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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15301-8.txt b/15301-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3b33ab --- /dev/null +++ b/15301-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12343 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; +between 1793 and 1849, by William O. S. Gilly + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; between 1793 and 1849 + +Author: William O. S. Gilly + +Release Date: March 9, 2005 [eBook #15301] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE +ROYAL NAVY; BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven Gibbs and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY: BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849 + +Compiled Principally from Official Documents in the Admiralty + +by + +WILLIAM O. S. GILLY + +With a Preface by + +WILLIAM STEPHEN GILLY, D.D. +Vicar of Norham and Canon of Durham + +London: +John W. Parker, West Strand + +MDCCCL + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +ADVERTISEMENT + +PREFACE, BY THE REV. DR. GILLY + +THE WRECK OF THE + + BOYNE + AMPHION + TRIBUNE + RESISTANCE + PROSERPINE + SCEPTRE + QUEEN CHARLOTTE + INVINCIBLE + GRAPPLER + APOLLO + HINDOSTAN + ROMNEY + VENERABLE + SHEERNESS + ATHENIENNE + NAUTILUS + FLORA + AJAX + ANSON + BOREAS + HIRONDELLE + BANTERER + CRESCENT + MINOTAUR + PALLAS AND NYMPH + ST. GEORGE AND DEFENCE + HERO + DÆDALUS + PERSIAN + PENELOPE + ALCESTE + DRAKE + FURY + MAGPIE + THETIS + FIREFLY + AVENGER + +LIST OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY +BETWEEN 1793 & 1850 + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +Some time ago a friend suggested that a selection of the most +interesting naval shipwrecks might be made from the official documents +of the Admiralty, in illustration of the discipline and heroism +displayed by British seamen under the most trying circumstances of +danger: permission to search the records was accordingly asked, and +most kindly granted by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and +the present volume is the result. + +The Author is well aware that the task of preparing these materials +for publication might have fallen into better hands; and whilst he +gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the Lords Commissioners of +the Admiralty, for allowing him to have access to their Records, he +desires also to express his most cordial thanks for the assistance he +has received from those friends, who have kindly revised and improved +his pages as they passed through the press. Without such aid, his own +literary inexperience would have left the work more defective than it +is. He is especially indebted to some naval friends for correcting +his errors in the use of nautical terms and descriptions. + +A list of all the shipwrecks that have occurred in the Royal Navy +since the year 1793 has been appended to this volume, in the hope that +it may be useful as a table of reference. The ships are classed, +first, under the initial letter of their names; and secondly, they are +arranged in chronological order as regards the time of their wreck. + +W.O.S.G + + + + +PREFACE. + + +At the request of my son, the Author of this volume, I have undertaken +to write the Preface, and to say a few words on the very peculiar and +noble traits of character, which distinguish the British seaman on all +trying occasions, and especially in the terrible hour of shipwreck. + +Many circumstances have combined to make me take a warm interest in +all that concerns the navy. In early life, having passed several +months in a line-of-battle ship during the war with France, I was an +eye-witness of scenes and events, which called forth some of those +qualities that are illustrated in the following pages. For the +restoration of my health, in the year 1811, I was advised to try the +effects of sea air and a change of climate, and was glad to accept the +opportunity offered me, by the captain of an eighty-gun ship, to take +a cruise with him off the southern parts of the French coast. + +On one occasion, in a severe tempest in the Bay of Biscay, a flash of +lightning struck the ship and set her on fire. The calmness with which +orders were given and obeyed, and the rapidity with which the fire was +extinguished, without the least hurry or confusion, made a deep +impression on me. This was afterwards increased by the conduct of the +crew in a severe gale of wind, when it was necessary to navigate one +of the narrow channels, by which the squadron that blockaded Rochelle +and Rochfort was frequently endangered. The vessel had to pass between +two rocks, so near that a biscuit could have been thrown from the deck +on either. An old quarter-master was at the wheel; the captain stood +by to con and to direct his steering. At one fearful crisis, every +blast threatened to shiver a sail, or to carry away a spar, and a +single false movement of the helmsman, or the slightest want of +steadiness or of obedience on the part of any man on duty, would have +been fatal to the life of every one on board. + + As they drifted on their path + There was silence deep as death, + And the boldest held his breath + For a time. + +When the danger was over, the captain thanked the officers and men for +their conduct, and gave a snuff-box with five guineas in it to the +quarter-master, in admiration of his steady head and iron nerves. + +I mention these incidents in my early experience as a sort of apology +for a landsman's presumption, in venturing to write this Preface to a +series of nautical details. In after years, the death of a dear +brother, a lieutenant in the navy, who lost his life in a generous +attempt to save a vessel from shipwreck on the coast of Sussex, moved +me to a still deeper concern for those whose employment is 'in the +great waters.' + +My early observation of the hazards of a sailor's career, and my +brother's sudden call to his last account, in the awful perils of a +storm at sea, taught me to reflect with painful solemnity on the many +thousand instances, in which our naval protectors are summoned in a +moment, prepared or unprepared, to stand before the throne of the +Eternal. Often have I asked myself and others, Can nothing be done to +elevate the hopes, and to place the fortitude of these men on a firmer +foundation than that of mere animal courage, or the instinct of +discipline? The present is an opportunity of pleading for the sailor +which I should be sorry to lose, and of suggesting something, which +may establish his good conduct on a basis more durable, and more +certain, than even the well-known courage and discipline of a British +tar. + +I shall begin by noticing the extraordinary displays of +self-possession, self-devotion, and endurance, which shed lustre on +our naval service; and I will close my remarks with hints for the +improvement of these noble qualities. + +The intrepidity and mental resources of a brave man are more +discernible in the hour of patient suffering, than in that of daring +action: and the contents of this volume form a record of heroic doings +and endurances, which exhibits the British seaman as a true specimen +of the national character. Duty is his watchword, and the leading +principle by which he is governed. Nelson knew the spirits he had to +deal with, when he hoisted the memorable signal, 'England expects +every man to do his duty.' He was well aware that the men who could +patiently and calmly face the toil and danger of a blockading fleet, +day and night, on the stormy waves of the Bay of Biscay, or on the lee +shores of the Mediterranean, such as his fleet had had to encounter, +wanted no other stimulus, in the presence of the enemy, than that +which he so confidently applied. Napoleon found to his cost, on the +field of Waterloo, that the word _Glory_ had no longer any power to +launch his battalions successfully against troops, who had learnt in +the British school of duty and obedience to confront death, not only +in the impetuous battle-charge, but in the more trying season of long +endurance in the Lines of Torres Vedras. Men who can wait, and bear +and forbear, and remain steadily at their post under every provocation +to leave it, are invincible opponents. The cool determination which +resisted the onset, and withstood the furious rush of the French +Guards, was part and parcel of the same character which made heroes of +the comrades of Nelson. To obey implicitly, and to feel that no +quality is superior to that of obedience,--to wait for your +commander's word,--to keep order,--to preserve presence of mind,--to +consider yourself one of many, who are to follow the same rule, and to +act in unison with each other,--to regulate your movements according +to the demands of the common safety,--to consider your honour to be as +much at stake in submitting to a command to remain stationary and not +to stir, as to dash forward,--these are the peculiarities, which +constitute the substantial excellence of the national character; and +the shipwrecks of the Royal Navy illustrate this national character +even more than the battles of the Nile and of Trafalgar. The perils of +a shipwreck are so much beyond those of a battle, that the loss of +life, when the St. George, the Defence, and the Hero, were wrecked in +the North Seas, in 1811, was far greater than that on the part of the +English in any naval action of late years. In order to place the +qualities of obedience and endurance--so characteristic of the British +seaman--in the strongest light, and to show by contrast that the +possession of them is the greatest security in danger, whilst the want +of them ensures destruction, I commend the following statement to the +attention of all who shall read this volume. + +In the year 1816 two stately vessels were sailing on the ocean, in all +the pride of perfect equipment and of glorious enterprise. The one was +an English frigate, the Alceste, having on board our ambassador to +China; the other was a French frigate, the Medusa, taking out the +suite of a governor for one of the colonies of France on the coast of +Africa. The importance of the mission on which each ship was +despatched, and the value of the freight, would seem to assure us that +the Alceste and the Medusa were officered and manned by the best crews +that could be selected. Two nations, rivals in science and +civilization, who had lately been contending for the empire of the +world, and in the course of that contest had exhibited the most heroic +examples of promptitude and courage, were nautically represented, we +may suppose, by the elite who walked the decks of the Alceste and the +Medusa. If any calamity should happen to either, it could not be +attributed to a failure of that brilliant gallantry, which the English +and French had equally displayed on the most trying occasions. + +But a calamity of the most fearful nature did befal both, out of which +the Alceste's crew were delivered with life and honour untouched, when +that of the Medusa sank under a catastrophe, which has become a +proverb and a bye-word to mariners. Both ships were wrecked. For an +account of the good conduct, of the calm and resolute endurance, and +of the admirable discipline to which, under Providence, the +preservation of the crew of the Alceste is to be attributed, see pages +204-226 of this volume. A total relaxation of discipline, an absence +of all order, precaution, and presence of mind, and a contemptible +disregard of everything and of everybody but self, in the hour of +common danger, filled up the full measure of horrors poured out upon +the guilty crew of the Medusa. She struck on a sand-bank under +circumstances which admitted of the hope of saving all on board. The +shore was at no great distance, and the weather was not so boisterous +as to threaten the speedy destruction of the ship when the accident +first happened. + +There were six boats of different dimensions available to take off a +portion of the passengers and crew: there was time and there was +opportunity for the construction of a raft to receive the remainder. +But the scene of confusion began among officers and men at the crisis, +when an ordinary exercise of forethought and composure would have been +the preservation of all. Every man was left to shift for himself, and +every man did shift for himself, in that selfish or bewildered manner +which increased the general disaster. The captain was not among the +last, but among the first to scramble into a boat; and the boats +pushed off from the sides of the frigate, before they had taken in as +many as each was capable of holding. Reproaches, recrimination, and +scuffling took the place of order and of the word of command, both in +the ship and in the boats, when tranquillity and order were +indispensable for the common safety. + +When the raft had received the miserable remnant, one hundred and +fifty in number, for whom the boats had no room, or would make no +room, it was found, when it was too late to correct the evil, that +this last refuge of a despairing and disorderly multitude had been put +together with so little care and skill, and was so ill provided with +necessaries, that the planking was insecure; there was not space +enough for protection from the waves, and charts, instruments, spars, +sails, and stores were all deficient. A few casks of wine and some +biscuits, enough for a single meal only, were all the provision made +for their sustenance. The rush and scramble from the wreck had been +accomplished with so little attention to discipline, that the raft had +not a single naval officer to take charge of her. At first, the boats +took the raft in tow, but in a short time, though the sea was calm and +the coast was known to be within fifteen leagues, the boats cast off +the tow-lines: and in not one of the six was there a sufficient sense +of duty, or of humanity left, to induce the crew to remain by the +floating planks--the forlorn hope of one hundred and fifty of their +comrades and fellow-countrymen! Nay, it is related by the narrators of +the wreck of the Medusa, that the atrocious cry resounded from one +boat to another, '_Nous les abandonnons_!'--'we leave them to their +fate,'--until one by one all the tow-lines were cast off. During the +long interval of seventeen days, the raft struggled with the waves. A +small pocket compass was the only guide of the unhappy men, who lost +even this in one of the reckless quarrels, which ensued every hour +for a better place on the raft or a morsel of biscuit. On the first +night twelve men were jammed between the timbers, and died under the +agonies of crushed and mangled limbs. On the second night more were +drowned, and some were smothered by the pressure towards the centre of +the raft. Common suffering, instead of softening, hardened the hearts +of the survivors against each other. Some of them drank wine till they +were in a frenzy of intoxication, and attempted to cut the ropes which +kept the raft together. A general fight ensued, many were killed, and +many were cast into the sea during the struggle; and thus perished +from sixty to sixty-five. On the third day portions of the bodies of +the dead were devoured by some of the survivors. On the fourth night +another quarrel and another fight, with more bloodshed, broke out. On +the fifth morning, thirty only out of the one hundred and fifty were +alive. Two of these were flung to the waves for stealing wine: a boy +died, and twenty-seven remained, not to comfort and to assist each +other, but to hold a council of destruction, and to determine who +should be victims for the preservation of the rest. At this hideous +council twelve were pronounced too weak to outlive much more +suffering, and that they might not needlessly consume any part of the +remaining stock of provisions, such as it was, (flying fish mixed with +human flesh.) these twelve helpless wretches were deliberately thrown +into the sea. The _fifteen_, who thus provided for their own safety by +the sacrifice of their weaker comrades, were rescued on the +seventeenth day after the wreck by a brig, sent out in quest of the +wreck of the Medusa by the six boats, which reached the shore in +safety, and which might have been the means of saving all on the raft, +had not the crews been totally lost to every sentiment of generosity +and humanity, when they cast off the tow-lines. + +In fact, from the very first of the calamity which befel the Medusa, +discipline, presence of mind, and every generous feeling, were at an +end: and the abandonment of the ship and of the raft, the terrible +loss of Life, the cannibalism, the cruelty, the sufferings, and all +the disgraceful and inhuman proceedings, which have branded the modern +Medusa with a name of infamy worse than that of the Gorgon,--the +monster after which she was called,--originated in the want of that +order and prompt obedience, which the pages of this volume are +intended to record, to the honour of British seamen. + +In the history of no less than forty shipwrecks narrated in this +memorial of naval heroism,--of passive heroism, the most difficult to +be exercised of all sorts of heroism,--there are very few instances of +misconduct, and none resembling that on board the Medusa. + +This contrast is marked and stated, not in an invidious spirit towards +the French, but because there is no example on record, which furnishes +such a comparison between the safety which depends on cool and orderly +behaviour in the season of peril, and the terrible catastrophe which +is hastened and aggravated by want of firmness, and confusion. + +'It is impossible,' said a writer in the _Quarterly Review_, of +October, 1817, 'not to be struck with the extraordinary difference of +conduct in the officers and crew of the Medusa and the Alceste, +wrecked nearly about the same time. In the one case, all the people +were kept together in a perfect state of discipline and subordination, +and brought safely home from the opposite side of the globe; in the +other, every one seems to have been left to shift for himself, and the +greater part perished in the horrible way we have seen.'[1] + +I have brought the comparison between the two wrecks again under +notice to show, that as certainly as discipline and good order tend to +insure safety on perilous occasions, so, inevitably, do confusion and +want of discipline lead to destruction. In the one case, intrepidity +and obedience prompted expedients and resources: in the other case, +consternation was followed by despair, and despair aggravated the +catastrophe with tenfold horrors. + +It is not to be concealed, that occasional instances of +insubordination and pusillanimity have occurred in the British navy. +Some such appear in this narrative, and they invariably have produced +their own punishment, by leading always to disaster, and often to +death; and they serve as beacons to point out the fatal consequences +of misconduct, under circumstances either of drunkenness, +disobedience, panic, selfishness, or confusion. + +The selfish cowardice, noticed in page 94, on the part of the men in +charge of the jolly-boat of the Athenienne, and of some of the crew of +the launch of the Boreas, (see p. 136,) and the tumult, intoxication, +and desertion of the majority of the crew of the Penelope, which were +followed by the prolonged sufferings and painful deaths of the +culprits, (see pp. 200-204,) are but a few dark spots in the +shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, to set off by contrast the many bright +pages, which describe innumerable traits of character that do honour +to human nature. + +As a direction to some of these noble traits, every one of which will +make the reader warm to the name of a British sailor: and, if he be +one himself, will bring the blood from his heart to his face in a glow +of emulation and honest pride,--I ask him to turn for examples of +perfect discipline to pages 13, 23, 63, 70, 71, 75, 110, 173, 188, +194, 216, 223, 229, 231, 268, 269, 278, 279, 280. Here he will behold +the portraits of men on the brink of destruction, steady, 'as if they +were moving from one ship to another in any of the Queen's ports,' and +unmoved by images of death under the most appalling forms; and he will +say, 'Lo! these are triumphs of order and subordination, and examples +of such resolute defiance of the terrors of the last enemy, when +covered with the shadow of death, that no exploits in battle can +exhibit fortitude that will compare with them.' + +For instances of generous thought for others, of self-devotion and of +disregard of personal safety, I refer the reader to pages 58, 59, 67, +68, 69, 96, 128, 129, 169, 186, 190, 194, 231, 234, 269, 270. + +In the long list of heroes, which these references to examples of +indomitable courage and unhesitating self-devotion will unfold, it is +almost wrong to mark out one more than another for observation, and +yet the following stand so prominently forward in the front rank of +heroism, that it is impossible to refrain from noticing them. Captain +Lydiard sacrificed his life in his desperate endeavour to rescue a boy +from the wreck of the Anson, (pp. 128, 129.) Captain Temple, of the +Crescent, and more than two hundred of his crew, displayed a noble +disregard of themselves, when they permitted the jolly-boat, their own +last hope of escape, to take off as many as it would hold, and leave +them to perish. There was no rushing, no struggling, to get away from +the sinking ship, but with orderly care they helped the boat to push +off, bade her God speed, and calmly waited their fate, (p. 153.) The +resolution of Captain Bertram, of the Persian, to brave the danger of +taking some men off a raft into his over-crowded gig, was generously +followed by the crews of the other boats, who threw their clothing and +provisions overboard to make room for the additional weight, (p. 191.) + +I may refer also to the magnanimous contest between Captain Baker, of +the Drake, and his officers and men, each insisting on being the last +to make his way from the ship to a rock (p. 231), and which ended in +Captain Baker refusing to stir until he had seen every man clear of +the wreck. A second struggle for precedency in glorious self-devotion +took place, when the same commander declared, that all his crew should +pass from the rock to the mainland, by help of a line, before he +himself would consult his own safety, (p. 234.) The rope broke, and +the last means of communication between the rock and the shore was +severed, while the captain of the Drake and three of his companions +were waiting their turn to escape. They met their fate with intrepid +composure, (p. 235.) Lieutenant Smith, of the Magpie, offered another +memorable example, when his schooner was upset in a squall, and he +took to his boat with seven men. The boat capsized, and while the +struggling crew were endeavouring to right her, they were attacked by +sharks. The lieutenant himself had both his legs bitten off; but when +his body was convulsed with agony, his mind retained and exercised all +its energies, and his last words were expressive of dying +consideration for others. 'Tell the admiral, if you survive,' said he, +to a lad named Wilson, 'that my men have done their duty, and that no +blame is attached to them. I have but one favour to ask, and that is, +that he will promote Meldrum to be a gunner,' (p. 270.) And richly did +Meldrum deserve the distinction. When all in the boat had perished but +himself and another, a brig hove in sight, but did not seem to notice +the speck on the ocean. Meldrum sprang overboard, and swam towards the +ship, and was thus the means of saving his companion's life as well as +his own. + +In a volume like this, 'the dangers of the seas' come before the +reader in such rapid succession, that he has scarcely time to think of +the many other awful perils and sufferings, besides those of wind and +storm, which put the mariner's fortitude to the test. The narratives +in pages 2, 3, 9, 36, 69, 70, 113, 115, present to view the horrors of +a ship on fire. + +In pages 12, 169, 171, 196, 226, 242, we learn something of the +terrible consequences of being exposed to fogs and mist, ice and snow. +In page 27, we have a vivid picture of a combination of these terrors; +and in pages 217, 268, the most appalling of all the dangers a sailor +has to encounter is brought in view. + +We will hope that the rigours and perils of the blockade system, which +occasioned so fearful a loss of life at different periods of the late +war, but especially in the disastrous year 1811, are at end for ever. +From page 154 to 159, and from 168 to 186, the accounts of the loss of +life in the Baltic and North Seas alone occur in fearful succession; +and the magnanimity with which hundreds, nay, thousands of our bravest +officers and men met death on that most perilous of all services, has +rendered the names of British blockading ships memorable in the annals +of hardship, hardihood, and suffering. Many invaluable lives perished +from the inclemency of the weather; men were frozen to death at their +posts. It is recorded of one devoted officer, Lieutenant Topping, that +rushing on deck in anxiety for his ship, without giving himself time +to put on his clothes, 'in fifteen minutes he fell upon the deck a +corpse, stricken by the piercing blast and driving snow,' (p. 169.) + +In page 174, we read of the bodies of the dead, victims to the cold +and tempest, piled up by the survivors in rows one above another, on +the deck of the St. George, to serve as a shelter against the violence +of the waves and weather. 'In the fourth row lay the bodies of the +Admiral and his friend Captain Guion;' and out of a crew of 750, seven +only were saved. + +The Defence, the consort of the St. George, was cast away in the same +storm: out of her complement of 600, six was the small remnant of +survivors. This ship might probably have escaped, but her gallant +captain (Atkins) said, 'I will never desert my admiral in the hour of +danger and distress,' (p. 175.) + +An instance of obedience and discipline, worthy of particular mention, +occurred before the St. George went down. A few men asked leave to +attempt to reach the shore in the yawl. Permission was at first +granted, but afterwards withdrawn, and the men returned to their posts +without a murmur. 'As if Providence had rewarded their implicit +obedience and reliance upon their officers,' says the narrative (p. +173), 'two of these men were of the few (seven) that were saved.' + +The question now arises, to what are we to attribute the extraordinary +display of cool determination manifested by British seamen, in such +trials of nerve as are described in the following pages? The series of +shipwrecks extends from 1793 to 1847, a period of fifty-four years; +and tragic scenes are described, many of them far exceeding the +imaginary terrors of fiction, and all of them equal in horror to +anything that the Drama, Romance, or Poetry has attempted to +delineate. + +We rise from the perusal with scarcely any other impression upon our +minds than that of wonder and admiration, at the extraordinary +self-command exercised when death was staring every man in the face. +Doubtless there are some instances of misbehaviour, and of lack of +firmness: it could not be otherwise. 'When the stormy wind ariseth, +and they are carried up to the heaven and down again to the deep, +their soul melteth because of their trouble. They reel to and fro, and +stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.' But such +examples are so few in the British navy, that we have little on this +score wherewith to reproach our seamen. + +To what, then, are we to attribute the manly bearing of British +seamen, when the planks of their ship tremble under their feet, and +the waves are yawning to swallow them up! + +First.--To the early training which almost all our youth receive, in +one way or other. It begins at school. The first principles of +generosity, as of obedience and order, are taught in our schools: +whether in the national and parochial schools, or at Westminster, +Eton, and Harrow, and other schools of a higher order, where in his +very games the boy learns to exercise presence of mind, daring, and +self-command. In our streets and play-grounds, where the humblest or +the proudest are at their sports, the germ of the manly spirit is +discernible in emulous contention as to who shall bear and forbear, +remain at his post, give and take, with most patience and good-humour. + +Foreigners have allowed that there is nothing like an English school +to discipline a lad for the high places, or rough places, of +after-life; and that our mixed schools of every grade are the +seminaries, where one learns to lead, and another to follow, in the +path of honour and duty. + +Secondly.--To the habit which prevails so universally in this country, +of giving place to those to whom deference is due, and of looking up +to those, who are above us in station, with ungrudging respect and +confidence. This goes with the man into all the walks of life. Some +attribute it to the aristocratic feeling, which is said to be stronger +in England than elsewhere: but it maybe more justly traced to that +good sense, which is at work in all orders of our people, and which +understands when to obey and to hearken. In the seaman it displays +itself in a predisposition to regard his officer as one worthy of his +confidence, and whom it is his safety as well as duty to obey in the +hour of danger. And this confidence is justified by the almost +unfailing manner, in which the officer shows himself deserving of the +trust reposed in him, and takes the lead in the very front of danger, +and exhibits in moments of doubt and difficulty all the resources of a +cool and collected mind, at the very juncture when life and death +depend upon his composure. + +The leadership to which a British tar is accustomed, and which ever +responds to his own confiding spirit, is one of the primary causes of +his endurance and daring. His officer is the first to advance, the +foremost to encounter, the last to hesitate, and the most willing to +take more than his share of danger and of suffering; and this inspires +the men with an emulation to do likewise. + +Conduct such as that displayed by the captains and officers of the +Queen Charlotte (pp. 37 and 41), of the Hindostan (p. 71), of the +Athenienne (p. 96), of the Anson (p. 128), of the Dædalus (p. 189), +could not fail of producing a sort of instinctive effect upon a ship's +crew. Under the command of officers who never flinch from their duty, +who share their last biscuit with the lowest cabin-boy, and who will +not move from the vessel when it is sinking under them, until every +other man has taken his seat in the boat, or planted his foot on the +raft that is to carry him from the wreck, where can be the quailing +heart or the unready hand? + +Thirdly.--The blockading service has had much to do in training our +seamen for passive heroism and enduring fortitude. During the long war +with France, it was a service wherein all those qualities were called +into action, which are of most value in sudden emergencies. Vigilance, +promptitude, patience, and endurance, were tried to the utmost in the +course of those wintry months, and tempestuous seasons, when single +ships, squadrons, and fleets were cruising off the enemy's coast, and +every man on board was perpetually exposed to something that put his +temper or his nerves to the test. Then was the time to learn when to +keep a sharp look-out, to be on the alert in handling the gear of a +vessel, to respond to the word of command at the instant, to do things +at the right point of time, to hold life at a moment's purchase, and +to stare death in the face without flinching. It was a hard and +rigorous school; but if proficiency in readiness and fortitude was to +be attained anywhere, it was in the blockading service, and there the +heart of oak was tried, and the seaman was trained for the exercise of +that discipline, of which this Record of Naval Shipwrecks presents so +complete a picture. + +But we will hope that the principal cause, to which we may ascribe the +good conduct of our sailors in the trying hour, when there seems to be +a span only between life and death, is the religious feeling which +they bring with them to their ship from their homes, whether from the +cabin on the sea-shore, or the cottage on the hill-side. The scene +described in page 115, and the anecdote of the poor boy, in whose hand +was found an open Bible when his corpse was cast on shore, show the +power of religious feeling in the soul of the sailor. It may be a very +imperfect feeling, but the sailor has it; and even in its +imperfection it has a strong hold on his mind. From the first outbreak +of the Revolution; the French sailor entered the service of his +country as a volunteer or a conscript, embued with infidel notions: or +to say the least, with the religious indifference which had become so +common in France. Not so the English sailor. He was not one of the +fools to say in his heart. 'There is no God!' It is not easy to define +the nature of that awe which fills the mind of a religions mariner; +but most certainly those 'who see the works of the Lord and his +wonders in the deep,' face danger more steadily, under the solemn +belief that there is a ruling power to control the waters, and to say +to the winds, 'Peace! be still.' They are predisposed to 'cry unto the +Lord in their trouble,' and to implore Him to 'make the storm a calm, +so that the waves thereof may be still:' and this fear of God, which +is before their eyes, has its influence in making them willing to +adopt every expedient proposed to them by their officers for their +common safety. Under this higher impulse, the spirit of obedience +works in them more confidingly; and humbled before the Supreme Power, +they are prepared to yield submission to every intellect superior to +their own. Now if there be a feeling of this kind already at work for +good in the minds of our seamen, it is of the utmost importance to +strengthen it,[2] to give it a sure direction, and to make it run in +a deeper and a broader channel, by all the appliances of instruction +and education. + +To the credit of the official Boards, under whose administrative +authority provision is made for the religious and educational +improvement of men and boys in the Navy, very much has been done +lately to secure this great object. Within my own memory few seamen +could read, still fewer could write, but now the majority of them can +do both, and they respond largely to the instruction they receive, by +their intelligence and good conduct. There is no more imposing sight +than that of the crew of a man-of-war, when assembled for divine +service; and if the chaplain be a clergyman, who applies himself +zealously to his duties, he has a congregation before him, who show by +their attentive looks, that they are under the power of religious +impressions. Almost all ships commanded by post-captains have +chaplains and naval instructors, and where there is no chaplain, the +commanding officer is expected to read prayers on Sundays. In port +the crews of the Queen's ships have the opportunity of observing the +sacred day, either on board the flag-ship, the ordinary, or in the +dockyard chapel. I believe every ship in the navy is provided with a +library; and first, second, third, fourth, and fifth-rates have +schoolmasters. To men and boys desirous of entering the service, the +preference is given to those who can read and write; and an admirable +regulation has lately been adopted, which will contribute further to +advance our navy in the intellectual scale. Boys are entered as naval +apprentices, to the number of one hundred each, at Devonport, +Portsmouth, Sheerness, and Cork. They remain for one year on board the +flag-ship, under a systematic course of education, and are then +drafted into sea-going ships. The happy effects produced by mental +cultivation were felt in an especial degree, when the Discovery ships, +under Captain, now Sir Edward Parry, were blocked up with ice, and had +to pass so many dismal days and nights in the Polar Sea. A school was +established both in the Hecla and Fury, under able superintendence; +and men, whose time would have hung heavily during their icy +imprisonment, were kept in good humour and cheerfulness by the +intellectual occupations in which they were engaged. Captain Parry's +remarks in attestation of the moral effect produced by this means, and +on the uninterrupted good order which prevailed among his men, are +cited in page 243 of this work. + +It would add greatly to the intellectual and spiritual improvement of +our seamen, if a Chaplain-general were appointed to take the oversight +of the religious instruction, and an _Examiner_ to direct the secular +instruction, of the Navy. The former should exercise authority +similar to that of an archdeacon, and the functions of the latter +should resemble those of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. The +impulse given to parochial education by the latter is beyond all +calculation; and the difference of ecclesiastical discipline in a +diocese, where there are active archdeacons and where there are not, +is a matter of well ascertained fact. + +The duties of a chaplain-general[3] should be to visit the naval +posts, and to go on board the Queen's ships, (especially before they +are despatched on foreign service,) for the purpose of reporting and +advising. He should look out for and recommend competent +chaplains,--consult with admirals and captains on the best mode of +securing the regular performance of the sacred offices,--make inquiry +into the state of the ship-libraries, keep them well supplied with +religious books and tracts, and direct observation generally to the +spiritual wants of ships and ports. He would thus be of infinite use +in making religion an object of more and more thoughtfulness to those, +who take an interest in the comfort and good conduct of the Navy: two +things which always go together. + +If an Inspector of all the naval schools and schoolmasters were +appointed (Professor Mosely has now the inspection of the Dockyard +Schools,) he should consider it to be part of his office to look to +the libraries, and to recommend elementary books. His periodical +examinations would be likely to stir up the same spirit of emulation +on board ship, which has been the result in our towns and villages, +where the schools are visited by persons appointed by the Committee of +Privy Council on Education. I am satisfied with throwing out these +suggestions without dwelling further upon them, under the persuasion +that every practical hint of the kind will be well considered, and +acted upon (if it commend itself to their judgment,) by those who +preside over naval affairs, and who have at heart the mental +improvement of our seamen. + +I have another suggestion to make, which is meant not for those only, +who are officially interested in the condition of the navy, but for +all who love and value it. The merchant service, the fisheries, and +the coasting trade are the nurseries of the navy. Every shipmate and +every boatman on the sea and on the river ought, therefore, to come in +for a share of our sympathy, because he belongs to a class to which +the Queen's ships must look for a supply of men. But none are exposed +to more trials than they, and especially in the larger ports. Many of +them come home from a voyage of danger and deprivation, full of +excitement, and become victims of plunder and temptation; and the man +who last week was impressed, by the perils of the tempest, with the +terrors of the Lord, and was inclined to fear God and to serve him, is +waylaid by unfeeling wretches, who first entice him into scenes of +profligacy and blasphemy, and then cast him off, robbed of his money, +seared in his conscience, and in a miserable condition of soul and +body. Many benevolent efforts have been made to protect and fortify +some of those who are thus beset, and to reclaim such as are not +utterly lost; and associations have been formed for the purpose of +affording temporary relief and instruction to seamen, who might +otherwise become outcasts, and perish in want and ignorance. I allude +to such institutions as the 'Sailor's Home,' or 'Destitute Sailor's +Asylum,' in London, for the reception of seamen who have squandered or +have been despoiled of their earnings after their return from a +foreign voyage, or who are disabled for employment by illness, age, or +accident. There is also. 'The Floating Chapel,' opened to invite and +enable mariners to avail themselves of the opportunity of attending +Divine service, (under the Thames Church Missionary Society,) which +moves from one thickly populated sailors' locality to another. The +establishment of a district church and minister in a large sea-port +parish, like that of St. Mary's, Devonport, to relieve the necessities +of a district crowded with mariners, and rife with all the snares and +temptations which entrap a sailor, and endanger his bodily and +spiritual safety, is another undertaking worthy of notice. + +Institutions like these must depend principally on public and +voluntary support. There is much need for them in all our principal +sea-ports; for who require them more than the men who are perpetually +exposed to the double shipwreck of body and soul? The members of these +and similar institutions are instrumental in preserving some from +ruin--in restoring others to character and employment, to usefulness, +to self-estimation, and to religious feeling; and in making both our +merchant and naval service an example to the world of subordination +and patient endurance. + +The promoters of these institutions are not satisfied with providing a +remedy for the evil which exists, but they do much to prevent the ills +of irreligion and immorality, by supplying seamen with instructive and +devotional books, and by employing agents to go among them and to tell +them where the offices of religion are performed. The countenance +which admirals and captains, prelates and lords of the Admiralty, have +given to them, are the best warrant for their necessity and +usefulness. A short notice of 'The Swan' and its Tender, will not be +thought out of place in this volume. + +'The Swan' is a large cutter of about 140 tons. On her bows she bears +an inscription which describes her as 'The Thames Church.' She conveys +a clergyman and a floating sanctuary from one pool in the river to +another, to carry the Word of God to those who do not seek for it +themselves. Hers is a missionary voyage. She is freighted with Bibles +and Testaments and Prayer-books, and religious tracts. She runs +alongside colliers, outward-bound vessels, and emigrant ships +especially, that the services, the consolation, and the instruction of +the Church may be offered as a parting gift to those, who are taking a +last leave of their native shores, and are saying farewell to weeping +friends and kindred. + +There is also a Tender, called 'The Little Thames Church,' which sails +lower down the river, as occasion may require, fraught on the same +holy errand. One extract from the last Report of the 'Thames Church +Mission Society,' which is patronized by the Archbishop of Canterbury +and the Bishops of London and Winchester, will suffice to explain the +nature of her mission. + +'Sunday, February 24, Long Reach. Morning service. The congregation +was 128 seamen. Afternoon, Bible class, 62. Evening service, +132,--total 322. One of the captains observed that there was a great +change for the better, which he was rejoiced to see: 'For,' said he, +'about four years ago I attended a service, and found that I was the +only sailor that had come from the fleet; but this morning so crowded +was the church, that I had some difficulty in getting a seat.'' + +It is by means such as these, which as a Christian nation we are bound +to provide, that we might hope, not only to keep alive, but to improve +the noble spirit which distinguishes the British Navy. + +The discipline which now prevails would be established on the highest +principle of obedience and action. The endurance, which now bears +suffering with fortitude, would learn to submit to severer trials +under the sanction of a higher teaching, and patience would have her +perfect work. The courage and steadiness of a brave crew would receive +an accession of energy from the hope that is set before them. The +allegiance, which they owe to their Sovereign, would be strengthened +by a sense of the more sacred duty which they owe to Him, by whom +kings reign and rulers govern: and committing themselves habitually to +the protection of Providence, they would face deprivation, fatigue, +and danger with unshaken composure.--with a hand for any toil, and a +heart for any fate. + +WILLIAM STEPHEN GILLY. + +_Durham, Oct. 28, 1850._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] See also an elaborate article on the same subject in the +_Edinburgh Review_, September, 1818. No. 60. + +[2] In September, 1849, five colliers were wrecked off the Gunfleet +Sands. The crews were saved, and the following extract from the +_Ipswich Express_, copied into the _Times_ of the 12th of December, +contains a proof of the strong hold which religious awe has on the +minds of seamen:--'Yesterday (Monday) afternoon, the united crews, +amounting to about thirty men, had a free passage to Ipswich by the +River Queen. The scene on board was of the most extraordinary and +affecting description. The rough, weather-beaten seamen, who had gone +through the perils of that night with undaunted courage, were, in the +review of it, completely overwhelmed with gratitude to God for His +mercy in granting them deliverance. For the most part they were in the +fore cabin of the steamer, and at one time all would be on their knees +in devout prayer and thanksgiving to God, then a suitable hymn would +be read, and the voices of those who had been saved from the yawning +ocean would presently sound it forth in solemn thanks to God. From +port to port they were entirely occupied in these devotional +exercises, and the effect of them, and indeed the whole scene, upon +several hardy sons of ocean who were on board, will never be +forgotten.' + +[3] His duties would be similar to those described in the following +letter from a clergyman in one of the colonies, though more general in +their extent:--'My own duties are pretty much those you would suppose. +I visit the emigrant ships _immediately_ on their coming into port, +and am often on board before they drop anchor. I then inquire for the +members of the Church of England, and for such others as may require +the services of a Church of England clergyman; and having assembled +them together, inquire as to the occurrences on the voyage, whether +they have had schools, and a regular Sunday or daily service, whether +there are children to be baptized, and a thousand other matters of a +like nature, which it would be but tiring you to detail. We then +appoint an hour for holding a thanksgiving service for their +preservation from the perils of the sea, and their safe arrival in the +colony. This service consists in the proper service for the day, with +a short sermon suited to the occasion.' + + + + +THE BOYNE + + Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean--roll! + Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain; + Man marks the earth, with ruin--his control + Stops with the shore;--upon the watery plain + The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth remain + A shadow of man's ravage, save his own, + When, for a moment, like a drop of rain, + He sinks into thy depths with bubbling groan, + Without a grave, unknell'd, uncoffin'd, and unknown. + + BYRON'S _Childe Harold_. + + +In the Preface to this work it has been stated that it is not our +intention to give a detailed account of every wreck that has happened +in the Royal Navy from the year 1793, to the present time, but only of +a few of those which appear to be most interesting. We therefore pass +over the first two years, giving only a catalogue of the wrecks that +occurred during that time; because the calamities that befel the +British Navy in 1793 and 1794 were but slight in comparison with those +of a later date. The first loss that we have to record is that of the +BOYNE, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Peyton, and +commanded by Captain George Grey. This ship took fire as she lay at +anchor at Spithead, on the 1st of May, 1795. + +The origin of the fire has never been correctly ascertained; but it is +supposed that some of the lighted paper from the cartridges of the +marines, as they were exercising and firing on the windward side of +the poop, flew through the quarter gallery into the admiral's cabin, +and set fire to the papers or other inflammable materials that were +lying there. Be this as it may, the flames burst through the poop +before the fire was discovered, and, notwithstanding the united +efforts of both officers and men, they soon wrapt the vessel in a +blaze fore and aft. + +Upon the discovery of the fire, all the boats from the different ships +put out to the Boyne's assistance, and the crew, with the exception of +eleven, were saved. + +The Boyne's guns, being loaded, went off as they became heated, and +much injury would have been done to the shipping and those on board, +had not the Port-Admiral, Sir William Parker, made signals for the +vessels most in danger to get under weigh. As it was, two men were +killed, and one wounded on board the Queen Charlotte. + +About half-past one in the afternoon, the burning ship parted from her +cables, and blew up with a dreadful explosion. At the time of the +accident, Admiral Peyton and Captain Grey were attending a court +martial in Portsmouth Harbour. + + + + +THE AMPHION + + +The next catastrophe which we have to describe, was of a far more +appalling nature, and one which long threw a gloom over the +inhabitants of Plymouth and the neighbourhood. + +The AMPHION frigate had been obliged to put into Plymouth for repairs, +and, on the 22nd Sept., 1796, was lying alongside of a sheer-hulk +taking in her bowsprit, within a few yards of the dockyard jetty. The +ship, being on the eve of sailing, was crowded with more than an +hundred men, women, and children, above her usual complement. It was +about four o'clock in the afternoon that a violent shock, like an +earthquake, was felt at Stonehouse and Plymouth. The sky towards the +dock appeared red, as if from fire, and in a moment the streets were +crowded with the inhabitants, each asking his neighbour what had +occurred. When the confusion had somewhat abated, it was announced +that the Amphion had blown up, and then every one hastened to the +dock, where a most heartrending scene presented itself. Strewed in +all directions were pieces of broken timber, spars, and rigging, +whilst the deck of the hulk, to which the frigate had been lashed was +red with blood, and covered with mangled limbs and lifeless trunks, +all blackened with powder. The frigate had been originally manned from +Plymouth; and as the mutilated forms were collected together and +carried to the hospital, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters +flocked to the gates, in their anxiety to discover if their relatives +were numbered amongst the dying or the dead. + +From the suddenness of the catastrophe, no accurate account can of +course be given; but the following particulars were collected from the +survivors. + +The captain, Israel Pellew, was at dinner in his cabin, with Captain +Swaffield of the Overyssel, a Dutch 64, and the first lieutenant of +the Amphion, when in an instant they were all violently thrown against +the carlings of the upper deck. Captain Pellew had sufficient presence +of mind to rush to the cabin window before a second explosion +followed, by which he was blown into the water; he was soon, however, +picked up by a boat, and was found to have sustained but little +injury. + +The first lieutenant, who followed his example, escaped in a similar +manner. Unfortunately, Captain Swaffield perished, in all probability +having been stunned either by the first blow he received against the +carlings, or by coming in contact with some part of the hulk. His body +was found a month afterwards, with the skull fractured, apparently +crushed between the sides of the two vessels. + +At the moment of the explosion, the sentinel at the cabin door was +looking at his watch, when it was dashed from his hands and he was +stunned: he knew nothing more until he found himself safe on shore, +and comparatively unhurt. The escape of the boatswain was also very +remarkable; he was standing on the cathead, directing the men in +rigging out the jib-boom, when he felt himself suddenly carried off +his feet into the air: he then fell into the sea senseless; and on +recovering his consciousness, he found that he had got entangled +amongst the rigging, and that his arm was broken. He contrived to +extricate himself, though with some difficulty, and he was soon picked +up by a boat, without further injury. + +The preservation of a child was no less singular: in the terror of the +moment, the mother had grasped it in her arms, but, horrible to +relate, the lower part of her body was blown to pieces, whilst the +upper part remained unhurt, and it was discovered with the arms still +clasping the living child to the lifeless bosom. + + Till then we had not wept-- + But well our gushing hearts might say, + That there a _Mother_ slept! + For her pale arms a babe had prest + With such a wreathing grasp, + The fire had pass'd o'er that fond breast, + _Yet not undone the clasp_. + Deep in her bosom lay his head, + With half-shut violet eye-- + _He_ had known little of her dread, + Nought of her agony. + Oh! human love, whose yearning heart, + Through all things vainly true, + So stamps upon thy mortal part + Its passionate adieu: + Surely thou hast another lot, + There is some home for thee, + Where thou shalt rest, rememb'ring not + The moaning of the sea.--MRS. HEMANS. + +The exact complement of the Amphion was 215, but from the crowded +state of her decks at the time of the accident, it is supposed that +300, out of 310 or 312 persons, perished with the ship. + +The captain, two lieutenants, a boatswain, three or four seamen, a +marine, one woman, and the child were all that were saved. + +The cause of this unfortunate event was never clearly known; but it +was conjectured that the gunner might have let fall some powder near +the fore-magazine, which accidentally igniting, had communicated with +the magazine itself. The gunner had been suspected of stealing the +powder, and on that day he is said to have been intoxicated, and was +probably less careful than usual. He was amongst the numbers who +perished. + + + + +THE TRIBUNE + + +The loss of the TRIBUNE frigate, in November of the following year, is +too interesting to be omitted. + +At about eight o'clock on the morning of the 16th of November, 1797, +the harbour of Halifax was discovered, and as a strong wind blew from +the east-south-east, Captain Scory Barker proposed to the master to +lie to, until a pilot came on board. The master replied that there was +no necessity for such a measure, as the wind was favourable, and he +was perfectly well acquainted with the passage. The captain confiding +in this assurance, went below, and the master took charge of the ship. + +Towards noon they approached so near the Thrum Cape shoals, that the +master became alarmed and sent for Mr. Galvin, one of the master's +mates. The message was scarcely delivered, before the man in the +main-chains sung out, 'By the mark five.' In a few minutes after the +ship struck. + +Signals of distress were immediately made, and as speedily answered by +the military posts, and the ships in the harbour. + +Some boats put out from the harbour to the assistance of the Tribune, +and Mr. Rackum, boatswain of the Ordinary, succeeded in reaching her +in a boat from the dockyard, but all the other boats were forced to +put back,--the wind was blowing so hard directly against them. + +The ship continued to beat until eight o'clock, P.M., when all the +guns having been thrown overboard (except one, retained for signals), +and all means taken to lighten her, she began to heave, and in about +an hour after she swung off the shoal,--not, however, without having +lost her rudder. + +She was then found to have seven feet of water in the hold; the chain +pumps were instantly manned, and every exertion made to save the +vessel. At first these efforts seemed to be successful, but by ten +o'clock the gale had increased to a frightful violence, and the water +was gaining on them so fast that little hope remained. The ship was +driving rapidly towards the rocky coast, against which she must have +been dashed to pieces had she kept afloat a few minutes longer, but +she gave a lurch and went down, rose again for an instant, and with +another lurch sank, and all was over,--and there were nearly two +hundred and fifty human beings struggling with the waves. + +Of all the crew twelve only were saved. + +Mr. Galvin, the master's mate, was below, directing the working of the +pumps, when the ship went down; he was washed up the hatchway, and +thence into the sea; he then struck out for the shrouds, but was +seized by three of his drowning comrades. To extricate himself from +their grasp, he dived for a few seconds, which caused them to let go +their hold. He reached the shrouds, which were crowded with people, +and then climbed to the main-top. Ten men had taken refuge in the +foretop, and about a hundred persons altogether are supposed by Mr. +Galvin to have been clinging to the shrouds, tops, and other parts of +the rigging; but the long November night, the intense cold, and the +fierce gale, finished the work that the waves had left undone; and one +by one the poor creatures let go their hold, frozen or exhausted, and +dropped into the foaming sea. + +About forty persons were clinging to the mainmast when it fell over, +and all were lost, except Mr. Galvin and nine others, who had strength +enough left to enable them to gain the top, which rested on the +mainyard, being fortunately sustained by a part of the rigging. But of +the ten who regained the main-top, four only, including Mr. Galvin, +survived the night. Of the ten in the foretop, six perished, three +from exhaustion, and three were washed way. + +Here we cannot refrain from relating an instance of the coolness which +is so often characteristic of the British sailor. Amongst those who +survived in the foretop were two seamen, Robert Dunlap, and Daniel +Munroe; the latter disappeared in the night, and his companion +concluded that he had been washed away with the others. About two +hours, however, after he had been missed, Munroe, to the surprise of +Dunlap, thrust his head through the lubber's hole. Dunlap asked where +he had been. + +'Been.' said Munroe; 'I've been cruizing, d'ye see, in search of a +better berth.' + +After swimming about the wreck for a considerable time, he had +returned to the fore-shrouds, and crawling in at the cat-harpings, had +been sleeping there more than an hour. + +When the morning dawned, there were only eight men still alive on the +rigging, and no effort was made to rescue them until about eleven +o'clock, A.M., when a boy of thirteen years of age put out alone, in a +small skiff from Herring Cove, to their assistance, thus setting a +noble example of humanity and heroism to older and more experienced +men, who should have been leaders, and not followers, on such an +occasion. With great courage and skill, and at the peril of his life, +he reached the wreck, and backing his skiff close to the foretop, +carried off two of the people. Upon this occasion, also, a noble +instance of the magnanimity of the true British tar was displayed. + +Munroe and Dunlap, who, during the night, had preserved their strength +and spirits, and had done everything in their power to sustain their +less fortunate comrades, refused to quit the wreck until the other two +men, who were so exhausted as to be unable to make any effort for +their own safety, were taken on shore. They accordingly lifted them +into the skiff, and the gallant boy rowed them off in triumph to the +Cove, and deposited them in safety in the nearest cottage. + +He again put off in his skiff, but this time all his efforts were +unavailing, and he was obliged to return. His gallant example, +however, had the effect of inducing others to make the attempt, and +the six survivors were conveyed to the shore in large boats. + + + + +THE RESISTANCE + +Before concluding this chapter, we will briefly relate another +catastrophe, somewhat similar to that of the Amphion, but which +affords a still more remarkable instance of the preservation of four +individuals, from one of whom the following particulars were +ascertained:---- + +It appears that the RESISTANCE, of 44 guns, Captain Edward Pakenham, +had anchored in the Straits of Banca, on the 23rd of July, 1798. +Between three and four o'clock in the morning of the 24th, the ship +was struck by lightning: the electric fluid must have penetrated and +set fire to some part of the vessel near to the magazine, as she blew +up with a fearful violence a few moments after the flash. Thomas +Scott, a seaman, one of the few survivors, stated that he was lying +asleep on the starboard side of the quarter-deck, when being suddenly +awakened by a bright blaze, and the sensation of scorching heat, he +found his hair and clothes were on fire. A tremendous explosion +immediately followed, and he became insensible. He supposed that some +minutes must have elapsed before he recovered, when he found himself, +with many of his comrades, struggling in the waves amongst pieces of +the wreck. The Resistance had sunk, but the hammock netting was just +above water on the starboard side, and with much difficulty Scott and +the other survivors contrived to reach it. When they were able to look +around them, they found that twelve men alone remained of a crew of +above three hundred, including the marines. The calmness of the +weather enabled the unfortunate sufferers to construct a raft with the +pieces of timber that were floating about; but most of the men were so +much bruised and burnt as to be unable to assist in the work. The raft +was finished about one o'clock, P.M., but in a very rough and insecure +manner. Part of the mainsail attached to the mast of the jolly-boat +served them for a sail, and they committed themselves to the care of +Providence upon this frail raft, and made for the nearest shore, which +was the low land of Sumatra, about three leagues distant. + +About seven o'clock in the evening, a gale sprung up, the sea ran +high, and the lashings of the raft began to give way, the planks which +formed the platform were washed off, and in a short time the mast and +sail were also carried away. An anchor-stock which formed part of the +raft had separated, and was floating away; but although it was at some +distance, Scott proposed to swim for it, and encouraging three others +to follow his example, they all reached it in safety. In about an hour +afterwards they lost sight of their companions on the raft, and never +saw them more. The four men upon the anchor-stock gained the shore, +and they then fell into the hands of the Malays. + +Thomas Scott was twice sold as a slave, but was at length released, at +the request of Major Taylor, the governor of Malacca, who, hearing +that four British seamen were captives at Lingan, sent to the Sultan +to beg his assistance in procuring their liberty. Thomas Scott +returned with Major Taylor's messenger to Malacca, from whence he +sailed to England: the other three men had been previously released by +the Sultan's orders, and conveyed to Penang. + + + + +THE PROSERPINE. + + +On Monday, January the 28th, 1799, His Majesty's frigate Proserpine, +28 guns, commanded by Captain James Wallis, sailed from Yarmouth to +Cuxhaven. She had on board the Hon. Thomas Grenville, who was the +bearer of important despatches for the Court of Berlin. On Wednesday, +the 30th, the ship was off Heligoland, and there took in a pilot for +the Elbe. The day being fine, with a fair wind from the N.N.E., the +Proserpine's course was steered for the Red Buoy, where she anchored +for the night. It was then perceived that the two other buoys at the +entrance of the river had been removed: a consultation was therefore +held with the pilots, in the presence of Mr. Grenville, as to the +practicability of proceeding up the river in the absence of the buoys. +The Heligoland pilot, and the two belonging to the ship, were +unanimous in declaring that there was not the slightest difficulty or +danger in ascending the river; they professed the most perfect +knowledge of the passage, and assured Captain Wallis they had no fear +of carrying the vessel to Cuxhaven provided only he would proceed +between half ebb and half flood tide; for in that case they should be +able to see the sands and to recognise their marks. + +The next morning (31st), the Proserpine was got under weigh, and +proceeded up the river, having the Prince of Wales packet, which had +accompanied her from Yarmouth, standing on ahead. + +At four o'clock in the afternoon, when they were within four miles of +Cuxhaven, the weather became very thick, and some snow fell, so that +Captain Wallis was obliged to anchor. + +At nine o'clock, P.M., the wind changed to east by south, blowing a +violent gale, accompanied by a heavy fall of snow, which made it +impossible to see beyond a few feet from the ship; and what was still +worse, the tide and the wind brought such large masses of ice against +the ship, that, with all hands upon deck, it was with the greatest +difficulty they prevented the cables being cut, and were able to +preserve their station till daylight. + +By eight o'clock next morning, the flood tide had carried up most of +the ice, and left a passage clear below the ship, while all above it +was blocked tip. The Prince of Wales packet had gone on shore during +the night; and, warned by her fate, Captain Wallis determined to +retreat out of the Elbe. Mr. Grenville was very anxious to be put on +shore as speedily as possible, his mission being of much importance; +but the river was so completely blocked up above them, that there +seemed no possibility of effecting a landing at Cuxhaven: Captain +Wallis therefore got his ship under weigh, and stood out to sea, +intending to land Mr. Grenville on the nearest part of the coast of +Jutland, if it were practicable. + +The pilots were congratulating the captain on the frigate's getting +safely out of the river, and clear of the sands, and the people had +been allowed to go to breakfast, on the supposition that all danger +was past, when the vessel struck upon Scharborn Sand, with Newark +Island bearing south by east, at half-past nine o'clock, A.M. + +As it was blowing a very strong gale of wind, the Proserpine struck +with great force, though she carried no other canvass than her +foretopmast stay-sail. Upon sounding there was found to be only ten +feet of water under the fore part of her keel. + +The boats were immediately lowered to carry out an anchor, but the ice +was returning upon them so fast that this was found impossible, and +the boats were hoisted on board again. All hands were then employed to +shore the ship up, and make her heel towards the bank, to prevent her +falling into the stream, which would have been certain destruction. +Happily this object was effected; for as the tide ebbed, she lay +towards the bank. + +The next tide, however, brought down such huge masses of ice that the +shores were carried away--the copper was torn from the starboard +quarter, and the rudder cut in two, the lower part lying on the ice +under the counter. + +Notwithstanding all these disasters, Captain Wallis still hoped to get +the ship off at high water, and to effect this, they proceeded to +lighten her by throwing most of her guns and part of her stores +overboard, all of which were borne up on the ice. One party was +employed in hoisting out the provisions, another in starting the casks +of wine and spirits; and such were the good discipline and right +feeling of the men, that not one instance of intoxication occurred. + +At ten o'clock on Friday night, they abandoned all hope of saving the +vessel; it was then high water, yet the heavy gale from the south-east +so kept back the tide, that upon sounding, they found three feet less +water than there had been in the morning, when the ship first struck. + +The situation of the crew was dreadful. When the tide ebbed, they +expected every moment that the ship would be driven to pieces by the +ice. The cold was intense, and the darkness such that it was almost +impossible to distinguish one another upon deck; and the snow, falling +very thick, was driven against their faces by the wind, and froze upon +them as it fell. + +There was no possibility of keeping up warmth and circulation in their +bodies, for the frozen snow and ice made the deck so slippery they +could scarcely stand, much less walk about quickly, and all they could +do was, to try to screen themselves as much as possible from the +pitiless blast. Thus the night was spent in anxious fears for the +future, and dread of immediate destruction. But morning came at last, +though with little comfort to the sufferers, for the wind had +increased, the ice was up to the cabin windows, the stern-post was +found to be broken in two, and the ship otherwise seriously damaged. + +In this state they could not long remain. Mr. Grenville and some of +the officers proposed to Captain Wallis that the crew should make an +attempt to get over the ice to Newark Island, as the only means of +preserving their lives.