The wreck of the Bristol on Far Rockaway Beach, near New York, United States, November 21, 1836, killed 60 to 70 people.[1][2] Most of the deaths were due to huge waves that broke down the ship and drowned passengers sheltering in the hold.[3] The captain, Alexander McKown, behaved admirably, did everything he could to save the surviving souls, and was the last person to leave the wreckage.[4]
An obelisk marking the mass grave of the casualties of the wrecks of the Bristol and the Mexico (January 1837), stands in Rockville Cemetery, formerly Old Sand Hill Cemetery, in Rockville, Long Island.[5]
- ^ Howland, S. A. (1846). Steamboat disasters and railroad accidents in the United States. Worcester: W. Lazell. pp. 322–324.
- ^ Lossing, Benson John (1905). Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History from 458 A. D. to 1909. Harper & brothers. p. 449. ISBN 978-0-598-77691-4.
- ^ Thompson, Benjamin F. (1843). The history of Long Island, from its discovery to the present time: with many important and interesting matters, including notices of numerous individuals and families, also a particular account of the different churches and ministers. New York: Gould, Banks & Co. pp. 268–270.
- ^ Hinman, Michael (2022-08-04). "Two heroes, and one captain who should've been ashamed". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
- ^ Keller, Paul (2009-09-13). "The story behind the obelisk". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-06-26.