 250 tons of iron bars, 50 tons of coal, 2,000
bushels of wheat, and dry goods. It had 95 passengers aboard, most of them Irish immigrants Included among them were tradesmen, merchants, and two
medical doctors. After a pleasant voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the vessel arrived outside New York Habor where it waited for a pilot to guide it in to its
South Street berth. Parents dressed their children in their Sunday best, ”in preparation for the disembarkation just a few hours away. But the harbor pilots
never appeared. It was a warm and beautiful Sunday, and they had taken the day off. As night fell on the Bristol and the wind began to blow, Capt. Alexander
McKown headed out to sea.
Around 1 AM, the ship grounded on a sandbar just 400 yards off Rockaway Beach. A huge wave struck the ship broadside, blasted off the hatch covers and
filled the hold with water. In just minutes dozens of passengers were drowned. When rescuers rowed out from shore the next morning, Capt. McKown
acted heroically by sending women
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and children off first. He was the last to leave the ship. The rescuers saved 44 passengers and crew. One hundred
passengers and crew drowned.
Capt. McKown was a hero of the wreck - as were the rescuers from shore. But some Long Islanders acted shamefully. Thieves hid in the sand dunes just off
the beach. They watched for waves to wash bodies from the ship's hold and roll them up onto the beach. These criminals rushed from their hiding places,
searched the dead immigrants' pockets for gold and silver coins, and used knives to quickly remove any rings and earrings.
Sadly, it would take one more devastating wreck, that of the Mexico a few weeks later, before steps were finally taken to prevent such disasters.
Erected 2015 by Ancient Order of Hibernians of Nassau County, Historical Society of East Rockaway Beach and Lynbrook.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is October 15, 1836.
Location. 40° 39.568′ N, 73° 39.517′ W. Marker is in Lynbrook, New York, in Nassau County. Marker can be reached from Merrick Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 Merrick Road, Lynbrook NY 11563, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 1, 2019
2. The Wreck of the Bristol - November 21, 1836 Marker - wide view
The Bristol marker (this one) is the one on the left, while a marker for the the Mexico shipwreck it that on the right, and in between is a marker for both shipwrecks, as well as the monument behind it.
More about this marker. The marker is located more or less in the middle of Rockville Cemetery and is easy to find because it is right by the Bristol and Mexico Monument, the tallest monument in the cemetery.
Additional keywords. The Wreck of the Bristol - November 21, 1836
Thomas Chambers (image courtesy of the Athenaeum), circa 1837
3. Rockaway Beach, New York, with the Wreck of the Ship Bristol
Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 718 times since then and 414 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 10, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
The thee-masted, 450-ton American ship Bristol left Liverpool, England on October 15, 1836 with a cargo of 250 tons of iron bars, 50 tons of coal, 2,000
bushels of wheat, and dry goods. It had 95 passengers aboard, most of them Irish immigrants Included among them were tradesmen, merchants, and two
medical doctors. After a pleasant voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the vessel arrived outside New York Habor where it waited for a pilot to guide it in to its
South Street berth. Parents dressed their children in their Sunday best, ”in preparation for the disembarkation just a few hours away. But the harbor pilots
never appeared. It was a warm and beautiful Sunday, and they had taken the day off. As night fell on the Bristol and the wind began to blow, Capt. Alexander
McKown headed out to sea.