[4] At first, Captain Wallis was inclined to +reject the proposal; he saw all the danger attending such an attempt; +and it appeared to him, that they could scarcely expect to succeed in +crossing the ice through a dense fog and heavy snow-storm, without any +knowledge of the way, without a guide, and exhausted as they were by +mental and bodily suffering, and benumbed with cold. + +On the other hand, he confessed that the plan presented a hope of +safety, and that it was their only hope. The ship's company were +unanimous in wishing to adopt it, and therefore Captain Wallis finally +consented. + +The people then set heartily to work to consider the difficulties of +the undertaking, and the best means of meeting them. It was determined +that they should be divided into four companies, each headed by an +officer; that the strongest of the men should carry planks, to be laid +down in the most dangerous places by way of assistance to the less +able and active of the party; and that others should hold a long line +of extended rope, to be instantly available in case of any one falling +between the blocks of ice. + +When all these measures were decided upon, and every man had provided +himself with what was most essential for his safety and sustenance, +they began their perilous journey at half-past one o'clock, P.M. By +three o'clock, every one had left the ship, except Captain Wallis, and +he then followed the party, accompanied by Lieutenant Ridley, of the +Marines. + +To describe the dangers and difficulties the crew of the Proserpine +had to encounter is almost impossible. The snow was still falling +heavily, driving against their faces, and adhering to their hair and +eyebrows, where in a few minutes it became solid pieces of ice. +Sometimes they had to clamber over huge blocks of ice, and at other +times were obliged to plunge through snow and water reaching to their +middle. + +As the wind blew from the direction in which they were proceeding, the +large flakes of snow were driven into their eyes, and prevented them +from seeing many yards in advance. This caused them to deviate from +their proper course, and to travel in a direction which, if continued, +would have carried them off the shoal and field of ice into the sea, +or at least have taken them so far from any place of shelter, as to +have left them to perish in the ice and snow during the night. + +This dreadful calamity was, however, prevented, by one of the party +having in his possession a pocket compass. Fortunately, bearings had +been taken previous to their leaving the wreck. The course they were +pursuing was examined, and to their surprise it was discovered that +they had been deviating widely from the direct line which they ought +to have pursued. This, however, enabled the party to correct the +march, and after a toilsome journey of six miles, they at length +reached Newark. + +In the course of their hazardous journey, a striking instance was +afforded of the inscrutable ways of Providence. Two females were on +board the Proserpine when she was stranded,--one a strong healthy +woman, accustomed to the hardships of a maritime life: the other +exactly the reverse, weak and delicate, had never been twelve hours on +board a ship until the evening previous to the frigate's sailing from +Yarmouth. Her husband had been lately impressed, and she had come on +board for the purpose of taking farewell. Owing to a sudden change of +the weather, and the urgency of the mission for which the Proserpine +had been despatched, she had been unable to quit the ship. The poor +creature was upon the eve of her confinement, and naturally being but +ill prepared to combat with the inconvenience of a ship at sea, in the +course of the day she was delivered of a dead child. The reader can +well imagine the sufferings endured by this helpless woman, with but +one of her own sex to tend her, in a vessel tossed about in the stormy +seas of the Northern Ocean. + +But this was little compared with what she had yet to undergo. Before +many hours the frigate stranded: the night was passed in torture of +mind and body, and then was she compelled, with others, to quit the +ship, and travel through masses of snow and ice, and to combat with +the bitter north wind, hail, and sleet. + +It may well be supposed that her strength, already weakened by the +sufferings she had undergone, was totally unprepared to bear up +against a trial from which the strongest of the crew might have +shrunk; but it turned out otherwise. The robust, healthy woman, with +her feeble companion, left the wreck together, the former bearing in +her arms an infant of nine months old. No doubt many a ready arm was +stretched forth to assist them in their perilsome journey. But man +could have done but little against the piercing winter's blast with +which they had to contend. Before they had proceeded half the +distance, the child was frozen in its mother's arms, and ere long the +mother herself sunk on the snow, fell into a state of stupor, and +died. Not so the delicate invalid; sustained by help from above, she +still pursued her way, and ere long gained with others the hospitable +shore. The inhabitants of the village received the strangers with +great kindness, and did everything in their power to alleviate their +sufferings. The ship's company were distributed amongst them for the +night, but the poverty of the place afforded them little more than +shelter. + +The next morning a general muster was made, and it was ascertained +that, of the whole company, twelve seamen, a woman, and her child, +only were missing; these had either been frozen to death, or had died +from the effects of cold, and the loss was small when compared with +the hardships they had suffered. Several men had their legs and +fingers frozen, but through proper medical treatment they all +recovered. + +The storm lasted without intermission till the night of the 5th, and +during that time the crew of the Proserpine were suffering much from +the want of necessary food, clothing, &c. Provisions were so scarce +that they were all put upon short allowance; and their scanty store +being nearly exhausted, it became absolutely necessary that part of +them should proceed to Cuxhaven. + +They learnt that at low water it was possible to get to Cuxhaven on +foot; and as some of the islanders offered their services as guides, +and the tide served, it was settled that the first lieutenant and half +the officers and men should start with the guides on the morning of +the 6th. + +Mr. Grenville being very anxious to proceed on his mission to Berlin, +determined to accompany the party, with the secretary to the embassy, +and some of the servants; and they accordingly all set off at eight +o'clock in the morning, the severity of the weather having somewhat +abated. + +Great as had been the difficulties they had encountered in their +passage from the Proserpine to Newark Island, the dangers of their +present expedition, over sand and ice, were nearly as formidable. At +one part of their journey they found themselves on the banks of a +river. The guides had assured them it was only a very narrow stream, +and would most probably be frozen over: it proved, however, to be a +river of considerable width; the ice was broken and floating upon it +in large masses; the tide, too, was rising, and altogether the passage +presented a formidable appearance. There was little time for +deliberation, so the word was given to push forward, and the next +moment they were up to their waists in the water, struggling against +the tide and the large flakes of ice, which swept against them with +such force that they had great difficulty in keeping their footing. + +But through the mercy of Providence they all reached the opposite bank +in safety, and before evening they arrived at Cuxhaven, without the +loss of a single man. Many of them were more or less frost-bitten, but +by rubbing the parts affected with snow, circulation was restored. + +We must now return to Captain Wallis and the officers and men who had +remained with him at Newark, in hopes of being able to save some of +the stores from the frigate. + +On Friday, the 8th, Mr. Anthony, the master, volunteered with a party +to endeavour to ascertain the state of the vessel, and if possible to +bring away some bread, of which they were in much need. + +They had great difficulty in reaching the ship, which they found lying +on her beam ends, with seven feet and a half of water in her hold, +having her quarter-deck separated six feet from her gangway, and +apparently only-kept together by the vast quantity of ice which +surrounded her. + +From this report, it was deemed unadvisable to make any more +expeditions to the ship; but on the 10th, the clearness of the day +induced Mr. Anthony, in company with the surgeon, a midshipman, the +boatswain, and two seamen, to go off a second time. + +Those who remained at Newark anxiously expected the return of the +party, but they came not. Evening advanced, the tide was flowing, and +at last it was too late for them to cross the sands and ice till the +next ebb. The watchers were obliged to content themselves with the +hope that Mr. Anthony and his party had found it safe and practicable +to remain on board the frigate till morning. But during the night a +violent storm arose, which increased the anxiety of Captain Wallis for +the safety of his people; and this anxiety became deep distress, when +in the morning he gazed wistfully towards the wreck, and saw nothing +but the foaming waters, and moving fields of ice. Not a vestige of the +frigate was visible. We cannot better describe Captain Wallis's +feelings on this occasion than by quoting his own words, when he +communicated the intelligence to Vice-Admiral Archibald Dickson. + +'They got on board,' says Captain Wallis, 'but unfortunately +neglected, until too late in the tide, to return, which left them no +alternative but that of remaining on board till next day. About ten +o'clock at night the wind came on at S.S.E., and blew a most violent +storm; the tide, though at the neap, rose to an uncommon height, the +ice got in motion, the velocity of which swept the wreck to +destruction, (for in the morning not a vestige of her was to be seen,) +and with it, I am miserably afraid, went the above unfortunate +officers and men,--and if so, their loss will be a great one to the +service, as, in their different departments, they were a great +acquisition to it. + +'The only hope I have is, that Providence which has so bountifully +assisted us in our recent dangers and difficulties, may be extended +towards them, so as to preserve their lives, by means of boat or +otherwise; but I am very sorry to say my hopes are founded on the +most distant degree of human probability. This melancholy accident +happening so unexpectedly, added to my other misfortunes, has given so +severe a shock to my health and spirits, as to prevent me hitherto +undertaking the journey to Cuxhaven, where the survivors of the ship's +company now are, except a few who are here with me, with whom I shall +set out as soon as we are able.' + +It is now necessary that we should follow the proceedings of Mr. +Anthony and his party. + +They reached the wreck at ten o'clock on Sunday morning; but, being +busily occupied in collecting what stores they could, they neglected +to watch the tide, and whilst they were thus employed, the time passed +over, and the waves rolling between them and their temporary home at +Newark; they were obliged to wait till the next day's ebb. During the +night, as we have stated, the wind changed to the S.S.E.: it blew a +violent gale, and the tide rose to such an unusual height, that it +floated the ship, and the ice that had stuck to her, without the men +on board being aware of it. The next morning, to their horror and +dismay, they found the vessel drifting out to the ocean. We can +scarcely imagine a situation more terrible than that in which these +unfortunate men were placed. They were in all six persons, four +officers and two seamen, and these few hands had to manage a frigate +of 28 guns, which was actually going to pieces, and it was impossible +to conjecture how long she might swim. She was merely buoyed up on the +sea by the fields of ice that surrounded her; and if the ice were to +break away, in all probability she would not hold together for an +hour. + +Mr. Anthony and his companions did not, however, give way to despair, +nor lose time in useless repining. They set to work immediately, to +avoid the danger as far as circumstances would permit. + +Their first care was to drop the lead between two of the masses of +ice, and they found that the ship was floating in eleven fathoms. They +then fired several guns, to give warning of their situation. By turns +they worked at the pumps, and, in order to lighten the vessel, threw +all the remaining guns, except four, overboard--a labour of no small +magnitude for six men to perform. + +Their next object was to get up the tackles for hoisting out the boat, +in case of their getting into clear water, or being obliged to quit +the wreck. + +There was one advantage in all this hard labour, to which most of them +were unaccustomed: it prevented their suffering so much as they +otherwise must have done from the extreme cold; and in one respect +they were better off than their comrades at Newark, for they had +plenty of provisions on board. So passed the first day on the wreck. + +The next morning, Tuesday, the 12th, at about eleven o'clock, land was +descried on their lee, on which they fired several guns, and hauled +the colours on the main-rigging, union downwards, as a signal of +distress. An hour afterwards the ship struck on a rock off the island +of Baltrum, about a mile and a-half distant from the shore. + +Mr. Anthony and his companions then tried to launch the cutter, but +they were obliged to give up the attempt, as the sea was not +sufficiently clear of ice; they therefore remained on board another +night. + +The next morning, however, they hoisted out the boat, and pulled +towards the shore; but they had not gone more than half way, when they +were surrounded by fields of ice, so that they were obliged to get +upon the ice, and drag the boat with them. + +About noon they had reached to within a cable's length of the shore, +and here they were compelled to leave the boat: they were all +completely exhausted, and found it impossible to drag her any +further. They themselves had to leap from one piece of ice to another, +often falling into the water; and it was at the imminent risk of their +lives that they at last gained the beach. + +They were tolerably well received by the inhabitants, who took them to +their houses, and allowed them to seek that repose which they so much +needed. + +The next day the islanders, unable to resist the temptation of +plunder, took to their boats, and made off to the ship, which they +ransacked, and carried off all the arms, stores, and provisions of +every kind. In vain Mr. Anthony protested against this base conduct: +it was as much as he could do to persuade them to spare some part of +the provisions for himself and his friends. + +The party were obliged to remain at Baltrum amongst their rapacious +hosts until Saturday, the 16th, when they deemed that the ice was +sufficiently cleared away to allow of their sailing for Cuxhaven; they +accordingly secured the cutter and took their departure. As there was +not the remotest chance of getting the Proserpine afloat again, they +abandoned her to the island plunderers. They reached Cuxhaven about +the 22nd, and there they found Lieutenant Wright and those who had +accompanied him from Newark. + +On the following day, Captain Wallis arrived, with the rest of the +ship's company, the sick and wounded. We can imagine the joy and +gratitude with which Captain Wallis received the announcement of the +safe arrival of Mr. Anthony and his friends, whom he had deplored as +lost. + +Thus were the crew of the Proserpine, with the exception of thirteen +persons, brought once more together after three weeks endurance of +innumerable hardships, and having been exposed to many perils. Never +was the Almighty hand of Providence more visibly displayed than in +the protection afforded to these gallant fellows; and never did men do +more to help themselves than they did, We cannot but admire the calm +courage they evinced throughout that long and dismal night when almost +certain destruction awaited them; as well as their obedience and +cheerful alacrity through their toilsome march from the wreck to +Newark, and again from Newark to Cuxhaven. Nor must we forget the +fortitude displayed by Mr. Anthony and his companions, when they were +a second time wrecked in the Proserpine. + +Throughout the history of their dangers and sufferings from cold and +hunger, and the other evils attending a shipwreck on such an +inhospitable shore and in such a climate, there is no mention of one +single instance of murmuring, discontent, or disobedience of orders. + +When the Elbe was again navigable and free from ice, the crew embarked +in different packets and sailed for England, where they all arrived +without further disasters. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] Newark Island is the highest point of one of those long ridges of +sand which abound on the south and southeastern coasts of the North +Sea, formed by the deposits of ages from the rivers that empty +themselves into the German Ocean, acted upon by the alternate ebb and +flow of the tide, till they assume a form and establish a position and +a name. Upon Newark Island is a village and light-house, situated a +few miles from Cuxhaven, and accessible at low water by the sand. The +sand ridge takes a north-westerly direction from Newark Island, and +extends about six miles further. It was on the extremity of the +northwestern bank that the Proserpine was wrecked. + + + + +THE SCEPTRE. + + +Early in the spring of 1799, a large convoy of transports and +merchantmen sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, with troops and stores +for the siege of Seringapatam. The Sceptre, 64 guns, commanded by +Captain Valentine Edwards, was appointed to the sole charge of the +convoy, and to take Sir David Baird and the whole of the 84th regiment +on board. The Sceptre may, perhaps, have been the only king's ship +then at the Cape; it is certain that she had been an unusual length of +time on that station, and had become so weak and leaky as to be hardly +sea-worthy, when she was dispatched on this important service. + +Happily, the insecure state of the vessel induced extreme watchfulness +on the part of both officers and men, and all went on well till she +had made about two-thirds of her way, when one night a brisk gale +sprung up, which increased in violence so rapidly, that the officers +of the watch felt some anxiety on account of the unusual strain upon +the ship. Captain Edwards ordered the well to be sounded, and the +result confirming his apprehensions, the pumps were manned in an +incredibly short time, every one on board being aroused to a sense of +danger. + +Lieutenant the Honourable Alexander Jones had been relieved from the +first watch, and had retired to his berth about an hour before without +any misgivings. He was suddenly awakened by the alarming cry that the +ship was sinking, and the call of 'all hands,' He sprang up, and in a +few moments joined the group of officers, naval and military, +assembled on the quarter-deck. Anxiety was depicted on every +countenance; for although the pumps were worked incessantly, the +soldiers taking their turn with the sailors, the water was still +gaining on them fast; and even whilst the men relieved each other, it +rose several inches. But when human efforts were unavailing, the hand +of Providence was stretched out to save. The wind fell as suddenly as +it had risen, and after many hours of hard labour, the water was got +under, and the vessel was considered comparatively safe. + +Had the Sceptre gone down that night, hundreds and hundreds of +England's best and bravest defenders must have sunk into a watery +grave, and in all probability the enemy's ships, which were hovering +upon the track of the convoy, would have got possession of the +transports and merchantmen; and even the success of our arms in India +might have been seriously affected. + +A few weeks after the gale we have mentioned, the Sceptre and her +convoy arrived safely at Bombay. She was there put into dock and +repaired, and was strengthened by having large timbers, technically +termed riders, bolted diagonally on either side, fore and aft. + +When again fit for sea, she returned to Table Bay, and anchored there +about the middle of October. + +On the 1st of November, the captain and officers gave a ball to the +inhabitants of Cape Town, and on that night the ship presented an +appearance of unusual gaiety; mirth and music resounded on all sides; +in place of the stern voice of command, the laugh, the jest, and the +soft tones of woman's voice were heard; whilst many a light footstep +glided over the decks of the old ship. + + The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men; + A thousand hearts beat happily; and when + Music arose with its voluptuous swell, + Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spake again, + And all went merry as a marriage bell. + + CHILDE HAROLD. + +The night was calm and beautiful, and as the guests left the ship, +little did they think of the fearful doom that was so soon to +overwhelm many of those whose hands they had clasped for the last +time. + +The weather continued perfectly calm till the evening of the 4th of +November, when some ominous looking clouds indicated an approaching +storm. + +In addition to the Sceptre there remained in the Bay the Jupiter of 50 +guns, the Oldenburg, a Danish 64 gun ship, and several other vessels. +On the morning of the 5th, a strong gale blew from the north-west, but +no danger was apprehended, and the ship, dressed in flags, and with +the royal standard hoisted, fired her salute at noon in commemoration +of the Gunpowder Treason. + +The gale had increased considerably by two o'clock, and as Table Bay +affords no shelter from a north-west wind, the captain took every +precaution to make all secure: the topmasts were struck, and the fore +and main-yards were lowered to ease the ship. But half-an-hour had not +elapsed before the violence of the storm was such, that the ship +parted from her best bower cable; the sheet anchor was immediately let +go, and the cable veered away to twenty-eight fathoms. The storm +gathered strength, and at half-past six the whole fury of the elements +seemed to be concentrated in one terrific blast. + +Orders were given to let go the anchor, with two of the forecastle +guns attached; but even this proved insufficient to hold the ship. + +One of the boats was then hoisted out, in order to communicate with +the Jupiter, and procure the end of a cable from her, but in a few +minutes the boat upset and was lost, with all her crew. For some hours +signal guns of distress had been fired, and the ensign had been +hoisted downwards, but no help could reach the vessel: in that +tempestuous sea no boat could live. Some of the officers who had gone +on shore the previous evening were standing on the beach, unable to +render any assistance to their comrades, and compelled to remain +inactive spectators of the harrowing scene, and to behold their brave +ship foundering at her anchors. + +About eight o'clock, loud above the howling of the tempest and the +booming of the minute gun, arose the wild cry of _fire_: and thick +smoke was discernible from the shore, issuing from the hatches. Now +were the opposing elements of air, fire, and water combined for the +destruction of the ill-fated ship. For an instant, all stood +paralysed; but it was only for an instant. Again the voices of the +officers were raised in command, and every man was ready at his post. + +The smoke came up from the hatches in such dense volumes, that all +attempts to go below to extinguish the fire were abortive. Each man +felt that his last hour was come,--there was not a shadow of hope that +their lives could be saved; it was but a choice of death by fire or +water: to quit the ship must be fatal; they had seen the boat and its +crew swallowed up by the yawning waves, when the tempest raged less +fiercely than now, and she was too far from the shore to afford even a +ray of hope that the strongest swimmer might gain the beach. On the +other hand, to remain on board was to encounter a still more terrible +death--a burning funeral pile amidst the waters. While they hesitated +in doubt and horror, one of their fears was relieved,--the heavy sea +that washed incessantly over the wreck extinguished the fire. The ship +continued to drive at the mercy of the waves till about ten o'clock, +when she stranded, broadside to the shore, heeling on her port side +towards the sea. + +The captain then ordered the main and mizen masts to be cut away, and +the foremast soon afterwards went by the board. At this juncture, a +man of the name of Connolly, a favourite with both officers and crew, +volunteered to jump overboard with a deep-sea line attached to his +body, in order to form a communication between the ship and the shore. +He made but a few strokes ere he was borne away by the eddy and +drowned. + +The ship being lightened by the falling of the masts, righted herself +and got clear off the ground: there appeared some slight chance of +preservation, and every heart was buoyed up with hope that she might +be thrown high enough upon the beach to enable the people on shore to +render them some assistance. + +She was driven nearer and nearer to the land--voices became more and +more audible, so as even to be recognised--in a few minutes more, +the perishing crew might be safe--when a heavy sea struck the ship, +the orlop deck gave way, and the port side fell in--many were swept +away,--those who had the power to do so, retreated to the starboard +side. + +A most heartrending scene must that have been! The people were so +benumbed with cold and exhaustion, and paralysed by fear, that many of +them could no longer cling to the ropes and spars for support, and +every wave that broke over the wreck, washed away its victims. + +Many in despair leaped overboard, and attempted to swim to shore, but +the eddy caused by the wreck was so strong, that they were carried +out to sea; and in spite of the attempts made by those on board to +rescue them, they all perished. Mr. Tucker, a midshipman, lost his +life in the endeavour to reach the bow of the ship. + +About half an hour later the poop was washed away, and carried towards +the shore. Seventy or eighty men who were upon it seemed likely to be +saved from the surrounding destruction. The people on the beach +crowded to the spot where they would probably be driven, that they +might render every possible assistance; but what was their horror to +see a tremendous wave strike the poop, capsize it, and turn it over +and over; whilst every one of those who clung to it perished! + +But the terrors of that awful night were not yet exhausted. The wreck, +to which the remaining officers and men were clinging, heeled towards +the shore; but when the gale increased and blew with redoubled force, +it heeled off again, rent fore and aft, and parted in two +places--before the main-chains, and abaft the fore-chains--and then +all disappeared from the eyes of the awe-stricken spectators on the +beach. + +High above the crash of timbers and the roaring of the blast, rose the +despairing cry of hundreds of human beings who perished in the waters, +and whose mutilated forms, with the fragments of the wreck, strewed +the beach for miles on the following morning. + +Thirty or forty seamen and marines still clung to the bow, the sea +breaking over them incessantly; they kept their hold, however, in the +fond hope that the signal gun remaining, might by its weight prevent +the bow from being capsized; but the timbers, unable to resist the +fury of the tempest, suddenly parted,--the gun reeled from side to +side, and the unhappy men shared the fate of their companions. It has +been said that during that awful time, whilst threatened with instant +death, many of these men were in a stupor, with their hands locked in +the chain plates. + +Among the incidents connected with the wreck, it is related that Mr. +Buddle, a midshipman, (one of the few who escaped,) was cast upon the +waves almost insensible. He had not strength to strike out for the +beach, and he therefore merely tried to keep himself above water. This +proved to be the means of saving his life, for he floated in a +direction parallel with the shore, and avoided the huge pieces of +wreck by which all his companions who made directly for land +(excepting three) were dashed to pieces. + +Mr. Buddle was nearly exhausted, when he caught hold of a small piece +of timber that was floating near him; a nail which projected from it +wounded him on the breast; he fainted, and did not recover his senses +until he found himself lying on the beach upon a heap of dead bodies. +He attempted in vain to rise; for though he felt no pain, his left leg +was broken, his knee cut almost half through, and his body much +bruised. In this state he was discovered, and carried by some persons +to a large fire until further assistance could be obtained, and he was +then conveyed to the hospital. + +One of the officers of the Sceptre, who is still alive, and who +happened to be on shore at the time this terrible catastrophe +occurred, declares, that nothing imagination could conceive ever +equalled the horrors of that night. When the first signals of distress +were made from the Sceptre, the whole population of Cape Town, with +the officers and soldiers of the garrison, crowded down to the beach, +in the vain hope of being able to afford some assistance. The night +was bitterly cold; the wind blew with terrific violence, and the sea, +lashed into fury, broke with a deafening roar upon the beach. As night +approached, and darkness hid the vessel from their sight, the +feelings of the agonized spectators became almost insupportable. The +booming of the guns alone told that the ship still lived among the +raging waters; whilst ever and anon a piercing shriek announced that +the work of death had begun. + +All along the beach large fires were lighted, as beacons to guide +those who might be cast upon the shore. At length the ship was driven +nearer, and again she became visible from the land. She appeared, says +an eye-witness (before mentioned), like a huge castle looming in the +distance. The hopes of the spectators revived as she heeled on towards +them, and they all stood ready to give assistance whenever it should +be available. At one moment, a fearful crash was heard--next, a +piercing shriek, and the flash of the torches waved in the air +displayed the struggling forms of the drowning seamen, tossed to and +fro upon the waves amongst masses of the wreck, which, in many +instances, killed those whom the waters would have spared. + +The only help that the people on shore could render to the unhappy +sufferers was, to watch the opportunity when the waves brought a body +near to the land, and then to rush into the water, holding one another +at arm's length, and to grasp the exhausted creature before he was +borne back by the receding wave. + +In this manner forty-seven men were saved, together with Mr. Shaw, a +master's mate, and two midshipmen, of the names of Spinks and Buddle, +before-mentioned. Six officers had fortunately been on shore at the +time; all the others, with the captain, were lost on the wreck, +together with about three hundred and ninety-one seamen and marines. + +The people of Cape Town and the troops were employed the whole night +in searching for the dead, amongst whom they discovered the son of +Captain Edwards, with one hand grasping an open Bible, which was +pressed to his bosom, the parting gift, perhaps, of a fond mother, who +had taught the boy to revere in life that sacred volume, from which he +parted not in death. + +Three waggon-loads of the dead were next morning taken to a place near +the hospital, and there buried. About one hundred bodies, shockingly +mangled, were buried in one pit on the beach. The remains of all the +officers (with the exception of Captain Edwards) were found, and were +interred the following Sunday with military honours. + +The reader may be interested by being informed of a few of the +providential escapes which were experienced by Lieutenant Jones (now +Rear-Admiral Jones), one of the few survivors of the catastrophe above +described. This officer had been midshipman of the Providence, +discovery-ship, commanded by Captain William Broughton, which vessel, +after many dangerous vicissitudes, was finally wrecked among the +Japanese islands. Mr. Jones having faced all the dangers consequent on +such a trying position, with difficulty escaped a watery grave, by +taking refuge, with the rest of the officers and crew, on board the +tender which accompanied this ill-fated ship. This great addition to +her small complement, and her want of accommodation, produced a +virulent disease amongst the crew, from which Sir. Jones did not +escape. On arrival at Macao, Mr. Jones was ordered a passage, with his +surviving shipmates and crew of the Providence, to England, in the +Swift, sloop of war, selected to convoy a large fleet of Indiamen. The +evening before their departure, it was found that the accommodation in +the Swift was not sufficient for the supernumeraries, and, +consequently, Mr. Jones and Lord George Stuart (also a midshipman of +the Providence) were, by order of Captain Broughton, distributed among +the merchant ships, the former to the Carnatic, the latter to the +Duke of Buccleugh. The Swift and her convoy sailed on the morrow. They +had not proceeded far, before a succession of violent typhoons +overtook them, which scattered and disabled the Indiamen, most of +which were obliged to return to India; but the Swift foundered: she +was seen for a short time struggling with the elements, and making +signals of distress--a moment more, and she disappeared for ever.' + +Mr. Jones, arriving at the Cape of Good Hope, was detained by Rear +Admiral Pringle, and employed to communicate with his flag-ship, the +Tremendous, then in a state of mutiny, the mutineers having put her +officers ashore. His courage on this occasion was much lauded, as it +was believed by all, and expected by himself, that he would have been +thrown overboard. Harmony was at length restored on board the +Tremendous, and six of the mutineers were executed. As a reward for +his services, Mr. Jones was appointed acting lieutenant of the +Sceptre: his preservation, and the part he acted on that occasion, +have already been described. + +When lieutenant of the Ajax, attached to the fleet under Sir J. +Borlase Warren, lying in Vigo Bay, he was sent with a boat's crew to +the assistance of the Tartarus, sloop of war, which ship was then +driving to leeward in a gale on a rocky shore. So inevitable appeared +her destruction, that the officers and crew had abandoned her, after +letting go an anchor, to retard her expected crash against the rocks. +At this critical moment, whilst held by only one strand of the cable, +Lieutenant Jones's boat (although nearly swamped by the frequent +shipping of seas) neared the ship; and this officer, watching an +opportunity, sprung on board with his intrepid crew, and, by almost +superhuman exertions, succeeded in hauling her ahead. She had just +reached the point of safety, when her officers and crew, who +witnessed her more favourable position, brought about by Lieutenant +Jones's courage and perseverance, returned on board, and Lieutenant +Jones and his gallant followers rejoined their ship amidst the cheers +of the fleet. For this service Lieutenant Jones was sent for by the +commander-in-chief, and thanked by him on the quarter-deck of his +flag-ship. + +As lieutenant of the Naiad, this officer had the misfortune to be +involved in a serious quarrel with his superior officer (Lieutenant +Dean), and on that person using very abusive, and unofficer-like +language, Lieutenant Jones struck him. A court martial being held, +Lieutenant Jones was sentenced to be hanged; but, in consideration of +the very provoking language used by Lieutenant Dean, and Lieutenant +Jones's previous irreproachable conduct, his Majesty George the Third +was graciously pleased to pardon him, and restore him to his former +position in the Navy, while Lieutenant Dean was dismissed the service. + + + + +THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE. + + +One of the greatest calamities that ever befel a ship belonging to the +British Navy was the destruction of the Queen Charlotte of 100 guns, +launched in 1790. She was the sister-ship to the Royal George, and was +destined to a no less tragical fate. Her first cruise was with the +fleet fitted out against Spain; Lord Howe, the commander-in-chief, +being on board of her; and she carried his flag on the 1st of June. + +She was afterwards sent to the Mediterranean, under the command of +Captain James Todd, and bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Lord Keith. +Before entering upon our narrative, we may be permitted to apologize +for any inaccuracy, or lack of incident, that may be apparent in the +following account, by stating that the official reports of the +disaster are so vague and imperfect, that it is almost impossible to +give the details of it as fully as we could wish; and so many years +have elapsed since the event, that we cannot obtain information from +private sources. + +On the 16th of March, 1800, Lord Keith, with Lieutenant Stewart, and +four other persons, having landed at Leghorn, directed Captain Todd to +proceed in the Queen Charlotte to reconnoitre the Island of Cabrera, +about thirty miles from Leghorn, then in possession of the French, and +which it was his lordship's intention to attack. + +At four o'clock on the morning of the 17th, the men who were washing +the decks stowed some hay close aft to the admiral's cabin, near a +match-tub, in which it was usual to keep a match burning, for the +purpose of firing signals. At six o'clock, when the men were in the +act of removing the hay, a portion of it was discovered to have +ignited. Not a moment was lost in giving the alarm, and those at hand +used every means in their power to extinguish the slumbering element; +but the fire had been smouldering for some time before it was +discovered. The water thrown upon it from the buckets was useless--the +flames bursting forth with such violence that they baffled the most +strenuous efforts to overcome them. Such was the posture of affairs +when the captain, officers, and men, alarmed by the cry of fire, +rushed from all parts of the ship to the scene of conflagration. It +would be no easy task to describe the feelings of a number of human +beings thus suddenly and awfully awakened to the perils of their +situation. For the moment, no doubt, fear predominated over every +other feeling, and a degree of confusion ensued. Nor can this be +regarded with astonishment, when we remember that of all the dangers +to which a sailor is familiarized in his hazardous profession, none is +so fraught with horror as a fire at sea. + +The battle has no terror for him: he rushes to the conflict excited by +the cheers of his comrades and the hopes of victory-- + + Though fore and aft the blood-stained deck, + Should lifeless trunks appear, + Or should the vessel float a wreck, + The sailor knows no fear. + +He glories in the stormy sea, and in 'the wild wind's roar:' they fill +him with a fierce delight, while with steady hand and steadfast heart +he obeys the voice of his commander; he trusts to his good ship, and +'laughs at the storm and the battle.' + +But how differently does he feel, when roused from his deep slumber by +the cry of fire. He rushes upon deck, but half awake, to meet an enemy +far more terrible than any he has yet encountered. He finds himself +enveloped in a suffocating smoke--here and there gleams a lurid +flame--the fire becomes gradually more vivid: it rises higher and +higher; grows brighter and brighter. In vain he looks for +help,--beneath, nothing meets his eye but the boundless waste of +waters, that can avail so little to quench those flames; above, the +pathless fields of air, that serve but to increase their fury. The +insidious enemy quietly but surely creeps onward, and the sailor knows +but too well, that if not speedily arrested, the flames must reach the +powder magazine, and then a few smouldering fragments strewed upon the +waters will alone remain of the gallant ship and her living freight. + +Such was the hideous form in which death presented itself to the minds +of the crew of the Queen Charlotte, who now anxiously turned their +eyes to their captain and officers, in the hope that, as on former +occasions, their example and assistance might enable them to avert the +threatened danger. Nor was their confidence misplaced. + +Captain Todd and his first lieutenant (Mr. Bainbridge) stood upon the +quarter-deck, displaying a calmness and self-possession of which the +effects were soon felt throughout the vessel, and restored order among +the ship's company. + +They went among the people, calming their fears, and encouraging them +to increased exertion, neither of them seeming for a moment to think +of his own safety in comparison with that of his companions in danger. + +All that man could do in such a case was done; but human foresight and +presence of mind were of no avail against the irresistible power of +that relentless enemy. + +The flames darted up the mainmast, reached the boats upon the boom, +and now wrapped in wreathing fires the whole of the quarter-deck, +from whence all had been driven save the captain and first lieutenant, +who still nobly kept their posts. + +Amongst those who more particularly distinguished themselves on this +occasion (where all did their duty) was Lieutenant the Hon. G.H.L. +Dundas. This officer was roused from his sleep by the sentinel +announcing to him that the ship was on fire. Springing from his cot, +he hastily put on some clothes and attempted to ascend the after +hatchway, but was driven back by the smoke. He then went to the main +hatchway, and had almost reached the top of the ladder, when he was so +overpowered, that he fell exhausted upon the middle deck. + +When he had in some degree recovered, he rushed to the fore hatchway +and thence to the forecastle, where he found the first lieutenant, +some petty officers, and the greater part of the ship's company. These +were endeavouring to haul up the mainsail which was in flames. The +carpenter, seeing Lieutenant Dundas, suggested that he might direct +some of the men to sluice the lower decks, and secure the hatchways, +to prevent the fire reaching that part of the ship. + +Mr. Dundas collected about seventy men, who volunteered to accompany +him, and descended to the lower decks. The ports were opened, the +cocks turned, and water thrown upon the decks. All the hammocks were +cleared away, and as many people as could be spared were employed in +heaving water upon the burning wood, rigging, and spars, which kept +falling down the hatchways. The gratings were fastened down and +covered over with wet blankets and hammocks. In this way the lower +deck was kept free from fire for some time, until at length it broke +out in both of the transom cabins, and burnt forward with great +rapidity. Mr. Dundas and his party did not leave that part of ship, +till several of the middle guns came through the deck. + +At nine o'clock, finding it impossible to remain longer below, he got +out of one of the starboard lower deck ports, and reached the +forecastle, followed by most of the officers and men who had been with +him. On the forecastle, about 250 men were drawing water, and throwing +it upon the fire as far aft as possible. + +For nearly four hours every exertion was made to subdue the flames. +Officers and men behaved with heroic courage and self-possession; but +in spite of their almost superhuman efforts, the flames rolled on, and +the destruction of the ship became inevitable. + + With fruitless toil the crew oppose the flame, + No art can now the spreading mischief tame. + +And many of that gallant company verified the poet's description: +almost maddened by the intense heat, they sprung overboard and +perished. + + Some, when the flames could be no more withstood, + By wild despair directed, 'midst the flood, + Themselves in haste from the tall vessel threw, + And from a dry to liquid ruin flew. + Sad choice of death, when those who shun the fire, + Must to as fierce an element retire. + +Lieut. Archibald Duff, who had been alarmed by the firing of guns, +attempted to get out of the ward-room door, but was driven back by the +smoke. He at last succeeded in scrambling out of the quarter gallery, +and reached the poop, from whence he jumped into the sea, and was +picked up by the launch, when in the act of casting off the tow-rope. +He had hardly left the ship when the mizenmast fell over the side, by +which great numbers were thrown into the water, and left struggling in +the waves; for, as the launch had only one oar, and neither sail nor +mast, she drifted much faster than the men could swim, and many, whom +those on board her would gladly have saved, perished within a few feet +of the boat. + +At length a ray of hope dawned upon the anxious survivors: vessels and +boats were seen coming towards them from Leghorn; and as they neared +the ship, every heart beat quicker, and every hand was nerved with +increased strength. But the boats' crews, alarmed by the explosion of +the guns, which were most of them shotted, refused to approach nearer, +and hove to. Seeing their hesitation, the crew of the Queen Charlotte +gave them three cheers to encourage them. The English cheers seemed to +have the desired effect, for again the boats pulled towards the +hapless vessel; but it was afterwards discovered that this renewed +activity was entirely owing to the persuasions of Lieut. Stewart and +other English officers who were in the boats. + +Lord Keith, who was watching with intense anxiety the destruction of +his noble ship, used every possible effort to induce the Tuscans to +put to sea; but his entreaties, backed as they were by the commands of +the governor and other authorities, had no influence save with a few +only, and even these, when they did venture to the rescue, were with +great difficulty prevailed upon to approach the vessel. A boat from an +American ship presented a striking contrast. She was manned by three +men only, who, in their generous ardour to save the lives of their +fellow-creatures, came alongside too incautiously, so that the +wretched sufferers from the burning deck leaped into the boat in such +numbers that she capsized, and every one of them perished. The fire +had now advanced so rapidly that it was impossible to bear the heat on +the forecastle, and most of the people got on to the bowsprit and +jib-boom. The latter, however, gave way under the pressure, and +numbers were precipitated into the water and drowned. + +The boats, headed by Lieutenant Stewart, approached about ten o'clock, +and the people continued dropping into them from the ship for some +time. Captain Todd and Mr. Bainbridge continued to the last to give +orders for the safety of those who remained alive. + +Lieutenant Duff gives the following account of the closing scene:-- + +'Lieutenant Stewart's ardour in the cause of humanity was only +equalled by his judgment in affording relief. When he reached the +Queen Charlotte, he dropped his tartane under the bows, where almost +all the remaining crew had taken refuge. Little more than an hour had +elapsed, after this assistance was given, before the ship blew up. All +that had been left unburnt immediately sunk down by the stern, but +when the ponderous contents of the hold had been washed away, she for +an instant recovered her buoyancy, and was suddenly seen to emerge +almost her whole length from the deep, and then, turning over, she +floated on the surface, with her burnished copper glistening in the +sun.' + +Such was the fate of the Queen Charlotte, which, excepting the Ville +de Paris, was the largest ship in the British navy. + +With the gallant vessel perished six hundred and seventy-three of her +men and officers; amongst whom were Captain Todd and Lieutenant +Bainbridge. These two officers, with heroic self-devotion, remained to +share the fate of their ship, occupied to the last in endeavouring to +save the lives of the men. + +Before Captain Todd fell a victim to the flames, he had the presence +of mind to write the particulars of the melancholy event, and to give +copies of his account to several of the sailors, charging them to +deliver it to the admiral if they should be so fortunate as to +escape.[5] + +The following daring exploit is related of Lieutenant Bainbridge in +James's _Naval History_. We transcribe it as affording a striking +example of the union of undaunted courage with endurance in the +character of a British sailor. + +"On the evening of the 21st of December, the British hired 10 gun +cutter, Lady Nelson, while off Carbareta Point, was surrounded and +engaged by two or three French privateers, and some gun vessels, in +sight of the 100 gun ship, Queen Charlotte, and the 36 gun frigate +Emerald, lying in Gibraltar Bay. Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, whose flag +was flying on board the former ship, immediately ordered the boats of +the two to row towards the combatants, in the hope that it might +encourage the Lady Nelson to resist, until she could approach near +enough to be covered by the guns of the ships. Before the boats could +get up, however, the Lady Nelson had been captured, and was in tow by +two of the privateers. + +"Notwithstanding this, Lieutenant Bainbridge, in the Queen Charlotte's +barge, with sixteen men, ran alongside, and boarded with the greatest +impetuosity; and after a sharp conflict, carried the Lady Nelson, +taking as prisoners seven French officers and twenty-seven men.--six +or seven others having been killed or knocked overboard in the +scuffle. Lieutenant Bainbridge was severely wounded in the head by the +stroke of a sabre, and slightly in other places." + +We have seen how, a few months afterwards, this brave officer +patiently anticipated death in a more terrible form on board the Queen +Charlotte. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] _Naval Chronicle_, vol. iii. p. 302. + + + + +THE INVINCIBLE. + + +The Invincible, of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Totty, +and commanded by Captain Rennie, sailed from Yarmouth on the morning +of the 16th of March, 1801, to join the fleet of Admiral Sir Hyde +Parker in the Baltic. + +The master and the pilot were both considered very skilful mariners of +those seas, and their orders were to navigate the ship into the North +Sea, and to put her in the way of joining the fleet to the northward, +as soon as she had cleared all the shoals. + +About half-past two o'clock, P.M., of the same day, the Invincible, +going at the rate of nine knots an hour, struck violently upon a +sand-bank, and before the sails could be furled, she was fast aground +in little more than three fathoms water. + +The pilot and master assured Captain Rennie that there was no danger, +and that the ship must have struck upon a lately formed knowl. In +order to lighten her as much as possible, the yards and topmasts were +struck, and some of the provisions thrown overboard, and then strong +hopes were entertained that she would float off the bank with the next +tide. + +During this time she lay tolerably quiet, and the water gained but +little upon the pumps. Every means was used to draw the attention of +vessels passing near--guns were fired, and signals hoisted; but they +remained unanswered until about five o'clock, P.M., when a cutter was +observed scudding towards Yarmouth Roads, as if to inform Admiral +Dickson of the situation of the Invincible. As the ship remained easy, +neither the officers nor men suspected that the danger was imminent, +and they performed their duty with the same regularity as if the ship +were proceeding under ordinary circumstances. + +All went on well until about half-past five, P.M., when the wind +freshened, and the vessel began to beat the ground with such violence, +that it was thought necessary to cut away the masts. The ship at this +time dropped from three and a half into seventeen fathoms. She was +then brought to with her bower anchor, and there appeared every +probability of her getting safely off till about nine o'clock, when +the flood-tide was making; she then lost her rudder, became +unmanageable, and was driven back upon the rock. + +Fortunately a fishing-smack had come near the Invincible a short time +before, and Admiral Totty learnt from her master that the ship had +struck upon Hammond's knowl; whereupon the admiral requested that the +smack might be anchored as near as possible, so as to be ready in case +of emergency. + +In the meantime, the ship continued to strike with increasing +violence, and the water gained considerably upon the pumps. At ten +o'clock, the wind rose, and again the ship swung off into deep water, +and the only prospect of saving her was by pumping and baling till +daylight. Both officers and men laboured incessantly at the pumps, but +all to no purpose, for unfortunately the Invincible was an old ship +(built in the year 1766), and the water gained fast upon them in spite +of all their efforts. Admiral Totty, seeing there was no hope of +saving the ship, ordered Captain Rennie to send all the boys, and the +least able of the crew and passengers, on board the smack, and to make +arrangements for the rest of the crew to leave the ship at daybreak, +or sooner, if possible. + +A boat was lowered, into which the admiral and his secretary +immediately descended, with as many others as she would carry, and +they reached the smack in safety. Two other boats were also lowered +and filled with people, but they were less fortunate than the +admiral's, for before they reached the smack, the tide being to +windward and against them, they were carried out to sea, and all on +board would inevitably have perished, if they had not been picked up +by a collier, which conveyed them in safety to Yarmouth. + +The fishing-smack, with the admiral on board, remained at anchor +during the night, without being able to afford the slightest +assistance to the crew of the Invincible. At daybreak, as soon as the +tide permitted, the cable of the smack was cut, and she stretched +under the stern of the ship, endeavouring by all possible means to get +alongside of her, but before that could be accomplished, the ill-fated +vessel began to sink. About sixty men jumped into the launch, but they +had only just time to clear the poop, when the gallant ship went down +with four hundred men. + + And first one universal shriek there rush'd, + Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash + Of echoing thunder, and then all was hush'd, + Save the wild wind and the remorseless dash + Of billows: but at intervals there gushed, + Accompanied with a convulsive splash, + A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry + Of some strong swimmer in his agony. + LORD BYRON. + +'The horror of the scene,' writes Admiral Totty, 'and the screams of +the unhappy sufferers, at the moment the ship went down, exceed all +power of description. Numbers who were struggling with the waves +attempted to lay hold of the launch, but the boat was already +overladen, and, for the safety of those who were in her, the drowning +wretches were beaten off, and, soon exhausted, they perished in the +waves.' + +Captain Rennie remained in his ship till she sank. He then attempted +to swim to the launch, and by great exertion got within reach of her +oars, when, too much exhausted to make any further effort, he was seen +to raise his hands as if in supplication to Heaven, then putting them +before his face, sank into his watery grave. All the other +commissioned officers, with the exception of Lieutenants Robert Tucker +and Charles Quart, perished. + +Captain Rennie had distinguished himself, when a lieutenant, at the +Helder; and Admiral Mitchell had mentioned him in such high terms of +commendation in his public despatches, that he was made a +post-captain. After remaining for some time unemployed, he was +appointed to the Invincible, and proud of his first command, full of +life and hope, he had just put to sea when this melancholy catastrophe +closed a career that held out such bright prospects for the future. + +We must not be supposed to have more feeling for an officer than for +the men before the mast. If we dwell with peculiar sorrow upon the +loss of a brave commander, like Captain Rennie, it is not that we are +indifferent to the fate of the four hundred gallant men who perished +with him; but there is something in human nature that compels even the +most generous spirit to speak more of the loss of a man in a +responsible station than others; and one reason for this may be, that +our hopes under God, for the safety of our fleets and our armies, rest +on our brave and efficient commanders. + +No one can read such records of British seamen, as appear in this +volume, without joining heart and soul in the sentiment expressed by +the poet:-- + + To them your dearest rights you owe; + In peace, then, would you starve them? + What say ye, Britain's sons? Oh, no! + Protect them and preserve them; + Shield them from poverty and pain; + 'Tis policy to do it: + Or when grim war shall come again, + Oh, Britons! ye may rue it. + +Lieutenant Robert Tucker, who was saved in the launch, accompanied +Rear-Admiral Totty to the Baltic and West Indies in the Zealous, 74. +He was subsequently promoted, and appointed to the Surinam in 1803. + +Whilst the Surinam was on the West India station, Captain Tucker +rendered good service to the French garrison at Jacquemel; and on +returning from thence, his ship sprung her foremast, and was in other +respects so much damaged, that he was obliged to put in at Curaçoa. +Whilst refitting, he received private information that Great Britain +and Holland would ere long be declared enemies. He therefore made +every effort to hasten his departure, and get his ship ready for sea; +and he had warped her to the head of the harbour, when a prize +schooner which he had despatched to Commodore Hood returned from that +officer, with orders for his future guidance. The officer on board the +schooner incautiously permitted his vessel to touch at the government +wharf, when some of the crew, having the opportunity imprudently +afforded them, jumped on shore, and reported that the British had +already commenced hostilities. + +Upon this the Surinam was detained, and Captain Tucker was ordered on +shore, and informed that he must consider himself a prisoner of war. +At first he was not put under strict surveillance, and he therefore +employed the weary hours in taking plans of the forts and batteries of +the island. His occupation, however, was soon discovered, and highly +disapproved by the authorities, who immediately placed him in close +confinement in a room of the barracks. + +On the first night of his captivity two musket-balls were fired into +his room, one of which struck a table at which he had been seated a +few moments before. These murderous attempts were frequently repeated +during his imprisonment, and he must inevitably have been shot in his +bed, had he not taken the precaution of constantly moving its +position, and thus baffled the treacherous designs of his cowardly +assailants. + +A friendly warning was given to him, that where bullets failed, +_poison_ might succeed; and he was thenceforth obliged to watch most +narrowly, lest it should be administered in his food. In this wretched +state of suspense, he lingered for four months, when happily he and +his officers were released in exchange for nine Dutch clergymen. + +We regret that our pen should have to record such treachery as that we +have described. We ask, and others have asked, were these soldiers and +gaolers free men and Christians, or were they slaves and heathens? It +must, however, be remembered that politics ran very high at that time; +and in this particular instance, at the outbreak of a war, men's minds +were half frantic, and we must not judge of the character of a nation +by the isolated acts of a petty colonial government. + + + + +THE GRAPPLER. + + +CHAUSSEY, or Choyé, is a group of islets lying off the coast of +Normandy, about twenty miles from Jersey, and nine from Granville. +They stretch north, east, and west, and cover a space of nearly twelve +miles. The principal of them is called the Maitre Isle, and is the +resort of a few French fishermen during the summer, but being only a +rock, and totally devoid of vegetation, its inhabitants are entirely +dependent on the neighbouring shores for all the necessaries of life, +excepting what their nets may produce. At the time of which we are +writing, the winter of 1803, this group of islets was in the hands of +the English, and was the scene of the wreck of the Grappler in that +year. + +On the 23rd December, 1803, Lieutenant Abel Thomas, commanding His +Majesty's brig Grappler, then stationed at Guernsey, was directed by +Admiral Sir James Saumarez to proceed, with some French prisoners on +board, to Granville, in Normandy, and there to set them at liberty; +after which he was to touch at the islands of Chaussey, on his return +to Guernsey, in order to supply twelve French prisoners who were on +the Maitre Isle with fifteen days' provisions. + +On the evening of the 23rd,--the same day that they sailed from +Guernsey,--the Grappler anchored off the north side of Chaussey, but a +heavy gale of wind which came on during the night rendered her +position so dangerous, that Lieutenant Thomas thought it advisable +either to return to Guernsey, or to run into one of the small harbours +formed among the rocks, which afford a safe shelter during the +severest gales, but are by no means easy of access, and are available +only to small vessels, and with the aid of an experienced pilot. Into +one of these natural harbours, Lieutenant Thomas, by the advice of his +pilot, determined to run the Grappler, and succeeded in anchoring her +in safety under the Maitre Isle. There they remained four or five +days, keeping a sharp look-out by day from the top of one of the +adjacent rocks, to guard against a surprise from the enemy's cruizers; +while for their better security at night, a guard-boat was stationed +at the entrance of the harbour. As the weather still continued too +boisterous to trust the brig with safety on a lee shore, her commander +determined to return to Guernsey, and offered his prisoners the +alternative of returning with him, or remaining with their countrymen +at Chaussey. As they all chose to remain, they were promptly landed, +and furnished with a boat and a week's supply of provisions, in +addition to what had already been left for the use of the inhabitants. +To enable his prisoners to land with greater security at Granville, +Lieutenant Thomas read aloud and sealed in their presence a letter, +addressed by Sir James Saumarez to the Commissary of Marine at that +port, containing an explanation of his reasons for liberating these +Frenchmen,--with his hopes that the French authorities would act in +the same manner towards any English who might fall into their +hands,--and entrusted it to one of them, with another letter from +himself, in which he stated how he had been prevented from conveying +them to Granville in his own vessel, and begged that any English +prisoners who chanced to be at that place might be sent to one of the +Channel Islands. The sequel will show in what manner this courtesy and +generosity were repaid by the French government. + +At six, A.M., December 30th, all was in readiness for the Grappler to +leave the harbour. The anchor was up, and the vessel was riding +between wind and tide, with a hawser made fast to the rocks. +Unfortunately, the hawser either broke or slipped while they were in +the act of close reefing the topsails, and the brig cast to port. She +drifted about three or four hundred yards, and struck at last on a +half-tide rock, from which all their efforts were unavailing to haul +her off again, and at low water she bilged, and parted in two abreast +the chess tree. + +Lieutenant Thomas, foreseeing the inevitable loss of the