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The Faithful Steward left Londonderry, Ireland, on July 9, 1785, for Philadelphia with 249 passengers, mostly Irish immigrants, many related. On September 1, 1785, Captain Connolly McCausland threw a party to celebrate the journey’s end. He and the first mate imbibed so much that they passed out. The ship ran aground on the Mohoba Bank near Indian River Inlet. The force knocked two children to the deck, killing them instantly. Though the ship was fewer than 150 yards from shore, many passengers could not swim, and the waves threatened to sweep away those who could. Bodies washed up on the beach. Only 68 people survived the disaster. Of the 100 women and children on board, seven survived. Many perished within sight of survivors on the beach