http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm 28 March 2009 COOGAN story appearing in "New York Times" (17 JAN 1856): SHIPWRECKS AND LOSS OF LIVES Packet Ship St. Denis Foundered Passengers All Lost. Information was received in this City yesterday forenoon of the loss of the Havre packet-ship St. Denis. The ship was of BOYD & HINOREN’S line, and sailed hence on Friday, the 4th inst., on a trip to Havre, with a full and valuable cargo of cotton, flour, grain, &c. The cargo, as we learn from the freight list, consisted of 12, 346 bushels grain, 95 bales cotton, 4, 707 barrels flour, 3,113 feet maple wood, 61,314 pounds copper, 137 tierces rice, 75 barrels potash, 18,640 pounds bugs, 25 cases tobacco, 395 bushels barley, 30 half packages tea, 53 barrels jeweler’s ash, and 65 packages sundries. A part only of the above was insured. THE PASSENGERS The St. Denis sailed from this port with three cabin and ten steerage passengers, as follows: CABIN. F. Weiss and wife, Charles Bratenahl. STEERAGE. George Baker-Kish, Jake Heinboldt, Paul Ludwig, Philip L. Ludwig, John Gray, Gustave Schelenbacker, M. Jamoo, wife mother and child. The crew consisted of the captain, three mates, one carpenter, one steward, two cooks,. Twenty-one seamen, one ordinary seaman, one stewardess, and two boys, in all 33 souls, as follows: Alonzo Follansbee, Captain. W.G. Tufts, first Mate. James Coogan, second Mate. Henry Gardner, third Mate. F. Smith, Carpenter. C.S. Davis, Steward. Charles L. Potter, first Cook. Richard Henry, (colored,) second Cook. Adeline Davis, (colored,) Stewardess. SEAMAN. James Smith, Andrew Radcliffe, James Lewis, Frederick Lovett, Lewis Frank, Ephraim Simpkins, J.B. Petty, William Turner, John Connelly, Henry Walsh, James McMillen, John Luckary, John Bodine, Thomas Cummings, George Wilson, John Wilson, Duncan L[o]gan John Thompson, James Smith, Walter H. Beach, Daniel Driskell, Thomas Lee, (boy.) The two boys were not registered, therefore, at present, their names are unknown; they were of French parentage. Of the above, all excepting eleven were lost. Thus far, the list of even these is incomplete, because of their immediate scattering when they obtained foothold upon the welcome shore. As far as can be ascertained, there are arrived here: First Mate, W. G. Tufts. Third Mate, Henry Gardner. Seamen: LEWIS FRANK, CHARLES McSWAIN, FRED. LOVETT, DANIEL DRISKELL, ANDREW RADCLIFFE, JAS. McMILLEN, JOHN BODINE, JOHN CONNOLLY, leaving one man saved whose name is unknown, supposed to be JOHN LUCKARY. CHARLES McSWAIN was shipped under the name of John Thompson, and whether the same party signed the articles and sailed is not ascertained. THE VESSEL. THE PARTICULARS. STATEMENT OF CAPT. LOVETT. [of the ship Naples, of Bath] THE FIRST MATE’S STATEMENT IN PROTEST. THE THIRD MATE’S ACCOUNT. HENRY GARDNER, the third mate, on being released from ship board early, made his way to GALLAGHER’S boarding-house, where he took up his quarters. We saw him there in good spirits, surrounded by friends congratulating him on his happy escape. He gave us the following account: We started from New-York at 12 o’clock, noon, on Friday, the 4th January; we had fine weather when we left here. Up till 3 or 4 o’clock on the following day this continued. Then the wind increased from the southeast; commenced shifting sail, and brought the ship under close-reef fore and main tap-sail. The wind still increased, and at about 11 o’clock at night it blew heavy, and carried away the three main top-sail sheets; took in the main top-sail, furled it; took in the foretop main-sail, set the main spanker. At 12 o’clock turned out all hands to make all fast; made everything secure. At 1 o’clock the wind shifted into the northwest, blowing a heavy hurricane; carried away every top-sail sheet; took in the foretop sail and furled it; the ship lay under main spanker. All this time the sea was breaking over the ship badly. At 5 o’clock Sunday morning, the Captain came up and told the mate that the cabin was filled with water, and we should have to wear the ship. Tried to wear the ship, and found the foretop main-sail was gone, having been blown away. We could not do it, so that the result was to cut away the mizzen and the mainmasts, when we succeeded in wearing her round. On Sunday it blew very heavy; got the boat ready; only one of the boats fit to launch, and that one very badly conditioned; got her out and put four men in her to bail her; got a barrel of bread; put it in the boat; the mate asked the Captain was he going in the boat; the Captain replied that it was of no use, as the boat could never live; the first mate then said, “I am going myself then, and must take my chance;” so those saved got into the boat; we took all that wanted to come; when we got into the boat the chief mate called out for any that could to come; the Captain replied that he should not leave the ship and the passengers, and that the boat was no better than the ship; hung about the vessel to induce others to come off for a few minutes; no others would come, so we shoved off out of the way of the then sinking ship; we left the ship at a quarter past twelve; we were from twelve o’clock Sunday to half past five on Monday in this state, when we were picked up by the ship Naples, from Leghorn, belonging to Bath, for New-York; when we got on board, our boat was so badly off that it was not considered to be worth taking in, so we let her drift; was well treated on board of the Naples, and was nine days in her until we got to this City, where I landed at the foot of Maiden-lane. Captain FOLLANSBEE had sailed in command of the employ of the Company for nearly twelve years. He was considered to be an excellent, careful, but fearless seaman. Shortly before the ship went down he came to the men, and calling to them he said, “Let us have quietness, and look you all to your end, for our time is short. You had better make ready, for we cannot live.” At this time, and after it, there was perfect quietness on board, and all seemed resigned to their fate, which then appeared certain. The Captain resided at Brooklyn, where he leaves a wife and seven children. The second mate leaves a wife, but no family. The first mate (one of the saved) was struck and severely injured by the falling of the mainmast while he was in the act of cutting it down. He resides at Staten Island, whither he has gone. Previous to the going down of the ship the carpenter brought on deck a quantity of liquor, which he offered round, but of which only one or two parties partook. Of their number was the second mate [James Coogan], who, drinking, was emboldened to brave the chances of swimming, in preference to taking the boat. Of course, he was lost.