brig, had +ordered the master to proceed with the cutter and eight men to Jersey +for assistance; and he was directing the crew in their endeavours to +mount some guns upon a small rocky islet, to which they had already +carried the greater part of the provisions, small arms, and +ammunition, when the look-out man, who had been stationed on the +summit of the rock, reported that several small craft were steering +towards them. Upon receiving this intelligence, the commander and +pilot repaired to the high ground, and after carefully examining the +appearance of the vessels, agreed that they were merely fishing boats, +and considered that it would be imprudent to let them depart before +assistance had been procured from Jersey, as, in case there were no +ships of war at that place, these boats might possibly be hired to +carry the men and stores to Jersey. With this object in view, +Lieutenant Thomas pushed off in the jolly boat, accompanied by the +French fishermen's small boat which had come to the assistance of the +Grappler's crew. + +In order to approach the supposed fishing boats, it was necessary to +double a point of the Maitre Isle; and this they had no sooner +accomplished, than they came in sight of three chasse marées, which +had been concealed behind the point. On the sudden appearance of the +English boat, the men on board the chasse marées were thrown into some +confusion, and Lieutenant Thomas determined to attack them before +they had time to recover themselves. On communicating his intention to +his boat's crew, they dashed forwards at once with a loud cheer, but +had scarcely pulled a dozen strokes when a body of soldiers, who had +been concealed behind some rocks on the Maitre Isle, poured in so +severe a fire that Lieutenant Thomas, seeing the superiority of the +French in point of numbers, thought it prudent to retreat. No sooner +had he given orders to do so, than a shot struck him on the lower jaw +and passed through his tongue, rendering him incapable of further +exertion. A second volley of musketry riddled the boat, so that she +began to fill with water, and finding that they had no alternative but +to surrender, the English made a signal to that effect, which was +either unobserved, or purposely disregarded, as the firing did not +cease till the arrival of the officer in command of the French, when +the little party were all made prisoners. Upon Lieutenant Thomas being +carried on shore, he found that he had fallen into the hands of a +Capitaine de Frigate, who commanded a detachment of fourteen boats and +a hundred and sixty men. As soon as the captives were landed, a party +of the French troops proceeded to the wreck of the Grappler, and made +prisoners of the men who were on the adjacent rock, and after seizing +all the stores and provisions, they blew up the remains of the brig. + +When Lieutenant Thomas had partially recovered from the faintness and +insensibility caused by his wound, he handed his pocket-book to the +French officer. After reading the orders of Sir James Saumarez, which +it contained, this officer expressed much regret that Lieutenant +Thomas had been so seriously wounded, and alleged that the troops had +fired without his orders. Such was the apology of the French +commander, but it certainly does not tell well for the discipline of +his troops, nor is it easy to understand how so large a body of men +could be left without a commissioned officer even for a moment, much +less how they could have kept up a continued fire, which this seems to +have been. Perhaps, however, it is not fair to comment too severely +upon the conduct of the French on this occasion; the signal of +surrender might not have been observed, and as the English had +commenced the attack, the enemy may naturally have supposed that a +larger force was shortly advancing to the support of their comrades. +We should also bear in mind that the war had just broke out anew, +after a short cessation of hostilities, and that national animosity +was at its height. + +Thus far we may attempt to palliate the conduct of the French, but it +might naturally be supposed that upon learning from his papers the +errand of mercy upon which Lieutenant Thomas had been engaged, the +French officer would have done all in his power to alleviate the +sufferings of his prisoner, and have shown him every mark of courtesy +and attention. However this may be, no sooner were all arrangements +completed, than the prisoners were marched to the boats, and +Lieutenant Thomas was handed over to the care of two grenadiers, with +directions that every attention should be paid to him; but the +officer's back was scarcely turned, when these grenadiers, assisted by +some of their comrades, stripped poor Thomas of all his clothes, broke +open his trunk, which had been restored to him, and appropriated to +themselves every article of value that he possessed. Having secured +their plunder, they dragged their unfortunate victim to the beach, +regardless of his wound and sufferings, and after gagging him with a +pocket-handkerchief, threw him on the deck of one of their boats. + +The wind blowing fresh on their passage to Granville, which was three +leagues from Chaussey, the greater part of the soldiers were +prostrated by sea-sickness, whilst the seamen were in such a state of +intoxication, that had Lieutenant Thomas been able to rise, or to +communicate with his fellow-prisoners, he might easily have +overpowered the French, and gained possession of the vessel. If such +an idea flashed across his mind, it was but for a moment: he could +neither speak nor move, and lay for many hours exposed to the +insulting jeers of the French, and the inclemency of the weather. It +was late at night when they landed at Granville, but the naval and +military staff waited upon Mr. Thomas the next morning, and told him +that it was the intention of the authorities to send him back to +England, in consideration of his kindness to the French prisoners. The +expectation raised in the English officer's breast by these promises +were, to the disgrace of the French government of that day, never +realized. He was thrown into prison, and treated with the utmost +severity; in vain did he protest against this injustice--in vain did +he represent that he was engaged on no hostile expedition at the time +of his capture, which, moreover, was not through the fortune of war, +but through the violence of the elements. He was kept in close +confinement at Verdun for ten years, and when he was at last released, +liberty was scarcely a boon to him. The damp of his prison, and the +sufferings attendant on his wound, had impaired his eyesight, and +otherwise so injured his constitution, that he was no longer fit for +active service. He was, however, promoted to the rank of commander +immediately on his return to England: this rank he still holds, but +the best years of his life had been spent in captivity, and his hopes +of promotion were not realized till too late for the enjoyment of its +honours, or for the service of his country. + + + + +THE APOLLO. + + +The following account of the loss of the Apollo is taken almost +verbatim from the narrative of Mr. Lewis, clerk of the ship, an +eye-witness of the occurrence. His narrative is too graphic to be +suppressed:--'On Monday, the 26th of March, 1804, His Majesty's ship +Apollo sailed from the Cove of Cork in company with the Carysfort, and +sixty-nine sail of merchantmen under convoy, for the West Indies. On +the 27th, we were out of sight of land, with a fair wind blowing fresh +from the west-south-west. At eight o'clock on the evening of Sunday, +the 1st of April, the wind shifted from south-west to south-east. At +ten o'clock, we up mainsail and set mainstay-sail. At a quarter past +ten, the mainstay-sail split by the sheet giving way. All hands were +called upon deck. It blew strong and squally; we took in the +foretop-sail and set the foresail. At half-past eleven the +maintop-sail split; furled it and the mainsail. The ship was now under +her foresails, the wind blowing hard, with a heavy sea. + +'At about half-past three on Monday morning, April 2nd, the ship +struck the ground, to the astonishment of every one on board, and by +the last reckoning, we conjectured we were upon an unknown shoal. + +'The vessel struck very heavily several times, by which her bottom was +materially injured, and she made a great deal of water. The chain +pumps were rigged with the utmost despatch, and the men began to pump, +but in about ten minutes she beat and drove over the shoal, and on +endeavouring to steer her, they found her rudder was carried away. The +ship was then got before the wind, the pumps were kept going, but +from the quantity of water shipped, there was every probability of her +soon foundering, as she was filling and sinking very fast. + +'After running about five minutes, the ship struck the ground again +with such violent shocks, that we feared she would go to pieces +instantly; however, she kept striking and driving further on the +sands, the sea washing completely over her. Orders were given to cut +away the lanyards of the main and mizen rigging, when the masts fell +with a tremendous crash over the larboard-side: the foremast followed +immediately after. The ship then fell on her starboard-side, with the +gunwale under water. The violence with which she struck the ground and +the weight of the guns (those on the quarter-deck tearing away the +bulwarks) soon made the ship a perfect wreck abaft, and only four or +five guns could possibly be fired to alarm the convoy and give notice +of danger. + +'On her drifting a second time, most pitiful cries were heard +everywhere between decks; many of the men giving themselves up to +inevitable death. I was told that I might as well stay below, as there +was an equal likelihood of perishing if I got upon deck. I was, +however, determined to go--and attempted, in the first place, to enter +my cabin, but I was in danger of having my legs broken by the chests +floating about, and the bulkheads giving way. + +'I therefore desisted and endeavoured to get upon deck, which I +effected after being several times washed down the hatchway by the +immense body of water incessantly pouring down. As the ship still beat +the ground very heavily, it was necessary to cling fast to some part +of the wreck to save oneself from being washed away by the surges, or +hurled overboard by the concussions. The people held on by the +larboard bulwark of the quarter-deck and in the main chains. The good +captain stood naked upon the cabin skylight grating, making use of +every soothing expression that suggested itself--to encourage men in +such a perilous situation. Most of the officers and men were entirety +naked, not having had time to slip on even a pair of trousers. + +'Our horrible situation became every moment more dreadful, until at +daybreak, about half-past four o'clock, we discerned land at two +cables' distance, a long sandy beach reaching to Cape Mondego, three +leagues to the southward of us. On daylight clearing up, we could +perceive between twenty and thirty sail of the convoy ashore, both to +northward and southward, and several of them perfect wrecks. We were +now certain of being on the coast of Portugal, from seeing the cape +mentioned above,--though I am sorry to say no person in the ship had +the least idea of being so near the coast. It was blowing very hard, +and the sea was running mountains high, so that there was little hope +of being saved. About eight o'clock, the ship seemed likely to go to +pieces, and the after part lying lowest, Captain Dixon ordered every +one forward,--a command it was difficult to comply with, from the +motion of the mainmast working on the larboard gunwale, there being no +other way to get forward. Mr. Cook, the boatswain, had his thigh +broken in endeavouring to get a boat over the side. Of six boats not +one was saved, all being stoved, and washed overboard with the booms, &c. + +'Soon after the people got forward, the ship parted at the gangways. +The crew were now obliged to stow themselves in the fore-channels, and +from thence to the bowsprit end, to the number of 220,--for, out of +the 240 persons on board when the ship first struck, I suppose twenty +to have previously perished between decks and otherwise. Mr. Lawton, +the gunner, the first who attempted to swim ashore, was drowned; +afterwards, Lieutenant Witson, Mr. Runice, surgeon, Mr. McCabe, +surgeon's mate, Mr. Staudley, master's mate, and several men, were +also drowned (though they were excellent swimmers), by the sea +breaking over them in enormous surges. About thirty persons had the +good fortune to reach the shore upon planks and spars, amongst whom +were Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam, master's mate. On Monday night, +our situation was truly horrible; the old men and boys were dying from +hunger and fatigue; Messrs. Proby and Hayes, midshipmen, died also. +Captain Dixon remained all night upon the bowsprit. + +'Tuesday morning presented no better prospect of relief from the jaws +of death. The wind blew stronger, and the sea was much more turbulent. +About noon, our drooping spirits were somewhat revived by seeing +Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam hoisting out a boat from one of the +merchant ships to come to our assistance. They attempted several times +to launch her through the surf; but she was a very heavy boat, and the +sea on the beach acted so powerfully against them, they could not +effect their purpose, though they were assisted by nearly one hundred +of the merchant sailors and Portuguese peasants. This day, several men +went upon rafts made from pieces of the wreck; but not one reached the +shore: the wind having shifted, and the current setting _out_, they +were all driven to sea, and amongst them our captain and three +sailors. Anxious to save the remainder of the ship's company, and too +sanguine of getting safe on shore, he had ventured upon the spar, +saying, as he jumped into the sea, 'My lads, I'll save you all.' In a +few seconds, he lost his hold of the spar, which he could not regain: +he drifted to sea, and perished: and such was also the fate of the +three brave volunteers who shared his fortune. + +'The loss of our captain, who had hitherto animated the almost +lifeless crew, and the failure of Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam, in +their noble exertions to launch the boat, extinguished every gleam of +hope, and we looked forward to certain death on the ensuing night, not +only from cold, hunger, and fatigue, but from the expectation that the +remaining part of the wreck might go to pieces at any moment. Had not +the Apollo been a new and well-built ship, that small portion of her +could not have resisted the waves, and held so well together, when all +the after-part from the chess-tree was gone, the starboard bow under +water, and the forecastle deck nearly perpendicular. The weight of the +guns hanging to the larboard bulwark on the inside, and on the outside +the bower and spare anchors, which it was not prudent to cut away, as +they afforded a resting-place to a considerable number of men, added +to the danger. It had become impossible to remain any longer in the +head, or upon the bowsprit, the breakers washing continually over +those places, so that one hundred and fifty men were stowed in the +fore-channels and cat's-head, where alone it was possible to live. + +'The night drawing on, the wind increasing, with frequent showers of +rain, the sea washing over us, and the expectation becoming every +instant more certain, that the forecastle would give way and that we +must all perish together, afforded a spectacle truly deplorable, and +the bare recollection of which makes me shudder. The piercing cries of +the people, this dismal night, as the sea washed over them every two +minutes, were pitiful in the extreme. The water running from the head +down over the body kept us continually wet. On that fearful night +every man's strength was exerted for his own individual safety. From +crowding so close together in so narrow a compass, and having nothing +to moisten their mouths, several poor wretches were suffocated, like +those in the black hole,--with this only difference, that we were +confined by water instead of strong walls; and the least movement or +relaxation of our hold would have plunged us into eternity. + +'Some unfortunate men drank salt water, several endeavoured to quench +their raging thirst by a still more unnatural means; some chewed +leather, myself and many others thought we experienced great relief by +chewing lead, as it produced saliva. + +'In less than an hour after the ship had struck the ground, all the +provisions were under water, and the ship a wreck, so that we were +entirely without food. After a night of most intense suffering, +daylight enabled us to see Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam again +endeavouring to launch the boat. Several attempts were made without +success, and a number of men belonging to the merchant ships were much +bruised and injured in their efforts to assist. Alternate hopes and +fears possessed our wretched minds. + +'Fifteen men got safe on shore, this morning, on pieces of the wreck. +About three, P.M., of Wednesday, the 4th, we had the inexpressible +happiness of seeing the boat launched through the surf, by the +indefatigable exertions of the two officers, assisted by the masters +of the merchant ships, and a number of Portuguese peasants, who were +encouraged by Mr. Whitney, the British Consul from Figuera. + +'All the crew then remaining on the wreck were brought safe on shore, +praising God for this happy deliverance, from a shipwreck which never +yet had its parallel. + +'As soon as I slipt out of the boat, I found several persons whose +humanity prompted them to offer me refreshment, though imprudently, in +the form of spirits, which I avoided as much as possible. + +'Our weak state may be conceived when it is remembered that we had +tasted no nourishment from Sunday to Wednesday afternoon, and had been +exposed all that time to the fury, of the elements. After eating and +drinking a little, I found myself weaker than before, owing, I +imagine, to having been so long without food. Some men died soon after +getting on shore, from taking too large a quantity of spirits. The +whole of the crew were in a very weak and exhausted state, and the +greater part of them were also severely bruised and wounded.' + +Such is Mr. Lewis's account of the wreck of the Apollo, one of our +finest frigates, and the loss of sixty of her men. + +The cause of this catastrophe seems to have been an error in the +reckoning. At twelve o'clock on Sunday, the land was supposed to be +thirty or forty leagues distant, nor were they aware of their true +position when the vessel struck at three o'clock the following +morning, on what was supposed to be an unknown shoal. Never, perhaps, +in the annals of maritime disaster, was there a scene more rife with +horror than that upon which the daylight broke on the morning of the +2nd of April. + +The frigate, which but a few hours before had been careering on her +way with her gallant company full of life and energy, now lay a +hapless wreck--her timbers crashing beneath the fury of the waves. The +merchant vessels around were stranded in all directions, and the air +resounded with the despairing shrieks of those on board. The +destruction of the Apollo seemed inevitable; but in this hour of +trial, the captain was firm and resolute, sustaining by words and +example the courage of his crew; and when no other means of escape +presented themselves, he sacrificed his own life in the endeavour to +obtain rescue for those under his charge. + +The narrator of this sad tale, has touchingly described in no +exaggerated terms the sufferings of the wretched crowd who were +exposed for nearly three days and nights to the worst of physical and +mental evils--hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness--in their most +aggravated form, rendered still more painful by the almost utter +hopelessness of their condition, while they watched the repeated +failures of Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam in their attempts to send +a boat to their relief. We need not therefore dwell on this subject +further than to observe that, under Providence, it was by the +undaunted courage and perseverance of those two officers that the +remainder of the crew of the Apollo were saved from destruction--for +no one else had been found bold enough to attempt their rescue, +although the Consul of Figuera had offered 100 guineas to any man that +would take a boat to the wreck. + +No less than forty merchantmen were wrecked at the same time. Several +sunk with all their crew, and the remainder lost from two to twelve +men each. Yet Mr. Lewis describes the situation of these ships as not +so dangerous as that of the frigate, because the merchantmen, drawing +less water, were driven closer in to shore, and the men were enabled +to land after the first morning. + +The Apollo's company received every mark of kindness and attention +when they got on shore, from the masters of the merchant vessels, who +had erected tents on the beach, and who shared with the sufferers +whatever provisions they had saved from the wrecks. + +Dead bodies floated on shore for many days after, and pieces of wreck +covered the beach, marking the scene of this sad calamity. +Fortunately, the Carysfort, with part of the convoy, escaped the fate +of her consort by wearing, and arrived safely at Barbadoes. The +surviving officers and crew of the Apollo marched to Figuera, a +distance of eighteen miles, from whence they were conveyed in a +schooner to Lisbon, and brought by the Orpheus frigate to Portsmouth. + +On their arrival in England, they were tried by a court martial; and +it is satisfactory to know that they were all fully acquitted. + +It is a principal object in this work to draw attention to the +advantages of firm and steady discipline in all cases of emergency. We +cannot, therefore, omit to show than when a spirit of insubordination +breaks out under circumstances of danger, how surely it is attended +with fatal results. + +In the course of the evidence adduced before the court of inquiry upon +the loss of the Apollo, it was proved that about twenty of her men had +broken into the spirit room; disorder, of course, ensued; and +Lieutenant Harvey gave it as his opinion, that, if these men had +remained sober, many lives might have been spared. There is so much +cause for regret in the whole catastrophe, that we will not harshly +impute blame to one party or another. We may see some palliation for +the misconduct of the men in the awful situation in which they were +placed--their fears, perhaps, made them forgetful alike of their duty +to their king, their country, and themselves; but it is cheering to +know that such cases are rare in the British Navy, and we are happy in +having very few such to record: they are alluded to only in the hope +that our seamen may learn from them to value that strict discipline +and order, which, in a moment of danger, is their greatest safeguard. + +Lieutenant, now Rear Admiral, Harvey subsequently served in the +Amethyst, Amaranthe, and Intrepid. His promotion to the rank of +commander took place in 1808, when he was appointed to the Cephalus, +in the Mediterranean, and there he captured four of the enemy's +privateers, and several merchant vessels. His post commission bears +date April 18, 1811, and he was employed off Corfu till the month of +December following. His last ship was the Implacable, which he paid +off in 1814. He obtained his flag as rear-admiral in December, 1847. +This officer now holds the appointment of Admiral Superintendent of +Malta Dockyard. + + + + +THE HINDOSTAN. + + +In the year 1804, the Government sent out the Hindostan, of 1100 tons, +laden with supplies for Lord Nelson, then commander-in-chief of the +Mediterranean fleet. This ship was commanded by Captain Le Gros, with +259 persons on board, including passengers, women, and children. + +She arrived at Gibraltar in the month of March, and sailed again from +thence in company with the Phoebe frigate, to join Lord Nelson off +Toulon, but she was separated from her consort during a heavy gale of +wind, in the Gulf of Lyons. + +On the 2nd of April, at about seven o'clock in the morning, the ship +being then thirteen leagues to the south-east of Cape St. Sebastian, a +thick smoke was observed to issue from the fore and main hatchways. + +Lieutenant Tailour, who was on the quarter-deck, heard the cry of +"fire," and saw the people rushing up the hatchway in the midst of +volumes of smoke, coming from the orlop deck. He instantly called for +the drummer and the mate of the watch, and desired the former to beat +to quarters, and the latter to inform Captain Le Gros of what had +occurred, whilst he himself would go below, and endeavour to ascertain +the cause and the place of the fire. + +Lieutenant Tailour then went down into the orlop gratings, and +penetrated some distance into each tier; the smoke was very thick in +both, particularly forward. He next went to the sail room, where there +was no appearance of either fire or smoke. He was then joined by +Lieutenant Banks and several other officers, and they proceeded +together to the hold. Here the smoke was very dense, and it affected +the throat like that from hot tar. The officers were satisfied, upon +inquiry, that there had not been either light or tar in the hold. They +then tried to re-enter the tiers, but were driven back by the +suffocating smoke. The absence of heat, however, convinced them that +the fire was not in that part of the ship. A cry was heard that the +fire was down forward,--but we will use Lieutenant Tailour's own words +to describe the scene. He says,-- + +'When I reached the fore-ladder, none being able to tell me where the +fire was, I went down to examine, when at the orlop, I put my head +over the spars which were stowed in the starboard side, then behind +the ladder in the larboard side; the smoke came thickest in the +starboard side from aft; feeling nothing like fire heat, I attempted +to go down to the cockpit, but ere I reached the third or fourth step +on the ladder, I felt myself overpowered, and called for help. Several +men had passed me upwards on my way down, none I believe were below +me. By the time I came up to the orlop ladder, some one came and +helped me; when I reached the lower deck, I fell, but not, as many +did that day, lifeless.' + +When Lieutenant Tailour recovered, he made strict inquiries, whether +any fire had been discovered in the cockpit or store-rooms, and being +assured that there had not, he ordered the lower deck to be scuttled. + +So energetic was this officer, that eight or ten minutes only had +elapsed since the first alarm had been given, before the hammocks were +all got on deck, and the ports opened, to give light and room below, +until the place of fire could be discovered, and better means obtained +for drawing water. Mr. Tailour did not recover from the suffocation so +fast as he expected, and was obliged to go upon deck for air. There he +found Captain Le Gros in consultation with the master, who, being of +opinion that the fire was on the larboard side, gave orders to wear +the ship, so as to allow the water which had been hove in to flow over +her. Mr. Tailour differed from them, and said he was convinced that +the fire was on the orlop starboard side. In a few minutes he again +went below and assisted in working the engine, and giving directions +for scuttling on the larboard side, where the smoke appeared most +dense. + +The engine, however, proved of little avail, for the smoke increased +to such a degree as to prevent the people working on the orlop deck; +the hatches were, therefore, laid over, the ports lowered, everything +covered up, and all means used to prevent the circulation of air. +Having taken these precautions, Lieutenant Tailour reported to Captain +Le Gros what had been done, and at the same time advised that the +boats should be got out without loss of time. The captain seems to +have objected to this, on the plea that if the boats were got out, the +people would all crowd into them, and abandon the ship without an +effort to save her. To this objection Mr. Tailour replied, that to +save human life must be their first consideration, and that every +moment's delay was fraught with peril and death. 'If we wait,' said +he, 'till the last moment, it may not be possible to save any; we can +get the marines under arms.' Captain Le Gros yielded the point; he +directed the sergeant of marines to get his men under arms, with +orders to load with ball, and to shoot without hesitation the first +man who should attempt to go into the boats without permission. All +hands were then turned up, and the command given to 'out boats.' + +The order was promptly executed, and as soon as the boats were out and +secure for towing, the ship's head was pointed to the north-west, with +the view of nearing the land, and in hopes that she might fall in with +the Juno. + +In the meantime, a party was employed in getting the booms overboard +for a raft, the fore and main gratings were laid up and covered over, +and Lieutenant Banks was sent down to get the powder out of the +magazine, and stow it away in the stern gallery. He could only +partially accomplish this; for the smoke increased upon them so much +that the men were obliged to desist. The powder they had got up was +thrown overboard, and water was poured down to drown that which +remained; but the task of filling the magazine was hopeless, and +therefore abandoned. Many of the men were drawn up apparently +lifeless, amongst whom were Lieutenant Banks and the gunner. +Lieutenant Tailour then went below to ascertain how matters were going +on; he found only the boatswain's mate in the cockpit, who was almost +stupified by the smoke. Mr. Tailour assisted him to reach the deck, +and then the gallant officer was preparing to return to the magazine, +taking a rope with him by way of precaution, when Lieutenant Banks, +with noble generosity, darted past him, also with a rope in his hand, +and descended on the dangerous service; but in a short time he was +drawn up in a state of insensibility. All hope of doing anything with +the magazine was then given up; but although the smoke was so powerful +below, it had not yet got possession of the after part of the lower +deck. + +It was therefore proposed, and the proposition was immediately acted +on, to cut scuttles through the starboard foremost cabin in the +ward-room, and one under it in the gun-room, into the magazine. This +was found more practicable than was at first supposed, as the cabins +kept out the smoke. When they were cutting these scuttles, the smoke +came up in such dense volumes through the after-hatchway, that it was +necessary to shut it closely up, and the scuttle in the after-part of +the captain's cabin was opened for a passage to the ward-room, and +they began to haul up the powder, and heave it overboard out of the +gallery windows. The ward-room doors, and every other passage for the +smoke were carefully closed, and thus it was kept tolerably well +under; yet many of the men employed in the duty were taken up to all +appearance dead. Amongst them we again find Lieutenant Banks, and Mr. +Pearce, the gunner. We cannot proceed without expressing the +admiration we feel for the heroism and self-devotion displayed by +officers and men. This is the third time we have seen Lieutenant Banks +risk his life in the performance of his duty, and it was not the last +of such efforts to save the vessel and the lives of his +fellow-sufferers. + +For the present, we will again adopt the language of Lieutenant +Tailour:--'About noon,' said he, 'I went aft upon the poop, where +many were collected, but the marines were drawn up on duty upon the +poop above. Francis Burke, the purser's steward, was lying dead on one +of the arm chests, said to have been suffocated by the smoke below. +Soon after this, my attention was drawn forward, where a vast body of +smoke issued from the hatchway, gallery doors, funnels, and scuttles, +which I soon saw were blown off; I rushed forward and got them secured +again, and in coming aft found the hatches had all been blown off; the +two foremost main-gratings had gone down the hatchway. The after one I +assisted to replace, also the tarpaulin, which was excessively hot, +and left the carpenter to get it secured on. I next thought of the +magazine, where I dreaded some accident. On my way aft, I met some +people again bringing Mr. Banks up in their arms. On reaching the +ward-room, I saw through the windows the stern ladders filled with +people; I broke a pane of glass, and ordered them on the poop, +threatening instant death to any one who dared disobey. On their +beginning to move up, I just took time to summons the men from the +magazine, and went up to the poop to see every one was once more under +the eye of the marines. This done, the smoke having in a great measure +subsided, the maintop-sail was filled, and top-gallant sails set.' + +About two o'clock in the afternoon, when they had been seven hours +contending with the fire and smoke, land was discerned through the +haze, on the weather-bow, and it was supposed to be above Cape Creux. + +Captain Le Gros, fearing the signals might fall into the enemy's +hands, hove them all overboard. The sight of land gave a turn to the +men's thoughts, and spurred them on to greater exertion. The fire +rapidly increased; but the efforts of the captain and his noble crew +increased with the danger. + +Again they attempted to clear the magazine; but the smoke again drove +the men from below, and rendered them powerless. Their courage was, +indeed, kept up by the sight of land, though still five leagues +distant; but there was still much to be done--many perils yet +surrounded them.--and it was awful to feel that fire and water were +contending for the mastery, and that they must be the victims of one +of these elements, unless by the mercy of God the progress of the +conflagration was stayed, and time allowed them to reach the distant +shore. The fire was increasing fearfully; so much so, that Lieutenant +Tailour describes the lower deck 'burning like the flame in an oven.' +All communication was cut off from the fore-part of the ship. The +flames flew up the fore and main hatchways as high as the lower yards, +but still the brave crew remained firm to their duty; and by keeping +tarpaulins over the hatchways, and pouring down water, they managed +for a time to keep the fire from taking serious hold abaft. + +But the crisis was fast approaching when human skill and human +fortitude could be of no avail. In defiance of all their exertions and +precautions, the devouring element pursued its course. Every moment it +was gaining aft; and had not officers and men been true to themselves +and to each other, they must all have perished. The mizenmast was on +fire in the captain's cabin, and the flames were bursting from all the +lee-ports. It was now a quarter past five o'clock, and they were +entering the Bay of Rosas. Could they venture to hold on their way, +and still remain in the ship? A moment's glance around him sufficed +for Captain Le Gros to decide the question. The now triumphant element +was no longer smouldering and creeping stealthily onwards amidst smoke +and darkness, but with a lurid glare, and a sullen roar, the flames +rolled on. The word was given to launch the raft; it was obeyed, and +in a few minutes more the vessel struck, about a mile from the beach, +between the Fort of Ampurius and the Church of St. Pierre. She was now +on fire both fore and aft. Self-preservation is the law of nature, it +is said; but there is a stronger law governing the actions of the +British seaman. Officers and men were of one mind. They all united in +putting first the women and children, then the sick and the +foreigners, into the launch. The two yawls and the jolly-boat took as +many as they could carry from the stern, and put them on board some +Spanish boats from La Escada, which had been sent to their assistance, +but which neither threats nor entreaties could avail to bring near to +the ship. + +The remainder of the people were then ordered on to the raft, and by +the time it was covered, the flames came aft so thick, that it was +necessary to send it off from the stern. All now had left the +ill-fated vessel, except the gallant Captain Le Gros, Lieutenant +Tailour, and the master. When they saw all the rest clear away, and +not till then, did they descend by the stern ladders into one of the +yauls and pulled towards the shore, which they had scarcely reached +when she blew up. + +The value of this ship was estimated at 100,000_l._, and the loss to +Lord Nelson must have been incalculable. Yet it is said that he was +much more distressed by the loss of the despatches, which were taken +by the enemy, about the same time, in the Swift cutter. + +In a letter to Lord St. Vincent, dated the 19th of April, Admiral +Nelson says, speaking of Captain Le Gros.--"If his account be correct +(he was then upon his trial), he had great merit for the order in +which the ship was kept. The fire must have originated from medicine +chests breaking, or from wet getting down, which caused the things to +heat. The preservation of the crew seems little short of a miracle. I +never read such a journal of exertions in my whole life."[6] + +The captain, officers, and ship's company were most honourably +acquitted by the sentence of court-martial. + +Brenton, in his _Naval History_, remarks, 'In support of the +reasonable conjectures of the Admiral (Lord Nelson), as to the origin +of the fire, we might adduce many instances of ships in the cotton +trade having been on fire in the hold during a great part of their +voyage from China, owing to the cargo having been wet when compressed +into the ship. Hemp has been known to ignite from the same cause; and +the dockyard of Brest was set on fire by this means in 1757. New +painted canvas or tarpaulin, laid by before it is completely dry, will +take fire; and two Russian frigates were nearly burnt by the +accidental combination of a small quantity of soot, of burnt fir wood, +hemp, and oil, tied up with some matting,' + +Mr. Thomas Banks, acting-lieutenant of the Hindostan, was recommended +to Lord Nelson for promotion, by the members of the court-martial, in +consequence of his conduct on this occasion; and he was advanced to +the rank of lieutenant on the 23rd of June, 1804. This gallant officer +died in 1811. Lieutenant George Tailour was appointed to the Tigre in +1808, and was promoted for his gallant conduct in cutting out a convoy +of transports which had taken refuge in this same Bay of Rosas, where, +five years before, he had equally distinguished himself, under even +more trying circumstances. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] Clark and McArthur, vol. ii. p. 361. + + + + +THE ROMNEY. + + +'In the month of November, 1804,' writes Brenton, in his _Naval +History_, 'the severity of blockading the Ports of the Texel was +practically experienced in the loss of the Romney, of fifty guns, +commanded by Captain the Hon. John Colville.' + +The Romney sailed from Yarmouth on the 18th of November, under orders +to join Rear-Admiral Russel, off the Texel; but on the 19th she went +aground on the south-west part of the sand-bank off the Haaks. Regular +soundings had been made during the run from Yarmouth; and a few +minutes before the ship struck, the pilots were confident they were on +the edge of the Broad Fourteens. They then sounded, and the pilots +proposed standing in under double-reefed topsails, and foretopmast +stay-sail, with the wind S.S.W., until they should be in ten or eleven +fathoms. To this Captain Colville objected, as from the unsettled +appearance of the weather, and the thickness of the fog, he deemed it +would be imprudent to approach the shore. They were accordingly in the +act of wearing, when they perceived, through the fog, a large ship +bearing east by north. They stood towards her to make her out more +plainly, and in four or five minutes they discovered that she was a +large merchant vessel on shore.[7] Upon this, the pilots were anxious +to haul off on the larboard tack; but before the ship could be brought +to the wind, she struck. The wind was increasing, the fog very great, +and a heavy sea rolling in. In spite of every exertion, the water +gained upon the vessel so fast, that all hope of saving her was soon +at an end; and had she been in deep water, she must have sunk +immediately. The pilots supposed that the Romney would be dry at low +water, the topmasts were therefore struck, and every preparation made +to shore her up. + +The captain having done all in his power to save his ship, next turned +his attention to the preservation of his officers and men, determined +to use every possible means for their safety. Minute guns were fired, +in the hope that they might attract the notice of some of our +cruisers, and procure assistance. + +At this time it blew a gale from the south-west, and the sea ran so +high, as to endanger the boats which were lowered in order to lighten +the ship. + +The two cutters were sent to a galliot and a schuyt, that were in +sight near the land, to ask for help, but they failed in obtaining it; +and one of them in returning to the Romney was upset in the breakers, +and a master's mate with her crew perished. Lieutenant Baker, who +commanded the other cutter, finding it impossible to reach the ship +again, bore up to the Texel, in hopes of being more successful in +obtaining assistance there than he had been with the schuyt. + +On board the ship, in the meantime, the minute guns were fired, and +officers and men looked anxiously for a responsive signal that would +tell them of approaching succour--but they waited in vain; no help was +at hand. The people were therefore set to work to make rafts, and +three were soon finished. Between two and three o'clock in the +afternoon the ship struck again, with such violence, that the rudder +broke away, and she seemed likely to go to pieces immediately. The +captain seized the first moment of the weather-tide slacking to order +the masts to be cut away, which was promptly done, and fortunately +without causing any injury in their fall. After this, the ship became +more easy, although the sea still made a clean breach over her. +Captain Colville saw that the slightest alteration in her position +would be attended with imminent danger, and he therefore ordered the +bower anchors to be let go--her head then swung to the wind, and this +enabled her to settle gradually on the sand, where she lay +comparatively easy. Darkness was fast gathering around, and the hearts +of the crew were becoming dreary and hopeless. + + Nor sail nor shore appeared in sight, + Nought but the heavy sea and coming night. + +When the tide flowed, no part of the ship below the quarter-deck was +accessible. To add to the misery of their situation, out of the four +bags of bread which had been put for safety into the cabin, one only +could be got upon deck, and that one was so soaked in salt water, that +the bread could scarcely be eaten. This, with two cheeses, and a few +gallons of wine, composed the whole of their stock of provisions, and +during the day they had had no leisure to take refreshment of any +kind. + +Such was the condition of the crew of the Romney, who passed that +awful night on the quarter-deck, the starboard side of which was under +water at high tide. The wind blew in violent gusts; sleet and rain +were falling, and the sea dashed over the vessel every instant. +Although the men were shivering with cold and hunger, not a murmur +escaped their lips, not a whisper of complaint; but they patiently +awaited the break of day. At length the morning dawned, and with it +hope dawned upon the hearts of those patient sufferers, for the wind +and the waves subsided, the clouds gradually dispersed, and the sun +shone forth with glorious and invigorating light and warmth. + +All eyes were turned to the offing, but still no assistance appeared. +Captain Colville then resolved to hoist the white flag on the stump of +the mizen mast, in hopes that it might be seen from the shore, and +that he might preserve the lives of his crew by surrendering to the +enemy. + +This step was necessary, as it was the only means of rescue that +remained to them. The barge had been swamped along side, soon after +the masts were cut away, and three of the crew had been drowned. The +launch, also, which was lying to leeward, had parted from her grapnel, +and had been obliged to bear up for the Texel. + +At 11 o'clock A.M., Captain Colville asked the carpenter if he thought +they could remain another night upon the wreck: the carpenter assured +him that he considered it almost impossible to do so, and that the +attempt would be attended with the greatest risk to all on board. The +ship had already parted amidships, the main beam and several others +being broken. + +Five rafts had been carefully instructed, each fitted with a mast and +sail; and at the earnest entreaty of the crew, Captain Colville, on +hearing the carpenter's report, allowed a part of the men to leave the +wreck on these rafts. + +About noon, as the fifth and last raft was about to leave the ship, +seven boats (one bearing a flag of truce) were seen coming towards +them from the shore. The captain ordered the people to throw the +quarter-deck guns, and all the arms and warlike stores overboard, +which they did. + +When the boats arrived alongside, an officer hailed the wreck, and +said that if Captain Colville was willing to secure the preservation +of his officers and crew, by surrendering as prisoners of war, the +whole company should be conducted in safety to the Helder. Captain +Colville felt himself obliged to submit to the imperious dictates of +necessity, and he accordingly accepted the proffered conditions, and +surrendered himself to the Dutch, with all the ship's company that +remained on the wreck. + +Before nightfall they were all landed. Only those who have been placed +in similar circumstances can judge of the feelings of men so rescued +from the awful contemplation of immediate and certain death. How happy +now did they feel in occupying a position, which two days before they +would have shrunk from with horror, and have shed their life's blood +to avoid. But 'there is no virtue like necessity,' + + All places that the eye of heaven visits, + Are to a wise man ports and happy havens. + RICHARD II. + +And the Romney's company were wise enough to rejoice, under the +circumstances of their hard case, in finding themselves safely landed +in an enemy's country as prisoners of war. + +Nine seamen had been drowned; thirteen others, who had left the wreck +upon a raft of timber, were afterwards picked up and taken on board +the Eagle; the others who had been saved by the boats and rafts joined +Captain Colville at the Helder. The following extracts from Captain +Colville's dispatches show the high estimation in which he held the +services of his officers and crew:--'That every possible exertion was +made to lessen the calamity, after having struck, I trust will appear +from the minutes.' ... 'Under the uneasiness of mind which the loss of +the ship I had the honour to command, naturally occasioned, I feel +some alleviation in reflecting upon the zealous, active, and orderly +conduct of my officers and crew in circumstances the most trying, and +under which they endured the severest hardships with cheerfulness, +and in perfect reliance on Divine Providence, whose interposition in +our behalf was strongly evident.' + +Nothing could exceed the kindness and consideration shown by the Dutch +admiral towards the crew of the Romney. Captain Colville, in a letter +addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, does ample justice to a +generous foe:-- + +'We have experienced,' he says, 'from the Dutch Admiral Kirkhurt, +every attention that our distressed situation made so necessary, and +which his disposition seems incapable of withholding, even from an +enemy. But the wants of my fellow-sufferers are great, for not an +article of clothing or anything else was saved by any one from the +general wreck. I hope the Dutch government will be disposed to +alleviate, in some degree, their wants,--in clothing, particularly. +And I have solicited the assistance of Rear-Admiral Russel in +obtaining these necessaries.' ... 'I have reason to believe we shall +be sent to Amsterdam, until exchanged.' + +Subsequently, the Dutch admiral, with noble generosity, sent Captain +Colville, with eight of his officers, to Rear-Admiral Russel. It is +always delightful to record such traits of magnanimity and kindness, +and we feel that British sailors can well afford to do honour to those +virtues in others, for which they have ever been so distinguished +themselves. + +Admiral Russel handsomely acknowledged his obligation to the Dutch +government in the following letter to Admiral Kirkhurt:-- + + H.B.M. Ship Eagle, Dec. 2, 1804. + + 'Sir--I have this moment received your flag of truce, conveying + to me the Honourable Captain Colville, late of his Majesty's + ship, the Romney, (wrecked upon your coast,) with eight of his + officers, whom you have first humanely saved from impending + destruction, and whom your government, with its ancient + magnanimity, has released and restored to their country and + their friends, on their _parole d'honneur_. They are all, Sir, + most sensibly affected with heartfelt gratitude to the Batavian + government for their emancipation from captivity; to Admiral + Kirkhurt for their preservation from the jaws of death, and to + all the Dutch officers and inhabitants of the Texel, for their + kindness and most humane attention. + + 'This, Sir, is nobly alleviating the rigours of war, as the + Christian heroes of your country and mine were wont to do in + these seas, before a considerable portion of European intellect + was corrupted by false philosophy. Captain Colville will + communicate to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of + the Admiralty, your proposal for an exchange of prisoners. + Accept my sincere thanks, and the assurance that I am, &c. &c. + + '(Signed) T.M. RUSSEL.' + +On the 31st of December, Captain Colville, the officers and ship's +company of H.M. (late) ship Romney were tried by a court-martial on +board the Africaine at Sheerness, for the loss of their ship off the +Tezel on the 19th of November. + +It appeared to the court, that the loss of the ship had been +occasioned by the thickness of the fog and the ignorance of the +pilots; that the utmost exertions had been used by the captain, +officers, and crew, to save the vessel after she struck, and to +prevent the ship's company becoming prisoners of war. The sentence of +the court was to this effect: that the captain, officers and crew were +fully acquitted of all blame, but that the pilots should forfeit all +their pay, and be rendered henceforth incapable of taking charge of +any of his Majesty's ships or vessels of war, and that they should be +imprisoned in the Marshalsea--one for the space of twelve, and the +other, of six months. + +In 1805, Captain Colville was appointed to the Sea Fencibles, at +Margate. In 1807, he obtained the command of L'Hercule, a 74-gun ship, +on the coast of Portugal, and subsequently commanded the Queen on the +North Sea Station. + +He succeeded to his title (Lord Colville) on the death of his father +in 1811, and was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral in 1819. On the +10th of November, 1821, he hoisted his flag on board the Semiramis, as +commander-in-chief on the Irish station. Lord Colville died an Admiral +of the White, in 1849. + +We are aware that the foregoing narrative may appear deficient in +novel and striking incidents, but we have introduced it for the sake +of exhibiting some of the best and noblest attributes of the +true-hearted sailor--courage, patience, and perfect obedience under +the most trying circumstances, and generous kindness towards an +unfortunate enemy. It is well to think of these things, and the more +we read of the details of naval life--its sufferings, dangers, and +trials, the more fully shall we be persuaded that _true_ courage is +ever generous and unselfish. In the words of the quaint old song-- + + Says the captain, says he, (I shall never forget it,) + 'If of courage you'd know, lads, the true from the sham, + Tis a furious lion in battle, so let it, + But, duty appeased, 'tis in mercy a lamb.' + + That my friend, Jack or Tom, I should rescue from danger, + Or lay down my life for each lad in the mess, + Is nothing at all,--'tis the poor wounded stranger, + And the poorer the more I shall succour distress: + In me let the foe feel the paw of the lion, + But, the battle once ended, the heart of a lamb. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] She proved to be an American, and she went to pieces during the +night. + + + + +VENERABLE. + + +On Saturday, the 24th of November, 1804, the fleet under the command +of Admiral the Hon. W. Cornwallis, lay at anchor in Torbay. As it was +late in the year, and the night dark and stormy, orders were given for +the fleet to put to sea. + +Unfortunately, in fishing the anchor of the Venerable, 74-gun ship, +the fish-hook gave way, and a man was precipitated into the sea. The +alarm was immediately given, and one of the cutters was ordered to be +lowered. Numbers of the crew rushed aft to carry the orders into +effect, but in the confusion, one of the falls was suddenly let go, +the boat fell by the run, filled, and a midshipman and two of the crew +were drowned. In a few minutes another boat was lowered, which +fortunately succeeded in picking up the man who first fell overboard. + +Owing to this delay, the Venerable fell off considerably towards +Brixham, and getting sternway, was unable to weather the Berry Head. +Every effort was made to stay her, but the ship refused; and, not +having room to wear, she drove on shore, at the north part of the bay, +on a spot called Roundem Head, near Paington. + +Orders were given to cut away the masts, in the hopes of their falling +between the ship and the shore. This was found impracticable, as the +ship, from her position on the declivity of the rock on which she +struck, heeled to such an extent, as to render the falling of the +masts in the desired direction quite impossible. + +Her commander, Captain John Hunter, however, with undaunted fortitude, +continued to animate the crew with hope, and encouraged them to acts +of further perseverance, with the same calmness and self-possession as +if he were simply conducting the ordinary duties of his ship. From +the moment the ship struck, not the least alteration took place in his +looks, words, or manner; and everything that the most able and +experienced seaman could suggest was done, but in vain. On signals of +distress being made, H.M. cutter Frisk, Lieutenant Nicholson, +immediately stood towards her, and hailing to know in what manner she +could be useful, was requested to anchor as near as possible to +receive the crew, with which her commander immediately complied, +assisted by the boats of the Goliath and Impetueux. + +All hope of saving the Venerable being now abandoned, the only object +that remained was to preserve the lives of the crew, who were told to +provide for their own safety on board the boats which had been sent to +their assistance, the captain and officers declaring their intention +of remaining on board till all the men had quitted the wreck. + +At this time the sea ran tremendously high, and the men lowered +themselves into the boats from the stern, this being the only +accessible part of the ship. Most anxious was the situation of the +officers and men who were left, during the absence of the boats. Many +gave up all hopes of rescue, for every time the boats approached the +ship, the attempt became more and more dangerous. The night still +continued dark and foggy, with driving sleet and violent gusts of +wind, which seemed to freshen every hour. In this forlorn and dismal +state, the officers continued on the outside of the ship (for she was +nearly on her beam ends), encouraging the men, and affording every +assistance for their escape on board the boats. + +The Venerable was now a complete wreck, beating against the rocks, and +was expected to go to pieces at every surge; yet all this time was +she so near the shore that those on board were able to converse with +the people, whom the report of the guns had brought in great numbers +to the rocks. With much difficulty, they at last contrived to fling a +line on shore, which, being secured there, some of the crew attempted +to land themselves by it. The surf, however, broke with such violence +between them and the shore, although they were scarcely twenty yards +distant, that the poor fellows who made the attempt were either +drowned or dashed to pieces. + +It was now past five o'clock on Sunday morning, the weather still +growing worse. The crew, with the exception of seventeen, had +succeeded in quitting the ship, and these nobly declared that they +would remain to share the fate of their officers. The situation of the +whole was indeed appalling, and sufficient to quail the boldest heart; +the sea breaking over them, the fore part of the ship under water, and +the rest expected momentarily to go to pieces. Under these +circumstances, the officers, feeling that they could be of no further +use on board, deemed it their duty to represent to the captain the +necessity of endeavouring to save their lives, they having one and all +resolved on sharing his fate. + +This point being arranged, the hopes of life began to revive; but a +further difficulty presented itself, which seemed to render their +safety more problematical than ever. This was, who was to lead the +way. The pause had well nigh been fatal to them all. At length a +junior lieutenant, long known on board, and celebrated for his +courage, agreed to lead the way, the rest solemnly promising to +follow. One after another they descended from the stern by a single +rope, wet, cold, and benumbed; and in this condition they gained the +boats, which were in perilous attendance below. About six o'clock +they reached the Impetueux, where they were treated with every +attention and kindness which their unfortunate position so loudly +called for. They quitted the ship in a most critical time, for in a +little more than an hour after they had left her, she parted +amidships--that part on which they had been standing for the last five +or six hours capsized and was buried in the surf. In sixteen hours +from the time she first struck, the whole vessel had disappeared, +under the action of a raging surf, lashed into fury by the violence of +the gale. + +The conduct of the people on shore was most inhuman; not the slightest +assistance was offered; not a single boat from Brixham or Torquay +having put out to their assistance during the whole of this dreadful +night. To add to this disgraceful conduct, the cowardly wretches were +observed, when daylight broke, plundering everything of value as it +floated ashore. + +The following is the tribute of praise which Captain Hunter so justly +pays to Captain Martin and the officers and crew of the Impetueux:-- + + "To Captain Martin, of the Impetueux, whose feelings as a man, + as well as his zeal as an officer, were on this distressing + occasion so conspicuous.--It is the desire of the officers and + crew of the Venerable in this place to express the high sense + they have of the obligations they are under to his personal + exertions, as well as those of the officers and boats' crews + whom he employed in this difficult and dangerous service,--for + it is to their exertions they owe the life they now enjoy." + +Captain Hunter also speaks of the conduct of his own ship's company in +the highest terms. Their steadiness throughout was most remarkable, +and to this, in a great measure, may be attributed the preservation of +their own lives. + +One solitary instance of neglect of duty occurred; and when we +consider the circumstances in which the men were placed, and the +temptations which never fail to present themselves on such occasions, +the highest praise is not only due to the crew, but also to the +captain and officers, who, by their previous conduct, had gained the +respect and confidence of those under them. It is in such moments of +severe trial that the character of a ship's company is put to the +test; and the good behaviour of the men who remained with their +officers proves that, in order to maintain a proper degree of +discipline, no undue severity need be practised. + +To a comparatively recent period, the captain of a man-of-war had the +power of inflicting corporal punishment to an unlimited extent. This +practice has of late years much diminished; owing, in a great measure, +to the increased good feeling of naval officers, as also to the +Admiralty discountenancing such strong measures, unless in most urgent +cases. A captain of a man-of-war has, notwithstanding, and very +properly so, an almost absolute power, and corporal punishment rests +with him alone; but the humane officer, like Captain Hunter, punishes +one man to save many others, and shares with the delinquent the pain +which, for the sake of example, he is obliged to inflict. The +discipline of a ship of course depends almost entirely upon the +conduct of the captain; to him the officers look for guidance and +example; and whilst they see that the men do their duty properly, they +also learn from him to treat them with due consideration, having their +happiness and comfort in view. As in the case of the Venerable, when +the hour of danger arrives, each cheerfully performs the duties +allotted to him, relying with confidence on those who, from their +clemency, combined with firmness, they have been accustomed to look up +to with respect. + +An additional interest belongs to the fate of this vessel, when we +bear in mind that her crew, whilst serving under Lord Duncan, in 1797, +remained untainted during the celebrated mutiny at the Nore.[8] She +also bore a conspicuous part in Lord Duncan's action with the Dutch +fleet, in October of the same year, engaging the Vryheid, the +flag-ship of the Dutch admiral. + +The account of this great battle, however, is too well recorded in the +page of history to need repetition. It is sufficient to add, that the +Vryheid, after a noble resistance, was ultimately obliged to strike, +under the destructive fire of the Venerable, Triumph, Ardent, and +Director. + + + + +THE SHEERNESS. + + +In the afternoon of the 7th of January, 1805, His Majesty's ship +Sheerness, of 44 guns, was lying at anchor in the Colombo Roads, +Ceylon. + +It was one of those days of extreme stillness which often precede the +frightful hurricanes that sweep the eastern seas. Not a breath of air +stirred, not a cloud was to be seen; the ship lay motionless on the +calm and glassy water. The ensign drooped in heavy folds from the +stern, and many of the crew lay stretched on the decks in listless +apathy, little anticipating the terrible convulsion of the elements +which was so soon to arouse them in fear. The monotony on board was +broken for a moment by the voice of the captain, Lord George Stuart, +who ordered his gig to be manned that he might go on shore with his +first lieutenant, Mr. Swan, and some other officers, whom he had +invited to dine with him under a tent. The bustle of their departure +from the ship was soon over, and again all was still. The captain and +officers had scarcely landed and seated themselves at table, when a +roaring sound was heard, at first distant, but becoming louder and +louder every moment, and before they could conjecture the cause, the +canvass of the tent was almost torn from its fastenings by the sudden +violence of the wind. + +Every one thought first of the Sheerness, and rushing from the tent a +scene presented itself to their gaze little calculated to diminish +their alarm for the ship. + +The sea, which a few minutes before had been smooth as a polished +mirror, now displayed a picture of terrific grandeur; the waves, +crested with foam, rolled and tossed over one another in wild +confusion, whilst the roaring of the winds, and the torrents of rain, +added to the awful sublimity of the scene. Lord George, though aware +of the imminent danger to which he exposed himself, determined at all +risks to get on board his ship. Without a moment's delay he collected +the crew of the gig, and pushed from the shore towards the +vessel--himself steering the boat, whilst Lieutenant Swan pulled the +bow oar. The wind had now increased to such a hurricane as is only +known in tropical climates, and the waves threatened every instant to +engulf the frail bark. As they advanced, the danger became more and +more urgent; the sea broke over them continually; nevertheless, they +persevered, and strained every nerve to effect their object. + +The stunning roar of the hurricane prevented any communication except +by signs, and several times the wind caught the oars with such force +that the men could scarcely retain their seats. In vain were all +their efforts:-- + + The winds arise, + The thunder rolls, the forky lightning flies; + In vain the master issues out commands, + In vain the trembling sailors ply their hands, + The tempest, unforeseen, prevents their care, + And from the first they labour in despair. + Dryden. + +The boat filled with water three times, and became so nearly +unmanageable, that they saw it would be impossible to gain the ship, +and they bore up to the west part of York Island, from whence they +waded to the shore, but so exhausted from the fatigue they had +undergone, that they could never have reached the land, had they not +been assisted by some workmen who were on the spot. + +When they arrived, they found Mr. Warner, a midshipman, had just +landed from the Sheerness, with a message to the effect that the ship +had parted an anchor, but that she was riding in safety with two +others. Mr. Warner had been sent in the launch, but in nearing the +shore, she had been upset, and two of her crew were drowned; there was +little hope, therefore, of any boat weathering the storm in an attempt +to reach the ship. + +Lord George, however, would not give up the attempt, and he expressed +so much anxiety to join his vessel, that it was proposed to go to the +weathermost part of the bay. Thither they accordingly struggled on +foot, with the utmost difficulty making head against the wind, and +suffering acutely from the sand driving into their eyes. In addition +to their personal sufferings, the spectacle around was one of such +desolation and horror as no man can witness without pain. The shore, +as far as the eye could reach, was covered with wrecks, and with the +bodies of the dying and the dead, while the roaring of the surf, and +the howling of the tempest, mingled with the piercing cries of those +on board the stranded vessels, who were yet struggling with their +fate, added to the awfulness of the scene. + +At half-past six in the evening, exhausted with fatigue and suffering, +they arrived at the head of the bay; but here they were again doomed +to disappointment, for they found no one to assist them in launching +the boat, although the crew of the launch had been directed to join +them for that purpose. + +The ship was still in sight, but they found it would be impossible to +reach her, and they therefore proceeded to the neighbouring town of +Ostenberg, where they directed a soldier whom they met, to hasten to +his commanding officer, and request that a party of soldiers with +torches should be ordered out ready to save the crew of the Sheerness, +in case of her driving on shore. + +Lord George and his companions then went to the master attendant's +house, where they passed the night; but although they were worn out in +mind and body, sleep never closed their eyes that night--they passed +it in listening to the reports of the signal guns from the Sheerness, +and in watching the rockets which from time to time illuminated the +darkness, telling of distress and danger which they could not +alleviate. + +When morning broke, they assembled all the workmen they could muster, +and manning a cutter with the crew of the launch, they went off to the +Sheerness, which had been driven on shore to the west of York Island. + +There a most distressing sight presented itself; two vessels had been +driven on shore, one of which was totally lost. The Sheerness had +parted her cables during the night, and for a time her situation was +exceedingly perilous, it was impossible to stand upon deck till the +main and mizen masts had been cut away. The water rose above the +orlop deck till it became level with the surface of the sea. + +Not a barrack-house or tree escaped the ravages of the storm; many +were levelled with the ground, others extensively damaged, and the +hospital was completely unroofed, which rendered the situation of the +sick most deplorable. One of the patients was killed by the falling +beams. Several Europeans fell a sacrifice to the storm, many of them +being exposed to the torrents of rain without any place of shelter +within reach. + +Lord George Stuart, the officers and crew of the Sheerness were +acquitted of all blame respecting the loss of that vessel, it being +the opinion of the court, that 'Every exertion was made for the +preservation of the ship by the captain, officers, and crew upon that +trying occasion; and that, owing to the violence of the hurricane, the +loss of the ship was inevitable; and every subsequent attempt to get +her afloat proved ineffectual, in consequence of the damage she had +sustained in grounding when driven on shore, from the impossibility of +keeping her free by means of the pumps.' + +Lord George Stuart entered the navy in the year 1793 as a midshipman +on board the Providence, in which ship he had the misfortune to be +wrecked in the year 1797. + +He received his post rank in 1804, and was almost constantly employed +from that time until 1809, when he assumed the command of a light +squadron at the mouth of the Elbe. + +Here he performed an important service in taking the town of +Gessendorf, situated on the banks of the Weser, and in driving from +the fortress a body of French troops who had made frequent predatory +and piratical excursions in the neighbourhood of Cuxhaven. + +A few days after the defeat of the French, the gallant Duke of +Brunswick also arrived on the opposite banks of the Weser, after +having almost succeeded in effecting his retreat through the heart of +Germany. By the previous dispersion of the enemy and the destruction +of the fortress, he succeeded in crossing the river and escaping his +pursuers, who would otherwise, in all probability, have captured or +destroyed the whole of his detachment. + +His Lordship was next appointed to the Horatio, a 38-gun frigate. +Whilst cruizing on the morning of the 7th December, 1813, off the +Island of Zealand, he received a letter from a gentleman who had been +in the British service, requesting his aid to drive the French from +Zierick-Zee, the capital of Schowen. He at once complied with this +request, and directed a detachment of seamen and marines to storm the +batteries as soon as the tide would answer for the boats to leave the +ship, which could not be done until nine P.M. In the meantime, a +deputation arrived on board from the principal citizens, bearing a +flag of truce from the French general, and requesting, that in order +to save the effusion of blood, and to prevent the disorders which +would in all probability arise, as the city was then in a state of +insurrection, terms of capitulation should be granted, by which the +French should be allowed to withdraw with their baggage to +Bergen-op-Zoom. To this, Lord George Stuart gave a peremptory refusal, +and summoned the French to surrender unconditionally. After a short +delay, the signal of surrender was made, and thus, by the promptitude +and decision displayed by the British officer, the French were +compelled to evacuate the Island of Schowen without bloodshed, and the +ancient magistrates of Zierick-Zee resumed their former functions. + +Lord George Stuart subsequently commanded the Newcastle, and was +employed in the last American war. In 1815, he received the Order of +the Companion of the Bath, and died as rear-admiral in 1841. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] Captain Hunter died in 1807. + + + + +ATHENIENNE. + + +The Athenienne, of 64 guns, commanded by Captain Robert Raynsford, +with a crew of 470 men, sailed from Gibraltar on the 16th of October, +1806, and at noon on the 20th, the Island of Sardinia was seen in the +distance. The ship continued under a press of sail with a fair wind, +and sped on her course towards Malta. At eight o'clock of the evening +of the 20th, the first watch had been stationed, and the officer on +duty had reported the ship's progress at nine knots an hour. The +labours of the day were over, and all, save the few whom duty or +inclination kept on deck, had gone below. Another hour passed away; +the majority of the crew had retired to their berths to seek repose +after the toils of the day, and to gain fresh strength for the +morrow--that morrow which many of them were destined never to behold. + +One there was on board the Athenienne, to whose care the safety of the +vessel and the lives of her crew had been entrusted, who appeared to +have misgivings as to the course she was steering. The captain was +seated in his cabin, looking over the chart with one of his officers, +when he exclaimed, 'If the Esquerques do exist, we are now on them,' +Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the ship struck. + +For the information of our readers, we must state that the Esquerques, +or Shirki, are a reef of sunken rocks lying about eighty miles west +from Sicily, and about forty-eight from Cape Bon, on the coast of +Africa. In 1806, the charts were not as accurate as they are in the +present day, and the reef was not laid down in all of them; the very +existence, indeed, of these rocks was positively denied by some +navigators, though it was as positively asserted by others. + +It would be vain to attempt to describe the scene that followed the +first shock, on the vessel's striking the rock. Upon the captain's +hastening on deck, he found the crew rushing up from their berths, +many of them in a state of nudity, and so stupified as to be utterly +incapable of making the least effort for their own preservation. Some +went below, and for the moment resigned themselves to despair, while +others rushed to the poop for safety. + +In a few minutes, the officers had gathered round their captain. It +needed no words to point out to them the imminence of their danger, +and the necessity of their setting an example of steadiness and +intrepidity to the men. They suffered no signs of dismay to appear in +their demeanour, but immediately proceeded to consider what were the +best steps to be taken to meet the impending danger. The calmness and +courage thus displayed by the captain and his officers could not fail +of having the desired effect upon the ship's company, who recovered +from their panic, and seeing the necessity for instant exertion, held +themselves in readiness to execute each order as it was issued. + +In order to prevent the ship falling on her broadside, the masts were +cut away; but she continued to beat so violently upon the rocks, that +in less than half-an-hour she filled with water up to the lower deck +ports, and then fell over to larboard on her beam ends. Captain +Raynsford, foreseeing the inevitable loss of his vessel, had ordered +the boats to be hoisted out, with the idea that they would be useful +in towing a raft, which he had caused to be constructed to leeward. +This raft would probably have been the means of preserving a great +many lives, had not the men in charge of the two jolly-boats pushed +off, and left their unhappy comrades to their fate. Unfortunately, +both the cutter and the barge, in hoisting out, were stove, and +immediately swamped, no less than thirty men perishing with them. +Several of the crew had been killed by the falling of the masts, and +others were severely injured. Two midshipmen were crushed to death +between the spanker boom and the bulwarks. + +Brenton has thus described the horrible scene on board:--'Nothing was +to be heard but the shrieks of the drowning and the wailings of +despair. The man who would courageously meet death at the cannon's +mouth, or at the point of the bayonet, is frequently unnerved in such +a scene as this, where there is no other enemy to contend with than +the inexorable waves, and no hope of safety or relief but what may be +afforded by a floating plank or mast. The tremendous shocks as the +ship rose with the sea, and fell again on the rocks, deprived the +people of the power of exertion; while at every crash portions of the +shattered hull, loosened and disjointed, were scattered in dreadful +havoc among the breakers. Imagination can scarcely picture to itself +anything more appalling than the frantic screams of the women and +children, the darkness of the night, the irresistible fury of the +waves, which, at every moment, snatched away a victim, while the +tolling of the bell, occasioned by the violent motion of the wreck, +added a funereal solemnity to the horrors of the scene.' + +The fate of the hapless crew seemed fast approaching to a termination. +When the vessel first struck, signal guns had been fired, in the hope +that some aid might be within reach, but none appeared; the guns were +soon rendered useless, and when the ship fell on her beam ends, the +wreck, with the exception of the poop, was entirely under water. Here +were collected all that remained of the ship's company, whose haggard +countenances and shivering forms were revealed to each other, from +time to time, by the glare of the blue lights, and by the fitful +moonbeams which streamed from beneath the dark clouds, and threw their +pale light upon the despairing group. + + The sea-breached vessel can no longer bear + The floods that o'er her burst in dread career; + The labouring hull already seems half filled + With water, through an hundred leeks distilled; + Thus drenched by every wave, her even deck, + Stripped and defenceless, floats a naked wreck. + FALCONER. + +Two boats only remained, one of which was useless, her side having +been knocked in by the falling of the masts; and the other, the +launch, was therefore the sole means of preservation left. She was +already filled with men, but it was found impossible to remove her +from her position on the booms; and even if she had floated, she could +not have contained above one-fourth of the crew. For about half an +hour she continued in the same position, (the men who were in her +expecting every moment that her bottom would be knocked out by the +waves dashing against the spars on which she rested,) when suddenly a +heavy sea lifted her off the bows clear of the ship. Three loud cheers +greeted her release, and the oars being ready, the men immediately +pulled from the wreck, with difficulty escaping the many dangers they +had to encounter from the floating spars and broken masts. + +These gallant fellows, however, would not desert their companions in +misfortune, and although their boat already contained more than a +hundred, they pulled towards the stern of the frigate; but so great +was the anxiety of the poor creatures upon the poop to jump into the +boat, that in self-defence they were obliged to keep at a certain +distance from the wreck, or the launch would have been instantly +swamped. They were therefore reduced to the terrible alternative, +either of leaving their comrades to perish, or of throwing away their +own lives. Nine of the men who had jumped overboard were picked up, +but to have attempted to save any more would have been to sacrifice +all. One of the officers left on board the wreck endeavoured by every +argument to persuade Captain Raynsford to save himself by swimming to +the launch, but all in vain. This intrepid man declared that he was +perfectly resigned to his fate, and was determined not to quit his +ship whilst a man remained on board. Finding that all entreaties were +useless, the officer himself jumped overboard from the stern gallery +into the sea, and swimming through the surf, gained the launch and was +taken on board. + +The general cry in the boat was, 'Pull off!' and at twelve o'clock, as +the moon sunk below the horizon, her crew took their last look of the +Athenienne. The situation of the launch was of itself imminently +perilous: she had neither sail, bread, nor water on board. Fortunately +there was a compass, and for a sail the officers made use of their +shirts and the frocks of the seamen. On the following morning they +fell in with a Danish brig, which relieved, in some degree, their +urgent necessities. Lieutenant John Little, a passenger in the +Athenienne, with a party of seamen, went on board the brig, for the +purpose of prevailing on her master to return with them to the wreck, +in hopes of rescuing any of the crew who might be still alive; but +this generous purpose was frustrated by violent and adverse winds. + +On the 21st, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the party reached +Maritimo, having been sixteen hours in the open boat, and the next +day they proceeded to Trepani, in Sicily. On the 24th, they arrived at +Palermo; the news of the sad event had already been conveyed thither +to Sir Sidney Smith, by a letter which had been written from Maritimo. +The Eagle, of 74 guns, was instantly ordered to the Esquerques, but +returned with the intelligence, that all who were left upon the wreck +had perished, with the exception of two men, who had been picked up on +a raft by some fishermen. They related that the poop had separated +about eleven o'clock on the morning after the launch left them, and +that they, together with ten others, clung to it, but all had either +been washed off or died except themselves. There were also two other +rafts, on one of which were three warrant officers, and on the other +Captain Raynsford and Lieutenants Swinburne and Salter; but it was +found impossible to disengage the rafts from the rigging to which they +were attached, and the unfortunate men all perished. + +The existence of the Esquerques, as we have already stated, had been +doubted, but from Captain Raynsford's exclamation, previous to the +ship striking, we may infer that he himself was not sceptical on the +subject. From whatever cause this fine frigate may have been lost, the +gallantry, at least, and self-devotion of her commander, from the time +the vessel first struck, will rescue his memory from reproach. + + There's a prayer and a tear o'er the lowliest grave; + But thousands lament o'er the fall of the brave; + And thou, whose rare valour and fate we bemoan,-- + In the sufferings of others forgetting thy own,-- + O'er thy dust, though no trophies nor columns we rear, + Though the storm was thy requiem, the wild wave thy bier; + Yet thy spirit still speaks from its home on the flood, + Still speaks to the gen'rous, the brave, and the good; + Still points to our children the path which you trod, + Who lived for your country, and died in your God. + + J.H.J. + +Three hundred and fifty of the crew perished, while one hundred and +forty-one men, with two women, were all who were saved. + + + + +THE NAUTILUS. + + +ONLY a few weeks after the loss of the Athenienne, and of so many of +her crew, a shipwreck occurred in another part of the Mediterranean, +attended by circumstances of most painful interest. + +His Majesty's sloop, Nautilus, commanded by Captain Palmer, left the +squadron of Sir Thomas Louis in the Hellespont, on the morning of the: +3rd of January, 1807, bearing dispatches of the utmost importance for +England. + +The wind blowing fresh from the north-east, the sloop continued her +course through the Archipelago without danger or mischance, until the +evening of the 4th, when she was off Anti Milo; the pilot then gave up +his charge, professing himself ignorant of the coast they were now +approaching. As the dispatches confided to Captain Palmer were of +great moment, he determined to run every hazard rather than retard +their delivery. He therefore sailed from Anti Milo at sunset, and +shaped his course to Cerigotto. At midnight, the wind had risen to a +gale; the night was dark and gloomy; torrents of rain were falling, +accompanied by loud and incessant peals of thunder, whilst vivid +flashes of lightning ever and anon illuminated for an instant the +murky sky, and left all in obscurity more dismal than before. + +At two o'clock A.M., the tempest and the darkness having increased, +the captain gave orders to close-reef topsails, and prepare for +bringing-to until daybreak. A little after three o'clock, a bright +flash of lightning discovered to them, the Island of Cerigotto right +ahead, and about a mile distant. The captain considered his course to +be now clear, and therefore directed all possible sail to be kept on +the vessel without endangering the masts, at the same time he +congratulated Lieutenant Nesbitt upon their escape from the threatened +dangers of the Archipelago. + +He then went below, and was engaged with the pilot in examining the +chart, when a cry was heard of 'Breakers ahead!' Lieutenant Nesbitt, +who was on deck, ordered the helm a-lee; it was scarcely done, when +the vessel struck. The shock was so violent, that the men below were +thrown out of their hammocks, and they had difficulty in getting upon +deck, for every sea lifted up the ship and then again dashed her upon +the rocks with such force that they could not keep their feet. All was +confusion and alarm. Every one felt his own utter helplessness. + +'Oh! my Lord,' writes Lieutenant Nesbitt to Lord Collingwood, 'it +draws tears from my eyes when I reflect on the complicated miseries of +the scene! Heaven, now our only resource, was piteously invoked; and +happy am I to say, our gallant crew left nothing untried which we +imagined could save us--all cheerfully obeying the orders of the +officers. An instant had hardly elapsed ere our main-deck was burst +in, and a few minutes after the lee bulwark was entirely overwhelmed. +A heavy sea broke entirely over us, and none could see the smallest +aperture through which hope might enter, and enliven the chill and +dreary prospect before us.' + +The only chance of escape for the crew was by the boats, and one only, +a small whale-boat, got clear of the ship in safety, the others were +all either stove or washed off the booms and dashed to pieces on the +rocks by the raging surf. The boat that escaped was manned by the +coxswain, George Smith, and nine others. When they got clear of the +wreck, they lay on their oars, and those who had clothing shared it +with others who were nearly naked. They then pulled towards the Island +of Pauri, seeing that it was impossible for them to render any +assistance to their wretched comrades, as the boat already carried as +many as she could possibly stow. + +After the departure of the whale-boat, the ship continued to strike +every two or three minutes, but as she was thrown higher on the rock, +the men perceived that a part of it was above water; and as they +expected the vessel to go to pieces at every shock, that lonely rock +offered a safer refuge from the waves than the frail timbers to which +they were clinging. The mercy of Providence soon provided them with +the means of exchanging their perilous situation for one of less +certain and instant danger. The mainmast fell over the side about +twenty minutes after the vessel struck, and the mizen and foremasts +followed. These all served as gangways by which the people passed +through the surf from the wreck to the platform of the coral reef, and +thus for the time were rescued from the certain death that awaited +them if they remained on board. + +The rock, which they reached with difficulty, was scarcely above +water; it was between three and four hundred yards long, and two +hundred wide; and upon this spot, in the midst of the deep, nearly a +hundred men were thrown together, without food, almost without +clothing, and with very little hope that they should ever escape from +the perils that surrounded them. They had only left the wreck in time +to hear her dashed to pieces against the rocks; her timbers quivering, +rending, and groaning, as they were riven asunder by the remorseless +waves. When day dawned upon the cheerless group, its light only +revealed new horrors: the sea on all sides was strewed with fragments +of the wreck; not a sail was visible on the waters, and many of their +comrades were seen clinging to spars and planks, tossed hither and +thither by the waves. The situation of the survivors was truly +distressing; they were at least twelve miles from the nearest island, +and their only chance of relief was in the possibility of a ship +passing near enough to see the signal which they hoisted on a long +pole fixed to the rocks. + +The day was bitterly cold, and with much difficulty the unfortunate +men contrived to kindle a fire, by means of a knife and flint that +were happily in the pocket of one of the sailors, and a small barrel +of damp powder that had been washed on to the rock. They next +constructed a tent with pieces of canvas, boards, and parts of the +wreck, and so they were enabled to dry the few clothes they had upon +them. And now they had to pass a long and dreary night, exposed to +hunger, cold, and wet; but they kept the fire burning, hoping that it +might be visible in the darkness, and be taken for a signal of +distress. And so it proved; for the coxswain and crew of the whale +boat, who were on the Island of Pauri, observed the fire in the middle +of the night, and the next morning the coxswain and pilot, with four +of the men, pulled to the rocks, in hopes that some of their comrades +might be still living. + +They were beyond measure astonished to find so many survivors from the +wreck, when they had scarcely dared to hope that any could have been +saved except themselves. They had no food or water in their boat; for +they had found nothing on the Island of Pauri (which was only a mile +in circumference) but a few sheep and goats, kept there by the +inhabitants of Cerigo, and a little rain-water that was preserved in +a hole of the rock. The coxswain attempted to persuade Captain Palmer +to come into the boat, but the intrepid officer refused. 'Never mind +me,' was his noble reply; 'save your unfortunate shipmates.' + +After some consultation, the Captain ordered the coxswain to take ten +of the people from the rock and make the best of his way to Cerigotto, +and return as soon as possible with assistance. + +Soon after the departure of the boat, the wind increased to a gale, +the waves dashed over the rock and extinguished the fire, and some of +the men were compelled to cling to the highest part of the rock, and +others to hold on by a rope fastened round a projecting point, in +order to save themselves from being washed away by the surf; and thus +a second night was passed, even more wretched than the first. Many of +the people became delirious from the fatigue, hunger, thirst, and +cold, which they had suffered, and several died during the night; +some, apparently, from the effect of the intense cold upon their +exhausted frames. Terrible was the scene which daylight presented: +indiscriminately crowded together on a small spot, were the living, +the dying, and the dead; and the wretched survivors unable to give any +help to those whose sufferings might shortly be their own. + +There was nothing to be done, but to wait in hope for the return of +the whale-boat, when, to the indescribable joy of all, a ship, with +all sail set, hove in sight: she was coming down before the wind, and +steering directly for the rock. + +This cheering sight infused vigour into the weakest and most +desponding. Signals of distress were instantly made, and at last they +were perceived by the vessel, which brought to, and then hoisted out +her boat. Great was the joy of all the famishing creatures on the +rock, to see their deliverance at hand; the strongest began to fasten +spars and planks together to form rafts, on which they might get to +the ship; the boat came within pistol-shot. She was full of men, who +rested on their oars for a few minutes, as if to examine the persons +whom they were approaching: the man at the helm waved his hat, and +then the boat's head was put round and they pulled back again to the +ship, and left the crew of the Nautilus to their fate. + +The transition from hope to despair was terrible,--all that day they +watched in vain for the return of their own boat from Cerigotto; but +hour after hour passed away, and they began, at length, to fear that +she had been lost in the gale of the preceding night. + +Death, in its most horrible forms, now stared them in the face; the +pangs of hunger and thirst were almost insupportable. There was-- + + Water, water everywhere, + Yet not a drop to drink.--COLERIDGE. + +Some, indeed, of the poor sufferers were desperate enough to allay +their raging thirst with salt water, in spite of the entreaties and +warnings of those who knew how terrible are its effects. In a few +hours those who had drunk it were seized with violent hysteria and +raving madness, which in many ended in death. + +Another night drew on, and they made their sad preparations for it by +huddling together as closely as they could, to keep alive the little +warmth that remained in their bodies, and covering themselves with the +few ragged garments that were left. Happily the weather was more +moderate, and they hoped to be able to get through the night; but worn +out as they were, the ravings of some of their companions banished +sleep from the eyes of the rest. In the middle of the night they were +unexpectedly hailed by the crew of the whale-boat. + +The first cry from the rock was--'water! water!' but water they had +none. They had found it impossible to procure anything but earthen +vessels, and these could not be carried through the surf. The +coxswain, however, informed them that next morning a large vessel +would come to their relief; and in this hope of a speedy deliverance +they were encouraged to further endurance. The morning broke at last, +but no boat appeared; then came a reaction, and the heart-sickness of +hope deferred. The scenes that occurred on that day were too dreadful +to relate--it was the fourth on which they had not tasted food. + + ......Savagely + They glared upon each other; + ............. + .... and you might have seen + The longings of the cannibal arise + (Although they spoke not) in their wolfish eyes.--BYRON. + +They must now either taste human flesh or perish--there was no +alternative. + +A young man who had died the previous night was selected to be food +for the rest.[9] Most of them had not power to masticate or to +swallow-- + + For every tongue, through utter drought, + Was withered at the root. + COLERIDGE (_Ancient Mariner_). + + +Before evening death had made fearful ravages, and had numbered +amongst its victims Captain Palmer and the first lieutenant. + +Another night came on; long and anxiously had they gazed upon the +horizon--in vain had they strained their blood-shot eyes to see some +vessel coming to their relief. The shades of night closed round them, +and sadly they awaited the dawn of another day, resolving that if they +lived to see it they would construct a raft and commit themselves to +the waves, rather than remain to die of hunger and thirst. +Accordingly, at daylight they began to put their plan into execution +by fastening some of the larger spars together, and in a few hours the +raft was completed. The eventful moment for launching it arrived, when +with bitter grief and disappointment they beheld the work of their +hands, which it had cost them so much labour to achieve, dashed to +pieces in a few seconds and scattered adrift upon the waves. Some of +the men, rendered desperate by seeing their last chance of escape thus +snatched from them, rushed into the sea, grasping at such parts of the +wreck as came within their reach; but they were all swept away by the +current, and their unhappy comrades saw them no more. + +In the afternoon, the coxswain arrived in the whale-boat, but he came +without bringing them any food or means of escape--for all his +entreaties had been unavailing to persuade the Greek fishermen to put +to sea whilst the gale continued. They had, however, promised to come +to the relief of the sufferers the next day if the weather should be +more favourable. + +This was the fifth day that these wretched men had passed without food +of any kind except the disgusting morsel they had attempted to +swallow. Many who were completely exhausted, stretched their weary +limbs on the hard rocks and expired, and before night the greater +part of the survivors were in a state of complete insensibility. + +On the sixth morning they were scarcely able to raise themselves from +the rock to look once more upon the sea, when one less feeble than the +rest exclaimed, 'the boats are coming.' And most welcome was the sight +of four fishing vessels, and the whale-boat steering towards them. +Such joy was theirs as can only be understood by those who have +experienced a similar deliverance from the jaws of death. The boats +reached the rocks; they contained a supply of water and food, which +were distributed in moderation among the perishing seamen, who, when +they were a little renovated, were taken on board the boats, and in a +few hours landed on Cerigotto. + +The poor but hospitable inhabitants of the island received the +strangers most kindly, and tended them with the utmost care. Out of +one hundred and twenty-two, sixty-four only survived. And when we +think of the complicated miseries they had so long endured, we may +wonder that so many were spared. + +After remaining eleven days at Cerigotto, the remnant of the crew of +the Nautilus went to Cerigo, and from thence they sailed to Malta. + +Lieutenant Nesbitt and the survivors were tried by a court-martial at +Cadiz for the loss of the Nautilus. + +The court gave it as their opinion, 'That the loss of that sloop was +occasioned by the captain's zeal to forward the public dispatches, +which induced him to run in a dark, tempestuous night for the passage +between the Island of Cerigotto and Candia; but that the sloop passed +between Cerigotto and Pauri, and was lost on a rock, on the south-west +part of that passage, which rock does not appear to be laid down in +Heather's Chart, by which the said sloop was navigated. + +'That no blame attaches to the conduct of Lieutenant Nesbitt, or such +of the surviving crew of the Nautilus, but that it appears that +Lieutenant Nesbitt and the officers and crew did use every exertion +that circumstances could admit.' + +Lieutenant Nesbitt died in 1824. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] 'I well remember,' says a naval surgeon, 'the above melancholy +event, and particularly from one of the survivors being drafted on +board the ship to which I belonged, (the Thunderer, then in the +Dardanelles.) The poor fellow became my patient; he complained of no +pain but that which arose from the horrible recollection of his having +tasted human flesh to preserve his life. This preyed so deeply on his +mind, that it rendered him incapable of performing any duty, and when +I saw him sinking under the heavy load, I felt it to be my duty to +order him to the hospital, that he might be invalided and sent home.' + + + + +THE FLORA. + + +Early in January, 1807, H.M. ship Flora, of 36 guns, under the command +of Captain Otway Bland, had been cruizing off the Texel, for the +purpose of reconnoitring the ships of the enemy. This object having +been effected, they shaped a course towards Harlingen, the captain +ordering the pilots not to run the slightest risk, but to give the +sands of the island sufficient berth, so as not to endanger the Flora; +and so often did he reiterate these instructions, that the pilots +appeared hurt that their nautical skill and knowledge of the track +should be doubted. However, to the astonishment of all on board, and +to the dismay of the pilots, the ship took the ground, and struck on +the Shelling Reef, about noon on the 18th of January. It was only just +past high water when she struck, and there was therefore no chance of +getting her off till the next tide. In the meantime all weight was +removed from aloft, and the topmasts were lowered over the side, to +shore her up. Towards evening the wind increased to a gale, and a +heavy swell came on, which prevented their getting out a bower anchor, +although a raft was made for the purpose; but the night became so +dark, and the sea so rough, they were obliged to relinquish the +attempt, and resolved to wait with patience for high water, lightening +the vessel as much as possible, by starting the water, and heaving +most of the shot and other heavy articles overboard. All hands took +their turn at the pumps, and worked vigorously; yet the water gained +rapidly upon the vessel: this was partly attributable to her having +struck amidships, and having a hole through her bottom, instead of her +side, to supply the cistern. At about nine o'clock P.M., she began to +heave, but as the tide made, the wind freshened, the sea rose, and she +brought home the stream anchor, backed by the kedge, and forged on the +sand. At half-past nine o'clock, a last effort was made to get her +off, by letting go a bower anchor with a spring abaft, which brought +her head round. They then made all sail and forced her over the reef. +The ship once more floated in deep water: but this object was not +attained without a most serious loss. The rudder had been carried +away, and with it the launch and the jolly-boat, so that only one +anchor and the worst boat were left for service. After those moments +of breathless anxiety, and after giving utterance to a short but +fervent expression of thankfulness that they had got clear of the +reef, the men, almost worn out as they were, by so many hours of +continued labour, again betook themselves to the pumps, in hopes of +keeping the water under until they could reach an English port. But in +spite of every exertion, in spite of continued bailing and pumping, +and though a thrumbed sail was under the ship's bottom, the water +gained to eight feet. As the danger increased, so did the vigour of +the men. All was order, energy, and steady obedience throughout. The +captain perceiving that it would be impossible to keep the vessel much +longer afloat, gave orders to wear ship, and run her on the enemy's +shore; nor could even this be done without much difficulty and danger, +as it was necessary to let go their last anchor. Most of the guns were +now thrown overboard, and everything done to lighten the ship; and +about half-past six A.M., on the 19th, her head was brought round, +and, steered by the sails and a cable veered astern, towards the +islands. The weather was becoming more gloomy and threatening, and +before ten o'clock A.M. the vessel was so terribly shaken, that it +became absolutely necessary to cut away the main and mizen masts, +leaving the foremast standing, with sail set, to force the ship on as +much as possible, and also to prevent her drifting off with the ebb, +or with a change of wind. Although the dangerous situation of the +Flora was clearly perceived by the people on shore, no boat put out to +her assistance, the authorities having forbidden them to render such +aid on pain of death. + +Captain Bland, during his cruize on these seas, had allowed the +fishing-boats of the enemy to range unmolested, and had given strict +orders that not a fish should be taken from them without payment; but +even these boats now came near the labouring ship and passed on, +leaving her and her crew to perish. About four o'clock in the +afternoon when she seemed to be sinking, she took the ground and there +remained, surrounded by breakers, the crew in vain firing guns, and +making other signals of distress, which were totally disregarded. All +hands that could be spared from the pumps had been employed in making +rafts, and these were now launched into the surf, and about one +hundred and thirty of the crew got upon them, and were fortunate +enough to gain the high land. + +Captain Bland, with a few officers and men, pushed off in the barge, +the only boat that was left, and after rowing for eighteen hours +without any sustenance, they reached the Island of Amoland, where they +were made prisoners. + +The rest of the crew, who had chosen to stay by the ship, remained on +board for four days and nights, and, excepting nine, who perished from +the severity of the weather, they all got safe on shore. The above is +a plain, unvarnished account, taken from the narrative of Captain +Bland: it is a true tale, and needs not the aid of romance to give it +interest. For more than twenty-four hours the crew suffered the +horrors of uncertainty; their vessel thrown upon a hostile shore, +whose inhabitants were forbidden on pain of death to assist them, +whilst of all their boats one only remained. Yet, even during this +time of trial and danger, discipline was not for a moment abandoned; +no man's heart appeared to fail him; each one performed his duty with +cheerfulness and alacrity; and nobly did they all earn the praise +bestowed on them by their commander. + +'I cannot help paying here,' said Captain Bland, 'the last tribute of +praise to my crew; they behaved with order, respect, and perfect +coolness to the last moment; nor would they quit the ship's side in +the barge, though at the risk of her being dashed to pieces, till I +took the place they had reserved for me.' + +The gallantry and seamanship displayed by Captain Otway Bland, when in +command of the Espoir, 14-gun brig, in his attack and subsequent +capture of a Genoese pirate, well deserve a place in these pages. + +On the 7th of August, 1798, the Espoir was sailing near Gibraltar in +charge of part of a convoy, when a large vessel, which appeared to be +a man-of-war, was seen steering apparently with the intention of +cutting off some of the convoy. Captain Bland, notwithstanding the +superiority of the force with which he had to contend, determined upon +attacking the stranger, which proved to be the Liguria, mounted with +26 guns of various calibres. + +On approaching within hail, an officer on board the Liguria ordered +the commander of the Espoir to surrender, or he would sink his ship, +enforcing the demand by one shot, and afterwards by a whole broadside. +The fire was returned in a spirited manner by the Espoir, and was kept +up on both sides by the great guns and musketry for upwards of three +hours, when the captain of the Liguria hailed the Espoir, begging her +captain not to fire any more, as he was a Genoese. Upon this, Captain +Bland desired him to lower his sails, and come on board. As no +attention was paid to this demand, and the Genoese appeared to be +attempting some manoeuvre, the Espoir poured in another broadside, +which the Liguria returned; but on the Espoir tacking to fire her +opposite broadside, her opponent surrendered. + +The crew of the Liguria consisted, of one hundred and twenty men of +all nations, whilst that of the Espoir was but eighty men, of which +the master was killed, and six men wounded. + +Captain Bland died in 1810. + + + + +THE AJAX. + + +On the evening of the 14th of February, 1807, H.M. ship Ajax, 74 guns, +commanded by Captain the Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, lay at anchor off +the mouth of the Dardanelles, in company with the squadron of +Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth. The wind, which during the day had +been boisterous, was partially lulled, and in the clear moonlight +every object was visible with a distinctness almost equal to that of +day. + +The scene from the deck of the Ajax was one of surpassing beauty and +interest. The bright moonbeams rested on the waters, and left a +silvery track upon the waves. Ahead and astern, the lofty masts of the +squadron tapered darkly towards the sky, whilst the outline of every +rope and spar was sharply defined against the clear blue vault of +heaven. Every man in the ship, from the commander to the youngest boy, +could feel and understand this natural beauty; but there were many on +board the squadron who had still higher enjoyment, as they gazed on +those isles and shores which recalled the classic verse of Homer and +of Virgil. For them every island, cape, river, and mountain was +fraught with interest. There lay Tenedos, renowned of old; there the +mountain isle of Imbros stood out in bold relief from the snow-clad +summits of Samothracia. In the distance appeared Mount Ida, and at its +foot lay stretched the plains of Troy, o'er which the 'gulfy Simois' +wanders still as it did of old. There is Cape Sigæum, and on it the +tomb of Patroclus, round which Achilles dragged the godlike Hector's +corpse; there, too, the ashes of Achilles repose near those of his +friend; and a little further north, on the Rhoetian promontory, is the +tomb of 'mighty Ajax.' Homer, Euripides, and Virgil have, it is true, +a very small share in the studies of a youthful sailor, as they do not +form an essential ingredient of a nautical education; but an English +gentleman, although his head be crammed with mathematics and +equations, always contrives to pick up enough of classic lore to +enable him thoroughly to enjoy such a scene as that we have attempted +to describe. He is much to be pitied who cannot appreciate such +enjoyment; but in these days, when the schoolmaster is aboard, and +when, by the wise liberality of the Government, our ships are +furnished with useful and interesting books, none need of necessity be +deprived of the exquisite pleasure which is to be derived from +visiting scenes which have been 'dignified either by wisdom, bravery, +or virtue.' We are constantly reminded that 'knowledge is power;' but +it might be well to impress upon youngsters, that '_knowledge_ is +enjoyment.' There is, indeed, no acquirement in literature or science +that will not at some time or other be productive of real pleasure. + +We have lingered on this subject longer than we should have done, for +we must now relate how soon the tranquillity of that fair scene was +disturbed--how for a time another light, redder and fiercer than that +of the moon, shone on the blue waters of the Hellespont. + +Soon after nine o'clock P.M., Captain Blackwood had received from his +first lieutenant the report of the safety of the Ajax, and all, except +the officers and men who were on duty, had retired to their berths. A +very short time, however, had elapsed, before the stillness of the +night was broken by the appalling cry of 'Fire!' It must be a fearful +sound to hear--the cry of 'Fire!' as awful as the voice of him who + + Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night, + And would have told him half his Troy was burned. + +The officer of the watch instantly informed Captain Blackwood of the +alarm. He hastened upon deck, and found too surely that flames were +bursting from the after-part. He gave orders to beat to quarters--to +fire the guns as signals of distress, and directed Lieutenant Wood and +a midshipman to proceed in one of the boats to all the ships of the +squadron to request assistance. + +These orders were promptly given, and promptly obeyed; but who can +enter fully into the feelings of Captain Blackwood at that awfully +critical moment. Here was his ship and six hundred men threatened with +immediate destruction, and each one of that six hundred looked to him +for direction and guidance. + +In order to inspire others with courage and confidence, he must +display decision in every look and gesture. Whatever others might do, +his lip must not tremble, nor his eyelid quiver--no look of +apprehension must be seen on his brow. He must stand forth calm and +undaunted--the recollection of tender ties and loving hearts might +wring his soul with agony, but these thoughts must be banished; the +safety of six hundred human beings depended, under God, on his +firmness and exertion, and every eye was directed to him in anxious +inquiry. When the ship's company had turned out, every man took his +station calmly and in obedience to orders. + +The captain, followed by several of his officers, went down to the +cockpit, from whence issued clouds of smoke. Every effort was made to +extinguish the flames in that part of the ship, but they increased so +rapidly, it soon became impossible for any one to remain below. +Several of the men who were throwing down water fell from suffocation +with the buckets in their hands. To give more air to the men so +employed, the lower-deck ports were hauled up; but this rather +increasing than diminishing the density of the smoke, they were closed +again, and the after-hatchway shut down. The carpenter's attempt to +scuttle the after-part of the ship was also ineffectual. + +Ten or fifteen minutes only had elapsed after the first alarm had been +given, before the flames raged with such fury, that it was impossible +to hoist out the boats; the jolly-boat had fortunately been lowered in +obedience to the captain's orders when he first went upon deck. As the +flames burst up the main-hatchway, dividing the fore from the +after-part of the ship, the captain ordered all hands to the +forecastle, and seeing that it was utterly beyond human power to +prevent the destruction of the vessel, he desired every man to provide +for his own safety. + + The silent plague through the green timber eats, + And vomits out a tardy flame by fits; + Down to the keels, and upwards to the sails, + The fire descends, or mounts, but still prevails; + Nor buckets pour'd, nor strength of human hand, + Can the victorious element withstand. + DRYDEN'S _Æneid, Book V_. + +The luckless ship was now wrapped in flames from amidships to +taffrail, and the scene of horror is beyond the powers of description. +Hundreds of human beings were assembled together on the forecastle, +bowsprit, and sprit-sail-yard. No boat had yet come to their +assistance. Their perilous situation had levelled all distinction of +rank; men and officers were huddled together, watching with despairing +hearts the progress of the fiery element, which threatened to hurry +them so quickly into eternity. Volumes of black smoke rose in huge +pillars from all parts of the ship, whilst far above the hissing and +crackling of the flames, as they ricked the masts and rigging, rose +the shrieks and death yells of the hapless men, who, unable to gain +the forecastle, had sought safety aloft, where the flames had now +reached them. + +Some, rather than endure the horrible suspense, trusted themselves to +the mercy of the waves, and by plunging overboard, ended their lives +and sufferings in a watery grave. Many, in their agony, fell on their +knees, imploring God for that help which they despaired of receiving +from mortal agency. Perhaps these men would not have thought of prayer +to heaven in face of a human foe, but now that the 'last enemy' glared +upon them in so fearful a shape, they felt compelled to fly to Him who +hath said, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble.' + +The booming of the guns, as they exploded, echoed far and wide over +the waters, and added to the horrors of that awful night. + +In the midst of his people stood the captain, endeavouring to sustain +their sinking spirits, and exhorting them to be firm and to depend +upon the boats which were now heaving in sight. He then bade them +farewell, and sprung into the sea; he breasted the waves for a length +of time, but his strength was nearly exhausted, when, happily, he was +seen, and picked up by one of the boats of the Canopus. + +As the boats from the squadron neared the Ajax, the agonizing fears of +the sufferers were changed into wild transports of joy; so sudden was +the transition from despair to hope, that many of the crew lost all +self-possession, and perished by jumping into the sea in their +impatience to reach the boats. + +Such details as these, showing the effects of fear upon untutored +minds, make us thankful that a great change for the better has been +effected within the last forty years with respect to the religious and +moral instruction of our sailors. + +Every ship's company is exposed to casualties similar to that which +befel the crew of the Ajax,--to shipwreck, fire, and sudden +destruction,--and no man will deny that in times of extreme peril, a +calm and composed mind is the greatest of blessings--the want of it, +the greatest misery. Few will be sceptical enough to deny, on the +other hand, that the best security for such composure, in a moment of +unforeseen danger, or of unlooked-for deliverance, is a firm and sure +trust that there is a God above, who 'ruleth over all;' whom the winds +and the sea obey, and who is 'mighty to save,' even in the hour of +man's direst extremity. To instil this knowledge and trust into the +hearts of our seamen, and by it to make them both better men, and +better sailors, should be the chief object of every improvement in +education. + +Lieut. Willoughby, of the St. George, had hastened in a cutter to +assist the crew of the Ajax, and he very soon rescued as many men as +his boat could carry. Numbers, however, were still surrounding him, +who, for the safety of those in the already overladen boat, were, with +much reluctance, left to their fate. Fortunately some launches and a +barge arrived in time to pick them up, and convey them to the +different ships of the squadron. + +The Ajax all this time was drifting towards the island of Tenedos, +with her stern and broadside alternately presented to the wind. The +humane exertions of Lieutenant Willoughby had been twice crowned with +success; his boat was, for the third time, nearly filled with people, +when he observed the Ajax round to, and that several men were hanging +by ropes under her head. He resolved, at all hazards, to rescue these +poor fellows before she again fell off. Dashing, therefore, towards +her, he succeeded in the first part of his object, but not until the +vessel was again before the wind, flames issuing from every part of +both hull and rigging, and with the cutter across her hawse. + +To extricate himself from this perilous situation was almost +impossible, for every moment increased the speed with which the Ajax +was surging through the water, and the sea thrown up from her bows +threatened his small boat with instant destruction. + +We will now take up the account as given by Marshall, in his _Naval +Biograghy_:[10] + +'Whilst the Ajax was propelling the cutter in the above alarming +manner, the flames reached the shank, painter, and stopper, of her +remaining bower anchor, and it fell from her bows, nearly effecting +the destruction of the boat at its first plunge into the water. The +cable caught her outer gunwale, over which it ran, apparently one +sheet of fire; orders, exertion, and presence of mind were now of no +avail. Death to all in the cutter appeared inevitable. The sole +alternative was either to be burned or drowned, for they were all too +much exhausted to be able to save themselves by swimming. + +'The boats at a distance saw that the cutter was enveloped in flames, +and therefore considered it impossible to assist her. All that +Lieutenant Willoughby and his companions could do while the cable was +running out and binding their boat more firmly to the ship, was to +keep the sparks and flames as much as possible from the uncovered +parts of their persons. Providentially, however, although the inner +portion of the cable had been burnt through, the anchor took the +ground, and gave the ship's head a check to windward, before the less +consumed part had entirely left the tier; and thus the very event +which had seemed to seal the doom of the cutter was in all respects +ordained by the Almighty for her preservation. The change in the +ship's position enabled the boat to get clear, but not before every +individual in her was more or less severely scorched, and the heat was +no longer endurable.' + +The wreck drifted on shore on the north side of the island of Tenedos, +where, at five o'clock in the morning, she blew up with an explosion +which might be felt on the adjacent shores of Europe and of Asia; and +all that remained of the Ajax were a few smoking spars, which rose to +the surface of the sea. + +Such was the fate of this noble ship, destroyed by a conflagration +more rapid than had ever been known, and of which the cause has never +been clearly ascertained. It appears, however, certain that, contrary +to orders, there had been a light in the bread-room; for when the +first lieutenant broke open the door of the surgeon's cabin, the after +bulk-head was already burnt down; and as the purser's steward, his +assistant, and the cooper, were among the missing, it is but +reasonable to suppose that the fire had been occasioned by their +negligence. + +'I trust,' says Captain Blackwood, in his defence before the court of +inquiry, 'that I shall be able to prove to the satisfaction of this +court, that I had instituted a regulation, which obliged the first +lieutenant, the warrant officers, and master at arms, in a body to +visit all the quarters, store-rooms, wings, &c, and report to me at +eight o'clock on their clearness and safety; and that I had also +received at nine o'clock the report of the marine officer of the +guard.' ... 'I trust this court will consider that in ordering the +first lieutenant and warrant officers to visit all parts of the ship, +whose report, as well as that of the master at arms, I had received at +a few minutes past eight o'clock, I had very fully provided for every +want, and might with perfect confidence have considered my ship in a +state of perfect safety with respect to fire.' + +Captain Blackwood, his surviving officers and men, were all most +honourably acquitted of any blame respecting the loss of the Ajax. + +Out of six hundred men, three hundred and fifty were saved by the +boats of the squadron; but two hundred and fifty perished that night +by fire or water. + +Amongst the lost were Lieutenants Reeve and Sibthorpe; Captain Boyd, +Royal Marines; Mr. Owen, surgeon; Mr. Donaldson, master; twenty-five +midshipmen; two merchants of Constantinople, and a Greek pilot. + +The melancholy fate of the gunner must not be passed over unnoticed. + +This poor man had two sons on board, whom he was bringing up to his +own profession. + +When the first alarm of fire was given, he had rushed below, and was +soon seen emerging from the smoke with one of the boys in his arms. + +He threw the lad into the sea and the jolly-boat picked him up; but +on going down for the other, the unfortunate father fell a victim to +his paternal affection, and either perished in the flames, or was +suffocated. + +Of three women who were on board, one saved herself by following her +husband down a rope from the jib-boom, and was received into a boat. + +Captain Blackwood served as a volunteer in the subsequent operations +of the squadron in forcing the passage of the Dardanelles, and his +services then were most highly spoken of in a letter from Sir J. +Duckworth to Lord Collingwood. He had distinguished himself on many +previous occasions. He was in the memorable action of 1st of June, +1794; and he commanded the Euryalus at the battle of Trafalgar. + +When Sir Henry Blackwood bade farewell to Nelson, on leaving the +Victory to repair on board his own ship, before the commencement of +the action, Lord Nelson said, with prophetic meaning, 'God bless you, +Blackwood; I shall never see you again.' + +In 1810, he commanded the inshore squadron off Toulon, and for his +gallant conduct on that station he received the thanks of the +commander-in-chief, Sir Charles Cotton. + +In 1814, Captain Blackwood was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral, +and in 1819 he was appointed commander-in-chief in the East Indies. + +He died a vice-admiral in 1832, and his name is enrolled among the +first class of naval heroes who have fought under the British flag. + +The memory of Blackwood is still held in veneration by the old +weather-beaten tars of the Nelsonian school. + +Lieutenant Willoughby, whom we have seen displaying so much gallantry +in his efforts to save the crew of the Ajax, entered the service in +the year 1790. + +Before big promotion to the rank of lieutenant, in the year 1798, he +distinguished himself on more than one occasion by that promptitude of +action for which his after career was so remarkable. + +In 1801, he served on board the Russel, at the battle of Copenhagen. +The gallant manner in which he boarded the Provestein block ship, +excited so much admiration, that the Russel's crew gave him three +cheers upon his return to the ship. We next find this young officer +performing a most important service when the French forces capitulated +at Cape François, St. Domingo, in 1803. + +He was at this period serving on board the Hercule, flag-ship to Sir +John Duckworth. According to the terms agreed upon, the French +men-of-war were to keep their colours hoisted until they got outside +of the harbour, when they were each to discharge a broadside in return +to a shot fired athwart their bows, by one of the British ships, and +then to make the usual signals of submission. + +The Clorinde frigate, in going out of the harbour, grounded under Fort +St. Joseph, at the moment when the launch of the Hercule, commanded by +Mr. Willoughby, was entering the harbour. When Mr. Willoughby saw the +critical position of the Clorinde, and the danger which menaced all on +board of her (for he knew that even if they succeeded in gaining the +shore, which was doubtful, no quarter would be given them by the +blacks), he pulled towards the frigate, and when he came alongside, he +proposed terms to General La Poyne (who was on board of her) by which +the safety of the crew would be secured. + +Mr. Willoughby promised, that if the frigate would hoist English +colours, he (Mr. Willoughby) would wait upon General Dessalines, and +demand that the British flag should be respected; and in the event of +the Clorinde going to pieces during the night, the crew and passengers +should be considered prisoners of war. + +General La Poyne readily accepted the proposed terms, and +accordingly, Mr. Willoughby proceeded to negotiate with General +Dessalines, who promised compliance with his request. + +The boats of the Hercule were sent to the assistance of the Clorinde, +and they succeeded in heaving her off. + +Thus by the timely exertions of this zealous young officer, some +hundreds of lives were saved, and the British navy obtained a frigate +which, for many years, was one of the finest of the 38-gun class. + +At the attack on Curaçoa, in 1804, Mr. James relates, that for the +sake of encouraging his men, Mr. Willoughby used to take his meals +sitting in a chair upon the breast-work of a battery, while the earth +was ploughed up all around; and one man, we believe, was killed on the +spot; but still the table and chair, and the daring officer who sat +there, remained untouched. + +In the following year, the Hercule had captured a merchant schooner, +and one of the prisoners gave notice that a Spanish corvette of twenty +guns, was lying in St. Martha, South America. Mr. Willoughby thereupon +volunteered to attack her; and on the 4th of July, he took the command +of the prize, and parted company with his ship, accompanied by three +midshipmen and thirty volunteers. On the 6th, they entered the harbour +of St. Martha; Captain Samuel Roberts, then a midshipman, was at the +helm, with a check shirt on, his head covered with a French kerchief, +and his face blackened. The rest of the men were below, except a +black, and a mulatto. + +The schooner being well known, the deception was perfectly successful, +and she passed the batteries without interruption; but, to the +disappointment of all on board, no corvette was to be found. + +Mortified in the extreme, they put about, but not in time to escape +detection. The enemy had found out the trick that had been played upon +them; and the batteries from the island and harbour opened upon the +schooner a volley of no very gentle reproaches. However, she luckily +avoided the danger, and returned in safety to the Hercule, without +receiving a single shot. + +In 1807, Mr. Willoughby was appointed to the Royal George. We have +already alluded to his humane exertions to save the crew of the Ajax, +while the squadron was off the Dardanelles. He soon afterwards +received a severe wound whilst he was taking more thought for others' +safety than for his own. Upon the return of the squadron from +Constantinople, an attack was made upon a large building on the island +of Prota. + +Lieutenant Willoughby perceiving that three men were very much exposed +to the enemy's fire, called out to them, desiring them to stoop. At +that moment, he was himself struck by two pistol balls; one entered +his head, just above the right jaw, and took a slanting direction +upwards--and has never been extracted; the other shot cut his left +cheek in two; For some minutes he lay apparently lifeless, but +fortunately the movement of an arm indicated enough of life to awaken +hope in his companions; and they carried him on board the Royal +George. + +In 1808, he was promoted to the rank of commander, and appointed to +the Otter sloop, then employed in cruizing off the Isle of France. +Here he distinguished himself in cutting out some vessels under the +protection of the batteries of the Black River; and for his services +at the capture of St. Paul, he was appointed to the Xereide. + +In 1810, he made an attack upon Jacotel: he thought this a somewhat +dangerous enterprise; and, therefore, to inspire his men with more +than usual courage and ardour, he headed them himself, in full +uniform. After a desperate resistance on the part of the enemy, he +succeeded in spiking the guns of the fort, and taking prisoner the +commanding officer. For this service he was promoted to the rank of +captain. + +In the course of the same year, 1810, a musket burst in the hands of +one of the men, so near to the place where Captain Willoughby stood, +that his jaw was fractured, and the windpipe laid bare, so that his +life was despaired of. + +He had hardly recovered from this wound, before he was engaged in an +attack upon Port Louis, Isle de France. The disasters which befel the +squadron upon this occasion have now become a matter of history, and +they need not be recounted here,--suffice it to say, that Captain +Willoughby continued to keep up an unequal conflict until nearly all +on board the Nereide were either killed or wounded. Nor did he +surrender, although he had entirely lost one of his eyes, and the +other was much injured, 'until (to use the words of Vice-Admiral +Bertie) after a glorious resistance, almost unparalleled even in the +brilliant annals of the British navy,' + +Upon his return to England, Captain Willoughby had a pension of +550_l._ per annum awarded to him in consideration of his wounds. + +Having no immediate prospect of employment at home, he repaired to St. +Petersburg, and offered his services to the Czar. + +In his very first engagement in his new career, Captain Willoughby was +taken prisoner by the French.--falling a victim to his own generosity. +During the action, he saw two Prussian soldiers severely +wounded,--dismounting himself, and desiring his servant to do the +same, he placed the wounded men upon his own horses, and attended them +on foot. They were quickly overtaken by some French cavalry, and +Captain Willoughby was made prisoner. He was soon afterwards informed +that if he would sign a paper, pledging himself to hasten to France by +a certain route, he would be allowed to travel alone. + +He gladly consented to this; but to his astonishment, after signing +the required paper, he was ordered to march with the other prisoners. +In vain he protested against this breach of faith--he was obliged to +proceed. His sufferings from cold and hunger whilst crossing the +deserts of Russia and Poland were intense. After witnessing the +heartrending scenes of Moscow, he at length reached Mayence. Thence he +was removed to Metz, and he had scarcely reached the town, before an +order came for his confinement in the Chateau of Bouillon, where he +remained a close prisoner for nine months. He was then taken to +Peronne, and there he continued until the arrival of the Allies at +Chalons, when he contrived to make his escape. + +Soon after his arrival in England, Captain Willoughby received the +Order of the Bath,--an honour scarcely commensurate with the many and +valuable services he had performed for his country. It may safely be +asserted that no officer living has been engaged in so many +hard-fought actions, or has received so many dangerous wounds. From +his first entrance into the service, to the end of the late war, all +his energies were devoted to the service of his country; and now that +his services are no longer required, with a constitution shattered by +age and wounds, he is employing the remainder of his days in deeds of +charity and kindness towards his fellow-creatures. + +Captain Willoughby became admiral in 1847, and since the foregoing +pages were written, death has closed his eventful life. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] _Life of Sir Nisbet Willoughby_. + + + + +THE ANSON. + + +The year 1807 was most disastrous to the British navy: during that +period, we lost no less than twenty-nine ships of war, and, unhappily, +the greater part of their crews. Some of these vessels foundered at +sea, others were wrecked or accidentally burnt, and it was at the +close of this eventful year that a calamity occurred which equalled, +if it did not surpass, any previous disaster. + +The Anson, of 40 guns, under the command of Captain Charles Lydiard, +after completing her stores for a few months' cruise, sailed from +Falmouth on the 24th of December, to resume her station off Brest. The +wind was adverse, blowing very hard from the W.S.W., until the morning +of the 28th, when Captain Lydiard made the Island of Bas, on the +French coast. As the gale was increasing rather than subsiding, he +determined to return to port, and accordingly shaped his course for +the Lizard. At three o'clock P.M. land was discovered, apparently +about five miles west of the Lizard, but owing to the thickness of the +fog, there was a difference of opinion as to the land that was seen, +and therefore the ship was wore to stand out to sea. She had not been +long on this tack before land was descried right ahead. + +It was now evident that their position was extremely dangerous,--the +ship was completely embayed, and the wind raged with increasing fury. +Every exertion was made to keep the Anson off shore, but without +success, and it was not until she was fearfully near to the rocks that +she could be brought to an anchor, in twenty-five fathoms, with the +best bower anchor veered away to two cables' length. The top-gallant +masts were lowered upon deck, and in this state she rode from five +o'clock P.M., when she anchored, till four o'clock the next morning, +when the cable suddenly parted. During the night, the gale was +tremendous, and the sea ran mountains high; they had nothing now to +depend upon for the safety of the ship but a small bower anchor, which +was immediately let go, and this held until eight o'clock, when it +also parted. The ship was no longer an object of consideration; +Captain Lydiard felt that he had done his utmost to save her, but in +vain, and that now every energy must be put forth for the preservation +of human life. The tempest raged with such fury that no boat could +possibly come to their aid, nor could the strongest swimmer hope to +gain the shore. It appeared to Captain Lydiard that the only chance of +escape for any of the crew was in running the ship as near the coast +as possible. He gave the necessary orders, and the master run the +vessel on the sand which forms the bar between the Loe Pool and the +sea, about three miles from Helstone. The tide had been ebbing nearly +an hour when she took the ground, and she broached to, leaving her +broadside heeling over, and facing the beach. + +The scene of horror and confusion which ensued on, the Anson striking +against the ground, was one which baffles all description. Many of the +men were washed away by the tremendous sea which swept over the deck; +many others were killed by the falling of the spars, the crashing +sound of which, as they fell from aloft, mingled with the shrieks of +the women on board, was heard even amidst the roar of the waters and +the howling of the winds. The coast was lined with crowds of +spectators, who watched with an intense and painful interest the +gradual approach of the ill-fated vessel towards the shore, and +witnessed the subsequent melancholy catastrophe. + +Calm and undaunted amidst the terrors of the scene, Captain Lydiard +is described as displacing in a remarkable degree that self-possession +and passive heroism, which has been so often the proud characteristic +of the commander of a British ship of war under similar harassing +circumstances. Notwithstanding the confusion of the scene, his voice +was heard, and his orders were obeyed with that habitual deference +which, even in danger and in death, an English seaman rarely foils to +accord to his commanding officer. + +He was the first to restore order, to assist the wounded, to encourage +the timid, and to revive expiring hope. Most providentially, when the +vessel struck, the mainmast, in falling overboard, served to form a +communication between the ship and the shore, and Captain Lydiard was +the first to point out this circumstance to the crew. Clinging with +his arm to the wheel of the rudder, in order to prevent his being +washed overboard by the waves, he continued to encourage one after +another as they made the perilous attempt to reach the shore. It was +fated that this gallant officer should not enjoy in this world the +reward of his humanity and his heroism. After watching with +thankfulness the escape of many of his men, and having seen with honor +many others washed off the mast, in their attempts to reach the land, +he was about to undertake the dangerous passage himself, when he was +attracted by the cries of a person seemingly in an agony of terror. +The brave man did not hesitate for a moment, but turned and made his +way to the place whence the cries proceeded; there he found a boy, a +protégé of his own, whom he had entered on board the Anson only a few +months before, clinging in despair to a part of the wreck, and without +either strength or courage to make the least effort for his own +preservation. Captain Lydiard's resolution was instantly taken,--he +would save the lad, if possible, though he might himself perish in the +attempt. He threw one arm round the boy, whilst he cheered him by +words of kind encouragement, with the other arm he clung to the spars +and mast to support himself and his burthen. But the struggle did not +last long; nature was exhausted by the mental and physical sufferings +he had endured; he lost his hold, not of the boy, but of the mast, the +wild waves swept over them, and they perished together. + +It must not be supposed that the people on the shore were unconcerned +spectators of the fearful tragedy that was enacted before their eyes. +British fishermen are proverbial for their daring and intrepidity. +Inured from childhood to the dangers and hardships attendant on their +perilous calling, with very few exceptions our fishermen have always +been ready to succour the wrecked and tempest-tossed mariner. There is +not, we believe, a fishing village between the Land's End and the +Orkneys, that cannot produce its true _heroes_--men who have risked, +and are willing again to risk, their own lives to save others. Our +fisheries are the best nurseries for our navy. Englishmen may be +justly proud of the boatmen, from amongst whom spring those 'hearts of +oak' which have so long rendered our fleets pre-eminent over those of +every other country in the world. But, besides the generous +disposition to assist any perishing fellow creature, there were in +this instance more powerful motives to exert every effort to save the +crew of the Anson. This ship had been stationed for some time at or +near Falmouth, so that acquaintances, friendships, and still dearer +ties, had been formed between the inhabitants of the neighbouring +towns and villages, and the people of the unfortunate vessel. But a +few days before they had witnessed a far different scene, when she +left their shores in all the pride of a well-ordered and +well-disciplined man-of-war, amidst the shouts, and cheers, and +blessings of the multitude, who now beheld her lying within a few +fathoms of them a helpless wreck, her masts gone, her bulwarks broken +in, the waves sweeping over her, and breaking up her timbers. + +The surf ran so high, it was impossible that any boat could reach the +wreck. The life-boat, in 1807, had not been brought to the state of +perfection it has attained in our day; and the many inventions which +science and art have since introduced for the preservation of life, +were for the most part unknown in the times of which we are now +writing. + +Several men attempted to swim to the ship, but without success; they +were all, one after another, cast back exhausted upon the beach, and +many of them without sense or motion. At last, when there seemed no +hope left of affording aid to the sufferers, Mr. Roberts, of Helstone, +seized hold of a rope, and boldly struck out in the direction of the +Anson. He was a powerful swimmer, and his courageous efforts were +watched from the shore and from the wreck with intense interest, and +many a heartfelt prayer was breathed for his safety and success. +Tossed on the foaming waters, at one moment lost to sight, and almost +suffocated in the spray, and at another rising on the top of a huge +wave, he at last reached the ship, and was hailed as a deliverer by +those who were still clinging to the spars and rigging. The rope which +Mr. Roberts had taken with him was made fast to the wreck, and this +formed a communication with the shore, by which many a poor wretch was +saved who must otherwise have perished. + +Another instance of heroic self-devotion was exhibited by a Methodist +preacher, a little later in the day, when, as no one appeared on the +ship's side, it was supposed that every one had either come on shore, +or had been drowned; but this brave and good mail thought that there +might be some still left on board who were unable to make an effort to +save themselves, and, under this impression, he ventured his life +through the surf, followed by a few other daring spirits like himself. +With great difficulty they gained the wreck, where, as they had +anticipated, they found several persons lying below, all too much +exhausted to get upon deck. Some, in terror and despair, called upon +God for mercy; others, in hopeful trust, seemed resigned to their +fate; and others were so weak as to be indifferent to the horrors +around them. Two women and two children were of the number. The +preacher and his gallant comrades had the happiness of saving the +women and some of the men, but the children were lost. + +Sixty men, amongst whom were Captain Lydiard and his first-lieutenant, +perished in the wreck of the Anson. The survivors of the crew were +conveyed to Helstone, where they received every attention and kindness +which their unfortunate condition required. The body of Captain +Lydiard, which was washed on shore, was interred at Falmouth with +military honours. + + +We feel assured that the following particulars of the life of Captain +Lydiard will not be unacceptable to the reader. + +He entered the navy in the year 1780, in the flag-ship of Admiral +Darby, who then commanded the channel fleet, and from that time served +as a midshipman under several commanders on various stations, both at +home and abroad, during thirteen years. In 1794, he was appointed a +lieutenant of the Captain, of 74 guns, in which ship he served in two +general engagements in the Mediterranean. In July of the following +year he removed to the Southampton frigate, commanded by Captain +Shields, and afterwards by Captain Macnamara. + +On the evening of the 9th of June, 1796, the Southampton was stationed +with the fleet under Sir John Jervis, off Toulon, when a French cruizer +was discovered working up to Hieres Bay. The commander-in-chief called +the captain of the Southampton on board the Victory, and pointing out +the ship, directed him to make a dash at her through the Grand Pas. +Accordingly, the Southampton weighed, and, in order to delude the +French into the supposition that the ship was either a neutral or a +French frigate, hauled up under easy sail close to the batteries at the +north-east of Porquerol. The stratagem succeeded; for before the enemy +were aware of the approach of the Southampton, the ship was alongside +of the French cruizer. Captain Macnamara cautioned her commander not to +make a fruitless resistance; but he replied by snapping his pistol, and +pouring in a broadside. In a moment, the English boarded, led on by +Lieutenant Lydiard, with an impetuosity that nothing could withstand. +After ten minutes' spirited resistance on the part of the French +captain and a hundred of his men under arms, the 'Utile' surrendered, +but not before the death of her gallant commander, who fell at the +beginning of the onset. + +Lydiard was instantly promoted, and appointed to the command of the +ship he had so gallantly captured. In the year 1801, he was advanced +to the rank of post-captain, and though frequently soliciting +employment did not succeed in obtaining a command until 1805, when he +was appointed to the Anson. + +These pages will not admit of our recounting the many instances in +which this officer's gallantry was conspicuous. Before concluding, +however, we cannot refrain from laying before our readers the +following account of the last enterprise in which Captain Lydiard was +engaged, and which is related by his biographer in _The Naval +Chronicle_.[11] + +'No sooner had the Anson been refitted, than she was again selected, +with three other frigates, under the command of Captain Brisbane (as +Commodore), of the Arethusa, to reconnoitre, and, if possible, to +sound the minds of the inhabitants of Curaçoa upon the suggestion of +an alliance with this country; but the gallant Brisbane, and his +equally gallant partner in this expedition, soon formed a plan for +curtailing this mode of proceeding, and determined, at all risks, by a +_coup de main_, either to capture the island, or to perish in the +attempt. + +'With this resolution, having arranged their plan of attack, they +proceeded in their course for the island, and they reached the +entrance of the harbour just at the dawn of day, on the 1st of +January, 1807. + +'In order to inform the reader, who may not be acquainted with the +amazing strength of Curaçoa on the sea face, we will give some account +of the difficulties which they had to contend with; and, at the same +time, shall avail ourselves of such statements of the facts as the +different official and other communications upon the subject will +furnish us with. + +'The harbour was defended by regular fortifications of two tier of +guns. Fort Amsterdam alone mounting sixty-six pieces of cannon; the +entrance only fifty yards wide, and so circumstanced, that it is +impossible for a ship to return by the same wind that takes it in. +Athwart the entrance of the harbour was the Dutch frigate Kenaw +Hatslam, of 36 guns, and the Surinam, of 22 guns, with two large +schooners of war; a chain of forts was on Mesleberg heights, and that +almost impregnable fortress, Fort Republique, within the distance of +grape-shot, enfilading the whole harbour. The cool determined bravery +of British seamen perceives obstacles only to surmount them; and with +this determination the squadron entered the harbour, the Arethusa, +Captain Brisbane, leading, followed in close line by the Latona, +Captain Wood; Anson, Captain Lydiard; and Fisguard, Captain Bolton. + +'When the headmost ship got round the point of the harbour's mouth, +the wind became so unfavourable that she could not fetch in; but to +return was impossible--it was too late. What a trying moment! At that +instant, however, there came on a squall, in which the wind shifted +two points in their favour, and they proceeded close together. + +'The enemy were panic-struck at such unexpected gallantry, and all was +confusion. A severe and destructive cannonade now commenced, and the +Dutch frigate was boarded by Captain Brisbane, when the Latona +instantly warped alongside and took possession, and Captain Brisbane +proceeded to the shore. The Surinam was boarded from the larboard bow +of the Anson, while her starboard guns were firing at the batteries; +and Captain Lydiard, upon securing the Surinam, went immediately on +shore, and landed at the same moment with Captain Brisbane. +Immediately debarking their respective officers and ship's companies, +they proceeded to storm the forts, citadel, and town, which were by +seven o'clock completely in their possession, and at ten o'clock the +British flag was hoisted on Fort Republique. Captains Brisbane and +Lydiard were the first upon the walls of Fort Amsterdam. Indeed, too +much cannot be said in praise of the almost unparalleled bravery +displayed by the officers and men of all the ships on this occasion. +It may be truly said to be 'perfectly in union with everything +glorious in the past, and an example of everything glorious to the +future.'' + +The same year that opened so brilliantly upon the career of Captain +Lydiard, witnessed, at its close, the total destruction of the Anson, +and the untimely fate of her brave commander. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[11] Vol. xix., p. 449. + + + + +THE BOREAS. + + +In the afternoon of the 21st of November, 1807, the Boreas, of 22 +guns, Captain George Scott, proceeded in search of a pilot-boat, which +had been blown off the coast of Guernsey in a gale of wind. + +This boat was picked up and taken in tow, when about six o'clock P.M. +it was discovered that the ship was near the Hannois rocks, about two +miles to the south-west of Guernsey. Orders were immediately given by +the pilot to put the helm down, but whilst in stays, the ship struck +on the larboard bow; and although every exertion was made to get her +off, it was found impossible to do so. The point of a rock was +reported to be through the well, rendering the pumps useless. The ship +then heeled on her larboard broadside, and the captain gave orders to +cut away the masts. + +The moment the ship struck, the pilots basely deserted her, and made +off in their own boat, without even offering assistance to those who +had encountered this danger and disaster in their service. Had the +pilots returned to Rocquaine, only two miles distant, they might have +procured aid for the Boreas, and preserved the lives of her crew. +When Captain Scott was convinced that there was no chance of saving +his ship, he ordered an allowance of spirits to be served round, and +the gig, the launch, and cutter to be prepared for lowering. + +The gig, with Lieutenant Bewick, a lieutenant of marines, and six men, +was sent to give information, and obtain assistance. The launch, with +the gunner, and some others, was ordered to take on board the sick, +and land them at Hannois Point, and then to return to the ship; and +the cutter, with the boatswain, and a few men, was despatched on the +same service. Captain Scott, with noble intrepidity, remained to share +the fate of his vessel. + +The launch, under the orders of the gunner, succeeded in reaching the +Hannois Rocks, as did also the cutter; but the greater part of the +crew of the launch abandoned her as soon as they touched the land. In +vain did the gunner use every persuasion to induce the men to return +with him to the assistance of their comrades who were left on board +the Boreas; they were deaf to his entreaties, and he was obliged to +put off again with only four men. The wind and tide were so strong, +and so much against them, that the utmost exertion was necessary to +enable them to make their way towards the ship, and when they got +within two hundred yards of the back of the rocks, the launch was half +filled with water. They then tried to make the land again; but before +they could reach it the boat was swamped, and the men were saved with +difficulty by Mr. Simpson, the boatswain, in the cutter. There is +little doubt that if the launch had not been deserted by the greater +part of her crew, she might have reached the Boreas, and have saved +many valuable lives. And here, in justice to the majority of the +ship's company, we must observe, that those who manned the launch were +chiefly smugglers and privateer's men lately impressed, and were not +to be considered as part of the regular crew of the ship. + +In addition to the boats we have already mentioned as having left the +ship, was a small cutter, (containing two midshipmen, of the names of +Luttrell and Hemmings, and two men,) which was lowered into the sea by +order of the first lieutenant, whose humanity induced him to take this +expedient for saving the lives of the two boys. The current was so +strong that in a few moments the cutter drifted away from the ship, +but the generous feelings of the boys forbade them to desert their +comrades in distress, and with great exertion they pulled back to the +vessel; they called for a rope, but were ordered to keep off, and +again their little boat was carried away by the current. Once more +they attempted to get back, but their strength was unequal to the +task, and they were carried out into the open sea. Their situation was +in many respects little better than that of the friends whom they had +left upon the wreck,--the night was pitch dark, the boat had neither +mast nor sail, and the sea ran so high that they could do nothing with +the oars. Every now and then the flash of a gun, seen across the black +distance, told them that the Boreas still held together, and that she +was making signals of distress; but no sound reached their ears save +the roar of the winds and the waves. Even the booming of the guns was +lost in that dismal roar. + +The little party scarcely expected to survive the night; they were +drenched to the skin, and suffering intensely from the cold; the waves +broke over the bows of their frail boat, and threatened each minute to +overwhelm it; but their brave hearts did not sink in utter despair; +they did their utmost to keep themselves afloat, by incessantly baling +out the water with their hats and hands. They thought the night would +never end, and that they should never see the morrow; but day dawned +upon them at last, and then with what anxious eyes did they sweep the +horizon. But in vain they looked; not a sail was to be seen. An hour +passed away; they shipped such a quantity of water that their +imperfect attempts to bale it out were almost useless. The boat sank +deeper and deeper, and their hearts sank too. Suddenly a ship hove in +sight, and she seemed to be bearing towards them. Hope and fear +struggled for the mastery in their breasts; hope urged them to renewed +efforts to keep themselves from sinking, whilst, in breathless +anxiety, they watched the vessel. She came nearer and nearer; the +watchers felt sure they were perceived; then a boat was lowered, and +they thanked God for their deliverance. In a few minutes they were +received on board H.M. ship Thalia, more dead than alive, after so +many hours' endurance of cold, hunger, and dismay. + +We must now return to Captain Scott and his companions on the wreck. +The men were mustered by the officers on the quarter-deck; they +numbered ninety-five or ninety-seven, and they had been all actively +employed in making rafts, and lashing together spars and other +materials, by which they hoped to save themselves, in the event of the +ship going to pieces before assistance should arrive. Hour after hour +passed away, and no help came; by the noise of the vessel grinding +against the rocks they knew that she could not hold together much +longer. Captain Scott continued to issue his commands with coolness +and decision, and they were promptly obeyed by both officers and men. +About four o'clock in the morning, the quarter-deck being no longer +tenable, all the crew were obliged to betake themselves to the main +and mizen chains. They had already suffered severely from the cold, +but they had now to endure it in greater intensity. In their exposed +situation the waves frequently washed entirely over them, and their +limbs were so benumbed with cold that it was with the utmost +difficulty they could hold on to the wreck, so as to save themselves +from being swept into the abyss of waters that seemed yawning to +receive them. By degrees, even the cries and the complaints of the +sufferers became hushed: not a word was spoken; in awful silence they +listened to the groaning of the timbers, and the sullen roar of the +waves dashing against the rocks. + +In this state they had remained another hour, when a hollow sound was +heard below them; still they spoke not a word, for from the captain to +the youngest boy, every one knew what that sound foretold, and that +the last struggle was at hand,--for many, the last hour of existence. +Then a universal tremor was felt through the wreck, and the boldest +heart responded to that shudder. The very timbers seemed to dread +their impending doom: with a mighty crash they yielded to the force of +the waves; for a moment the ship righted, and then sank beneath the +foaming waters. + +The pen is powerless when we attempt to describe an event like this, +for we cannot penetrate into the secret recesses of the heart, nor can +we delineate the agonies of conscience which too often increase the +anguish of such scenes, when the near approach of death unveils to +men, truths they have been unwilling to learn or to believe. Many a +cry for pardon and mercy is raised in the hour of shipwreck, from lips +that never prayed before. The best and bravest then bow their heads in +awe, however well they may be prepared for the dangers that are +incident to their profession; and though from childhood 'these men see +the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep,' yet it must be +an appalling moment when the plank they have been wont to tread in +calm security, is torn from beneath their feet, and they are left as +helpless as infants, to be the sport of the wild billows! + +The moment the vessel sunk, many of the men struck out for the plank +nearest to them; a few of the strongest and best swimmers gained the +raft, but others who were benumbed with cold, or otherwise unable to +swim, perished immediately. The quarter-master was one of those who +reached the raft, and he found the captain, the doctor, and some +others, already upon it. Captain Scott was so much exhausted by the +mental and bodily sufferings he had endured, that the doctor and the +quarter-master were obliged to support him on the raft. He became +gradually weaker, and lingered but a short time ere he expired in +their arms; and a few minutes afterwards a huge wave swept over the +raft, and bore with it the body of the lamented commander of the +Boreas. About eight o'clock in the morning, a number of boats put out +from Guernsey to the relief of the survivors, and carried them safely +on shore. + +We have already mentioned the cowardly and inhuman conduct of the +pilots in deserting the Boreas, and it is also a matter of surprise, +that although twenty guns were fired as signals, and several rockets +and blue lights burned, no help of any kind was sent from the shore +till the next morning. One of the witnesses on the court-martial +affirmed, that a pilot on shore had heard the guns firing, and had +inquired of a soldier on guard whether it was an English or French +man-of-war! On the soldier replying that he thought it was an English +vessel, the man refused to put to sea, saying, by way of excuse, that +'it blew too hard.' + +Through the exertions of Lieut. Colonel Sir Thomas Saumarez, about +thirty seamen and marines were taken off the rocks of the Hannois at +daylight, making the entire number saved about sixty-eight; whilst the +loss amounted to one hundred and twenty-seven. + +The following is an extract from the dispatch of Vice-Admiral Sir +James Saumarez:--'The greatest praise appears due to Captain Scott and +his officers and men, under such perilous circumstances--in a dark and +tempestuous night, in the midst of the most dangerous rocks that can +be conceived, and I have most sincerely to lament the loss of so many +brave officers and men, who have perished on this melancholy occasion. + +'Captain Scott has been long upon this station, and has always shown +the greatest zeal and attachment to his Majesty's service, and in him +particularly his country meets a great loss, being a most valuable and +deserving officer.' + + + + +THE HIRONDELLE. + + +The Hirondelle, a 14-gun brig, had been originally a French privateer. +She was taken by the boats of the Tartar in the year 1804, when +attempting to escape from that vessel through a narrow and intricate +channel between the islands of Saona and St. Domingo. The Tartar +finding from the depth of the water that she could not come up with +the schooner, despatched three of her boats under the command of +Lieutenant Henry Muller, assisted by Lieutenant Nicholas Lockyer and +several midshipmen, all volunteers, to endeavour to bring her out. The +instant the boats put off, the Hirondelle hoisted her colours, fired a +gun, and warped her broadside towards them. As they advanced, the +privateer opened a fire from her great guns, and as they drew nearer, +from her small arms also. In spite of this, and of a strong breeze +directly on the bows of the boats, Lieutenant Muller intrepidly pulled +up to the privateer, and after a short but obstinate resistance, he +boarded and carried her, with the loss only of one seaman, and one +marine wounded.'[12] + +Such was the first introduction of the Hirondelle into the British +navy. Her career in it was of short duration, and its conclusion +fearfully sudden and disastrous, as the following account, given by +the survivors, will show. + +On the 22nd of February, 1808, the Hirondelle, commanded by Lieutenant +Joseph Kidd, sailed from Malta, bound to Tunis, with dispatches on +board. On Wednesday evening they steered a course towards Cape Bon, +but unfortunately they got within the action of the strong current +that sets eastward along the Barbary Coast, so that, instead of making +the Cape as she intended, the brig fell some few leagues short of it +to the eastward, and run aground. As soon as the alarm was given, all +hands were turned up; the night was so dark it was impossible to +ascertain the exact position of the ship, but they distinctly heard +the breakers on the shore. Every effort was made to bring the vessel +up, by endeavouring to anchor, but without effect; while this was +going on, the cutter had been manned with ten or twelve men, and she +might have been the means of saving many lives, but she was no sooner +lowered, than the people rushed into her in such numbers that she was +almost immediately swamped, and all who were on board her perished, +except one man, who regained the deck of the Hirondelle. The commander +now saw that the loss of his ship was inevitable, and he therefore +desired his crew to provide for their own safety. The order was +scarcely uttered, no one had had time to act upon it, when suddenly +the brig gave a lurch and went down; the sea washed over her, and of +all her men, four only were left to tell the sad tale. Happily for +them they were clinging to the wreck, and so escaped the fate of their +companions who were swept overboard; and by aid of some of the spars +they succeeded in gaining the shore. + +This account is necessarily brief: so short a time elapsed between the +unexpected striking of the ship and her going to pieces, that there is +no incident to relate. The commander and officers of the Hirondelle +seem to have done all in their power to extricate her from her +unfortunate position; indeed, it would appear that had they attended +less anxiously to the preservation of the ship, many lives might have +been saved. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] James's _Naval History_. + + + + +BANTERER. + + +His Majesty's ship Banterer, of 22 guns, under the command of Captain +Alexander Shephard, was lost on the 29th October, 1808, between Port +Neuf and Point Mille Vache, in the River St. Lawrence, whilst in the +execution of orders, which Captain Shephard had received from Sir John +Borlase Warren, directing him to proceed to Quebec, with all possible +despatch, to take a convoy to England. + +The following is the account of this disastrous affair, as given by +Captain Shephard:-- + +'Being as far as the Island of Bie in pursuance of orders, through +rather an intricate navigation, with foul winds the greater part of +the time, where the charge of the ship devolved upon myself, and the +only chart I could procure of the navigation in question being on a +very small scale, I felt myself relieved from much anxiety by +receiving a branch pilot on board on the 28th October last, on which +night at eight P.M. we passed between that island and the south shore, +with the wind north by west, and very fine weather; at nine, the wind +coming more round to the westward, we tacked for the north shore, in +order, as the pilot said, not only to be ready to avail himself of the +prevailing northerly winds in the morning, but because the current was +there more in our favour. At midnight we tacked to the southward, and +at two A.M. again laid her head to the northward; and at four A.M. the +pilot having expressed a wish to go about, the helm was accordingly +put down, and on rising tacks and sheet, it was discovered that the +ship was aground. As we had then a light breeze at west, the sails +were all laid aback, the land being in sight from the starboard-beam, +apparently at some distance, I immediately ordered the master to sound +round the ship, and finding that the shoal lay on the starboard +quarter and astern, ordered the sails to be furled, the boats hoisted +out, the stream anchor and cable to be got into the launch, and the +boats to tow her out two cables' length, south-west from the ship, +where we found the deepest water; but by this time the wind had +suddenly increased to such a degree that the boats could not row +ahead, and latterly having lost our ground, we were obliged to let +the anchor go in fifteen fathoms, about a cable's length W.S.W. from +the ship, on which, having got the end of the cable on board, we hove +occasionally as the flood made, and in the meantime got our spare +topmasts over the side, with the intention of making a raft to carry +out a bower anchor should it moderate; but the intense cold, and the +still increasing gale rendered it impossible. + +'About half-past eleven A.M. the stream cable being then taut ahead, +the wind W.S.W., with a very heavy sea, the ship canted suddenly with +her head to the southward, where we had deep water; we immediately set +our courses, jib and driver, and for some time had the must sanguine +hopes of getting her off, but were unfortunately disappointed, and as +the ebb made we were obliged again to furl sails. + +'As the ship was then striking very hard, with a heavy sea breaking +over her in a body, we cut away the topmasts, not only to ease her, +but to prevent their falling upon deck; we also endeavoured to shore +up the ship, but the motion was so violent that four and six parts of +a five-inch hawser were repeatedly snapped, with which we were lashing +the topmasts as shores, through the main-deck ports. At about eight +P.M., fearing the inevitable loss of the ship, as the water was then +gaining on the pumps, I availed myself of the first favourable moment +to land the sick, and a party of marines and boys with some +provisions,--this could only be effected at a certain time of tide, +even with the wind off shore,--and employed those on board in getting +upon deck what bread and other provisions could be come at. + +'Though the water was still gaining on the pumps as the flood made, +the wind coming more round to the northward, we again set our +foresail, but without the desired effect. As the stream anchor had, +however, come home, the wind was too doubtful to attempt to lighten +the ship. + +'On the morning of the 30th, it being moderate, with the wind off +shore, we hove our guns, shot, and everything that could lighten the +ship, overboard, reserving two on the forecastle for signals. As the +flood made, we again set what sail we could, and hove on the stream +cable,--though, with all hands at the pumps, we found the water +increase in the hold as it flowed alongside; and it was the prevailing +opinion that the ship would have foundered if got off. Being now +convinced, from concurring circumstances, as well as the repeated +representations of the carpenter, that the ship could not swim, the +water having flowed above the orlop deck, and much sand coming up with +the pumps, we desisted from further attempts to get her off the shoal, +and continued getting such stores and provisions as we could upon +deck. + +'Towards the afternoon, the wind again increasing from the W.S.W., and +the water being on the lower deck, I judged it proper to send some +provisions, with such men as could be best spared, on shore, that, in +the event of the ship going to pieces, which was expected, the boats +might be the better able to save those remaining on board; and on the +morning of the 31st, conceiving every further effort for the +preservation of the ship unavailing, it then blowing strong, with +every appearance of increasing, I felt myself called on, by humanity +as well as duty to my country, to use every effort in saving the lives +of the people intrusted to my care, and accordingly directed the boats +to land as many of them as possible, keeping the senior lieutenant and +a few others on board with me. + +'The whole of this day there was little prospect of saving those who +remained with the wreck, as the surf was so great that the boats could +not return to us; several guns were fired, to point to those on shore +our hopeless situation, and stimulate them to use every possible +effort to come to our relief; but they could not effect it, +notwithstanding every exertion on their part, which we were most +anxiously observing. As the only means which then occurred to me of +saving the people on board, I directed a raft to be made with the +spars left on the booms, which was accomplished, with much difficulty, +in about six hours; the sea then breaking over the ship with great +violence, and freezing as it fell with such severity, that even the +alternative adopted presented little prospect of saving any one left +on the wreck. During this state of awful suspense, we had every reason +to think that the ship was completely bilged, and were apprehensive, +from the steepness of the bank, that she would fall with her decks to +the lee, as the ebb made, in which case all on board must have +inevitably perished. + +'About half-past eleven P.M., the barge came off; and as the lives of +the people were now the primary consideration, I sent as many of them +on shore by her as possible, as well as by the launch, when she was +able to come off; and at two A.M., on the 1st November, having +previously succeeded in sending every other person on shore, I left +the ship with regret, in the jolly boat, and landed, with some +difficulty, through the surf. About eight A.M., the same morning, I +attempted to go off in the barge to save as much provisions and stores +as possible, but found it impracticable, as the boat was nearly +swamped. All this and the succeeding day, the gale continuing, we +could not launch the boats, and were employed carrying such provisions +and stores as were saved, to some empty houses which were discovered +about six miles to the eastward of where we landed. Finding that with +all our exertions we had only been able to save three days' bread, the +officers and crew were put upon half allowances, with the melancholy +prospect of starving in the woods. + +'On Thursday, the 3rd November, the weather moderating, we launched +the boats before daylight, and dispatched the jolly boat, with the +purser, to a village called Trois Pistoles, about forty-five miles +distant, on the opposite side of the river, that he might find his way +to Quebec, to procure us assistance and relief, there being no +possibility of communicating with any inhabited quarter from where we +were but by water. + +'During our stay near the wreck, we had repeated gales of wind, both +to the eastward and westward; and so violent, and with so much sea, +that the mizenmast was thrown overboard, all the upper deck beams +broken, and the ship's bottom beaten out. + +'We embraced every intervening opportunity of going off to save stores +by scuttling the decks, which were covered with ice, the ship on her +broadside, and the water flowing over the quarter-deck. On these +occasions we were generally away ten or twelve hours, exposed to the +wet and cold, without nourishment; from which, and fatigue, I had to +lament seeing the people every day become more sickly, and many of +them frost-bitten from the severity of the weather. By the +indefatigable exertions of the officers and crew, we succeeded in +saving all our spare sails, cables, and stores, to a considerable +amount; though the cables were frozen so hard, that we were obliged to +cut and saw them as junk. + +'On the 7th, I again sent a boat with the second lieutenant, to Trois +Pistoles, in the hope of procuring, if possible, some temporary +supplies; but the wind increasing to a violent gale from the eastward, +with a heavy fall of snow, they got frozen up on the opposite shore, +and did not return till the 12th, having then only procured three +hundred weight of flour, a few potatoes, and some beef--two men having +deserted from the boat. + +'At this period, I had a respectful request made me from the people, +to be allowed to go to Trois Pistoles, that they might shift for +themselves whilst the weather would admit of it, dreading the +consequences of remaining longer where we were; but out boats would +not have carried above one-third, and I conceived the public service +would have suffered from allowing them to separate. We had, also, +several desertions--in consequence, I believe, of hunger, and the +melancholy prospect before them; two of the deserters were brought +back, and one returned delirious, after five days' absence, with his +feet in a state of gangrene, having had only one small cake to eat +during that time. Those still missing must have perished in the woods, +from the accounts of the men who were brought back. + +'On Sunday, the 20th November, we were relieved from the most painful +state of anxiety by the arrival of a small schooner, with a +fortnight's provisions, from Quebec, and information that a transport +had been procured, and was equipping for us, which nothing but the ice +setting in would prevent coming down; and on the 24th I had the +satisfaction of receiving a letter by the government schooner, +announcing a further supply of provisions, with some blankets for the +people; it, however, then blew so hard, with a heavy fall of snow, +that she was obliged to take shelter under Bie. On the 25th the +schooner returned, when we embarked, and were carried to the opposite +side of the river, where the transport was expected,--the pilot +conceiving it unsafe to bring the ship nearer to us at that season of +the year.' + +'Captain Shephard concludes his narrative in paying the following +tribute to the discipline and good conduct of his crew:-- + +In justice to the officers and crew, it now becomes my duty, and a +very pleasing part thereof, to bear testimony to the particular +perseverance with which they bore the cold, hunger, and fatigue, +whilst endeavouring to save the ship; and when that idea was given up, +in saving the stores with the dire prospect before them of being cut +off from all supplies had the winter set in, the ice rendering all +communication impracticable during that season of the year.' + +The sufferings and privations endured by the officers and crew of the +Banterer, during such trying circumstances, have been ably described +in the above narrative of Captain Shephard. From the 29th of October, +to the 24th of November, a period of twenty-seven days, these men, +with little hopes of succour, had borne, with almost unexampled +fortitude, not only hunger and cold, but, to use the words of the +surgeon, 'a considerable number of the crew were affected with +inflammation of the extremities, which in nearly twenty cases produced +partial mortification, and one extensive gangrene on both feet, +attended with delirium and other dangerous symptoms.' + +Captain Shephard died, as rear-admiral, in 1841. + + + + +THE CRESCENT. + + +His Majesty's Ship Crescent, of 36 guns, Captain John Temple, sailed +from Yarmouth about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 29th of +November, 1808, for Gottenburg. When she left Yarmouth, the wind blew +fresh from the south-west, and it continued favourable till the +following afternoon, when the weather became overcast, and the wind +increased to a gale. The vessel proceeded on her course for some days, +and at daylight, on the 5th of December, the coast of Norway was +discernible from the deck. At one o'clock, P.M., they sounded in +twenty-five fathoms, on the coast of Jutland; an hour later they +sounded in eighteen fathoms, and at three o'clock they were in +thirteen fathoms. The pilots in charge of the Crescent requested the +master to inform Captain Temple that they desired that the ship should +be hove to, with her head to the southward, and the topsails close +reefed. The advice of the pilots was immediately acted upon, and they +at the same time assured the captain that they were well acquainted +with the soundings, and they had no doubt the ship would drift with +safety. Suddenly she did drift into ten fathoms, and remained in that +depth until eight o'clock, P.M. + +Captain Temple felt anxious for the safety of his ship and her crew, +and he inquired of the pilots if any alteration could be made with +advantage. They replied that none was necessary; but that the Crescent +should be kept on the same tack till daylight. The vessel drifted till +ten o'clock, P.M. when she struck. A boat was immediately lowered to +sound. The men reported the current setting to eastward at the rate of +two and a-half or three miles an hour. + +As the sails were now only forcing the ship further on the shoal, +orders were given to furl, and to hoist out all the boats except the +jolly-boat and gig--both of these orders were promptly obeyed. At this +time, the current was taking the ship on the larboard bow, and canting +her round. In order to draw her off, the sails were loosed; but this, +instead of having the desired effect, hove her round into a worse +position than before. The sails were again furled, and an anchor and +cable were got into the launch. The boats then took the launch in tow, +and endeavoured to pull her out; but the force and rapidity of the +current rendered it impossible to do so. The situation of the Crescent +became every instant more perilous; the gale had increased, and the +wind, which had veered round to the north-west, blew direct on shore, +forcing the vessel further on the shoal. As a last attempt to save the +ship, the captain directed that the bower anchor should be let go, and +the ship lightened by heaving the guns, shot, balls, &c., overboard. +Little good resulted from this step; and then the water was started +and the provisions thrown overboard out of the fore and aft holds. +Pumping now became useless, as the water had risen to the hatches; and +when at last the cable parted, all hopes of saving the vessel were +abandoned, and at half-past six in the morning of the 6th of December +the masts were cut away by the captain's orders, and she lay a +helpless wreck. The boats which, until this time, had been lying off +in tow, broke their hawsers; and when the people on board found it +impossible to regain the ship, from the force of the current, they +made for the shore, and fortunately all succeeded in reaching it, with +the exception of one of the cutters, which was lost with all her crew. +Lieutenant Henry Stokes, who was in one of the other boats, fearing +that she would be capsized, jumped overboard, and attempted to swim on +shore, but had not strength to buffet with the waves, and was drowned. +The storm continued to increase as the day advanced, and the men on +board the wreck being completely exhausted, they piped to breakfast, +and a dram was served round. At one o'clock, P.M., a raft was +commenced, and in about an hour it was completed and launched, and +placed under the charge of Lieutenant John Weaver, of the Marines, Mr. +Thomas Mason, clerk, and Mr. James Lavender, midshipman. The crew of +the raft was composed chiefly of the sick, or those least capable of +exerting themselves for their own preservation. When the raft left the +ship, the captain and gallant crew of the Crescent gave three hearty +cheers to their companions, whom they were never likely to behold +again. It is hard to say which of the parties was in greatest peril, +or nearest to destruction; but in all such cases, those who are +obliged to wait for the awful moment, are subjected to more intense +mental suffering than those who act, and are enabled to take any +measures, however perilous, for saving their lives. The people upon +the raft returned the farewell cheer, and as each wave dashed over +them, and they again floated on the surface, they announced their +safety with another and another shout. They had little hope indeed of +reaching the shore alive; they were standing up to their middle in +water, and every billow that rolled over them carried away one or more +of their number. Happily some of those who were washed off the raft, +succeeded in regaining it; but seven of them perished, the rest were +safely landed, and to the constant exertions of the officers to keep +up the spirits of the men, they were greatly indebted for their +preservation. + +A second raft was begun on board the Crescent, but it was never +completed; the sea made a clear breach over her; the quarter-deck +became filled with water, and it was therefore necessary to launch the +jolly-boat in order to save as many lives as possible, though she +could scarcely be expected to live in such a sea. Once more, Captain +Temple and above two hundred men and officers said farewell to the +companions of their toils and dangers--once more they bade God speed +to the frail bark--their own last chance of escape--and watched it as +it was now borne aloft on the crested wave, now buried in the briny +furrow. For a time they forgot their own danger in anxiety for the +others; but they were soon recalled to what was passing around +them--the groaning of the timbers, as every sea struck the wreck with +an increasing shock, forewarned them that she could not long resist +that mighty force. There were two hundred and twenty human beings +entirely helpless to save themselves. None may know the agonies of +that hour, when even hope itself had fled--when nothing intervened +between the soul and the unseen world. The Crescent went to pieces a +short time after the departure of the jolly-boat, and every one left +on board perished, to the number of two hundred and twenty, out of a +crew of two hundred and eighty. Amongst the lost were the captain, +three lieutenants, a lieutenant of marines, nine midshipmen, the +surgeon, purser, carpenter, and gunner; two pilots, one passenger, six +women, and a child. + +The surviving officers and crew of the Crescent were tried by a court +martial, at Sheerness, for the loss of the vessel, when the court was +of opinion that 'the loss of the Crescent proceeded from the ignorance +and neglect of the pilots, and that the master was blameable, inasmuch +that he did not recommend to the captain or pilots either coming to an +anchor, or standing on the other tact, for the better security of H.M. +late ship Crescent.' + +'The court was further of opinion that every exertion was made on the +part of the remaining officers and crew for the safety of the +Crescent.' + + + + +THE MINOTAUR. + + +His Majesty's Ship Minotaur, of 74 guns, Captain John Barrett, was +ordered by Admiral Sir James Saumarez to protect the last Baltic +fleet, in the year 1810. + +After seeing the convoy through the Belt, the ship sailed from +Gottenburg about the 15th December, and, with a strong breeze from the +east, shaped her course alone for the Downs. + +At eight o'clock, in the evening of the 22nd, Lieutenant Robert Snell +took charge of the watch; the wind was then blowing hard from the +south-east, the weather thick and hazy, and the ship, under +close-reefed topsails, and courses, was going at the rate of four +knots an hour. + +At nine o'clock, the captain gave orders that soundings should be +taken every hour, under the immediate direction of the pilot of the +watch. At midnight, the pilot desired that the vessel might be put on +the other tack, and all hands were instantly turned up to carry out +his directions, and Lieutenant Snell was in the act of informing the +captain of what was going on, when the ship struck. + +The helm was ordered to be put up, but the first shock had carried +away the tiller; fruitless attempts were then made to back the ship +off, but she had struck with such force upon the sand that it was +impossible to move her. The carpenter now reported fifteen feet water +in the hold; and it increased so rapidly that in a few minutes it rose +above the orlop deck. The officers and the whole of the ship's company +were assembled upon deck, and the universal question passed from mouth +to mouth--'On what coast have we struck?' + +The pilot of the watch maintained that they were on some shoal in the +English coast; the other pilot, however, was of opinion that they were +upon the North Haacks, and this proved to be actually the case. + +For a few minutes after the ship first struck there was some degree of +confusion on board; but this soon subsided; order and tranquillity +were restored, and the men all exerted themselves to the utmost, +although she struck the ground so heavily, it was almost impossible +for them to keep their feet. + +The masts were cut away, and other means taken to lighten the ship; +and guns were fired as signals of distress, but no aid was afforded +to them during that long and dismal night. The darkness was so +intense, it was impossible to see beyond a few yards, and they could +only judge of their proximity to land, by the sullen roar of the +breakers as they dashed upon the shore. In this state of uncertainty +and dread, the night passed away; and daylight at last discovered to +the crew of the Minotaur the horrors of their situation. The ship was +firmly imbedded in sand, and had gradually sunk till the water covered +the forecastle. All the boats excepting the launch and two yauls were +destroyed, either by the falling of the masts, or the waves breaking +over them. + +At eight o'clock, A.M., the Minotaur parted amidships, and the sea +made a clear breach over her. The gunner, seeing that she could not +hold together much longer, volunteered to go off in the yard, and +endeavour to obtain assistance from the shore. Captain Barrett at +first refused the offer, as he thought it impossible the boat could +live in such a sea; but upon further consideration, he gave his +consent; and the gunner, with thirty-one of the crew, succeeded in +launching the yaul, and getting clear of the wreck. + +The ship now presented a most distressing scene--portions of her +timbers and spars were floating about in all directions, with casks of +spirits and provisions which had been washed up from the hold. Crowded +together on the poop and the quarter-deck were officers and men +watching with eager anxiety the progress of the boat. After two hours +of breathless suspense they saw her reach the shore. Their comrades' +success was hailed with joy by the shipwrecked crew as a happy omen +for themselves--it inspired them with hope and confidence, and some of +them immediately attempted to lift the launch into the sea. They +fortunately succeeded in getting her afloat, and numbers then rushed +to get into her, amongst whom was Lieutenant Snell. He failed in his +first attempt, and then swam to the foretop, near which he knew the +launch must pass, to enable her to clear the wreck. He watched his +opportunity, and when the boat approached, jumped into the sea, and +was taken on board. + +In the course of an hour, the launch gained the shore, where, instead +of receiving the assistance they expected, and the kindness their +unfortunate circumstances demanded, the crew were met by a party of +French soldiers, and immediately made prisoners. In vain, they +implored the Dutch officers, who were also on the beach, to send boats +to the aid of their unhappy comrades on the wreck, their earnest +entreaties were met by a cold refusal. + +During the morning, Captain Barrett, and about a hundred men, +attempted to reach the shore in the second yaul, but she was swamped +and all were lost. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the after-part of +the ship turned bottom up, and the remainder of the crew perished. + +The fate of Lieutenant Salsford was distinguished by a singular +circumstance. A large tame wolf, caught at Aspro, and brought up from +a cub by the ship's company, and exceedingly docile, continued to the +last an object of general solicitude. Sensible of its danger, its +howls were peculiarly distressing. It had always been a particular +favourite of the lieutenant, who was also greatly attached to the +animal, and through the whole of their sufferings kept close to his +master. On the breaking up of the ship both got upon the mast. At +times they were washed off, but by each other's assistance regained +it. The lieutenant at last, became exhausted by continual exertions, +and benumbed, with cold. The wolf was equally fatigued, and both held +occasionally by the other to retain his situation. When within a short +distance of the land, Lieutenant Salsford, affected by the attachment +of the animal, and totally unable any longer to support himself, +turned towards him from the mast, the beast clapped his fore paws +round his neck, while the lieutenant clasped him in his arms, and they +sank together.[13] + +Such was the fate of the Minotaur, her captain, and four hundred of +her crew. There is not the slightest doubt but that, had the Dutch +sent assistance, the greater part of the ship's company would have +been saved; and it would appear by the following extract from a +letter, written on the subject by Lieutenant Snell, that the risk +attending such a humane attempt, on the part of the Dutch, would not +have been great. Lieutenant Snell says:-- + +'The launch which had brought on shore eighty-five men, was of the +smallest description of 74 launches, with one gunwale entirely broken +in, and without a rudder. This will better prove than anything I can +say how easy it would have been for the Dutch admiral in the Texel to +have saved, or to have shown some wish to have saved, the remaining +part of the crew.' + +On the other hand, we have the report from the chief officer of the +marine district of the North coast, addressed to the Minister of +Marine, in which he states, that 'Captain Musquetie, commander in the +Texel Roads, sent, at daylight on the 23rd, two boats to reconnoitre +the Minotaur, but the wind and sea prevented them approaching the +vessel.' + +It is to be hoped, for the honour of the Dutch officers, that they +_did_ really put out to the relief of the Minotaur, and that they +considered the attempt an impossibility, which a British sailor deemed +one of little risk. It is evident that there must have been +considerable danger for boats, from the fact of the second yaul being +lost, and Captain Barrett's hesitation before he allowed the gunner to +leave the ship in the first yaul; and in charity we must give the +Dutch the benefit of this evidence. At the same time, we have the +equally conclusive testimony of the safe landing of two boats from the +Minotaur, that it was not 'impossible' for even a somewhat crazy boat +to live on such a sea. At daylight, on the 24th, the survivors of the +Minotaur's crew were marched off as prisoners to Valenciennes. From +which place, the gunner, Mr. Bones, contrived to make his escape on +the 3rd of February. After suffering the greatest privations, +concealing himself in barns and stables by day, and travelling by +night, on the 17th of March he got on board a smuggling lugger, about +a mile from Ostend, the Master of which agreed to land him in England +for the sum of £50. + + * * * * * + +NOTE BY A NAVAL FRIEND. + +The loss of the Minotaur may be attributed to their not knowing their +position; the pilot's desire to put the ship on the starboard tack at +twelve o'clock at night, with the wind from the south-east, showed +that he thought himself on the English coast. This fatal error in the +navigation of the ship is not easily accounted for; it arises in a +great measure from the dread of approaching the dangerous shoals on +our own coast, many of them far off the land, such as the Leman, and +Ower, Smith's Knowl, the Ridge, and others further in shore. Great +fear of these shoals is felt by all hands, and no doubt the man at the +helm would be cautioned not to bring the ship to the westward of her +course, and he would therefore be apt to err on the other +side--currents also may have carried her to the eastward. I am +tempted to offer this opinion from having experienced a similar +danger. In the year of the Battle of Copenhagen, I was in the Lynx +sloop of war on her return from the Baltic, and when we supposed +ourselves in mid-channel, between Yarmouth and the Texel, about two +o'clock, in the middle watch, we touched the ground in broken water; +happily the weather was moderate, and, by hauling to the westward we +soon got into deep water again. The following morning, about ten +o'clock, we spoke a lugger, and were informed that we were seven or +eight leagues from the coast of Holland. The distance ran from the +time we struck, told us that we must have been on the Haacks. A happy +escape! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[13] _Naval Chronicle_, vol. xxxvii. p. 183. + + + + +THE PALLAS AND THE NYMPH. + + +In the month of December, 1810, the Pallas, a 32-gun frigate, +commanded by Captain Paris Monke, was returning, in company with the +Nymph, Captain Edward Sneyd Clay, from a month's cruise on the coast +of Norway, and was steering for Leith, with a prize in tow. She had +not got far to the southward, when, on Tuesday morning, the 18th, +between nine and ten o'clock, land was discovered, but the weather was +so thick, it could not be clearly defined. The pilot, however, gave it +as his opinion that they were north of the Red-head. Towards the +middle of the day they fell in with some fishing-boats, and Captain +Monke having requested one of the fishermen to come on board the +frigate, he learnt from this man that the ship was at that time off +Stonehive and the Tod Head. At four o'clock, P.M., the usual order to +pipe to supper was given; the wind was blowing from the north-west, +and the vessel going at the rate of four knots an hour. Supper being +over, the drum beat to quarters, and the captain, having received the +usual reports, ordered the watch to be called. At six o'clock, in +compliance with the wish of the pilot, the course was altered from +south-west to south-south-west. For the last quarter of an hour the +ship had been increasing her rate of sailing from five and a half to +six knots an hour; the top-gallant scudding sails were therefore taken +in, and the royal and top-gallant stay sails hauled down, as also the +jib and the spanker. Soon after this the pilot, pointing towards the +coast, said to the captain, 'There's Lunan Bay;' and shortly +afterwards he said, 'There's the Red Head;' but it was too dark, then, +to see the land, much less could the outline of the coast be +distinguished. The captain inquired if they should not soon see the +Bell Rock Light, and he was answered in the affirmative. He then +ordered the officer of the watch to hail the forecastle, and direct +the men to keep a vigilant look-out for the Bell Rock Light. + +Ere many minutes had elapsed after the order was given, a light was +perceived before the starboard beam, which the pilot declared to be a +signal hoisted on the pier at Arbroath to show that there was water +enough for vessels to enter the harbour. The captain then went below +to consult the book of sailing directions, and when he returned upon +deck, he said to the pilot, 'If that light be on Arbroath pier, as you +suppose, we ought most certainly to be in sight of the light on the +Bell Rock.' The pilot replied, 'We shall soon see it;' and Captain +Monke repeated to the officer of the watch his order to keep a sharp +look out. + +As the light on the Bell Rock did not appear, the captain became +exceedingly anxious; the more so, as he was convinced, by reckoning +the distances from the Tod Head to the Red Head, and from the Red Head +to the Bell Rock, and comparing their sum with the run from four +o'clock, that the ship had run as many miles to the southward as would +bring her up to the Bell Rock. To ascertain exactly the position of +the ship, he desired the master to work off the run by the log up to +eight o'clock, P.M., and in a short time the master reported that by +his calculation the light which they saw was no other than the +floating light of the Bell Rock, and that they had now only to bear up +and shape a course for the Isle of May. + +The captain had been upon deck for more than five hours, and was so +much fatigued that he went down to the gun-room to get some +refreshment, at a little after ten o'clock, leaving positive orders +with the officer of the watch and the master to be most attentive to +the ship's course; and he was so anxious for her safety, that he had +scarcely sat down in the gun-room before he sent for the pilot-book of +sailing directions, that he might ascertain more exactly the position +of the Bell Rock, and the course and distance from thence to the Isle +of May. In a few minutes, the officer of the watch went down to report +that the May light was in sight, and Captain Monke was in the act of +going upon deck, when the vessel struck the ground. He instantly +rushed upon deck, and inquired of the master where he supposed the +ship had grounded. The reply was a startling one:--'I am afraid,' said +he, 'that we are on the Bell Rock, and not a soul will be saved, +unless we can forge her over it.' How they could possibly be upon the +Bell Rock, when the master had himself so confidently declared they +were running from it for some hours, appeared a mystery: but this was +no time for arguing the matter. Captain Monke saw the danger both to +the ship and all on board: he ordered the drum to beat to quarters, +and the men were soon on deck and each at his post Having assured +himself that the rudder was not damaged, the captain ordered the +foretack to be hauled on board, and the yards to be braced with the +larboard brace, which was done without loss of time. The lead was +cast, to ascertain the depth of water, which the quarter-master +reported to be twelve feet. The ship, which at first had taken the +ground easily, now began to strike with great violence; and when they +found that she did not forge ahead, the yards were braced aback, but +to no better purpose, for she remained hard and fast as before. + +Land was now seen to leeward, and the master changed his opinion, and +imagined that the frigate had struck on the Isle of May; but the pilot +thought they were on shore in St. Andrew's Bay, and blamed the master +for having hauled too soon. As the tide was falling, there was little +hope of getting the ship afloat, although this was so far fortunate, +that it afforded a better chance of escape for the crew. + +Orders were given to man the pumps, and the people obeyed with +alacrity, and worked by turns throughout the night with the utmost +vigour. The ship seemed to come up easier for a time, and the +carpenter reported twelve feet water in the hold. When the moon rose, +the position of the frigate with regard to the land was discovered; +and as the tide ebbed, her larboard bow appeared to be but a short +distance from the nearest rocks. From the time of the ship's striking, +guns had been fired as signals of distress, to arouse the attention of +the inhabitants of the coast, and these signals were soon answered by +lights displayed along the shore, and large fires kindled on the +beach. The glare of the torches moving to and fro on the shore denoted +the inclination of the people to render assistance to the unfortunate +vessel. Voices were heard hailing the ship, but it was impossible to +distinguish the words. The boatswain and carpenter, and some others, +declared that the men said, 'You are in St. Andrew's Bay--come on +shore,' Upon this, the boatswain and gunner volunteered to land with +two men in a small prize skiff, for the purpose of reconnoitring the +beach. This proposition was immediately rejected by the captain, who +assembled the principal officers on the forecastle and declared to +them his determination not to suffer a single boat to be lowered +during the night--but that they should all stick to the ship until +daylight, as the only chance of preserving their lives. + +Happily the captain's orders were obeyed, though doubtless many would +feel tempted to risk a landing. The Pallas became more and more +uneasy--her rudder was carried away, and the sea broke completely over +her. The men were each served with a dram, and were still kept at the +pumps until three o'clock A.M., when the main beam broke and the +others began to give way in succession. In order to lighten the +vessel, the mainmast was cut away. At first, this did not appear to +have the desired effect--but in all probability it would have fallen +of itself and have done injury to the people; it now hung over the +side, and promised to serve as a raft in case of necessity. The +foremast was then cut away, and the mizenmast was doomed to +follow--but the axe and tomahawk, which had been carried forward, were +lost, or washed away. The ship by this time had fallen upon her beam +ends, and the sea was making breaches over her, so that every +individual had enough to do to keep himself from being washed +overboard. + +About four o'clock in the morning, the spirits of the crew were +revived by seeing a boat appear between the wreck and a large fire +that had been kept burning immediately opposite. This was a welcome +sight, and it was hailed by three loud and hearty cheers from the +Pallas. + +Many of the men by this time were suffering much from cold, hunger, +and fatigue, and those who were able, got into the weather chains for +safety and shelter. Daylight discovered to them the real position of +the ship; the light which had been supposed to be on the Isle of May +was that of a lime-kiln on the main land, and as the Bass and North +Berwick Law were plainly visible, it was evident from their bearings +that the frigate was on shore near to Dunbar. She was now a total +wreck--the bottom had separated to some extent amidships from her +upper works; a considerable portion of her floor timber was lying +about ten yards to windward of the rest of the hull, and the iron +ballast within this frame of timber was thus open to view. It was now +time for every man to provide as far as possible for his own safety. A +Portuguese sailor, an excellent swimmer, was the first to quit the +wreck and swim on shore; several men attempted to follow his example, +but five of them perished. The life-boat from Dunbar, which had been +launched with great difficulty on account of the heavy surf beating on +the rocks, reached the ship at ten o'clock in the morning of the 19th, +and she took off a boat-load from the wreck and landed them in safety. + +This success encouraged the people to try to employ the boats of the +Pallas, but they were all found to be stove, or otherwise rendered +useless, with the exception of a sixteen-oared cutter. The cutter was +launched without material injury, and fortunately reached the land +with as many as she could carry. The life-boat again neared the ship, +and made a second successful landing with a number of officers and +men; and a third time she touched the wreck, and was again crowded +with people, but unfortunately the rope which she carried as a +hauling line was too short to reach between the ship and the shore, +and this time she had scarcely put off from the quarter before she +filled and upset. By this accident, six of the crew of the Pallas were +drowned, and one of the bravest fellows belonging to the life-boat The +other thirteen men who manned the boat, and several people from the +wreck, were saved with great difficulty; a small fishing-boat, which +had been opportunely launched through the surf, picked them up. +Amongst others so rescued from a watery grave were Captain Monke, and +Mr. Walker, the first lieutenant. The crew of the fishing-boat +persevered with great courage and good judgment in their efforts to +save the rest of the crew. They procured a small tow-line, which being +held by one end on the beach, they made fast to the mizen chains of +the ship. The boat was then hauled to and fro until, in eight or ten +trips, she had cleared the wreck of all the people; and, with the +exception of Mr. Tomlinson, the boatswain, and ten or twelve others +who perished, the whole of the ship's company were saved. + +The kindness and hospitality exercised by the inhabitants of Dunbar +and the surrounding country were beyond all praise. The sufferers, +many of whom were insensible when carried on shore, and unconscious of +the manner in which their lives had been preserved, were lodged, fed, +and clothed. Captain Monke, who was much bruised, was carried by +Captain Maitland to the house of his father, Lord Lauderdale, at +Dunbar. The first lieutenant, Mr. Walker, who was picked up apparently +lifeless, was conveyed to Broxmouth, the seat of the Duchess of +Roxburgh, where he was, under Providence, indebted for his restoration +to the unremitting attentions of the duchess and her husband, Mr. +Manners. + +The humblest of the crew were equally well cared for. The duchess +went from room to room, ministering to the wants of the sufferers, and +seeing that every comfort was provided for them. + +It is gratifying to record that a handsome pecuniary reward was given +by government to the fishermen and other inhabitants of Dunbar who so +nobly risked their lives for the sake of their fellow-countrymen; and +the widow of the man who was lost in the life-boat had a pension of +£25 per annum settled upon her. + +'I am persuaded,' writes Captain Monke, in his narrative, 'that this +court will participate in my feelings, and would think me most +forgetful, if I did not here publicly express my grateful sense I +shall ever retain of the humane and liberal conduct of the Duchess of +Roxburgh and Mr. Manners, who in their hospitable mansion at Broxmouth +administered every sort of comfort and medical relief to the far +greater part of the suffering officers and people of the Pallas, many +of whose lives were thereby preserved to their country. In justice to +my own feelings, I cannot close my narrative without declaring to this +honourable court that no men under similar circumstances could behave +better than did the crew of the Pallas. So far from being dismayed by +their perilous situation, they manifested equal firmness and +subordination; and, in fact, from the first moment of the ship +striking the ground, to the time when necessity compelled every +individual to consult his own safety, they obeyed all the orders with +as much alacrity as cheerfulness, and (what is more) without either +noise or confusion. Hence, sir, I consider myself justified in +asserting that, notwithstanding the number victualled on board at the +time was reduced to one hundred and sixty, if any human exertion +could, in the first instance, have got the Pallas afloat, she would +not have been irrecoverably lost to the service. I must also beg leave +to add, that the officers set every example; and that from Mr. +Walker, the first-lieutenant, I derived, throughout this trying scene, +the most effectual support and assistance.' + +The Nymph, which we have mentioned as being in company with the +Pallas, got on shore the same night, on a rock called the Devil's Ark, +near Skethard, misled by some irregularity in the lights on the Bell +Rock and Isle of May. + +The crew of the Nymph were all saved, but the fine frigate was lost. + + + + +ST. GEORGE AND DEFENCE. + + +Among the many services in which the fleets of Great Britain were +engaged during the last war, none was more rife with perils and +hardships than that on which the Baltic Fleet was employed. During the +long winter nights the crews were continually exposed to intense cold, +and the ships were often enveloped in such impenetrable fogs, that +sometimes even the pilots were deceived as to their true position, and +those lamentable consequences ensued of which the loss of the Minotaur +was an example, (see page 154), her officers conceiving they were on +the coast of England, when they were actually stranded on the opposite +shore. + +We will briefly mention two instances, which may give the reader some +idea of the severity of the climate in the Northern Seas. + +On the 23rd of December, 1808, the Fama (which had sailed from +Carlscrona the previous day, in consort with some other men-of-war, +and a convoy of merchantmen,) struck upon the Island of Bornholm, in +the midst of such dense darkness, and so blinding a fall of snow, +that it was impossible to discern any of the surrounding objects. The +moment the ship struck, Lieutenant Topping, her commander, sprung from +his berth and rushed upon deck, without giving himself time to put on +his clothes. In his anxiety for the safety of his ship, and of those +who were on board, he continued to give his orders, without any other +protection from the piercing blast and driving snow than a blanket, +which one of his men had thrown over his shoulders; '_in fifteen +minutes from the time the vessel first struck, he fell upon the deck a +corpse_.' One man and a woman shared the same fate, the rest of the +crew survived the night, and were next morning saved by the Danes. + +The circumstances attending the loss of the Pandora were still more +horrible. She struck on the Scaw Reef, a shoal on the coast of +Jutland, on the night of the 13th of February, 1811, and in three +hours her rudder was carried away, and the hold nearly filled with +water. The wind was bitterly cold, and, as the men were unable to get +below, they were in danger of being either washed overboard, or frozen +to death, before morning. In this dreadful state they remained until +daybreak, when it was discovered that several of them had perished +from the inclemency of the weather. The survivors contrived to cut a +hole in the side of the deck which was above water, through which they +crept below, one by one, to seek protection from the cold. During the +day, some boats attempted to put out to their assistance, but the sea +ran so high that it was impossible to approach the wreck. The unhappy +crew, disappointed in their hopes of relief, endeavoured to launch the +boats; but these were so encased in ice, that they resembled large +blocks of marble, and it was impossible to move them. In the course of +the night the wind and sea abated, and the Danes succeeded in +rescuing the people of the Pandora from their perilous situation, but +not before twenty-nine had perished from the intense cold. + +The month of November, 1811, was most disastrous to the Baltic Fleet. +The British ships of war had already suffered so severely from +attempting the dangerous navigation of the Northern Seas too late in +the year, that the commander-in-chief on the station received orders +on no account to delay the departure of the last homeward-bound convoy +beyond the 1st of November. In obedience to these instructions, +Rear-Admiral Reynolds sailed with a convoy from Hano on that day, +having hoisted his broad pendant on board the St. George, of 98 guns, +Captain Daniel Oliver Guion; but owing to severe gales he was +compelled to put back on three several occasions, and the weather did +not permit him finally to leave the anchorage until the 12th of the +month. On the 15th the St George and convoy arrived off the Island of +Zealand, where they anchored to wait for a favourable wind, having met +with very rough weather in their passage from Hano, and several of the +convoy having foundered, without its being possible for the others to +render them the least assistance. In the course of the night of the +15th the wind increased to a hurricane, and all hands on board the St. +George were summoned to give the ship cable. Before this could be +accomplished the sea poured through the hawse-holes, carried +everything away, and rendered it impossible for many of the men to +stand to their duty. They were still in the act of veering away the +cable, when a large merchant vessel, which had been seen looming +through the darkness, drifted down upon them, its hull coming +violently in collision with the bows of the St. George, and severing +her cables;--one piercing shriek followed,--the merchantman gave a +lurch, and the next instant was engulfed in the raging billows. + +However appalling the sight of this fearful tragedy might have been +to the crew of the St. George, their own danger was too imminent to +allow them much time for reflection, for on heaving the lead they +found only fourteen fathoms, though they had anchored in twenty. The +best bower anchor was at once let go, as the ship appeared to be fast +drifting towards the shore; but such was the force of the wind and +sea, that its massive ring broke off as if it had been only a piece of +wire. Upon this it was resolved to wear her off the land, and the jib +and foretopmast stay-sail were loosed, but before they could be set +the sails were wrenched from the bolt-ropes, and borne away by the +blast. The lead being cast again, eight fathoms were reported; the +sheet anchor was let go, in hopes that it would hold, but, like the +other anchor, it made no impression on the ship, and broke short off. +As a last resource, the men began to cut away the masts, when, just as +they fell, a heavy sea lifted the vessel and hurled her with violence +upon a sand bank, where she remained fast, the masts having by good +fortune fallen clear of her sides. + +There was but little hope now of saving the ship, yet the crew behaved +with the most admirable steadiness, and obeyed with cheerful alacrity +when they were ordered to man the pumps. Towards daybreak the rudder +was torn from its fastenings, and it was only the discovery that the +water did not gain on the ship that sustained the drooping spirits of +the seamen, exhausted as they were with their arduous exertions and +long exposure to the biting cold and constant fall of sleet and snow. +At half-past six the long-wished-for dawn appeared, when, to their +dismay, they found themselves on a sand bank, four miles from the +shore. As the wind and sea gradually abated, the rest of the squadron +attempted to render them assistance, but did not venture to approach +too close to the shoal. The St. George continued to strike heavily +until twelve that night, when her head swung round to the land, and, +contrary to all expectations, the water was found to have risen three +feet since eight o'clock in the evening. By ten the next morning +(Sunday, the 17th of November) she was clear of all danger, and having +fitted up jury-masts, with a rudder supplied from the Cressy, she +arrived in safety at Gottenburg, about the 2nd of December. + +Having partially repaired damages, Admiral Reynolds weighed anchor on +the 17th December, and proceeded, in consort with the Defence and +Cressy, to convoy a homeward-bound fleet of merchantmen. + +On the 23rd, another north-westerly gale was encountered, on the coast +of Jutland. At midnight, signals were made to wear, but owing to the +disabled state of the St. George, this was found impossible. In the +hope of bringing her head round to the wind, an anchor was let go, but +the hawser, catching under her keel, tore away the temporary rudder, +and snapped itself with the strain, and again the ship fell off. The +captain gave orders to strike the lower yards and topmasts, and to +lighten the vessel. Between five and six in the morning of the 24th, +the report of a gun was heard from the Defence, which was supposed to +have got on shore about two miles and a half off. A short time after, +the St. George struck, and drifted towards the shore, and from this +moment all hope of saving the ship vanished. + +Upon examining the well, the carpenter reported ten feet water in the +hold; and this rose so rapidly, that in the space of half an hour it +reached the lower deck, driving the people to the main deck. Admiral +Reynolds and the captain used every effort to encourage the men to +remain steady to their duty, as the only chance of preserving their +lives. At ten o'clock, the sea swept the main deck, so that all hands +were obliged to seek refuge on the poop. All the boats, except the +yawl, had either been stove or washed overboard. As an instance of the +obedience and discipline of the crew of the St. George, three or four +men came forward, and asked permission to attempt to reach the shore +in the yawl: this request was at first granted, but as they were about +to lower her into the sea, it was considered impossible that the boat +could live, and the men were directed to return to their posts. +Without a murmur, they instantly obeyed; and as if Providence had +rewarded this implicit obedience and reliance upon their officers, two +of these men were of the few that were saved. + +It is impossible to describe the suffering of the helpless crew. Their +numbers, originally about seven hundred and fifty, had been terribly +thinned by the severity of the weather, and the surging of the waves, +which every instant burst over them. At eight o'clock in the evening +of the 24th, fourteen men took the boat and attempted to pull from the +wreck, but they had not gone many yards when she upset, and her crew +perished. The mizenmast still stood, and orders were given for its +being cut away, but as no axes could be found, the men were obliged to +use their knives to cut the lanyards of the rigging; at this moment, a +sea struck the mast, carrying away the poop, and the men who were upon +it. As the poop was swept away from the wreck, it bore not only the +living but the dead. The latter far outnumbered the former, and it +became necessary for the general preservation to cast overboard the +bodies of their dead comrades. But their strength, already weakened by +previous suffering, was unequal to the performance of this painful +duty; and while thus employed, a sea swept over the poop, scattering +the men upon the foaming billows. Five regained it, but were again +washed off, and again succeeded in reaching their former position. Of +these, two died, and the other three were washed on shore. + +The scene on board was one of the most harrowing description. Mingled +together were the living, the dying, and the dead. The bodies were +piled up by the survivors in rows one above another, as a shelter from +the violence of the waves, which broke incessantly over them. + +In the fourth row lay the admiral and his friend Captain Guion; whilst +the groans of the dying, mingling with the roar of the tempest, +unnerved the hearts of those who had hitherto shown an unappalled +front to the perils surrounding them. + +There still remained about two hundred men, who were employed in +constructing a raft, as the last chance of saving their lives. After +considerable labour, this was effected, by lashing together a topsail +yard and a cross-jack yard, the only spars that remained. + +Upon this, ten men left the wreck, but the timbers being improperly +secured, they broke adrift, and the first sea that came washed five +men off; the others gained the shore, one of whom died. + +According to all accounts, even the few who survived would have +perished, had it not been for the humane conduct of the Danes who came +to their assistance; these, at the risk of their own lives, succeeded +in rescuing from the raft the seven exhausted sufferers who survived, +out of the crew of seven hundred and fifty men. + +The St. George, as has been already mentioned, was in company with +both the Cressy and Defence. Captain Pater, who commanded the former, +seeing the impossibility of rendering any assistance to the St. +George, and the imminent risk to his own ship if he remained longer on +the starboard tack, wore, and escaped the danger. + +The master of the Defence reported to Captain Atkins that the St. +George had gone on shore, and that the Cressy had veered and was +standing to the southward,--at the same time pointing out the great +danger the ship was in, and recommending that he should follow the +example of the Cressy. The captain inquired whether the admiral had +made the signal to part company; upon being answered in the negative, +he replied, 'I will never desert my admiral in the hour of danger and +distress.' + +At about six o'clock A.M., the hands were turned up to wear ship, but +before this could be accomplished she struck, the sea made a breach +over her, and washed several men overboard. + +The captain gave orders to fire minute guns, and cut away the masts. +Five or six guns only had been fired, before they broke adrift, so +that it was impossible to fire any more; but providentially these had +been heard by the look-out men on shore, to whose assistance may be +attributed the preservation of the few lives that were saved. + +The waves swept over the vessel, forcing numbers of the crew down the +hatchways, the guns and other heavy articles had broken loose, killing +some, breaking the arms and legs of others, whose agonizing cries +served only to add to the horrors of a scene scarcely within the power +of description. + +The captain at this time stood on the poop, holding on only by a +howitzer that was lashed before the mizenmast, the officers and crew +clinging to other parts of the wreck. The boats were all stove, except +the pinnace, in which about twenty men had collected, when a sea, +breaking over the wreck, washed her overboard, capsized her, and all +perished. + +Another sea struck the Defence with such excessive violence as to lift +a spare anchor from its berth, throw it up on end, killing in its fall +upon the forecastle about thirty men. The booms were washed away, and +with them nearly one hundred men, who were clinging to the different +spars. + +The following account of the escape of one of her crew is so +interesting, that it has been thought better to leave it as nearly as +possible in his own words, than to alter it for the sake of brevity:-- + +'I got on one side of the booms that were floating among the rest of +the wreck. At that time every man, except two, John Platt and Ralph +Teasel, two of the men who were saved, were washed off. Myself and +several more were at the same time swept off the mizen-top. I then +made the best of my way from one spar to another, until I got on one +side of the booms. At this time about forty men regained their +position upon the booms, when another sea washed all off except four. +I got on the booms a second time, and spoke to John Brown, and told +him I thought we were approaching the shore. There were then about +twenty men on them, but when we reached the shore there were only six +left. + +'Two Danes on the beach came to our assistance; my foot got jammed in +amongst the small spars, and my comrades, seeing that I was unable to +get off the raft, were coming to my help, when the Danes made signs to +them to be quiet. One Dane made three attempts before he succeeded in +reaching the raft, and the third time he was nearly exhausted; he +managed to get hold of my foot, and wrenched it out, and carried me on +shore. I was then taken up to a shed to wait for some carts which were +coming for us, most of us being unable to walk. In about ten minutes a +number of gentlemen arrived on horseback, and some carts came down +upon the beach. We were then placed in them, and driven to a small +village called Shelton. On the road the man who drove the cart spoke +to a woman, and asked her if she had any liquor. She replied by +drawing a bottle from her pocket, and made each of us take a dram, +which I believe was in a great measure the saving of our lives. + +'We soon arrived at the houses in the village, where we were stripped +and put to bed, and treated by the inhabitants with the greatest +hospitality and kindness. When I awoke, I found another seaman had +been placed in the same bed with me; he had come on shore some time +after myself upon a piece of wreck. He said, just as he reached the +shore the poop and forecastle were capsized, and not a man to be seen, +except a few upon pieces of wreck. In the evening, a gentleman who +spoke English came to our bedside, and told us that an officer had +been brought up to the house. He also told us that there was another +ship on shore to the southward of us, which appeared to be a +three-decker, lying with her stern on shore. We knew directly it could +be no other than the St. George. + +'He inquired if we were able to get up, and go and look at the body of +the officer, and see if we knew him. We answered yes, and, with the +assistance of the people, went into the barn, and recognised our +captain. We then returned to bed again, being too exhausted to stand. +The gentleman told us that medical assistance could not be procured +that night, but that we should have every nourishment the house could +afford. He then took his leave, promising that he would return in the +morning, when we might be better able to speak to him. + +'He accordingly came in the morning, and inquired what force our ship +was. + +'We told him a 74-gun ship, with a company of 600 men. Upon our +inquiring if any more of our shipmates had reached the shore, he +answered no; and we returned most hearty thanks to the Almighty for +our deliverance! + +'On Sunday, the 29th, we put our captain into a coffin, and buried him +in Shelton Church-yard, with two seamen alongside of him. + +'It was some time, through the bitterness of the cold and the bruises +we had received, before we were able to walk about. As soon as we had +gained sufficient strength, we went down to the beach, where we saw, +scattered for about two miles along the beach, the wreck of the +Defence, but not a corpse was to be seen. We supposed they had drifted +away to the southward and westward, a strong current setting that way. +This opinion was in a great measure confirmed by seeing our officers' +things sold, and other articles belonging to the ship, six miles to +the southward of where we were cast away, when we went to join the few +who were saved from the St. George. On the 13th January, our captain +was taken up again, and carried to Rinkum Church, and placed in a +vault with the honours of war.' + +Such was the unhappy fate of the St. George and Defence; only six men +from the latter ship being saved, out of a crew of 600. Two days +afterwards, when the gale had abated, a Danish boat, with two of the +English sailors, went on board the St. George to bring away the +corpses of the admiral and others, but they found the decks had been +entirely swept away. Nothing could exceed the hospitality and kindness +with which the Danes treated the few who were thrown upon their shore. +Nor was the Danish government backward in generosity. The dead were +buried with military honours, and the survivors were sent to England +without exchange. The following letter from Major General Tellequist, +given in his own language, sufficiently shows the deep commiseration +felt by the Danish government, as well as by himself, for the +lamentable catastrophe which befel the St. George and Defence. + + 'Randus, the 21st of January, 1812. + + 'Sir,--Though the grievous misfortune which has happened his + great Britannic Majesty's ships of war on the Danish coast perhaps + already may be known to your Excellency; nevertheless, whereas the + opposite case may be possible, I will not omit hereby to make you + acquainted with the sorrowful accident, assuring you that I am + very compassionating. + + 'The 24th of last month, in the night, the English ships of the + line, St. George and Defence, are splitted upon the western + coast of Jutland, and the violent waves made it impossible to + bring the wretched crews any assistance. From both ships are + saved but thirteen persons, who are cast on shore by the sea + with goods of wreck. Some of them are sick, and at present under + care. A part of the dead bodies are driven to land, and interred + with as much ceremony as the circumstances would admit. + + 'All possible pains have been taken to find out the bodies of + the officers, in order to show them military honours, by the + obsequies upon the churchyard. + + 'Two bodies of officers were found, and buried with military + honours. Among these was the body of Captain Atkins, commanding + the Defence, which is deposited in a church till I receive the + further ordaining from my most gracious sovereign. + + 'I complain much that the body of Admiral Reynolds has not yet + been found, for all the pains which are taken on this purpose. + + 'Agreeably to the charitable sensibility of the Danish nation, + the inhabitants have been very grieved to see the English + warriors in such a distress without being able to assist them; + and I am very sorry, Sir, that I cannot give your Excellency of + this accident an account less sorrowful. + + 'With great esteem, I remain, Sir, + + '&c. &c, &c., + + 'TELLEQUIST. + + 'To Governor Maurice.' + +The body of Rear Admiral Reynolds was found a few days after the date +of the above letter, and deposited with military honours near that of +Captain Atkins, in Rinkum Church. + +The surviving officers and men of the St. George were tried by a +court-martial at Sheerness, and were acquitted of all blame with +reference to the loss of that vessel. + +With respect to the loss of the Defence, the court was of opinion that +she was lost by getting on shore on the western coast of Jutland, in +company with his Majesty's late ship St. George, in consequence of the +noble and heroic determination of the captain to stay to the last by +his admiral, at a moment of extreme danger and distress, conduct +which, in the opinion of the court, will reflect immortal honour on +the memory of Captain Atkins. + +Rear Admiral Reynolds was an officer of considerable experience, and +had distinguished himself on several occasions previous to his +melancholy fate on board the St. George. + +In the year 1797, he commanded the Amazon, a 36-gun frigate, and was +cruizing the 13th of January off Ushant, in company with the +Indefatigable, Captain Sir Edward Pellew, when a large ship was +descried, steering under easy sail for France. This was a little after +twelve o'clock at noon; chase was immediately given, and at four in +the afternoon, the stranger was discovered to be a French two-decker, +the Droits de l'Homme, of 74 guns. + +She had on board, exclusive of her crew of 700 men, about 1050 troops, +which, with 50 English prisoners, made 1800 souls. + +At a little past five o'clock, the Indefatigable closed with the enemy +and began the action; this had lasted about an hour, when the +Indefatigable unavoidably shot ahead, on which the Amazon took her +place and nobly continued the battle. The Indefatigable, having in +the meantime repaired her rigging, again joined in the attack, the +British ships placing themselves one on each quarter of their +opponent. A continued fire was kept up for upwards of five hours, when +they found it absolutely necessary to sheer off, in order to secure +their masts. During the action the sea is described as having run so +high, that the men on the main decks of the frigates were up to their +middles in water. As soon as the masts were secured, the attack was +again resumed, and notwithstanding the crews of both ships were almost +exhausted with their exertions, it was prolonged for five hours more, +when, late in the night, the fire ceased on both sides. The Amazon had +now nearly three feet of water in the hold, and was in other respects +most severely damaged. The enemy had suffered still more; her foremast +was shot away, and the main and mizen-masts left tottering, the decks +being strewed with the dead and dying. + +At about four o'clock in the morning, an officer on board the +Indefatigable reported breakers ahead, and the loss of all three +vessels appeared almost inevitable. + +The Indefatigable was then close under the starboard quarter of the +Droits de l'Homme, and the Amazon as near to her on the larboard bow. +The Indefatigable was fortunate enough to avoid the danger by being +able to make sail to the southward, and she escaped. + +When daylight broke, a terrible spectacle was presented. The Droits de +l'Homme had drifted towards the land--broadside on--a tremendous surf +beating over her. The position of the Amazon was as precarious, +notwithstanding every effort was made by her officers and crew to work +her off shore, all proved unavailing, and she struck the ground. The +ship's company, with the exception of six men, gained the shore, which +proved to be Audienre Bay, where they were all made prisoners. + +The melancholy fate of the Droits de l'Homme is described in James's +_Naval History_. Already 900 souls had perished, when the fourth night +came with renewed horrors,--'weak, distracted, and wanting +everything,' says one of the prisoners, a British officer, in his +narrative, 'we envied the fate of those whose lifeless corpses no +longer needed sustenance. The sense of hunger was already lost, but a +parching thirst consumed our vitals.' ... 'Almost lost to a sense of +humanity, we no longer looked with pity on those who were the speedy +forerunners of our own fate, and a consultation took place, to +sacrifice some one to be food to the remainder. The die was going to +be cast, when the welcome sight of a man-of-war brig renewed our +hopes. A cutter speedily followed, and both anchored at a short +distance from the wreck. They then sent their boats to us, and by +means of large rafts, about 150, out of nearly 400 who attempted it, +were saved by the brig that evening; 380 were left to 'endure another +night's misery,--when, dreadful to relate, about one half were found +dead next morning!' + + + + +HERO. + + +We have next to relate the still more tragical fate of the Hero, of 74 +guns. This vessel was lost on the Northern Haaks, under nearly the +same circumstances as the Minotaur in the preceding year, but with +more fatal results, as every soul on board perished. + +The following particulars are derived from the accounts taken from the +evidence of Captain Fanshawe, of the Grasshopper, and from the +journals of the day. + +The Grasshopper sailed from Wingo Sound on the 18th of December, +1811, in company with the Hero, Egeria, and Prince William, and a +convoy of about 120 merchantmen. The weather, at the time they +commenced their voyage, was stormy and tempestuous. The Egeria and +Prince William parted company on the 20th, and on the 23rd the +Grasshopper was left in company with the Hero, and about eighteen +merchantmen. + +At about half-past eleven o'clock, Captain Newman, of the Hero, made +signal to the Grasshopper to come within hail; conceiving that they +were on the Silver Pitts, he directed the course to be altered to the +south-west, which was accordingly done. They continued their course +until ten o'clock at night, when the signal was made to alter it two +points to port. + +The Grasshopper was at this time going at the rate of nine knots an +hour; four of the convoy had been kept in view up to this period, but +were soon lost sight of in the heavy squall of snow and sleet. At +half-past three o'clock all hands were turned up, when the ship being +in broken water, she struck with great violence, and suddenly fell +into three fathoms water. The best bower was let go, and she was +brought to an anchor. In a few minutes the ship struck again, and +continued to do so as long as she remained in that position. + +The crew of the Grasshopper had now their attention called to the +situation of the Hero. It was first supposed that she was at anchor, +although she fired several guns, and burnt blue lights, which in about +half-an-hour ceased. At daylight it was discovered that both the ships +were inside the Northern Haaks, about five or six miles from the Texel +Island. About a mile from the Grasshopper was the Hero--a complete +wreck--lying on her starboard broadside. The ship's company were all +crowded together upon the poop and forecastle; the sea making clean +breaches over her. An attempt was made by the crew of the Grasshopper +to reach the Hero, but the surf ran so high that it prevented all +communication, and they were under the imperious necessity of seeing +their comrades perish, without the slightest possibility of being able +to render them assistance. + +The Hero had hoisted a flag of truce, and fired a gun: in a short time +these signals of distress were answered, by several vessels putting +out from the Texel to her relief; but owing to the flood-tide, and the +strong gale of wind then blowing, the boats were unable to get nearer +than three miles. + +Notwithstanding that those on board the Grasshopper were themselves in +a most precarious position, from the repeated shocks the ship had +sustained by striking against the ground, their attention was +completely diverted from themselves, in their anxiety for the fate of +the Hero. The waves burst with relentless fury over the doomed vessel, +every moment snatching a victim from the now almost deserted decks. + +As the night was approaching, and the weather still continued +boisterous, Captain Fanshawe, having taken the opinion of the +officers, judged that there was no other alternative for saving the +lives of his crew than by surrendering to the enemy. At four o'clock +the cable was cut, and they made sail for the Helder Point, where they +surrendered to the Dutch Vice-Admiral, De Wintner. + +The Hero went to pieces during the night: in the morning not a vestige +of her was to be seen. Every exertion was made by the Dutch squadron +to save the crew, but the weather was so stormy, that all their +efforts proved abortive, and thus every soul on board perished. + +In the year 1798, Captain Newman distinguished himself by a most +gallant action which he fought off the coast of Ireland. He was then +in command of the Mermaid, 32-gun frigate, and was cruising in +consort with the Revolutionnaire, of 38 guns, Captain Twysden, and the +Kangaroo, gun-brig, commanded by Captain Brace. On the 15th October, +when near Black Cod Bay, two very large French frigates were seen and +pursued, but they were lost sight of during the night. The next +morning, however, the Mermaid and Kangaroo made out one of the +Frenchmen, and the Kangaroo came up with her the same afternoon, but +was speedily disabled by the heavy fire of her opponent, and compelled +to drop astern. The Mermaid kept on in chase, and engaged the French +vessel, which proved to be the Loire, 46-gun frigate, on the morning +of the 17th October. Early in the action the French attempted to +board, but were frustrated by the skilful handling of the Mermaid, +which enabled her to close within pistol-shot of the Loire, when the +latter's foretopmast was soon shot away, and the fire from her great +guns nearly silenced, though a continuous storm of musketry was still +kept up from her decks. Upon attempting to rake her opponent, the +Mermaid's mizenmast unfortunately went by the board, so that she fell +off, and the maintop-mast almost instantly followed. By this time the +rigging of the English frigate was completely cut to pieces, and her +boats destroyed; she was also making a great deal of water, having +received several shots between wind and water. In this crippled +condition, Captain Newman had no other alternative but to discontinue +the action. This was done without any attempt on the part of the Loire +to renew the engagement, the French being no doubt only too glad to +get rid of her spirited antagonist, though she was only half the size +of their own vessel. + +On the following day the Loire fell in with the Anson and Kangaroo, +and surrendered to the British flag. Subsequently Captain Newman was +appointed to the Loire, having the proud satisfaction of commanding +the vessel in whose capture he had so gallantly assisted. + +In 1808, our officer received the command of the unfortunate Hero, +which ship, in 1810, formed part of the squadron under Sir James +Saumarez, employed for the protection of commerce in the North Sea. +Here he continued in the unpleasant duty of convoying merchant vessels +backwards and forwards from Dar's Head, the south entrance of the +Great Belt, to Sproe Island. On the 25th of September, Captain Newman, +in company with the Mars, 74, arrived off Yarmouth, having in charge +between five and six hundred merchantmen, the largest convoy that had +ever sailed from the Baltic. He again returned to his former station +in March, 1811, where he remained until the latter end of the year, +when his ship was selected, with others, to convoy the homeward-bound +fleet. On this occasion, he appears to have had sad misgivings as to +the prudence of sending ships home at so late a period of the year, +through the dangerous navigation of the northern seas. On the day +previous to the sailing of the squadron from Wingo Sound, he observed, +'I cannot help thinking that we have been detained too long, and it is +well if some of us do not share the fate of the Minotaur.'[14] His +words were but too prophetic; and, ere long, he and two thousand of +our brave defenders perished on a foreign strand. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] _Naval Chronicle._ + + + + +THE DÆDALUS. + + +His Majesty's ship Dædalus, of 38 guns, Captain Murray Maxwell, +sailed from Spithead on the 27th of January, 1813, in charge of an +East Indian convoy, and made the island of Ceylon, near the Pointe de +Galle, on the 1st of July. She passed Dondra Head at sunset, and then +steered east by north during the night, in order to pass well outside +the Basses. In the morning, the ship's head was pointed to the north, +to get near land, a good look-out being kept both from the deck and +mast-head for rocks and breakers. The atmosphere was so clear that a +ripple might have been seen upon the water for miles around. Nothing +appeared to indicate danger; the vessel was supposed to be seven or +eight miles off the land, and the master was pointing out to Captain +Maxwell her position upon the chart, when they felt her take the +ground abaft; but so very easily, that many people on board were not +aware that she had touched. Signals were immediately made to warn the +convoy of their danger, but before the signals could be answered, the +Dædalus swung off into deep water. All sail was set, and strong hopes +were entertained that she was not materially injured; but her frame +was too slight to sustain any shock whatever without damage, the lower +part of the stern-post had given way, occasioning a leak of such +magnitude, that although the pumps were instantly manned; and worked +with unceasing energy, the water could not be kept under. A signal was +made for the convoy to bring to, and to send all their carpenters on +board the Dædalus, which was immediately done, but the combined +efforts of the whole were unavailing to reduce the leak. The rudder +worked so much that it was found necessary to unship it from the +broken part of the stern-post, and bring it alongside; and in order to +relieve the ship from the pressure aft, the guns and other heavy +things were carried forward; this, however, was of so little avail, +that the guns and anchors were soon thrown overboard. They then +prepared a sail with oakum and tar, and got it over the stern, in +order, by passing it under the keel, to stop the leak. For a time this +seemed to have the desired effect, and hopes were entertained that +they might be able to carry the ship to Trincomalee; but these hopes +were of short duration. In spite of the indefatigable exertions of +every officer and man on board, the water gained upon them till it +rose two feet above the orlop-deck. The men had now been working +without intermission for eight hours, and their strength and spirits +began to fail, when, notwithstanding all their efforts, they saw the +water rising to the level of the lower deck. + +Captain Maxwell now knew that there was not a chance of saving his +ship, and he felt the painful necessity of leaving her as soon as +possible, in order to preserve the lives of his men, whilst there was +yet time. He ordered the boys, idlers, and two divisions of seamen and +marines to get into the boats which were alongside, while the +remaining men were employed at the pumps to keep the ship afloat, The +good order and discipline which prevailed during this scene are beyond +all praise. 'The men behaved,' to use the words of the captain, 'as if +they were moving from one ship to another in any of the king's ports.' + +Such conduct is highly creditable, not only to the ship's company, but +likewise to the captain and officers, in whom the crew must have +reposed most perfect confidence, or such real good order could not +have been maintained at such a time. + +The ship was settling fast, when the boats returned to carry away the +remainder of the officers and men, they left the pumps and embarked in +the boats, taking with them the hammocks and clothes belonging to the +ship's company. The last man who stood upon the deck of the sinking +ship was her captain. When all others had gone, he too with a heavy +heart stepped into the boat which bore him from her side; sadly and +sorrowfully he fixed his gaze upon the wreck of 'his home on the +waters.' In a few minutes the ship gave a lurch, and, falling on her +beam ends, remained in that position for the space of a minute, then +she righted, showing only her quarter-deck ports above water, and then +gently and majestically sunk into the bosom of the deep blue sea. + + + + +THE PERSIAN. + + +The Persian, an 18-gun brig, commanded by Captain Charles Bertram, was +lost on the Silver Keys, St. Domingo, in the West Indies, on the 26th +of June, 1813. It appears from Captain Bertram's statement, that the +Keys were laid down on the chart too far to the southward, or that the +ship was carried in that direction by a strong current not mentioned +in any of the charts. The Persian struck about five o'clock P.M., by +running stem on, upon one of the rocks; she was at the time going at +the rate of three or four knots an hour. Everything was done to back +her off; the water was started, most of the guns thrown overboard, the +boats were got out, and the anchors cut from the bows. These measures +for the moment seemed to have the desired effect; but in paying off, +she struck on another rock, and from this it was impossible to move +her. Again the same means were resorted to; the remainder of the guns, +spars, &c, were thrown overboard, but to no purpose. The pumps had +been kept in active play from the first moment of alarm, but the water +gained on them so fast, there was little hope of the vessel keeping +afloat till daylight. The Captain, therefore, resolved to prepare for +the worst, and he directed a large raft to be made for the safety of +some of the ship's company. About seven o'clock, two hours after she +first struck, Captain Bertram perceived that she was gradually +sinking; he therefore ordered as many of the ship's company as the +boats would hold, to get into the two cutters and the jolly-boat; the +cutters were placed under the command of Mr. Norris, the second +lieutenant, and Mr. Nicholls, the master; and the jolly-boat under the +superintendence of the gunner. These boats were ordered to remain near +the ship, in case anything should occur to render it necessary for the +people to return on board. + +About half-past nine P.M., Lieutenant Price and the rest of the ship's +company, excepting two or three who remained on board with the +captain, took their places upon the raft, which was veered by a hawser +to leeward of the brig, and directed to remain in that position until +the morning. At two o'clock in the morning Captain Bertram, convinced +that there was no hope of saving his ship, got into his gig with the +men who had stayed with him, and he had scarcely left the side of the +Persian ere she slipped off the rock, fell over on the larboard side, +and sunk into about seven fathoms water, the tops of the masts only +being visible above the waves. + +At daylight, Captain Bertram, with the other boats, bore up for the +raft, which had broken from the hawser during the night and drifted to +some distance. They found her and her crew in a very deplorable +state,--the lashings had been cut through by the rocks, and many of +the timbers were broken, so that they scarcely held together, and the +men had had great difficulty in keeping her from being dashed to +pieces against the rocks, and in preserving themselves from being +carried away by the surf which washed over them continually. + +Here was a great difficulty to be overcome; the raft was evidently so +insecure that it could not be depended upon for an hour, and the only +means of saving the men was by distributing them amongst the boats, +which were already so over-crowded, that it would be imminently +perilous to add to their freight. However, Captain Bertram did not +hesitate to brave the danger, but set the example by first taking four +men from the raft into his own gig, and directing the other boats to +receive the rest amongst them in their relative proportions. His +commands were instantly and cheerfully obeyed, but to carry them into +effect the boats' crews were obliged to throw overboard the few +articles of clothing they had saved, and the greater part of the +provisions, in order to enable the boats to bear the additional +weight. + +It was now between five and six o'clock in the morning; the wind was +blowing fresh from the east; the nearest part of St. Domingo was, as +far as they could judge, about twenty-five leagues distant, to reach +which they supposed they must go through the Mona passage, the most +dangerous in the West Indies. + +One of the cutters had forty-five men on board, the other forty-two, +the jolly-boat twenty-two, and the gig fourteen; in all, a hundred and +twenty-three persons. The wind increased as the day advanced, and +became so violent that it seemed almost by a miracle that the boats +were enabled to resist the fury of the storm. In the afternoon the +danger increased, and the men were obliged to heave overboard the +remainder of their bread and water, and never for an instant could +they relax in their efforts to keep the boats free from water. God in +His mercy preserved those who had shown such trust in Him; for we can +scarcely suppose that such noble acts of humanity, courage, and +self-sacrifice as were evinced by these men could arise from other +than the highest and holiest principles. + +Before the evening closed in, they caught a glimpse of the land, but +too distant for them to make out what part of the coast it was. The +boats were hove to for the night, and a dreary night it was to these +poor men. They were without food, almost without clothing, weak from +want of nourishment, and exhausted by fatigue; and in this miserable +state they awaited the break of day, the rain falling in torrents, and +the sea breaking over the boats. + +On the morning of the 28th, they again made sail, and landed the same +evening in a small cove of a bay between Vieux Cap François and Cap +Cabron. Here, to their bitter disappointment, they could get nothing +to eat--not even a spring of fresh water could be found,--and all the +nourishment they had that night was a few limpets, and the rain water +that had remained in the holes of the rocks,--sorry fare for men who +had been exposed to the inclemency of the weather for two days and two +nights, in open boats, without food. + +However, it was a great thing to be on shore; for many of the people +had suffered severely from being so closely stowed in the bottom of +the boats, and their limbs had been terribly cramped. They now wisely +endeavoured to make themselves as comfortable as circumstances +allowed, by lighting a fire to keep off the insects, and to dry their +clothes, and then they composed themselves to sleep, which they much +needed. The next morning, being somewhat refreshed, they started +across the bay to a place called Margante, which they reached about +eight o'clock. Here they found the people well disposed towards them, +and they were able to purchase some beef and plantains, and plenty of +good water, of which they all gladly partook. The inhabitants informed +them that it was probable they might find a vessel at Port Plata that +could take them to St. Thomas's, that being the nearest port where +they were likely to fall in with any of His Majesty's ships. On the +30th of June, they departed from Margante, taking with them a pilot, +to guide them to Port Plata. In order to ease the boats, Captain +Bertram and part of the ship's company walked along the shore. Towards +evening, the people had gone upwards of twenty miles, and were so +exhausted, they were obliged to put into a small bay called Scott's +Bay (B. Ecossaise), where they came on shore and erected a tent, with +the sails of the boats and a few logs of mahogany. With the help of +some turtle, the whole of the ship's company were supplied with food; +and they remained on shore till the next morning, when the boats were +again launched, and all the party embarked in them, as there was no +way along the beech. They arrived safely at Port Plata at eleven +o'clock that night, and were received with great kindness and +humanity. Three houses were provided for the men and one for the +officers, and everything was done that could alleviate their +sufferings. Unfortunately there was no vessel at Port Plata large +enough to convey them to St. Thomas's. With some difficulty, a boat +was procured, in which Lieutenant Price was despatched to Turk's +Island, with a letter to the naval officer there, describing the +situation of the crew of the Persian, and requesting that assistance +might be afforded to Lieutenant Price to enable him to hire a vessel +to take the crew to St. Thomas's. + +Lieutenant Price made a successful voyage, and returned to Port Plata +on the 10th of July, with the government schooner Swift, and a hired +sloop. Three days were spent in fitting out these vessels with the +necessary stores, and on the evening of the 13th, the ship's company, +to the number of 112, embarked in them, and arrived at St. Thomas's on +the 22nd. The crew was by this time in a very sickly state; the +crowded state of the ships had engendered a complaint of which the +surgeon died an hour after they cast anchor; and there is little doubt +that had they been forty-eight hours longer on their passage, many +others would have fallen victims to the same disease. At St. Thomas's, +the sufferers received the care and attention they required, and were +sent home to England. + +We cannot conclude this account without quoting the following passage +from the narrative of Captain Bertram:--'I most justly attribute the +preservation of the ship's company to very great coolness and +persevering exertions of both officers and men, in keeping the boats +free from the water they shipped, and their great attention in +steering before the sea. I am happy to say that every man behaved with +a regularity that is seldom found on similar occasions: in fact, when +the little clothing the people had saved, and the remaining bread and +water, were from necessity ordered to be thrown overboard, there was +not a murmur,--they vied with each other who should obey the order +first.' + +In the year 1808, Captain Bertram, then a lieutenant, was appointed to +the Emerald, a 36-gun frigate, commanded by Captain the Honourable +Frederick Maitland. On the 13th of March, they were off the harbour of +Vivero, when a large French schooner was discovered at anchor, under +the protection of the batteries. Captain Maitland determined to +attempt to capture or destroy her, and accordingly he stood in for the +harbour at about five o'clock in the evening. The first fort, which +mounted eight 24-pounders, opened on the ship, as did also another +fort about a mile higher up, as soon as the frigate came within range. +As it was impossible to place the ship in a position to act upon both +batteries, Captain Maitland ordered Lieutenant Bertram, with a party +of marines and seamen, to storm the outer fort, whilst he took the +ship as near the inner fort as the water would allow. Mr. Bertram +succeeded in driving the enemy from the battery, and spiking the guns; +he then made the best of his way by the shore to take possession of +the schooner, which had been run upon the rocks. He was joined by Mr. +Baird, a midshipman, who had been sent with a party for the same +purpose. On the road they were met by a part of the schooner's crew, +consisting of about sixty men. These were speedily assailed by the two +young officers and their men, and put to flight. Lieutenant Bertram +then advanced towards the schooner, which proved to be L'Apropos, of +twelve 8-pounder carronades, and he persevered for several hours in +his attempts to get her afloat, under a galling fire of musketry from +the shore. All his efforts, however, were of no avail, as she had gone +on shore at high water; it therefore became necessary to set her on +fire, which was done; and the lieutenant returned with his party to +the Emerald. + +In this gallant exploit, nine men belonging to the Emerald were +killed, and Lieutenant Bertram and several others wounded. + +Captain Bertram, has lately accepted the rank of Retired Rear-Admiral. + + + + +THE PENELOPE. + + +We have now to relate the painful statement of a wreck, which was not +only one of the most disastrous, but the most disgraceful in its +consequences, of any that we have had to describe. + +Unfortunately, the loss of the ship is not the darkest side of the +picture; and the insubordination of the crew of the Penelope in the +hour of danger was as fatal to themselves as it was rare in its +occurrence. + +The Penelope, troop-ship, Commander James Galloway, sailed from +Spithead for Canada on the 31st of March, 1815, and had a favourable +passage to the Banks of Newfoundland. Here she fell in with large +masses of ice, fogs, and strong south-east winds, so that the captain +considered it unsafe to run in for the land until the weather cleared +up. On the 24th of April, they made the Island of Mequilon, and at the +same time encountered a very heavy gale from the north-west. On the +following day they were surrounded with ice, and were frozen up for +nearly twelve hours. When the ice gave way, all sail was set, and the +ship entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and for the next few days she +continued her course in a north-easterly direction, and passed between +the Islands of Brion and Magdalen. The frost during this time was so +severe, that the furled sails were frozen into a solid body. + +On the 29th, they met with large quantities of field ice, which gave +the sea the appearance of one entire sheet of ice, but it was not +strong enough to stop the ship's way. In the afternoon of that day, +the land about Cape Rozier, on the coast of Lower Canada, was visible. + +On the 30th, the weather was more moderate, though cloudy; at noon +they steered an eastward course, until the ship broke off about three +points, when at sunset they tacked, and stood in for the land, which +was set by the first lieutenant and the master, at three or four +leagues distance. + +At eight o'clock, they sounded in seventy-one fathoms; the vessel +broke off to the west by north, and the captain ordered the master to +go round the ship, and caution the men forward to keep a good look +out,--at the same time desiring him on no account to leave the deck. +The captain then sent for the first-lieutenant into his cabin, and was +in the act of pointing out to him the supposed situation of the vessel +on the chart; the line was at the same moment passing forward for +another cast of the lead, when the ship took the ground. + +'I cannot describe my feelings,' writes Captain Galloway, 'at that +moment; for having, for a long time, been almost deprived of my +eyesight by night, and also afflicted with rheumatic pains and other +complaints, I was unable to judge correctly of the extent of our +danger.' The helm was immediately put down, and the sails thrown +aback. One boat was then hoisted out to sound, and found two and a +half fathoms forward, and about three and a half fathoms aft, having +six fathoms a little on the starboard quarter. + +All the boats were immediately lowered, and the stream-anchor and +cable, with part of the messenger bent on to it, stowed in the +pinnace, which, from the strength of the current, was with great +difficulty towed to leeward by the other boats, and dropped into five +and a-half fathoms water. + +On heaving round, the anchor came home, which it continued to do until +more than half of the cable was run in, when it held fast, but without +altering the position of the vessel. The captain then gave orders to +heave overboard the guns, and cut away the anchors from the bows; but +all these attempts to lighten the vessel were of no avail. The wind, +which had been moderate when she first struck, had increased to a +gale, and the ship beat with such violence upon the rocks, that it +appeared impossible that she could hold together many hours. + +In this condition they were obliged to remain until daylight, exposed +to a cold north-east wind, and a pitiless storm of sleet and snow. The +officers did all in their power to sustain the courage of the men, but +unfortunately in many instances without success. Already symptoms of +insubordination had exhibited themselves, several had skulked below to +their hammocks, where they remained in defiance of every command and +entreaty of their officers. + +The topmasts were got over side to shore the ship up, but the motion +was so violent that the lashings gave way. At daylight, as the weather +did not moderate, and there was no prospect of saving the ship, orders +were given to get up the provisions. This, however, had been delayed +until it was too late; the water had risen over the orlop deck, and in +a short time gained the lower deck. All that was saved was thirty bags +of biscuits, and these so damaged by the salt water, that they were +totally unfit for use. + +The masts were about this time cut away, in order to ease the ship as +much as possible; they fell towards the shore about a cable's length +from the beach. The master was sent in the cutter to try to fasten a +rope to the shore, but the surf ran so high that the boat was stove, +and the crew with difficulty gained the beach. + +In this condition, with very little prospect of saving the lives of +the crew, the captain, anxious for the preservation of the public +dispatches, entrusted them to the purser, who, with Captain Moray +(aide-de-camp to Lieut. General Sir George Murray), in charge of the +military dispatches, embarked in the life-boat, to which a small line +was attached. They had, however, no better success than the other +boat, for as soon as they reached the surf, the boat capsized, and the +two officers swam to the shore with the dispatches tied round their +necks. + +Another cutter was then sent off in hopes that she would be more +successful, but she filled almost immediately; and the rope which was +fastened to her was obliged to be abandoned. + +By this time it was impossible to stand upon the deck, the sea made a +fair breach over the ship, and the water having rushed into the cabin, +the few bags of bread that had been stowed there for protection were +destroyed. + +The captain being unable from ill health to make any great exertion to +save his life, was lowered into the pinnace, into which were already +crowded as many men as she could hold, and they took another rope on +board, to make a last attempt to form a communication with the shore. +The boat had scarcely left the side of the ship before a sea struck +and upset her. The captain, supported by two men, made his way through +the surf with great difficulty and got on shore, followed by the rest +of the boat's crew, who, some by swimming and others by help of oars +and spars, saved themselves from destruction. The gig was now the only +boat left on board; she was lowered from the stern, and the first and +second lieutenants, with eighteen men, jumped into her. They were all +fortunate enough to reach the shore, and some of the men gallantly +returned to the vessel, and succeeded in landing about twenty others. +Again, the gig repaired to the wreck, and took off some more of the +crew, but this time she was unfortunately upset in the surf, though no +lives were lost. + +When the men left on the wreck saw themselves thus deprived of the +last chance of escape, they raised the most piteous cries for +assistance, although they knew that their comrades had no means of +affording it. It has been said that 'man is a bundle of +inconsistencies,' and here was a proof of the assertion. These were in +all probability the very men who had betaken themselves to their +hammocks a short time before, and had refused to assist in providing +for their own safety; they had disobeyed orders, and despised +discipline, and now we find them imploring others for that deliverance +which they had neglected to provide for themselves. Most of them had +been drinking the spirits, and were so stupified that they were +incapable of taking advantage of the floating spars and planks to +which they might have clung, and so gained the land. + +By drunkenness the bed of the ocean has been rendered a foul and +gloomy charnel house, where the bones of thousands of our fellow-men +await the summons of the Archangel's trumpets, when 'the sea shall +give up her dead.' The reckless seamen, though unprepared for another +world, hurry themselves into the presence of their Judge, to meet the +drunkard's doom. + +It has been related that upon one occasion, when the shipwreck of a +large packet seemed inevitable, the sailors grew tired of working at +the pumps, and shouted 'to the spirit-room!' They saw death staring +them in the face, and to drown their terror for the moment, they +desired to die drunk. A post-captain in the navy, who was on board the +packet, knowing what would be the result if they got at the spirits, +took his stand at the door of the spirit-room, with a pistol in each +hand, and declared in the most solemn manner, that he would shoot the +first man who attempted to enter. The men seeing themselves defeated, +returned to the pumps, and by the blessing of God, the vessel was +brought in safe with all her crew.[15] + +Unfortunate as was the situation of the helpless creatures on the +wreck of the Penelope, it was only a few degrees more wretched than +that of the officers and men on the shore. They had been cast at the +base of a steep mountain, bruised and benumbed by the cold; their +clothes were actually freezing on their backs, and they were without +provisions of any kind. Their first care was to search for wood and +kindle fires, which they at last succeeded in doing, and then they +dried their clothes--but before they could derive any benefit from the +fire, the intensity of cold had caused many of them extreme suffering; +they were frost-bitten in the hands and feet, and several lost their +toes. Some of the people were employed in constructing a tent with +branches of trees and blankets, others were searching for provisions +and securing such articles as were washed on shore from the ship. In +the evening, they found about sixty pieces of pork,--and with this and +some melted snow they satisfied the cravings of hunger and thirst. +Later in the evening several casks of wine, which had been stowed in +the ward-room, were washed on shore; but this, which might have proved +a blessing to all, was seized by a party of the men,--who broke open +the casks and drank to such an excess that they fell asleep, and were +found almost frozen to death. During the whole of the day the unhappy +men upon the wreck had never ceased supplicating their more fortunate +comrades to go to their assistance, but this was impossible; no human +effort could save them. As night drew on, their cries were redoubled, +and were still heard far above the howling and roaring of the +tempest, when darkness had hidden the ill-fated vessel from view. +About twelve o'clock three fearful crashes were followed by a still +more fearful sound--the last agonized shriek of many perishing +creatures. + + And then all was hushed, + Save the wild and remorseless dash + Of billows. BYRON. + +At daylight, the remains of the Penelope were again visible, but in +three separate pieces; all that were left on board had perished, save +one man, who was washed on shore nearly lifeless. + +The sufferings of these poor wretches must have been awful in the +extreme, for their agonies of mind appear to have surpassed those of +the body, and to have prolonged their lives by preventing them falling +into the torpor which precedes death from cold. So severe was the +frost, that the wreck had the appearance of huge masses of ice; and on +shore nothing but the very large fires that were kept burning could +have preserved the existence of the rest of the crew. + +Upon the ship breaking up, the spirits floated on shore, when there +ensued such a scene of tumult and insubordination as, happily for the +honour of the service, seldom occurs in the British navy. The men +broke open the casks, and before the officers were aware of it, +scarcely a man was to be seen sober. This brought with it its own +punishment; many had drank to such a degree that they fell lifeless in +the snow. The officers then caused the remainder of the rum to be +stove, excepting a certain quantity placed under their own care; but +when discipline is once broken, it is not easily restored. The next +day, forty-eight men deserted, after plundering several of their +shipmates, and breaking open every trunk that was washed up. These +paid the penalty of their crimes, for many of them were found dead in +the woods by the Canadians. + +We cannot do better than take up the account which is thus given by +one of the surviving officers:-- + +'With the remaining part of the crew the boats were hauled up, which +we began to repair the best way we could. Sails were made from a lower +and topmast studding-sail, which were fortunately washed ashore; a +cask of flour was also found, a part of which was made into dough, and +preparations were made to proceed to Quebec. + +'On the third day, a Canadian boat was passing, when the captain +ordered her to be detained to proceed to that port. With the +assistance of the cooking utensils found in the Canadian boat, all the +pork that could be found was cooked and served out to the different +boats, which was a very short allowance for two days. + +'On the sixth day of our misery, the weather moderated, the boats were +launched, and all hands embarked; sixty-eight persons in all, +including two women. The wind was favourable, but light; with rowing +and sailing, we got to Great Fox River that night, at which place we +were hospitably entertained with potatoes and salt at a Canadian hut. +Next morning we sailed for Gasper Bay, and reached Douglas Town in the +evening. + +'The captain and officers were accommodated at Mr. Johnston's, and the +crew lodged at the different huts around the place. After three days' +rest, we walked nine miles over the ice to where the transports lay; +leaving the sick at Douglas Town. The captain hoisted his pendant on +board the Ann, transport, and put a lieutenant in each of the others, +and an equal number of men. When the ice broke up, which was seven +days after we got on board, we dropped down to Douglas Town, and +embarked the sick, one of whom died, and two deserted. The next +morning we sailed for Quebec, where we arrived on the 28th, many of us +not having a change of clothes of any description.' + +In concluding the above narrative of the loss of this vessel, we will +quote the language of Captain Galloway, who thus deprecates, in strong +terms, the disgraceful conduct of the majority of the crew of the +Penelope:--'I feel it my duty,' he says, 'to state to you the infamous +conduct of the whole of the crew, with a very few exceptions. From the +time that the ship struck, their behaviour was not in the character of +British seamen in general; they had neither principle nor humanity; +some, in consequence, have suffered severely, and several died from +drunkenness.' + +Captain Galloway died in 1846. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] _Parliamentary Report_, 255. + + + + +THE ALCESTE. + + +At the close of 1815, the Court of Directors of the East India Company +having represented to the British Government the impediments thrown in +the way of our trade with China, by the impositions practised by the +local authorities at Canton, it was determined to send an embassy to +the court of Pekin. + +Lord Amherst was selected to undertake the mission, and Mr. Henry +Ellis was appointed secretary to the embassy. + +The Alceste, a frigate of 46 guns, under the command of Captain, +afterwards Sir Murray Maxwell, was fitted up for the reception of the +ambassador and his suite. + +On the 9th of February, 1816, the expedition sailed from Spithead, +and arrived in the China seas about the middle of July following. It +is not in our province to give any account of the proceedings of the +embassy, which have already been so ably described, and are well +known. + +His excellency, having accomplished the object of his mission, took his +departure from China on the 9th of January, 1817, arrived at Manilla +on the 3rd of February, and finally sailed from thence in the Alceste, +on the 9th of the same month. + +Captain Maxwell directed the ship's course to be steered towards the +Straits of Gaspar, in preference to those of Banca, as affording, at +that period of the monsoon, the most convenient and speedy egress from +the China seas; and though this passage is not so often taken as that +of Banca, the Gaspar Straits appeared by the plans and surveys laid +down in the Admiralty charts, as well as in those of the East India +Company, to be, not only wider, but to have a much greater depth of +water, and to offer fewer difficulties to navigation. + +Early on the morning of the 18th of February, they made the Island of +Gaspar, and in a short time, Pulo Leat, or Middle Island, was descried +from the mast-head. The weather was remarkably fine and clear,--a mild +breeze blowing from the north-west, and the surface of the water +gently agitated by the current, which perpetually sets through the +straits, either to the south-east or south-west, according to the +monsoon. + +The sea, which is usually so clear in these climates, had been greatly +discoloured that morning by a quantity of fish spawn, a circumstance +of not unfrequent occurrence in those seas; and the navigation being +thus rendered more dangerous, unusual precautions were taken for +ensuring the safety of the ship. A man was stationed at the +foretopmast head, and others at the fore-yardarms. Captain Maxwell, +with the master and other officers, was upon deck, 'steering, under +all these guarded circumstances,' (writes an eye-witness,) 'the +soundings corresponding so exactly with the charts, and following the +express line prescribed by all concurring directions, to clear every +danger,--and it was the last danger of this sort between us and +England,--when the ship, about half-past seven in the morning, struck +with a horrid crash on a reef of sunken rocks, and remained +immoveable.' 'What my feelings were,' says Captain Maxwell, 'at this +momentary transition from a state of perfect security to all the +horrors of a shipwreck, I will not venture to depict; but I must +acknowledge, it required whatever mental energy I possessed to control +them, and to enable me to give with coolness and firmness the +necessary orders preparatory to abandoning the ship,--which a very +short period of hard working at all the pumps showed the +impracticability of saving.' + +The carpenter very soon reported the water above the tanks in the main +hold, and in a few minutes more, over the orlop deck. + +The quarter boats had been instantly lowered to sound, and reported +deep water all round the reef, ten fathoms immediately under the +stern, and seventeen about a quarter of a cable further off,--so that +it was but too evident that the preservation of the crew depended +solely upon the vessel's remaining fast where she was. + +The first care of Captain Maxwell was for the safety of Lord Amherst +and his suite; the boats were quickly hoisted out, and before +half-past eight, he had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing the +ambassador and all his attendants safely embarked in them. + +For the better protection of the embassy, an officer was sent in the +barge, with a guard of marines, to conduct them to Pulo Leat, between +three and four miles distant, and from which it was hoped that plenty +of water and abundance of tropical fruits might be procured. + +Meanwhile the officers and men exerted themselves most indefatigably +to save some of the provisions,--a task by no means easy of +accomplishment, as the holds and everything in them were submerged in +water. Towards the afternoon, the boats returned from the shore, and +the men reported that they had had great difficulty in landing his +excellency, from the mangrove trees growing out to a considerable +distance in the water; and it was not until they had pulled three or +four miles from the place where they first attempted to land that they +were enabled to reach terra firma. They also stated that neither food +nor water could be discovered on the island. Unpromising as +appearances were, there was no alternative but to seek shelter on the +inhospitable shore. Accordingly, every preparation was made, and by +eight o'clock P.M., the people were all landed, excepting one +division, who remained on board the wreck, with the captain, first +lieutenant, and some other officers. + +About midnight, the wind had greatly increased, and the ship became so +uneasy from her heeling to windward, that fears were entertained for +the safety of those on board. To prevent her falling further over, the +topmasts were cut away, and as the wind became more moderate towards +daylight, the ship remained stationary, and all apprehensions were +removed. The boats did not return to the wreck till between six and +seven o'clock in the morning, and they brought no better tidings as to +the capabilities of the island to furnish food and other necessaries +for the subsistence of so many human beings. + +A raft had been constructed during the previous day, upon which the +small quantity of provisions they had been able to collect, together +with some of the baggage of the embassy, and clothes and bedding of +the officers and men, had been transported to the shore. + +In the course of the forenoon, Captain Maxwell thought it right to +confer with Lord Amherst as to his further movements; he accordingly +quitted the wreck, and went on shore. He left the vessel in charge of +Mr. Hick, the first lieutenant, with orders that every effort should +be made to get at the provisions and the water, and that a boat should +remain by the wreck for the safety of the men in case of any +emergency. Captain Maxwell reached the shore about half-past eleven +A.M., and we may imagine the bitterness of his distress on finding the +ambassador, surrounded by his suite, and the officers and men of the +Alceste, in the midst of a pestilential saltwater marsh. + +The scene is well described by Mr. McLeod. 'The spot in which our +party were situated was sufficiently romantic, but seemed, at the same +time, the abode of ruin and of havoc. Few of its inhabitants (and +among the rest the ambassador) had now more than a shirt or a pair of +trousers on. The wreck of books, or, as it was not unaptly termed, 'a +literary manure,' was spread about in all directions; whilst +parliamentary robes, court dresses, and mandarin habits, intermixed +with check shirts and tarry jackets, were hung around in wild +confusion on every tree.' + +The situation in which Captain Maxwell was placed was, indeed, a most +trying one, and such he felt it to be, for, from the lowest seaman to +the ambassador himself, every one looked to him for relief and +direction in his perilous position. Captain Maxwell was fully +competent to meet the emergency; and, said he, 'I had the consolation +left me, to feel with confidence that all would follow my advice, and +abide by my decision, whatever it might be.' + +His first care was for the safety of Lord Amherst; and in a short +conference with his excellency and Mr. Ellis, the second commissioner, +it was arranged that the embassy should proceed to Batavia in the +barge and cutter, with a guard of marines to defend the boats from any +attack of the pirates. Mr. Ellis promised that if they arrived safely +at Batavia, he would himself return, in the first vessel that should +put off, to the assistance of those who remained on the island. + +A small quantity of provisions, and nine gallons of water, was all +that could be spared from their very scanty store; but at sunset every +heart was exhilarated by hope and sympathetic courage, on seeing the +ambassador strip, and wade off to the boats, with as much cheerfulness +as if he had stepped into them under a salute. At seven o'clock, the +barge, under the charge of Lieutenant Hoppner, and the cutter, +commanded by Mr. Mayne, the master, containing in all forty-seven +persons, took their departure for Batavia, accompanied by the anxious +thoughts and good wishes of their fellow-sufferers, who were left to +encounter new dangers. + +Captain Maxwell's first order was to direct a party to dig in search +of water. The men had begun to suffer greatly from thirst, as for the +last two days they had had scarcely a pint of water each--one small +cask only having been saved from the ship. The next step was to remove +their encampment to higher ground, where they could breathe a purer +air, and be in greater safety in case of attack. + +In a short time the island presented a scene of bustle and activity +strangely at variance with the dreary solitude it had exhibited two +days before; and the once silent woods resounded with the voices of +men, and the strokes of the axe and the hammer. One party was employed +in cutting a path to the summit of the hill, another in removing +thither their small stock of provisions. A few men were on board the +wreck, endeavouring to save every article that might prove of general +use. + +About midnight, the men who had been employed for so many hours on a +most fatiguing and harassing duty, and exposed to the burning rays of +a vertical sun, began to suffer most painfully from increased thirst, +and it was at that moment when they were almost bereft of hope that +they experienced one of the many merciful interpositions of Providence +by which the Almighty displays His tender care for His creatures: a +plentiful shower of rain fell, which the people caught by spreading +out their table cloths and clothes; and then, by wringing them, a +degree of moisture was imparted to their parched lips, and their +hearts were revived, and prepared to hear the joyful news, which was +communicated by the diggers soon after midnight, that they had found +water in the well, and a small bottle of this most dearly prized +treasure was handed to the captain. So great was the excitement of the +people on receiving the announcement, that it became necessary to +plant sentries, in order to prevent their rushing to the well and +impeding the work of the diggers. + +On the morning of the 20th, the captain called all hands together, and +pointed out to them the critical nature of their position, and the +absolute necessity of their uniting as one man to overcome the +difficulties by which they were surrounded. He reminded them that they +were still amenable to the regulations of naval discipline, and +assured them that discipline would be enforced with even greater +rigour, if necessary, than on board ship; and that in serving out the +provisions the strictest impartiality should be observed, and all +should share alike until the arrival of assistance from Lord Amherst. + +During this day, the well afforded a pint of water to each man; the +water is said to have tasted like milk and water, and when a little +rum was added to it, the men persuaded themselves it resembled +milk-punch, and it became a favourite beverage with them. + +The people were employed during the 20th much in the same manner as on +the previous day, but very few things could be obtained from the ship, +every article of value being under water. + +On Friday, the 21st, the party stationed on board the wreck observed a +number of proahs full of Malays, apparently well armed, coming towards +them. Being without a single weapon of defence, they could only jump +into their boats without loss of time, and push for the land. The +pirates followed closely in pursuit but retreated when they saw two +boats put out from the shore to the assistance of their comrades. The +Malays then returned to the ship and took possession of her. In an +instant all was activity and excitement in the little camp. + +'Under all the depressing circumstances attending shipwreck,' writes +Mr. McLeod, 'of hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and menaced by a ruthless +foe, it was glorious to see the British spirit stanch and unsubdued. +The order was given for every man to arm himself in the best manner he +could, and it was obeyed with the utmost promptitude and alacrity. +Rude pike staves were formed by cutting down young trees; small +swords, dirks, knives, chisels, and even large spike nails sharpened, +were firmly fixed to the ends of these poles, and those who could find +nothing better hardened the end of the wood in the fire, and bringing +it to a sharp point, formed a tolerable weapon. There were, perhaps, a +dozen cutlasses; the marines had about thirty muskets and bayonets; +but we could muster no more than seventy-five ball cartridges among +the whole party. + +'We had fortunately preserved some loose powder, drawn from the upper +deck guns after the ship had struck (for the magazines were under +water in five minutes,) and the marines, by hammering their buttons +round, and by rolling up pieces of broken bottles in cartridges, did +their best to supply themselves with a sort of shot that would have +some effect at close quarters, and strict orders were given not to +throw away a single discharge until sure of their aim. + +'Mr. Cheffy, the carpenter, and his crew, under the direction of the +captain, were busied in forming a sort of abattis by felling trees, +and enclosing in a circular shape the ground we occupied; and by +interweaving loose branches with the stakes driven in among these, a +breast-work was constructed, which afforded us some cover, and must +naturally impede the progress of any enemy unsupplied with artillery.' + +The Malays had taken possession of some rocks, at no great distance +from where the crew of the Alceste were encamped, and here they +deposited the plunder they had taken from the wreck. It now became +necessary for Captain Maxwell to prepare against an attack. With a +very small stock of provisions, which, even if husbanded with the +greatest care, could last only a few days, he had to contend, with a +handful of men, many of them unarmed, against a host of savages, +perhaps the most merciless and inhuman that are to be found in any +part of the world. + +In the evening a general muster was called, and a rude and motley +group presented itself to the eye of the commander. But rough as was +the exterior, he well knew that there was that within which would bid +defiance to danger and outrage so long as life should last. + +So stanch and resolute was the spirit diffused through all the little +band, that Mr. McLeod says,--'Even the boys had managed to make fast +table-forks on the end of sticks for their defence. One of them, who +had been severely bruised by the falling of the masts, and was slung +in his hammock between two trees, had been observed carefully fixing, +with two sticks and a rope yarn, the blade of an old razor. On being +asked what he meant to do with it, he replied, 'You know I cannot +stand, but if any of these fellows come within reach of my hammock, +I'll mark them.' + +The officers and men were divided into companies, and every precaution +adopted to secure the slender garrison from being taken by surprise. +The boats were hauled closer up to the landing-place, and put under +the charge of an officer and guard. + +On Saturday morning, the 22nd, every effort was made to induce the +Malays to come to an amicable conference, but without success. Mr. +Hay, the second lieutenant, was, therefore, ordered to proceed to the +ship, with the barge, cutter, and gig, (armed in the best manner +possible under the circumstances,) and to gain possession of her by +fair means or by force. No sooner did the pirates see the boats put +out towards the wreck, than they left the vessel, though not before +they had set fire to her, thus performing an act which was of great +service to the crew of the Alceste; for by burning her upperworks and +decks, everything buoyant could float up from below and be more easily +laid hold of. The ship continued to burn during the night, and the +flames, as they darted from her sides, shed a ruddy glare upon the +wild scenery around, and breaking through the shade of the thick and +lofty trees rested upon a landscape worthy of the pencil of Salvator +Rosa. + +Upon the summit of a hill, and under the spreading branches of the +majestic trees, was a rude encampment, formed by the erection of a few +wigwams; whilst here and there, collected together in groups and +reclining in different attitudes, were parties of men armed with pikes +or cutlasses, in their ragged, unwashed, and unshorn appearance, +resembling rather a gang of banditti, than the crew of a British ship +of war. + +It was with the most painful feelings that both officers and men +witnessed the gradual destruction of the gallant ship, which had been +their home for so many months. + +No one but a sailor can understand the devotion with which a brother +sailor regards his ship, and we cannot better describe it than in the +words of Captain Basil Hall:-- + +'We do truly make the ship our home, and we have no other thoughts of +professional duty or of happiness, but what are connected with the +vessel in which we swim; we take a pride in her very looks, as we +might in those of a daughter; and bring up her crew to honourable +deeds, as we should wish to instruct our sons. The rate of sailing of +each ship in a fleet is a subject of never-ending discussion amongst +all classes of officers, midshipmen, and crews, every one of whom +considers his own individual honour involved in all the ship does or +is capable of doing. + +'This is true almost universally, but it is most striking, no doubt, +in our first ship, which like our first love, is supposed to drink up +from our opening feelings the richest drops of sentiment, never to be +outdone, or even equalled by future attachments. + +'I owe, indeed, much good companionship, and many sincere obligations +to other vessels; yet I am sure that if I live to be Lord High +Admiral, the old Leander must still be nearest and dearest to my +nautical heart. I remember every corner about her, every beam, every +cabin, every gun.' + +The same feeling, no doubt, existed in the breast of every man and +boy who now stood watching, with painful interest, the fate of the old +ship; all had been too actively employed from the time the vessel +first struck to think of anything save of providing means for their +own preservation; but now, in the dead hour of night, thrown upon a +strange shore, and surrounded by enemies, the thought, perhaps, that +they might never again see their native land or their beloved kindred, +might steal over their hearts, and fill them with sad forebodings. By +degrees the fire became less and less vivid; for an instant, at times, +a brighter flame illuminated the sky, throwing up a shower of golden +sparks--then all was darkness,--a darkness which was felt by all; for +it told that nought remained of their old home, save a smouldering +hull,--that thus was severed, perhaps, the last link between them and +England. + +During the night that followed this sad scene, an incident occurred +which, though it occasioned considerable alarm at the time, became a +source of amusement afterwards. + +A sentry, startled by the approach of a very suspicious looking +personage, who was making towards him, levelled his musket and fired. +In an instant the whole camp was alive with excitement, supposing that +they were attacked by the savages, when; behold, the enemy turned out +to be a large baboon, one of a race that abounded in the island. These +creatures became very troublesome; they were most audacious thieves, +and even carried away several ducks which had been saved from the +wreck; till at last the poor birds were so frightened that they left +their little enclosure and voluntarily sought for safety and +protection amongst the people. + +From the morning of Sunday, the 23rd, till Wednesday, the 26th, the +men were busied in saving whatever they could from the hull of the +Alceste, and they were fortunate enough to obtain several casks of +flour, a few cases of wine, and a cask of beer, besides between fifty +and sixty boarding-pikes, and eighteen muskets, all of which proved +most acceptable. + +A second well had been sunk, which supplied clearer water, and in +great abundance, so that they possessed one of the chief necessaries +of life in plenty. + +Everything now wore a more favourable aspect. The Malays had retired +behind a little island (called Palo Chalacca, or Misfortune's Isle), +about two miles distant; and although they were expected to return +speedily with a reinforcement, the crew of the Alceste were better +prepared for them. The gunner had been actively employed in forming +musket cartridges; and, by melting down some pewter basons and jugs, +with a small quantity of lead obtained from the wreck, balls had been +cast, in clay moulds, which not a little increased their confidence +and feeling of security. + +Under the able command of Captain Maxwell, the greatest regularity and +order prevailed amongst the people. Every man appeared happy and +contented with his lot; for each man, from the highest to the lowest, +encouraged his neighbour by his own good conduct, whilst he in turn +received encouragement from the example of those above him. The +provisions were served out with the strictest impartiality. 'The mode +adopted by Captain Maxwell,' (writes Mr. M'Leod,) 'to make things go +as far as possible, was to chop up the allowance for the day into +small pieces, whether fowls, salt beef, pork, or flour, mixing the +whole hotch-potch, boiling them together, and serving out a measure to +each publicly and openly, and without any distinction. By these means +no nourishment was lost: it could be more equally divided than by any +other way; and although necessarily a scanty, it was by no means an +unsavoury mess.' + +Early on Wednesday morning, Lieutenant Hay, who had charge of the +boats, observed two pirate proahs nearing the island, as if to +reconnoitre; he immediately made a dash at them, with the barge, +cutter, and gig. The barge closed with the Malays first, and a +desperate conflict ensued. There was only one musket in the boat, +which Mr. Hay used to some purpose, for he killed two of the savages +with his own hand. In the meantime, the other two boats had come up to +the assistance of their comrades. One more pirate was shot dead, and +another knocked down with the butt-end of a musket; yet the rest +continued to fight with savage ferocity, until, seeing that resistance +was fruitless, they jumped into the sea and drowned themselves, +choosing to perish rather than yield. During the engagement, an +officer who was on the beach, observed a canoe, which had been cut +away from one of the proahs, drifting not many yards from the spot +where he stood; and as he thought the prize worth securing, he entered +the water, and swam towards it. He had nearly attained his object, +when those who watched him from the shore perceived an enormous shark +hovering about. They were almost petrified with horror; anxious to +make their friend aware of his danger, yet not daring to call out to +warn him, lest a sudden perception of the perils of his situation, and +of the proximity of his formidable enemy, should unnerve him, and thus +deprive him of the slight chance of escape that remained. Breathless +and silent then they stood, and marked the movements of the shark with +trembling anxiety. He seemed to be so sure of his prey, that he was in +no haste to seize it, but swam leisurely about, crossing and +recrossing betwixt the doomed victim and the shore, as if gloating +himself, and sharpening his appetite by gazing on the anticipated +feast. The officer, too, seemed to be luxuriating in the refreshing +coolness of the water, calmly approaching the canoe, happily +unconscious of his danger; but the shark followed him closely: his +life depended upon a swimmer's stroke, or the whim of a moment. The +anxiety of the spectators became agony; but that moment was +decisive--the swimmer struck out once more--the canoe was gained, and +he was saved. + +Then, and then only, did he become aware of the horrible fate that had +threatened him, and of the merciful interposition of Providence in his +behalf. + +In the course of this day fourteen proahs and smaller boats were +observed standing towards the island, from the Banca side, and every +heart bounded with joy in the full anticipation that it was a party +sent by Lord Amherst from Batavia, to their relief. Their joy, +however, did not last long, for they soon found that the boats had +come only to gather a kind of sea-weed much esteemed by Chinese +epicures, who use it, as they do birds' nests, in their soup. + +Consultations were held that night as to the policy of negotiating +with these people, so as to induce them, by promises of reward, to +convey part of the crew of the Alceste to Java--the four remaining +boats would then be sufficient for the transport of the rest. + +But the morning dawn put all such plans to flight, and revealed the +true character of the Malays. No sooner did they perceive the wreck, +than they started off to her and plundered the hull of everything they +could carry away. No assistance was to be expected from these +rapacious thieves; and as the time had elapsed which was required to +bring succour from Batavia, measures were taken to repair the launch +and to construct a raft to enable the people to leave the island +before their provisions should be completely exhausted. + +Matters now began to assume a more formidable aspect, for on +Saturday, the 1st of March, the Malay force was increased by the +arrival of several proahs, who joined in breaking up the remains of +the wreck. + +At daybreak on Sunday, the 2nd, the camp was alarmed, and all were +called to arms by the yells of the savages, who, firing their +partereroes, and beating their gongs, advanced with about twenty of +their heaviest vessels towards the landing-place, and anchored within +a cable's length of the shore. + +After a short deliberation, a boat full of men armed with creeses +approached the shore, and was met by a canoe containing an officer and +party with a letter from Captain Maxwell, addressed to the chief +authority at Minto, stating the situation of the Alceste's crew, and +praying that assistance might be sent to them. + +The officer placed this letter in the hands of the Malays, repeatedly +pronounced the word Minto, and showed them a dollar, to intimate that +they would be well rewarded if they returned with an answer. They +appeared to understand the mission, and to be willing to execute it; +but, as may be supposed, the service was never performed. + +Meantime the Malay forces continued to increase; no less than fifty +proahs and boats of different sizes were collected, and, on a moderate +computation, they had 500 men on board. Their mischievous intentions +were too evident; they drew closer and closer to the shore, prevented +the escape of any of the ship's boats, and even had recourse to +stratagem in order to gain possession of the much-desired booty. One +party declared that all the Malays except themselves were hostile, and +urged that they might be allowed to go to the camp to guard the crew +of the Alceste. This kind offer was of course refused. 'We can trust +to ourselves,' was the reply. The plot began to thicken; the odds +seemed fearfully against the heroic little band, who, badly armed, +and worse provisioned, had to make good their position against a +multitude of foes--matchless amongst savages in cunning and cruelty. +But in proportion to the imminence of the danger rose the courage of +our countrymen. + +Mr. M'Leod relates that, in the evening, when Captain Maxwell had +assembled, as usual, the men under arms, for the purpose of inspecting +them, he addressed them in these words: 'My lads, you must all have +observed this day, as well as myself, the great increase of the +enemy's force (for enemies we must now consider them), and the +threatening position they have assumed. I have, on various grounds, +strong reason to believe they will attack us this night. I do not wish +to conceal our real state, because I think there is not a man here who +is afraid to face any sort of danger. We are now strongly fenced in, +and our position in all respects is so good, that armed as we are, we +ought to make a formidable defence even against regular troops; what, +then, would be thought of us, if we allowed ourselves to be surprised +by a set of naked savages with their spears and their creeses? + +'It is true they have swivels in their boats, but they cannot act +here; I have not observed that they have any matchlocks or muskets; +but if they have, so have we! + +'I do not wish to deceive you as to the means of resistance in our +power. When we were first thrown together on shore we were almost +defenceless. Seventy-five ball-cartridges only could be mustered; we +have now sixteen hundred. They cannot, I believe, send up more than +five hundred men, but, with two hundred such as now stand around me, I +do not fear a thousand--nay, fifteen hundred of them! I have the +fullest confidence that we shall beat them. The pikemen standing firm, +we can give them such a volley of musketry as they will be little +prepared for, and when we find they are thrown into confusion, we'll +sally out among them, chase them into the water, and ten to one but we +secure their vessels. Let every man, therefore, be on the alert with +his arms in his hands; and should these barbarians this night attempt +our hill, I trust we shall convince them that they are dealing with +Britons!' + +This short but spirited appeal had its full effect upon the hearts to +whom it was addressed. It was answered by three wild hurras, which +were taken up by the piquets and outposts, and resounded through the +woods. The British cheer struck the savages with terror; they no doubt +thought it preceded an attack, and they were observed making signals +with lights to some of their tribe behind the islet. + +The night passed undisturbed, and daylight discovered the pirates in +the same position, their force increased by ten proahs, making their +number at least six hundred men. The situation of Captain Maxwell and +his party became hourly more critical; the provisions could not last +long--something must be done--some plan must be decided on. They had +but little choice; they must either make a dash at the pirates, and +seize their boats, with the certainty of being all butchered should +they not succeed,--and the odds were fearfully against them,--or they +must maintain their present position, in the hope that aid might be +sent from Java, in time to save them from a scarcely less horrible +fate--the lingering death of famine. + +Under these depressing circumstances, the spirits of the men never for +a moment seemed to flag. True 'hearts of oak,' their courage increased +with their difficulties, and the prevailing desire amongst them was, +to rush upon the enemy and get possession of their boats, or perish in +the attempt. + +But for this day, at least, they were ordered to remain passive; +perhaps in coming to this decision, the wise and brave commander of +the party may have remembered another captain who was 'in a great +strait,' and who said, 'Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, +for His mercies are great, and let me not fall into the hand of man,' +The decision, then, was to wait; and the hours rolled on till +afternoon, when an officer ascended one of the loftiest trees, and +thence he thought he descried a sail at a great distance. The joyful +news seemed too good to be true. + +A signal-man was sent up with a telescope, to sweep the horizon. The +eager and intense anxiety that pervaded the little band, until he +could report his observations, may be better imagined than described. +At last, he announced that the object was indeed a brig, or a ship, +standing towards the island under all sail. The joy was unbounded and +overpowering. Men felt as if awaking from some horrible dream; and, +doubtless, many an honest heart was uplifted in thankfulness to the +Almighty, for the mercy vouchsafed in delivering them from what had +appeared, a few minutes before, to be certain destruction. + +There remains little more to be told; the vessel proved to be the +Ternate, which Lord Amherst had sent to their assistance. The pirates +took to flight as soon as they discovered the ship, but not before +they had received a volley from the Alceste's people, unfortunately +without effect. + +It was not till Friday, the 7th of March, that all were embarked on +board the Ternate. They arrived safely at Batavia on the 9th, and were +most kindly received by Lord Amherst, who converted his table into a +general mess for the officers, as well as the embassy; comfortable +quarters were also provided for the men; and in their present +enjoyment they all soon forgot the hardships they had suffered. + +In conclusion, we will quote the following passage from the pen of Mr. +M'Leod:--'It is a tribute due to Captain Maxwell to state (and it is a +tribute which all will most cheerfully pay) that, by his judicious +arrangements, we were preserved from all the horrors of anarchy and +confusion. His measures inspired confidence and hope, while his +personal example in the hour of danger gave courage and animation to +all around him.' Nor ought we to omit the high and well deserved +praise which Captain Maxwell bestowed upon the ship's company in his +examination before the court martial. + +'I should be trespassing far too long upon the time of this court,' +said Captain Maxwell, 'were I to bring all before them whose conduct +merited applause; but I can with great veracity assure the court, that +from the captain to the smallest boy, all were animated by the spirit +of Britons; and, whatever the cause was, I ought not to regret having +been placed in a position to witness all the noble traits of character +this extraordinary occasion called forth; and having seen all my +companions in distress fairly embarked, I felt in walking off to the +boat that my heart was lifted up with gratitude to a kind Providence +that had watched over us.' + + +Captain Murray Maxwell commenced his naval career under the auspices +of Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, and obtained his first commission as +lieutenant in 1796, and was subsequently promoted to the command of +the Cyane, in December, 1802. + +In the following year he was appointed to the Centaur, and received +his post commission on the 4th of August, in the same year. In 1804, +Captain Maxwell distinguished himself at the capture of Surinam, and +for his conduct on that occasion was highly mentioned in the +dispatches. + +This officer was constantly employed in the late war, and +distinguished himself on so many occasions, that we can only briefly +allude to one or two instances where his gallantry was most +conspicuous. In 1806, he was appointed to the Alceste, and on the 4th +of April, 1808, whilst that vessel, in company with the Mercury, +Captain James Alexander Gordon, and the Grasshopper, 18-gun sloop, lay +at anchor near Cadiz, a large convoy under the protection of several +gun-boats, was seen coming close in shore from the northward. + +Captain Maxwell determined to attempt their capture, and accordingly, +the Alceste and Mercury attacked the gun-boats, whilst the +Grasshopper, stationed close to the batteries of Rota, by a well +directed fire, succeeded in driving the Spaniards from their guns. The +gun-boats being thrown into confusion, the first-lieutenant of the +Alceste, Mr. Allen Stewart, and Lieutenant Watkin Owen Pell of the +Mercury, volunteered to board the enemy in the boats. They accordingly +dashed in among the convoy, boarded and brought out seven tartans from +under the very muzzles of the enemy's guns, though supported by +several armed boats sent from Cadiz to their assistance. + +Captain Maxwell was actively employed on the coast of Italy until +1811, when we find him cruizing in the Adriatic, in company with the +Active, Captain James Alexander Gordon, and a 36-gun frigate, the +Unité, Captain Edward Henry Chamberlain. On the morning of the 28th of +November, the little squadron was lying in Port St. George, Island of +Lissa, when signals were made that there were three suspicious sail +south. The three frigates immediately got under weigh, and on the +morning of the 29th came within sight of the strange vessels, which +proved to be the Pauline, a 40-gun frigate, the Pomone, frigate, and +26-gun ship, Persanne. The French commodore, finding the English force +greater than he expected, bore up to the north-west, and the Persanne +separated, and stood to the north-east. The Unité was then despatched +in chase of the Persanne, and the Alceste and Active continued in +pursuit of the French frigates. + +In the course of a couple of hours the Alceste commenced action with +the Pomone, but an unlucky shot soon afterwards brought down the +main-topmast of the Alceste, and she was compelled to drop astern. The +Active speedily ranged alongside of the Pomone, and after a spirited +conflict, the latter ship was compelled to haul down her colours and +surrender. + +The Pauline, in the meantime, tacked, and poured her fire into the +Alceste, no doubt anticipating an easy victory from her disabled +state; but in this she was disappointed, for the fire was returned +with such effect, that after a warm conflict of two hours and twenty +minutes, the commodore made off to the westward, which, from the +crippled state of the Alceste, Captain Maxwell was unable to prevent. +In this action the Alceste lost twenty killed and wounded, the Active +thirty-five, and Pomone fifty. The gallant captain of the Active had +the misfortune to lose his leg, and his first lieutenant, William +Bateman Dashwood, had his right arm shot away: the command therefore +fell upon the second lieutenant, George Haye, who fought the action, +until her opponent surrendered. + +In 1813, Captain Maxwell had the misfortune to be wrecked in the +Dædalus, and in 1815 was again reappointed to the Alceste. On his +passage home, after the loss of that vessel, he touched at St. Helena, +and had an interview with Napoleon Buonaparte, who, reminding him of +the capture of the Pomone, said 'Vous étiez très méchant. Eh bien! +your government must not blame you for the loss of the Alceste, for +you have taken one of my frigates.'[16] + +Captain Maxwell was nominated a C.B. in 1815, and received the honour +of knighthood in 1818. + +He died in June, 1831. + + + + +THE DRAKE. + + +The Drake, a small schooner, under the command of Captain Charles +Baker, had been despatched by the commander-in-chief on the +Newfoundland station, upon special duty to Halifax. + +Having accomplished the object of her mission there, she set sail +again to return to St. John's, on the morning of Thursday, the 20th of +June, 1822. The weather was unusually fine, the wind favourable, and +everything promised a short and prosperous voyage. + +Nothing occurred to retard the progress of the vessel until Sunday +morning, when the increasing thickness of the atmosphere betokened the +approach of one of those heavy fogs which so frequently hover over the +coast of Newfoundland. + +There are few things more perplexing to the mariner than to find +himself suddenly enveloped in one of these thick mists: it is +impenetrable gloom; night and day are both alike; the sails, saturated +with the watery vapour, hang heavily, and flap against the masts with +a sad foreboding sound, whilst every heart on board feels more or less +oppressed by the atmospheric influence, and every countenance +expresses languor or discontent. But these discomforts are minor evils +compared with other attendants upon a Newfoundland fog. It often +happens that, in spite of every precaution on the part of the men on +the look-out, the bows of the vessel run across some unfortunate +fishing boat; and before a single voice can be raised in warning, a +sudden shock, a smothered cry, a gurgling of the waves, tell the sad +tale! One moment, and all is silent; the ship pursues her course, and +no trace is left of the little vessel and her crew, for whom many days +and nights will anxious love keep watch; but those objects of a +mother's tenderness and of a wife's affection will never more gladden +the eyes of the watchers, till 'the sea shall give up her dead.' + +Would that such calamities were of less frequent occurrence. There is +one curious characteristic of these fogs, which in some degree +mitigates the evil of them: they sometimes do not extend beyond a few +miles, having the appearance of a huge wall of dense cloud or mist. A +vessel, after beating about for hours, will suddenly emerge from +almost total darkness, the clouds break away, and all hearts are +gladdened by finding themselves once more beneath the rays of the +glorious sun. + +Captain Basil Hall gives an amusing instance of such an occurrence. +The Cambrian 'had run in from sea towards the coast, enveloped in one +of these dense fogs. Of course they took it for granted that the +light-house and the adjacent land--Halifax included--were likewise +covered with an impenetrable cloud of mist; but it so chanced, by what +freak of Dame Nature I know not, that the fog on that day was confined +to the deep water, so that we who were in the port could see it at the +distance of several miles from the coast, lying on the ocean like a +huge stratum of snow, with an abrupt face fronting the shore. + +'The Cambrian, lost in the midst of this fog-bank, supposing herself +to be near land, fired a gun. To this the light-house replied; and so +the ship and the light-house went on pelting away gun for gun during +half the day, without seeing one another. + +'The people at the light-house had no means of communicating to the +frigate, that if she would only stand on a little further, she would +disentangle herself from the cloud, in which, like Jupiter Olympus of +old, she was wasting her thunder. At last, the captain, hopeless of +its clearing up, gave orders to pipe to dinner; but as the weather, in +all respects except this abominable haze, was quite fine, and the ship +was still in deep water, he directed her to be steered towards the +shore, and the lead kept constantly going. As one o'clock approached, +he began to feel uneasy, from the water shoaling, and the light-house +guns sounding closer and closer; but being unwilling to disturb the +men at their dinner, he resolved to stand on for the remaining ten +minutes of the hour. Lo and behold! however, they had not sailed half +a mile further before the flying gib-boom end emerged from the wall of +mist, then the bowsprit shot into daylight, and lastly, the ship +herself glided out of the cloud into the full blaze of a bright and +'sunshine holiday.' All hands were instantly turned up to make sail: +and the men, as they flew on deck, could scarcely believe their senses +when they saw behind them the fog-bank--right ahead the harbour's +mouth, with the bold cliffs of Cape Sambro on the left--and further +still, the ships at their moorings, with their ensigns and pendants +blowing out light and dry in the breeze.' + +But to return to our sad tale. Towards noon, the weather cleared up +for about a quarter of an hour, allowing just sufficient time to get a +good observation of the latitude, which, according to Captain Baker's +reckoning, made their position to be about ninety-one miles from Cape +Race, and fifty-one from Cape St. Mary's. + +They continued to steer east till about six o'clock in the evening, +when the breeze rather freshening, and the ship having run sixty miles +since noon, she was hauled off to south-east. + +The fog was then so dense that the men could not see more than twenty +yards beyond the ship, but as Captain Baker's orders were to use the +utmost dispatch, he determined to make the best of his way. Every +precaution was taken, by using the lead, and by keeping a vigilant +look-out from every part of the ship. In this manner they proceeded, +carefully feeling the way, until about half-past seven o'clock, when +the look-out man shouted, 'Breakers ahead! Hard a-starboard!' The ship +was instantly hauled to the wind, but not being able to clear the +danger on that tack, every effort was made to stay the vessel, but +from the heavy sea, and whilst in stays, her stern took the breakers, +and she immediately fell broadside on, the sea breaking completely +over her. + +At the moment the ship struck, every man was on deck, and there was +such a universal feeling of confidence in the commander, that +notwithstanding their extreme peril, not the slightest confusion +ensued. Captain Baker's first order was to cut away the masts, so as +to lighten the vessel, and perhaps afford means of saving some of the +crew. The order was promptly executed, but unhappily without producing +the desired result, for in a few moments the ship bilged, and the +destruction of the whole crew appeared to be inevitable. + +Captain Baker then ordered the cutter to be launched, but they had +scarcely got her over the gangway before she sank. It was a time of +terrible anxiety for both officers and men; for, from the denseness of +the fog, they could not form a conjecture as to their actual +position, whilst the crashing of the masts, the strain of the vessel +upon the rocks, and the roar of the waters, as they swept over the +decks, added to the horrors of the scene. + +Captain Baker was as calm and self-possessed as if nothing unusual had +occurred, whilst the eyes of the men were fixed upon him, and they +were ready to obey every command with the same promptitude as when +performing the usual routine of ship's duty. + +Fortunately a small rock was discerned through the mist, and as it +seemed to be at no great distance, it presented a means of escape from +the most pressing danger. Without a moment's hesitation, a man of the +name of Lennard sprang forward, and seizing a lead-line, jumped into +the sea; but the current setting directly against him to the +northward, his efforts were unavailing, and with difficulty he was +dragged on board again. + +It might be supposed that Lennard's failure would have damped the +spirits of the men, and deterred them from a second attempt. But it +seems to have had a contrary effect, and to have stirred them up to +renewed exertion. A consultation was held as to the next steps to be +taken. The only hope that remained was in the gig, (the jolly-boat +having been washed away,) when Turner, the boatswain, as brave a +fellow as ever breathed, volunteered to make the attempt. He secured a +rope round his body, and was then lowered into the boat. The tackling +was let go, the men gave a cheer, and the boat, with its occupant, was +borne away by the current. + +With intense anxiety the men on the wreck watched the progress of +Turner, who had been carried in the boat to within a few feet of the +rock; then the watchers saw it balanced upon the crest of a huge wave, +and the next moment it was dashed to pieces upon the rock; the +boatswain, however, retained his presence of mind; he kept hold of +the rope when dashed out of the boat, and succeeded in scrambling up +the cliff. + +In the meantime, the waves were making heavy breaches over the ship; +the crew clung by the ropes on the forecastle; each succeeding wave +threatened them all with destruction; when a tremendous sea lifted her +quarter over the rock on which she had at first struck, and carried +her close to that on which the boatswain stood. The forecastle, which +up to this time had been the only sheltered part of the ship, was now +abandoned for the poop; and as Captain Baker saw no chance of saving +the vessel, he determined to remove the people from her if possible. + +Calling around him his officers and men, he communicated to them his +intentions, and pointed out the best means of securing their safety. +He then ordered every man to make the best of his way from the wreck +to the rock. Now, for the first time, his orders were not promptly +obeyed; all the crew to a man refused to leave the wreck unless +Captain Baker would precede them. There was a simultaneous burst of +feeling that did honour alike to the commander and the men. To the +former, in that he had so gained the affection and respect of his +people; and to the latter, inasmuch as they knew how to appreciate +such an officer. + +Never was good discipline displayed in a more conspicuous manner. No +argument or entreaty could prevail on Captain Baker to change his +resolution. He again directed the men to quit the vessel, calmly +observing that his life was the least, and last consideration. The +men, upon hearing this reiterated command, stepped severally from the +poop to the rock with as much order as if they had been leaving a ship +under ordinary circumstances. Unhappily, a few of them perished in the +attempt; amongst these was Lieutenant Stanley, who, being benumbed +with cold, was unable to get a firm footing, and was swept away by +the current, his companions, with every inclination, had not the power +to save him; he struggled for a few moments--was dashed with +irresistible force against the rocks, and the receding wave engulfed +its victim. + +When he had seen every man clear of the wreck, and not till then, did +Captain Baker join his crew. + +As soon as they had time to look about them, the ship's company +perceived that they were on an isolated rock, separated from the +mainland by a few fathoms. The rock rose some feet above the sea, but +to their horror they perceived that it would be covered at high-water. +It seemed as if they were rescued from one fearful catastrophe, only +to perish by a more cruel and protracted fate. They watched the waters +rise inch by inch around them, appalled by the feeling that those +waters must sooner or later close over them for ever, and that nothing +could save them except the outstretched arm of Him who could bid the +waves be stayed, and say to the stormy winds, be still. Every man is +more or less courageous under circumstances of danger, when it is +attended by excitement,--such as that of the battlefield. There is a +courage which springs from companionship in danger, and a courage +derived from the fear of shame; but the test of true valour is a scene +like that we have described. _There_ was no room for a display of the +adventitious bravery which often becomes in reality the thing it +strives to appear. No man _there_ could reproach his neighbour if his +cheek should blanch and his lip quiver; all are alike appalled, but +the well-regulated mind rises superior to the rest. Such was the case +with Captain Baker. Although he could not conceal from himself that +their condition was almost hopeless, he continued with his voice to +encourage the timid, and by his arm to support the weak. + +By degrees the fog had partially dispersed, and as the dawn began to +break, a dreary prospect was displayed. The haggard countenances and +lacerated limbs of the men told the sufferings they had endured, +whilst the breakers, which they had only heard before, became +distinctly visible. Still the devoted crew, following the example of +their commander, uttered no complaint. They were ready to meet death, +yet they felt it hard to die without a struggle. The tide was rising +rapidly, and if anything was to be done, it must be done instantly. +The boatswain, who had never lost hold of the rope, determined at all +hazards to make another effort to save his comrades, or to perish in +the attempt. + +Having caused one end of the rope to be made fast round his body, and +committing himself to the protection of the Almighty, he plunged into +the sea, and struck out in the direction of the opposite shore. + +It was an awful moment to those who were left behind; and in +breathless suspense they waited the result of the daring attempt. All +depended upon the strength of his arm. At one moment he was seen +rising on the crest of the wave, at the next he disappeared in the +trough of the sea; but in spite of the raging surf, and of every other +obstacle, he reached the shore, and an inspiring cheer announced his +safety to his comrades. + +As soon as he had recovered his breath and strength, he went to the +nearest point opposite the rock, and, watching his opportunity, he +cast one end of the line across to his companions. Fortunately it +reached the rock, and was gladly seized, but it proved to be only long +enough to allow of one man holding it on the shore, and another on the +rock, at arm's length. It may be imagined with what joy this slender +means of deliverance was welcomed by all. The tide had made rapid +advances; the waves, as if impatient for their prey, threw the white +surf aloft, and dashed over the rock. + +Would that we could do justice to the noble courage and conduct +displayed by the crew of the Drake. Instead of rushing to the rope, as +many would have done under similar circumstances, not a man moved +until he was commanded to do so by Captain Baker. Had the slightest +hesitation appeared on the part of the commander, or any want of +presence of mind in the men, a tumultuous rush would have ensued, the +rope, held as it was with difficulty by the outstretched hand, would +inevitably have been lost in the struggle, and then all would have +perished. + +But good order, good discipline, and good feeling triumphed over every +selfish fear and natural instinct of self-preservation, and to the +honour of British sailors be it recorded, that each individual man of +the crew, before he availed himself of the means of rescue, urged his +captain to provide for his own safety first, by leading the way. But +Captain Baker turned a deaf ear to every persuasion, and gave but one +answer to all--'I will never leave the rock until every soul is safe.' + +In vain the men redoubled their entreaties that he would go; they were +of no avail; the intrepid officer was steadfast in his purpose. There +was no time for further discussion or delay. One by one the men +slipped from the rock upon the rope, and by this assistance forty-four +out of fifty succeeded in gaining the opposite shore. Unfortunately, +amongst the six who remained, one was a woman. This poor creature, +completely prostrate from the sufferings she had endured, lay +stretched upon the cold rock almost lifeless. To desert her was +impossible; to convey her to the shore seemed equally impossible. Each +moment of delay was fraught with destruction. A brave fellow, in the +generosity of despair, when his turn came to quit the rock, took the +woman in his arms, grasped the rope, and began the perilous transit. +Alas! he was not permitted to gain the desired shore. When he had made +about half the distance, the rope parted--not being strong enough to +sustain the additional weight and strain, it broke; the seaman and his +burden were seen but for an instant, and then swallowed up in the +foaming eddies. With them perished the last means of preservation that +remained for Captain Baker and those who were with him on the rock. +Their communication with the mainland was cut off; the water rose, and +the surf increased every moment; all hope was gone, and for them a few +minutes more must end 'life's long voyage.' + +The men on shore tried every means in their power to save them. They +tied every handkerchief and available material together to replace the +lost rope, but their efforts were fruitless; they could not get length +enough to reach the rock. A party was despatched in search of help. +They found a farm-house; and while they were in search of a rope, +those who stayed to watch the fate of their loved and respected +commander and his three companions, saw wave after wave rise higher +and higher. At one moment the sufferers disappeared in the foam and +spray; the bravest shuddered, and closed his eyes on the scene. Again, +as spell-bound, he looked; the wave had receded--they still lived, and +rose above the waters. Again and again it was thus; but hope grew +fainter and fainter. We can scarcely bring our narrative to an end; +tears moisten our page; but the painful sequel must be told. The fatal +billow came at last which bore them from time into eternity--all was +over. When the party returned from their inland search, not a vestige +of the rock, or of those devoted men, was to be seen. + + And is he dead, whose glorious mind + Lifts thine on high? + To live in hearts we leave behind, + Is not to die. CAMPBELL. + +We feel how inadequate have been our efforts to depict the +self-devotion of Captain Baker, and the courage and constancy of his +crew. The following letter, addressed to Lieutenant Booth, formerly an +officer of the Drake, will go farther than any panegyric we can offer, +to display the right feeling of the ship's company, and their just +appreciation of their brave and faithful commander. + + 'SIR,--Your being an old officer of ours in a former ship, and + being our first lieutenant in H.M. ship Drake, leads us to beg + that you will have the goodness to represent to our Lords + Commissioners of the Admiralty the very high sense of gratitude + we, the surviving petty officers and crew of his Majesty's late + ship Drake, feel due to the memory of our late much lamented, + and most worthy commander, who, at the moment he saw death + staring him in the face on one side, and the certainty of escape + was pointed out to him on the other, most stanchly and + frequently refused to attempt procuring his own safety, until + every man and boy had been rescued from the impending danger. + Indeed, the manliness and fortitude displayed by the late + Captain Baker on the melancholy occasion of our wreck was such + as never before was heard of. It was not as that of a moment, + but his courage was tried for many hours, and his last + determination of not crossing from the rock, on which he was + every moment in danger of being washed away, was made with more + firmness, if possible, than the first. In fact, during the whole + business he proved himself to be a man whose name and last + conduct ought ever to be held in the highest estimation by a + crew who feel it their duty to ask from the Lords Commissioners + of the Admiralty that, which they otherwise have not the means + of obtaining, that is, a public and lasting record of the + lion-hearted, generous, and very unexampled way in which our + late noble commander sacrificed his life in the evening of the + 23rd of June.' + +The above letter was signed by the surviving crew of the Drake. + +We need not add that their request was complied with; and a monument +erected to the memory of Captain Baker, in the chapel of the Royal +Dockyard at Portsmouth. + +At the request of the author, a friend, to whom he related the +pathetic story of the captain of the Drake, composed the following +verses on his untimely and romantic fate:-- + + THE LOSS OF THE DRAKE. + + 1. + + There's a garden full of roses, there's a cottage by the Dove; + And the trout stream flows and frets beneath the hanging crags above; + There's a seat beneath the tulip-tree, the sunbeams never scorch: + There's jasmine on those cottage walls, there's woodbine round the porch. + A gallant seaman planted them--he perished long ago; + He perished on the ocean-wave, but not against the foe. + + 2. + + He parted with his little ones beneath that tulip-tree; + His boy was by his father's side, his darling on his knee. + 'Heaven bless thee, little Emma; night and morning you must pray + To Him on high, who'll shield thee, love, when I am far away. + Nay, weep not!--if He wills it, I shall soon be back from sea; + Then how we'll laugh, and romp, and dance around the tulip-tree! + + 3. + + 'Heaven bless thee, too, my gallant boy! The God who rules the main + Can only tell if you and I shall ever meet again. + If I perish on the ocean-wave, when I am dead and gone + You'll be left with little Emma in a heartless world alone: + Your home must be her home, my boy, whenever you're a man; + You must love her, you must guard her, as a brother only can. + + 4. + + 'There's no such thing as fear, my boy, to those who trust on high; + But to part with all we prize on earth brings moisture to the eye. + There's a grave in Ilam Church-yard, there's a rose-tree marks that + grave; + 'Tis thy mother's: go and pray there when I'm sailing o'er the wave. + Think, too, sometimes of thy father, when thou kneel'st upon that sod, + How he lived but for his children, for his country, and his God.' + + 5. + + Farewell, farewell, thou gallant ship! thy course will soon be o'er; + There are mournful hearts on board thee, there are breaking hearts on + shore. + The mother mourned her sailor boy, the maiden mourned her love; + And one, on deck, was musing on a cottage, near the Dove: + But his features were unmoved, as if all feeling lay congealed; + They little knew how soft a heart that manly form concealed. + + 6. + + Beware, beware, thou gallant ship! there's many a rock ahead, + And the mist is mantling round thee, like a shroud around the dead. + The listless crew lay idly grouped, and idly flapped the sail, + And the sea-bird pierced the vapour with a melancholy wail. + So hushed the scene, they little deemed that danger was at hand, + Till they heard the distant breakers as they rolled upon the strand. + + 7. + + The winds were roused, the mist cleared off, the mighty tempest rose, + And cheeks were blanched that never yet had paled before their foes: + For the waves that heaved beneath them bore them headlong to the rock, + And face to face with death they stood, in terror of the shock. + A crash was heard--the ocean yawned--then foamed upon the deck, + And the gallant Drake, dismasted, on the waters lay a wreck! + + 8. + + On that rock they've found a refuge; but the waves that dash its side + They know, must sweep them from it at the flowing of the tide. + With the giant crags before them, and the boiling surge between, + There was one alone stood dauntless midst the horrors of the scene. + They watched the waters rising, each with aspect of dismay; + They looked upon their fearless chief, and terror passed away. + + 9. + + There's a gallant seaman battling with the perils of the main; + They saw the waves o'erwhelm him thrice, but thrice he rose again. + He bears a rope around him that may link them with the beach: + One struggle more, thou valiant man! the shore's within thy reach. + Now blest be He who rules on high; though some may die tonight, + There are more will live to brave again the tempest and the fight. + + 10. + + They gathered round their gallant chief, they urged him to descend, + For they loved him as their father, and he loved them as a friend. + 'Nay, go ye first, my faithful crew; to love is to obey,-- + 'Gainst the cutlass or the cannon would I gladly lead the way; + But I stir not hence till all are safe, since danger's in the rear; + While I live, I claim obedience; if I die, I ask a tear.' + + 11. + + With a smile to cheer the timid, and a hand to help the weak, + There was firmness in his accents, there was hope upon his cheek. + A hundred men are safe on shore, but one is left behind; + There's a shriek is mingling wildly with the wailing of the wind. + The rope has snapped! Almighty God! the noble and the brave + Is left alone to perish at the flowing of the wave. + + 12. + + 'Midst the foaming of the breakers and the howling of the storm, + 'Midst the crashing of the timbers, stood a solitary form; + He thought upon his distant home, then raised his look on high, + And thought upon another home--a home beyond the sky. + Sublimer than the elements, his spirit was at rest, + And calm as if his little one was nestling on his breast. + + 13. + + In agony they watched him, as each feature grew elate, + As with folded arms and fearless mien lie waited for his fate; + Now seen above the breakers, and now hidden by the spray, + As stealthily, yet surely, heaved the ocean to its prey. + A fiercer wave rolled onward with the wild gust in its wale, + And lifeless on the billows lay the Captain of the Drake. + + J. HENEAGE JESSE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[16] Marshall's _Naval Biography_. + + + + +FURY. + + +In the year 1824, notwithstanding the repeated failures which had +attended the expeditions to the Polar Seas, the British government +determined to make another attempt to discover a passage between the +Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; for this purpose Captain, now Sir Edward +Parry was appointed to the command of the Hecla, and a second vessel +was commissioned by Captain Hoppner, who was directed to put himself +under the orders of the beforenamed officer. + +The vessels being fully equipped and furnished with provisions and +stores for two years, sailed from England on the 16th of May. Their +progress had been unexpectedly slow, from the quantity and magnitude +of the ice, which had kept the people constantly employed in heaving, +warping, or sawing through it, so that they did not arrive at the +entrance of Lancaster Sound until nearly the middle of September. + +There was no doubt that the more than ordinary difficulties which they +encountered in crossing the barrier of ice in Baffin's Bay was owing +to a season of very unusual severity; indeed, Captain Parry was of +opinion, that but for Phillips's capstan, the Hecla and Fury would +have been obliged to winter in the middle of Baffin's Bay. + +The season was now too far advanced to give any hopes of the ships +being able to penetrate to the westward, according to their +instructions, during the present year; Captain Parry determined, +therefore, to push on as far as the present season would permit, and +devote the whole of the next summer to the fulfilment of the object of +the expedition. + +It is not our intention to enter into a detailed description of the +many difficulties which they met in their passage; it is enough to say +that their toils were incessant, and nothing but the most unwearied +vigilance and perseverance could have prevented the ships being +materially damaged by the enormous pressure of the ice. + +Both officers and men were constantly employed, one time in getting +out the boats to tow or cut through the ice, at another, at what is +termed 'sallying,' or causing the ship to roll, by the men running in +a body from side to side, so as to relieve her from the adhesion and +friction of the young ice. It sometimes happened, also, that their +labour was in vain; for during the night a westerly wind would spring +up, and that, combined with a strong current, would drive the vessels +several leagues to eastward, thus compelling them to recommence their +work over again. + +On the 27th of September they found themselves in a tolerably open +sea, and assisted by a fine working breeze they reached Port Bowen, in +Regent's Inlet. Here Captain Parry determined to make his winter +harbour, being convinced that it would be safer to remain there, than +run the risk of any further attempt at navigation during the present +year. + +'To those who read,' writes Sir Edward Parry, 'as well as those who +describe, the account of a winter passed in these regions can no +longer be expected to afford the interest of novelty it once +possessed; more especially in a station already delineated with +tolerable geographical precision on our maps, and thus, as it were, +brought near to our firesides at home.' + +Here it may be perhaps asked, why tell a thrice-told tale?--why go +over ground that has been so often trod before? The answer is, we are +not only writing for the information of the general reader, but also +for the seaman, in the hope that these examples may afford +encouragement to him, if ever thrown under similar circumstances to +those which befel the crews of the Hecla and Fury. + +In a short time, the ships became embedded in ice, and in this remote +part of the globe were they destined to remain, in all probability, +for nine months, during the greater part of which they would not see +the light of the sun. + +To the seaman, whose happiness is dependent upon a life of excitement +and adventure, such a change must be almost insupportable. As far as +the eye could reach, nothing was to be seen but trackless wilds of +snow; an awful stillness reigned around; even the indigenous animals +had for a time fled; and out of his ship, which is the world to him, +not a living creature breathed in this dreary desert. In order to +procure occupation and amusement for the men, it was necessary to hit +upon some expedient to keep their spirits from flagging. This was +found, by a proposal from Captain Hoppner, that they should attempt a +masquerade, in which both officers and men should join. The happy +thought was at once seized upon, the ship's tailor was placed in +requisition, admirably dressed characters were enacted, and mirth and +merriment rang through the decks of the Hecla. These réunions took +place once a month, alternately on board each ship, and not one +instance is related of anything occurring which could interfere with +the regular discipline of the ship, or at all weaken the respect of +the men towards their superiors. But an occupation which was of +benefit as much to the mind as to the body, was found in the +establishment of a school on board each of the ships. These were +superintended by Mr. Hooper, in the Hecla, and Mr. Mogg, in the Fury. +The men gladly seized this opportunity of instruction which was +afforded them, and in many a long winter evening the lower deck was +made a scene of rational employment, which was not only a lasting +benefit to themselves, but assisted materially in passing away the +time, which otherwise would have hung heavily on their hands. + +We cannot refrain here from offering a few observations upon the good +results of education to the seaman. + +In the beginning of the present century, and even in a much later +date, the majority of our seamen could neither read nor write; in the +present day it is quite the reverse. We may affirm, without +exaggeration, that two-thirds of them are more or less educated. +Experience has taught those placed at the head of naval affairs the +advantages arising from the improvement of the minds of the seamen of +our navy; every ship has now a seaman schoolmaster, and a well +selected library; and there is no doubt that the moral effect thus +produced, adds in no small degree to the preservation of that +discipline which is so necessary for the comfort and welfare of a +ship's company. + +In corroboration of the above, we cannot do better than quote the +words of Sir Edward Parry:--'And I do not speak lightly when I express +my thorough persuasion that to the moral effect thus produced upon the +minds of the men were owing to a very high degree the constant yet +sober cheerfulness, the uninterrupted good order, and even in some +measure the extraordinary state of health which prevailed among us +during winter.' + +With the amusement before mentioned, varied now and then, as the days +grew longer, by the excitement of killing a bear, entrapping foxes, +or shooting grouse, the men continued to pass the winter months. To +the officers, higher and more intellectual enjoyments were afforded by +making observations, studying astronomy, and witnessing the brilliant +appearance of the Aurora Borealis. + +About the end of March, or beginning of April, 1825, thin flakes of +snow, lying upon painted wood or metal, exposed to the sun's direct +rays, began to melt. These signs of returning spring were hailed as +indications of their approaching deliverance from their winter +quarters. Towards the middle of June, information was brought that the +sea was clear of ice about twenty miles from Port Bowen. On the 12th +of July, the ice began to break away, leaving the ship about one mile +and a quarter from the open sea. All hands were set to work to saw +through this barrier, the men being employed from seven in the +morning, till seven in the evening. On the 19th, after the most +incessant labour, which was performed with the greatest cheerfulness +and alacrity, Captain Parry had the satisfaction of seeing the two +vessels once more floating in their proper element. + +After a winter of unusual severity, but of unprecedented good health, +they sailed out of Port Bowen on the 20th of July, the expedition +being in every respect in the most perfect condition, and the season +remarkably forward and fine. Pushing over to the west coast of Prince +Regent's Inlet, which it was Captain Parry's intention to coast +northward and then westward, till they could strike off to the +continental shore, the prospect seemed as favourable as could possibly +be expected. The season continued unusually warm, and channels of open +water always occurred along the shore with particular winds. The ice +was entirely detached from the shores, very much broken up, and +lighter than they had yet navigated. + +Proceeding as usual, taking advantage of every opening, and +sheltering the ships on shore when the ice closed, the Fury, on the +1st of August, was unfortunately pressed by the ice in such a manner, +while she also took the ground, that her main keel, stern-post, and +cutwater were immediately broken, and four pumps were necessary to +keep her free. + +It was now evidently impossible to proceed without heaving the Fury +down to repair, her officers and men being in a few days almost +exhausted with excessive fatigue; the men's hands having become so +sore from the constant friction of the ropes, that they could hardly +handle them any longer without the use of mittens. + +The shore being a straight and exposed one, the principal difficulty +consisted in securing the ship from the inroads of the ice during the +operation. There was little hopes of discovering a harbour for this +purpose, and the only alternative was to endeavour to make one. This +was done by passing lower cables round grounded masses of ice, and +setting them up to anchors buried on the beach, so as to form a basin +for the reception of the ships. + +We have now arrived at the period when the labour of heaving down the +Fury commenced; and, for the better information of the reader, we will +at once lay before him the account of the future proceedings, as +related by Sir Edward Parry.[17] + +'The ice remaining quite close, on the 6th every individual in both +ships, with the exception of those at the pumps, was employed in +landing provisions from the Fury, together with the spars, boats, and +everything from off her upper deck. The ice coming in in the +afternoon with a degree of pressure which usually attended a northerly +wind on this coast, twisted the Fury's rudder so forcibly against a +mass of ice lying under her stern, that it was for some hours in great +danger of being damaged, and was, indeed, only saved by the efforts of +Captain Hoppner and his officers, who, without breaking off the men +from their other occupations, themselves worked at the ice-saw. + +'On the following day, the ice remaining as before, the work was +continued without intermission, and a great quantity of things landed. +The two carpenters, Messrs. Pulfer and Fiddis, took the Fury's boats +in hand themselves, their men being required as part of our physical +strength in clearing the ship. The armourer was also set to work on +the beach in forging bolts for the martingales of the outriggers. In +short, every living creature among us was somehow or other employed, +not even excepting our dogs, which were set to drag up the stores on +the beach, so that our little dockyard soon exhibited the most +animated scene imaginable. The quickest method of landing casks, and +other things not too weighty, was that adopted by Captain Hoppner, and +consisted of a hawser secured to the ship's mainmast head, and set up +as tight as possible to the anchor on the beach,--the casks being +hooked to a block traversing on this as a jack stay, were made to run +down with great velocity. By this means, more than two were got on +shore for every one handed by the boats; the latter, however, being +constantly employed in addition. The Fury was thus so much lightened +in the course of the day, that two pumps were now nearly sufficient to +keep her free, and this number continued requisite until she was hove +down. Her spirit room was now entirely clear, and on examination the +water was found to be rushing in through two or three holes that +happened to be in the ceiling, and which were immediately plugged up. +Indeed it was now very evident that nothing but the lightness of the +Fury's diagonal ceiling had so long kept her afloat, and that any ship +not thus fortified within could not possibly have been kept free by +the pumps. + +'At night, just as the people were going to rest, the ice began to +move to the southward, and soon after came in towards the shore, again +endangering the Fury's rudder, and pressing her over on her side to so +alarming a degree, as to warn us that it would not be safe to lighten +her much more in her present insecure situation. + +'One of our bergs also shifted its position by this pressure, so as to +weaken our confidence in the pier heads of our intended basin; and a +long 'tongue' of one of them, forcing itself under the Hecla's +fore-foot, while the drift-ice was also pressing her forcibly from +astern, she once more sewed three or four feet forward at low water, +and continued to do so, notwithstanding repeated endeavours to haul +her off, for four successive tides, the ice remaining so close, and so +much doubled under the ship, as to render it impossible to move her a +single inch. + +'Notwithstanding the state of the ice, however, we did not remain idle +on the 8th, all hands being employed in unrigging the Fury, and +landing all her spars, sails, booms, boats, and other top weight. + +'The ice still continuing very close on the 9th, all hands were +employed in attempting, by saws and axes, to clear the Hecla, which +still grounded on the tongue of ice every tide. After four hours' +labour, they succeeded in making four or five feet of room astern, +when the ship suddenly slided down off the tongue with considerable +force, and became once more afloat. We then got on shore the Hecla's +cables and hawsers for the accommodation of the Fury's men in our +tiers during the heaving down; struck our topmasts, which would be +required as shores and outriggers; and, in short, continued to occupy +every individual in some preparation or other. + +'These being entirely completed at an early hour in the afternoon, we +ventured to go on with the landing of the coals and provisions from +the Fury, preferring to run the risk which would thus be incurred, to +the loss of even a few hours in the accomplishment of our present +object. As it very opportunely happened, however, the external ice +slackened to the distance of about a hundred yards outside of us, on +the morning of the 10th, enabling us by a most tedious and laborious +operation, to clear the ice out of our basin piece by piece. The +difficulty of this apparently simple process consisted in the heavy +pressure having repeatedly doubled one mass under another, a position +in which it requires great power to move them, and also by the corners +locking in with the sides of the bergs. + +'Our next business was to tighten the cables sufficiently by means of +purchases, and to finish the floating of them in the manner and for +the purpose before described. After this had been completed, the ships +had only a few feet in length, and nothing in breadth to spare, but we +had now great hopes of going on with our work with increased +confidence and security. The Fury, which was placed inside, had +something less than eighteen feet at low water; the Hecla lay in four +fathoms, the bottom being strewed with large and small fragments of +limestone. + +'While thus employed in securing the ships, the smoothness of the +water enabled us to see, in some degree, the nature of the Fury's +damage; and it may be conceived how much pain it occasioned us, +plainly to discover that both the stern-post and fore-foot were broken +and turned up on one side with the pressure. We could also perceive, +as far as we were able to see along the main-keel, that it was much +torn, and we had therefore reason to conclude that the damage would +altogether prove very serious. We also discovered that several feet of +the Hecla's false keel were torn away abreast of the fore chains, in +consequence of her grounding forward so frequently. + +'The ships being now as well secured as our means permitted from the +immediate danger of ice, the clearing of the Fury went on with +increased confidence, though greater alacrity was impossible, for +nothing could exceed the spirit and zealous activity of every +individual, and as things had turned out, the ice had not obliged us +to wait a moment except at the actual times of its pressure. Being +favoured with fine weather, we continued our work very quickly, so +that on the 12th every cask was landed, and also the powder; and the +spare sails and clothing put on board the Hecla. + +'On the 13th, we found that a mass of heavy ice which had been aground +with the Fury, had now floated alongside of her at high water, still +further contracting her already narrow basin, and leaving the ship no +room for turning round. At the next high water, therefore, we got a +purchase on it, and hove it out of the way, so that at night it +drifted off altogether. + +'The coals and preserved meats were the principal things now remaining +on board the Fury, and these we continued landing by every method we +could devise as the most expeditious. The tide rose so considerably at +night, new moon occurring within an hour of high water, that we were +much afraid of our bergs floating; they remained firm, however, even +though the ice came in with so much force as to break one of our +hand-masts, a fir spar of twelve inches in diameter. As the high +tides, and the lightening of the Fury, now gave us sufficient depth +of water for unshipping the rudders, we did so, and laid them upon the +small berg astern of us, for fear of their being damaged by any +pressure of the ice. + +'Early on the morning of the 14th, the ice slackening a little in our +neighbourhood, we took advantage of it, though the people were much +fagged, to tighten the cables, which had stretched and yielded +considerably by the late pressure. It was well that we did so, for in +the course of this day we were several times interrupted in our work +by the ice coming with a tremendous strain on the north cables, the +wind blowing strong from the N.N.W., and the whole 'pack' outside of +us setting rapidly to the southward. Indeed, notwithstanding the +recent tightening and re-adjustment of the cables, the bight was +pressed in so much, as to force the Fury against the berg astern of +her, twice in the course of the day. Mr. Waller, who was in the hold +the second time that this occurred, reported that the coals about the +keelson were moved by it, imparting the sensation of part of the +ship's bottom falling down; and one of the men at work there was so +strongly impressed with that belief, that he thought it high time to +make a spring for the hatchway. From this circumstance, it seemed more +probable that the main keel had received some serious damage near the +middle of the ship. + +'From this trial of the efficacy of our means of security, it was +plain that the Fury could not possibly be hove down under +circumstances of such frequent and imminent risk. I therefore directed +a fourth anchor, with two additional cables, to be disposed, with the +hope of breaking some of the force of the ice, by its offering a more +oblique resistance than the other, and thus by degrees turning the +direction of the pressure from the ships. We had scarcely completed +this new defence, when the largest floe we had seen since leaving +Port Bowen came sweeping along the shore, having a motion to the +southward of not less than a mile and a half an hour, threatened to +overturn it, and would certainly have dislodged it from its situation +but from the cable recently attached to it. + +'A second similar occurrence took place with a smaller mass of ice +about midnight, and near the top of an unusually high spring tide, +which seemed ready to float away every security from us. For three +hours about the time of this high water, our situation was a most +critical one, for had the bergs, or, indeed, any one of them, been +carried away or broken, both ships must inevitably have been driven on +shore by the very next mass of ice that should come in. Happily, +however, they did not suffer any further material disturbance, and the +main body keeping at a short distance from the land until the tide had +fallen, the bergs seemed to be once more firmly resting on the ground. +The only mischief, therefore, occasioned by this disturbance was the +slackening of our cables by the alteration in the position of the +several grounded masses, and the consequent necessity of employing +more time, which nothing but absolute necessity could induce us to +bestow, in adjusting and tightening the whole of them afresh. + +'The wind veering to the W.N.W. on the morning of the 15th, and still +continuing to blow strong, the ice was forced three or four miles off +the land in the course of a few hours, leaving us a quiet day for +continuing our work, but exciting no very pleasant sensations, when we +considered what progress we might have been making had we been at +liberty to pursue our object. + +'The land was indeed so clear of ice to the southward, that Dr. Neill, +who walked a considerable distance in that direction, could see +nothing but an open channel in shore to the utmost extent of his view. +We took advantage of this open water to send the launch for the +Fury's ironwork, left at the former station; for though the few men +thus employed could very ill be spared, we were obliged to arrange +everything with reference to the ultimate saving of time; and it would +have occupied both ships' companies more than a whole day to carry the +things round by land. + +'The Fury being completely cleared at an early hour on the 16th, we +were all busily employed in 'winding' the ship, and in preparing the +outriggers, shores, purchases, and additional rigging. Though we +purposely selected the time of high water for turning the ship round, +we had scarcely a foot of space for doing it, and indeed, as it was, +her fore-foot touched the ground; and loosened the broken part of the +wood so much as to enable us to pull it up with ropes, when we found +the fragments to consist of the whole of the gripe, and most of the +'cutwater.' The strong breeze continuing, and the sea rising as the +open water increased in extent, our bergs were sadly washed and +wasted; every hour producing a sensible and serious diminution in +their bulk. As, however, the main body of ice still kept off, we were +in hopes, now that our preparations were so near completed, we should +have been enabled in a few hours to see the extent of the damage, and +repair it sufficiently to allow us to proceed. + +'In the evening we received the Fury's crew on board the Hecla, every +arrangement and regulation having been previously made for their +personal comfort, and for the preservation of cleanliness, +ventilation, and dry warmth throughout the ship. The officers of the +Fury, by their own choice, pitched a tent on shore for messing and +sleeping in, as our accommodation for two sets of officers was +necessarily confined. On the 17th, when every preparation was +completed, the cables were found again so slack, by the wasting of +the bergs, in consequence of the continued sea, and possibly also in +part by the masses being moved somewhat in shore, that we were obliged +to occupy several hours in putting them to rights, as we should soon +require all our strength at the purchases. One berg also had, at the +last low water, fallen over on its side, in consequence of its +substance being undermined by the sea, and the cable surrounding it +was thus forced so low under water as no longer to afford protection +from the ice should it again come in. In tightening the cables, we +found it to have the effect of bringing the bergs in towards the +shore, still further contracting our narrow basin; but anything was +better than suffering them to go adrift. + +'This work being finished at ten P.M., the people were allowed three +hours' rest only, it being necessary to heave the ship down at, or +near, high water, as there was not sufficient depth to allow her to +take her distance at any other time of tide. Every preparation being +made, at three A.M., on the 18th, we began to heave her down on the +larboard side; but when the purchases were nearly a-block, we found +that the strops under the Hecla's bottom, as well as some of the +Fury's shore-fasts, had stretched or yielded so much, that they could +bring the keel out of water within three or four feet. We immediately +eased her up again, and re-adjusted everything as requisite, hauling +her further in shore than before by keeping a considerable keel upon +her, so as to make less depth of water necessary; and we were then in +the act of once more heaving her down, when a snow storm came on, and +blew with such violence off the land, as to raise a considerable sea. +The ships had now so much motion as to strain the gear very much, and +even to make the lower mast of the Fury bend in spite of the shores. +We were, therefore, most unwillingly compelled to desist until the +sea should go down, keeping everything ready to recommence the instant +we could possibly do so with safety. The officers and men were now +literally so harassed and fatigued as to be scarcely capable of +further exertion without some rest; and on this and one or two other +occasions, I noticed more than a single instance of stupor amounting +to a certain degree of failure in intellect, rendering the individual +so affected quite unable at first to comprehend the meaning of an +order, though still as willing as ever to obey it. It was, therefore, +perhaps, a fortunate necessity which produced the intermission of +labour which the strength of every individual seemed to require. + +'The gale rather increasing than otherwise, during the whole day and +night of the 18th, had, on the following morning, when the wind and +sea still continued unabated, so destroyed the bergs on which our sole +dependence was placed, that they no longer remained aground at low +water; the cables had again become slack about them, and the basin we +had taken so much pains in forming had now lost all its defences, at +least during a portion of every tide. It will be plain, too, if I have +succeeded in giving a distinct description of our situation, that +independently of the security of the ships, there was now nothing left +to seaward by which the Hecla could be held out in that direction +while heaving the Fury down, so that our preparations in this way were +no longer available. + +'After a night of most anxious consideration and consultation with +Captain Hoppner, who was now my mess-mate in the Hecla, it appeared +but too plain that, should the ice again come in, neither ship could +any longer be secured from driving on shore. It was therefore +determined instantly to prepare the Hecla for sea, making her +thoroughly effective in every respect; so that we might at least push +her out into comparative safety among the ice, when it closed again, +taking every person on board her; securing the Fury in the best manner +we could, and returning to her the instant we were able to do so, to +endeavour to get her out, and to carry her to some place of security +for heaving down. If, after the Hecla was ready, time should still be +allowed us, it was proposed immediately to put into the Fury all that +was requisite, or at least as much as she could safely carry, and +towing her out into the ice, to try the effect of 'foldering' the +leaks, by sails under those parts of her keel which we knew to be +damaged, until some more effectual means could be resorted to. + +'Having communicated to the assembled officers and ships' companies my +views and intentions, and moreover given them to understand that I +hoped to see the Hecla's top-gallant yards across before we slept, we +commenced our work, and such was the hearty good-will and +indefatigable energy with which it was carried on, that by midnight +the whole was accomplished, and a bower-anchor and cable carried out +in the offing, for the double purpose of hauling out the Hecla when +requisite, and as some security to the Fury if we were obliged to +leave her. The people were once more quite exhausted by these +exertions, especially those belonging to the Fury, who had never +thoroughly recovered their first fatigues. The ice being barely in +sight, we were enabled to enjoy seven hours of undisturbed rest; but +the wind becoming light, and afterwards shifting to the N.N.E., we had +reason to expect the ice would soon close the shore, and were, +therefore, most anxious to continue our work. + +'On the 20th, therefore, the re-loading of the Fury commenced with +recruited strength and spirits, such articles being in the first place +selected for putting on board as were essentially requisite for her +re-equipment; for it was my full determination, could we succeed in +completing this, not to wait even for rigging a topmast, or getting a +lower yard up, in the event of the ice coming in, but to tow her out +among the ice, and there put everything sufficiently to rights for +carrying her to someplace of security. At the same time, the end of +the sea-cable was taken on board the Fury, by way of offering some +resistance to the ice, which was now more plainly seen, though still +about five miles distant. A few hands were also spared, consisting +chiefly of two or three convalescents and some of the officers, to +thrum a sail for putting under the Fury's keel; for we were very +anxious to relieve the men at the pumps, which constantly required the +labour of eight to twelve hands to keep her free. In the course of the +day several heavy masses of ice came drifting by with a breeze from +the north-east, which is here about two points upon the land, and made +a considerable swell. One mass came in contact with our bergs, which, +though only held by the cables, brought it up in time to prevent +mischief. By a long and hard day's labour, the people not going to +rest till two o'clock on the morning of the 21st, we got about fifty +tons weight of coals and provisions on board the Fury, which, in case +of necessity, we considered sufficient to give her stability. + +'While we were thus employed, the ice, though evidently inclined to +come in, did not approach us much; and it may be conceived with what +anxiety we longed to be allowed one more day's labour, on which the +ultimate saving of the ship might almost be considered as depending. +Having hauled the ships out a little from the shore, and prepared the +Hecla for casting by a spring at a moment's notice, all the people +except those at the pumps were sent to rest, which, however, they had +not enjoyed for two hours, when, at four A.M. on the 21st, another +heavy mass coming violently in contact with the bergs and cables, +threatened to sweep away every remaining security. Our situation, with +this additional strain,--the mass which had disturbed us fixing itself +upon the weather-cable, and an increasing wind and swell setting +considerably on the shore,--became more and more precarious; and +indeed, under circumstances as critical as can well be imagined, +nothing but the urgency and importance of the object we had in +view--that of saving the Fury, if she was to be saved--could have +prevented my making sail, and keeping the Hecla under way till matters +mended. More hawsers were run out, however, and enabled us still to +hold out: and after six hours of disturbed rest, all hands were again +set to work to get the Fury's anchors, cables, rudder, and spars on +board, these things being absolutely necessary for her equipment, +should we be able to get her out. At two P.M. the crews were called on +board to dinner, which they had not finished, when several not very +large masses of ice drove along the shore near us at a quick rate, and +two or three successively coming in violent contact either with the +Hecla or the bergs to which she was attached, convinced me that very +little additional pressure would tear everything away, and drive both +ships on shore. I saw that the moment had arrived when the Hecla could +no longer be kept in her present situation with the smallest chance of +safety, and therefore immediately got under sail, despatching Captain +Hoppner, with every individual, except a few for working the ship, to +continue getting the things on board the Fury, while the Hecla stood +off and on. It was a quarter-past three P.M. when we cast off, the +wind then blowing fresh from the north-east, or about two points on +the land, which caused some surf on the beach. Captain Hoppner had +scarcely been an hour on board the Fury, and was busily engaged in +getting the anchors and cables on board, when we observed some large +pieces of not very heavy ice closing in with the land near her; and at +twenty minutes after the Hecla had cast off, I was informed, by +signal, that the Fury was on shore. Making a tack in shore, but not +being able, even under a press of canvass, to get very near her, owing +to a strong southerly current which prevailed within a mile or two of +the land, I perceived that she had been apparently driven up the beach +by two or three of the grounded masses forcing her onwards before +them, and these, as well as the ship, seemed now so firmly aground, +as entirely to block her in on the seaward side. We also observed that +the bergs outside of her had been torn away, and set adrift by the +ice. As the navigating of the Hecla with only ten men on board +required constant attention and care, I could not at this time with +propriety leave the ship to go on board the Fury. This, however, I the +less regretted, as Captain Hoppner was thoroughly acquainted with all +my views and intentions, and I felt confident that, under his +direction, nothing would be left undone to endeavour to save the ship. +I, therefore, directed him by telegraph, 'if he thought nothing could +be done at present, to return on board with all hands until the wind +changed;' for this alone, as far as I could see the state of the Fury, +seemed to offer the smallest chance of clearing the shore, so as to +enable us to proceed with our work, or to attempt hauling the ship off +the ground. + +'About seven P.M., Captain Hoppner returned to the Hecla, accompanied +by all hands, except an officer with a party at the pumps, reporting +to me that the Fury had been forced aground by the ice pressing on the +masses lying near her, and bringing home, if not breaking, the seaward +anchor, so that the ship was soon found to have swerved from two to +three feet fore and aft. The several masses of ice had, moreover, so +disposed themselves, as almost to surround her on every side where +there was sufficient depth of water for hauling her off. With the ship +thus situated, and masses of heavy ice constantly coming in, it was +Captain Hoppner's decided opinion, as well as that of Lieutenants +Austin and Ross, that to have laid out another anchor to seaward would +have only been to expose it to the same danger as there was reason to +suppose had been incurred with the other, without the most distant +hope of doing any service, especially as the ship had been driven on +shore by a most unfortunate coincidence, just as the tide was +beginning to fall. Indeed, in the present state of the Fury, nothing +short of chopping and sawing up a part of the ice under her stern +could by any possibility have effected her release, even if she had +been already afloat. Under such circumstances, hopeless as, for the +time, every seaman will allow them to have been, Captain Hoppner +judiciously determined to return for the present, as directed by my +telegraphic communication; but being anxious to keep the ship free +from water as long as possible, he left an officer and a small party +of men to continue working at the pumps, so long as a communication +could be kept up between the Hecla and the shore. Every moment, +however, decreased the practicability of doing this; and finding, soon +after Captain Hoppner's return, that the current swept the Hecla a +long way to the southward while hoisting up the boats, and that more +ice was drifting in towards the shore, I was under the painful +necessity of recalling the party at the pumps, rather than incur the +risk, now an inevitable one, of parting company with them altogether. +Accordingly Mr. Bird, with the last of the people, came on board at +eight o'clock in the evening, having left eighteen inches water in +the well, and four pumps being requisite to keep her free. In three +hours after Mr. Bird's return, more than half a mile of closely packed +ice intervened between the Fury and the open water in which we were +beating, and before the morning this barrier had increased to four or +five miles in breadth. + +'We carried a press of canvas all night, with a fresh breeze from the +north, to enable us to keep abreast of the Fury, which, on account of +the strong southerly current, we could only do by beating at some +distance from the land. The breadth of the ice inshore continued +increasing during the day, but we could see no end to the water in +which we were beating, either to the southward or eastward. Advantage +was taken of the little leisure now allowed us to let the people mend +and wash their clothes, which they had scarcely had a moment to do for +the last three weeks. We also completed the thrumming of a second sail +for putting under the Fury's keel, whenever we should be enabled to +haul her off the shore. It fell quite calm in the evening, when the +breadth of the ice inshore had increased to six or seven miles. We did +not, during the day, perceive any current setting to the southward, +but in the course of the night we were drifted four or five leagues to +the south-westward, in which situation we had a distinct view of a +large extent of land, which had before been seen for the first time by +some of our gentlemen, who walked from where the Fury lay. This land +trends very much to the westward, a little beyond the Fury Point, the +name by which I have distinguished that headland, near which we had +attempted to heave the Fury down, and which is very near the southern +part of the coast seen in the year 1819. It then sweeps round into a +large bay, formed by a long, low beach, several miles in extent, +afterwards joining higher land, and running in a south-easterly +direction to a point which terminated our view of it in that quarter, +and which bore from us S. 58° W., distant six or seven leagues. This +headland I named Cape Garry, after my worthy friend, Nicholas Garry, +Esq., one of the most active members of the Hudson's Bay Company, and +a gentleman most warmly interested in everything connected with +northern discovery. The whole of the bays which I named after my much +esteemed friend, Francis Cresswell, Esq., as well as the land to the +southward, was free from ice for several miles; and to the southward +and eastward scarcely any was to be seen, while a dark water-sky +indicated a perfectly navigable sea in that direction; but between us +and the Fury there was a compact body of ice eight or nine miles in +breadth. Had we now been at liberty to take advantage of the +favourable prospect before us, I have little doubt we could, without +much difficulty, have made considerable progress. + +'A southerly breeze enabling us to regain our northing, we ran along +the margin of the ice, but were led so much to the eastward by it, +that we could approach the ship no nearer than before during the whole +day. She appeared to us, at this distance, to have a much greater heel +than when the people left her, which made us still more anxious to get +near her. A south-west wind gave us hopes of the ice setting off from +the land, but it produced no good effect during the whole of the 24th. +We therefore beat again to the southward, to see if we could manage to +get in with the land anywhere about the shores of the bay; but this +was now impracticable, the ice being once more closely packed there. +We could only wait, therefore, in patience for some alteration in our +favour. The latitude at noon was 72° 34' 57", making our distance from +the Fury twelve miles, which by the following morning had increased to +at least five leagues, the ice continuing to pack between us and the +shore. The wind, however, now gradually drew round to the westward, +giving us hopes of a change, and we continued to ply about the margin +of the ice in constant readiness for taking advantage of any opening +that might occur. It favoured us so much by streaming off in the +course of the day, that by seven P.M. we had nearly reached a channel +of clear water which kept open for seven or eight miles from the land. +Being impatient to obtain a sight of the Fury, and the wind becoming +light, Captain Hoppner and myself left the Hecla in two boats, and +reached the ship at half-past nine, or about three-quarters of an hour +before high water, being the most favourable time of tide for arriving +to examine her condition. + +'We found her heeling so much outward, that her main-channels were +within a foot of the water; and the large floe-piece which was still +alongside of her, seemed alone to support her below water, and to +prevent her falling over still more considerably. The ship had been +forced much farther up the beach than before, and she had now in her +bilge above nine feet of water, which reached higher than the +lower-deck beams. On looking down the stern-post, which, seen against +the light-coloured ground, and in shoal water, was now very distinctly +visible, we found that she had pushed the stones at the bottom up +before her, and that the broken keel, stern-post, and dead wood had, +by the recent pressure, been more damaged and turned up than before. +She appeared principally to hang upon the ground abreast the gangway, +where, at high water, the depth was eleven feet alongside her keel; +forward and aft, from thirteen to sixteen feet; so that at low tide, +allowing the usual fall of five or six feet, she would be lying in a +depth of from five to ten feet only. The first hour's inspection of +the Fury's condition too plainly assured me, that, exposed as she was, +and forcibly pressed up upon an open and stony beach; her holds full +of water, and the damage of her hull, to all appearance and in all +probability, more considerable than before, without any adequate means +of hauling her off to the seaward, or securing her from the incursions +of the ice, every endeavour of ours to get her off, or _if_ got off, +to float her to any known place of safety, would at once be utterly +hopeless in itself, and productive of extreme risk of our remaining +ship. + +'Being anxious, however, in a case of so much importance, to avail +myself of the judgment and experience of others, I directed Captain +Hoppner, in conjunction with Lieutenants Austin and Sherer, and Mr. +Pulfer, carpenter, being the officers who accompanied me to the Fury, +to hold a survey upon her, and to report their opinions to me. And to +prevent the possibility of the officers receiving any bias from my own +opinion, the order was given to them the moment we arrived on board +the Fury. + +'Captain Hoppner and the other officers, after spending several hours +in attentively examining every part of the ship, both within and +without, and maturely weighing all the circumstances of her situation, +gave it as their opinion that it would be quite impracticable to make +her sea-worthy, even if she could be hauled off, which would first +require the water to be got out of the ship, and the holds to be once +more entirely cleared. Mr. Pulfer, the carpenter of the Fury, +considered that it would occupy five days to clear the ship of water; +that if she were got off, all the pumps would not be sufficient to +keep her free, in consequence of the additional damage she seemed to +have sustained: and that, if even hove down, twenty days' work, with +the means we possessed, would be required for making her sea-worthy. +Captain Hoppner and the other officers were therefore of opinion, that +an absolute necessity existed for abandoning the Fury. My own opinion +being thus confirmed as to the utter hopelessness of saving her, and +feeling more strongly than ever the responsibility which attached to +me of preserving the Hecla unhurt, it was with extreme pain and regret +that I made the signal for the Fury's officers and men to be sent for +their clothes, most of which had been put on shore with the stores. + +'The Hecla's bower-anchor, which had been placed on the beach, was +sent on board as soon as the people came on shore; but her remaining +cable was too much entangled with the grounded ice to be disengaged +without great loss of time. Having allowed the officers and men an +hour for packing up their clothes, and what else belonging to them the +water in the ship had not covered, the Fury's boats were hauled up on +the beach, and at two A.M. I left her, and was followed by Captain +Hoppner, Lieutenant Austin, and the last of the people in half an hour +after. + +'The whole of the Fury's stores were, of necessity, left either on +board her or on shore; every spare corner that we could find in the +Hecla being now absolutely required for the accommodation of our +double complement of officers and men, whose cleanliness and health +could only be maintained by keeping the decks as clear and well +ventilated as our limited space would permit. The spot where the Fury +was left is in latitude 72° 42' 30"; the longitude by chronometers is +91° 50' 05"; the dip of the magnetic needle, 88° 19' 22"; and the +variation 129° 25' westerly.' + +There now remains little more to be told--the accident that befel the +Fury, the lateness of the season, and the crowded state of the Hecla, +deprived Sir Edward Parry of all hopes of being able that season of +accomplishing the object for which the expedition had been despatched. + +Under all these untoward circumstances, he determined to return to +England, and on the 2nd of September the crew of the Fury were taken +on board the Hecla, the boats hoisted up, the anchor stowed, and the +ship's head put to the north-eastward. + +After a prosperous voyage, the whole of the Hecla and Fury's crews, +with but two exceptions, returned in safety to their native country, +arriving at Sheerness on the 20th of October, in as good health as +when they quitted England eighteen months before. + +Lieutenant, now Captain Austin has, since these pages were written, +been appointed to the command of an expedition in search of Sir John +Franklin and his brave companions. + +Captain Sir Edward Parry at present holds the appointment of +Superintendent of the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, and Haslar +Hospital, Portsmouth. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] The loss of the Fury is taken from Sir Edward Parry's _Voyage to +the North Pole_, published by Mr. Murray, who has kindly allowed it to +be inserted in this work. + + + + +THE MAGPIE. + + +It is a common and no less apposite remark that truth is stranger than +fiction, and the longer we live, the more are we convinced of the +force of the above axiom. + +The story which we are about to relate is one of the most remarkable +incidents in a sailor's life, and, as a tale of horror, cannot be +exceeded even in the pages of romance. + +In the year 1826, the Magpie, a small schooner under the command of +Lieutenant Edward Smith, had been despatched in search of a piratical +vessel, which had committed serious depredations on the western shores +of the Island of Cuba. + +In the prosecution of this object, she was cruizing on the 27th of +August, off the Colorados Roads, at the western extremity of the +Island. The day had been extremely sultry, and towards the evening the +schooner lay becalmed, awaiting the springing up of the land breeze, a +blessing which only those can appreciate who have enjoyed its +refreshing coolness after passing many hours beneath the burning rays +of a tropical sun. + +About eight o'clock a slight breeze sprung up from the westward, and +the vessel was standing under reefed mainsail, whole foresail, and +topsail, and jib. Towards nine, the wind shifted to the southward, and +a small dark cloud was observed hovering over the land. This ominous +appearance, as is well known, is often the precursor of a coming +squall, and seems as if sent as a warning by Providence. + +The lurid vapour did not escape the practised eye of the mate of the +watch, who immediately reported the circumstance to Mr. Smith. All +hands were turned up, and in a few minutes the schooner was placed in +readiness to encounter the threatened danger. + +In the meantime, the cloud had gradually increased in size and +density. The slight breeze had died away, and a boding stillness +reigned around. Suddenly a rushing, roaring sound was heard, the +surface of the water, which a moment before was almost without a +ripple, was now covered with one white sheet of foam, the schooner was +taken aback; in vain her commander gave the order to cut away the +masts--it was too late, and in less than three minutes from the first +burst of the squall, the devoted vessel sunk to rise no more. + +At this fearful juncture, a vivid flash of lightning darted from the +heavens, displaying for a moment, the pale faces of the crew +struggling in the water; the wind ceased as suddenly as it had begun, +and the ocean, as if unconscious of the fearful tragedy that had so +lately been enacted upon its surface, subsided into its former repose. + +At the moment of the vessel going down, a gunner's mate, of the name +of Meldrum, struck out and succeeded in reaching a pair of oars that +were floating in the water,--to these he clung, and having divested +himself of a part of his clothing, he awaited in dreadful anxiety the +fate of his companions. + +Not a sound met his ear, in vain his anxious gaze endeavoured to +pierce the gloom, but the darkness was too intense. Minutes appeared +like hours, and still the awful silence remained unbroken; he felt, +and the thought was agony, that out of the twenty-four human beings +who had so lately trod the deck of the schooner, he alone was left. +This terrible suspense became almost beyond the power of endurance, +and he already began to envy the fate of his companions, when he heard +a voice at no great distance inquiring if there was any one near. He +answered in the affirmative, and pushing out in the direction from +whence the sound proceeded, he reached a boat, to which seven persons +were clinging; amongst whom was Lieutenant Smith, the commander of the +sloop. + +So far this was a subject of congratulation; he was no longer alone; +but yet the chances of his ultimate preservation were as distant as +ever. + +The boat, which had been placed on the booms of the schooner, had +fortunately escaped clear of the sinking vessel, and if the men had +waited patiently, was large enough to have saved them all; but the +suddenness of the calamity had deprived them of both thought and +prudence. Several men had attempted to climb in on one side,--the +consequence was, the boat heeled over, became half filled with water, +and then turned keel uppermost; and when Meldrum reached her, he +found some stretched across the keel and others hanging on by the +sides. + +Matters could not last long in this way, and Mr. Smith, seeing the +impossibility of any of the party being saved, if they continued in +their present position, endeavoured to bring them to reason, by +pointing out the absurdity of their conduct. To the honour of the men, +they listened with the same respect to their commander, as if they had +been on board the schooner; those on the keel immediately relinquished +their hold, and succeeded, with the assistance of their comrades, in +righting the boat. Two of their number got into her and commenced +baling with their hats, whilst the others remained in the water, +supporting themselves by the gunwales. + +Order being restored, their spirits began to revive, and they +entertained hopes of escaping from their present peril; but this was +of short duration, and the sufferings which they had as yet endured, +were nothing in comparison with what they had now to undergo. + +The two men had scarcely commenced baling, when the cry was heard +of--'A shark! a shark!' No words can describe the consternation which +ensued: it is well known the horror sailors have of these voracious +animals, who seem apprised by instinct when their prey is at hand. All +order was at an end, the boat again capsized, and the men were left +struggling in the waters. The general safety was neglected, and it was +every man for himself; no sooner had one got hold of the boat, than he +was pushed away by another, and in this fruitless contest more than +one life was nearly sacrificed. + +Even in this terrible hour, their commander remained cool and +collected; his voice was still raised in words of encouragement, and +as the dreaded enemy did not make its appearance, he again succeeded +in persuading them to renew their efforts to clear the boat. The night +had passed away--it was about ten o'clock on the morning of the 28th; +the baling had progressed without interruption; a little more +exertion, and the boat would have been cleared, when again was heard +the cry of--'The sharks! the sharks!' But this was no false alarm; the +boat a second time capsized, and the unhappy men were literally cast +amongst a shoal of these terrible monsters. + +The men, for a few minutes, remained uninjured, but not untouched; for +the sharks actually rubbed against their victims, and, to use the +exact words of one of the survivors, 'frequently passed over the boat +and between us, whilst resting on the gunwale,' This, however, did not +last long; a shriek soon told the fate of one of the men; a shark had +seized him by the leg, dying the water with his blood; another shriek +followed, and another man disappeared. + +But these facts are almost too horrible to dwell upon; human nature +revolts from so terrible a picture; we will therefore hurry over this +part of our tale. + +Smith had witnessed the sufferings of his followers with the deepest +distress; and although aware that in all probability he must soon +share the same fate, he never for a moment appeared to think of +himself. There were but six men left, and these he endeavoured to +sustain by his example, cheering them on to further exertions. They +had once more recommenced their labours to clear out the boat, when +one of his legs was seized by a shark. Even whilst suffering the most +horrible torture, he restrained the expression of his feelings, for +fear of increasing the alarm of the men. But the powers of his +endurance were doomed to be tried to the utmost; another limb was +scrunched from his body, and uttering a deep groan, he was about to +let go his hold, when he was seized by two of his men, and placed in +the stern sheets. + +Yet when his whole frame was convulsed with agony, the energies of his +mind remained as strong as ever, his own pain was disregarded, he +thought only of the preservation of his crew. Calling to his side a +lad of the name of Wilson, who appeared to be the strongest of the +remaining few, he exhorted him, in the event of his surviving, to +inform the admiral that he was going to Cape Ontario in search of the +pirate when the unfortunate accident occurred; 'Tell him,' he +continued, 'that my men have done their duty, and that no blame is +attached to them. I have but one favour to ask, and that is, that he +will promote Meldrum to be a gunner.' + +He then shook each man by the hand, and bade them farewell. By degrees +his strength began to fail, and at last became so exhausted, that he +was unable to speak. He remained in this state until the sunset, when +another panic seized the men, from a reappearance of the sharks. The +boat gave a lurch, and the gallant commander found an end to his +sufferings in a watery grave. + +Thus perished an officer, who, if it had pleased Providence to +preserve, would, in all probability, have been one of the brightest +ornaments of the service. His character combined the three great +qualities which are essential for an officer and a seaman--courage, +coolness, and decision: opportunity only was wanting to display these +parts. If he had succeeded in capturing the pirate, promotion would +without doubt have followed, and a bright and honourable career have +been open to him. But the ways of Providence are inscrutable; it was +ordained that he should undergo sufferings from which the bravest +would have shrunk with horror. Had he fallen in battle, his name would +have been recorded in history. We hope that our feeble efforts to +rescue the memory of this brave seaman from sinking into oblivion will +not have been in vain, and that his name may find an honourable place +with others who have died in the performance of their duty. + +The death of their commander was sensibly felt by all, for they had +long known his kindness and courage, and when his body sank below the +waves, their hopes sank also. Mr. Maclean, a mate, and now the +commanding officer, took upon himself to direct the efforts of his +comrades, and did all that lay in his power to revive their spirits; +he assured them that if they once succeeded in righting the boat, that +there was every chance of falling in with some vessel. But twenty +hours of constant fatigue, hunger, and thirst had made fearful ravages +upon the strength of the men. Night was again approaching, and Maclean +could not conceal from himself, that when darkness came on, the +chances of their being seen by any vessel passing near were further +removed than ever. The sharks had for a time taken their departure, +but they might return at any moment; for having once tasted blood, +they were not likely to be debarred from making another attack. Two +more of the men, either worn out from fatigue, or anxious to escape +from further suffering, threw themselves from their support, and were +drowned. + +The burning sun again set beneath the horizon, but as yet no sail had +been seen upon the waters. Again the land-breeze passed over the +ocean, but it brought no refreshing coolness; it only reminded them of +the weary hours that had elapsed since it was so anxiously expected, +though its results were then far different from what they had hoped. + +There were but four men left--Maclean, Meldrum, (the gunner's mate,) +Wilson, and another man. These had, by their united efforts, almost +managed to clear the boat of water, when, about three o'clock in the +morning, the two latter became delirious, sprung overboard, and were +either seized by the sharks or drowned. It will be remembered, that it +was Wilson who was selected by poor Smith to convey his last message +to the admiral. + +The two survivors for a time forgot their own sufferings in the +horrible scene which they had just witnessed; but this did not last +long; their thoughts soon returned to the necessity of preserving +their own lives. They once more resumed their labours, and, though +nearly exhausted, did not desist until the boat was almost dry. They +then lay down to rest, in comparative security, and, let us hope, with +their hearts filled with gratitude for the mercies which had already +been vouchsafed to them, and remembering those words of our beautiful +Liturgy: 'That it may please Thee to succour, help, and comfort all +that are in danger, necessity, or tribulation.' + +It is said that sometimes the criminal, the night before his +execution, forgets the fate that awaits him in a deep and refreshing +slumber. These two men, in spite of the horrors they had undergone, +fell into a sound sleep, from which they did not awake until the sun +was high in the heavens; when the horrors of their situation broke +upon them, rendered doubly painful by the temporary oblivion of the +last few hours. + +The sun darted its scorching rays upon the two solitary beings, who +had planted themselves, one in the bows, and the other in the stern of +the boat, with neither oars, mast, sail, nor provisions of any kind. +In vain they strained their gaze in every direction; nothing was to be +seen but a boundless expanse of waters. Their eyes met, but it needed +no words to tell the hopeless despair which was gnawing at their +hearts. No longer was the loss of their companions regarded with +horror; they envied the fate which had spared them the torture which +they themselves were doomed to suffer:-- + + Famine, despair, cold, thirst, and heat had done + Their work on them by turns. BYRON. + +Death at that moment would have been welcome. + +Hour after hour passed away, but still the boat remained motionless on +the waters. Neither spoke; their hearts were too full for utterance: +in rapid succession, every thought and action of their lives passed +across their minds; home, kindred, friends, all would be remembered, +only again to be banished by the pangs of hunger and thirst. + +Towards eight o'clock in the morning, the energies of Maclean and his +companion had almost sunk under the accumulated load of suffering; it +was more in despair than with any expectation of success, that they +once again cast their eyes around. But this time it was not in vain; a +white speck was seen in the distance: both exclaimed, 'A sail! a +sail!' and the extravagance of joy was now equal to their former +despair. Still the vessel was several miles distant, and unless those +on board kept a vigilant look-out, it was more than probable that they +would escape observation. + +Of all the ills to which the human frame is liable, the agony of +suspense is the most intolerable. Hope and fear rose alternately in +their breasts; at one moment, the ship appeared to be nearing, at +another, she seemed further off than ever. The vessel sped slowly on +its course, but to their excited minds the time seemed interminable. +First the white canvas was seen, then the dark hull became visible; +but as yet no signs gave token that those on board were aware of their +proximity. + +The brig, for such she now appeared, could not have been above half a +mile distant, when she suddenly altered her course. In vain they both +hailed at once, and waved their jackets as a signal, but no notice was +taken; then, indeed, every hope was dispelled, and the bitterness of +despair returned with redoubled force. + +At this juncture, Meldrum resolved, at all hazards, to attempt to swim +to the vessel. If he remained in the boat, certain death would be the +fate of himself and his companion: on the other hand, he might perish +in the sea, but if he reached the brig, both would be saved. Without a +moment's hesitation, he communicated his design to Maclean, and then, +committing himself to the pretection of the Almighty, sprang +overboard. + +The idea of solitude is so repugnant to human nature, that even death +would be preferable. It can be therefore easily imagined that it was +with feelings almost amounting to agony that Maclean saw himself +separated from his last friend. His first impulse was to follow his +companion, but better judgment prevailed, and he determined to await +the result. Never for a single instant did his eyes turn from the bold +swimmer: they followed his every stroke. At one time, he thought he +had sunk; at another, the ripple of a wave appeared to his distorted +imagination like the fin of a shark. Anxiety for the fate of his +companion kept his mind on the stretch until distance rendered the +object no longer visible. 'Then, indeed, did he feel that he was +alone.' + +Meldrum was naturally a good swimmer, and every nerve was strained in +this last struggle for life; buoyed up by hope, he had accomplished +about two-thirds of his weary task when his strength began to fail, +his dying eyes turned towards the brig, and with one last effort he +raised his voice. He was heard: a boat was lowered from the brig, and +he was taken on board. The perilous situation of his comrade was made +known; and thus by his gallant exertions were preserved the lives of +the two survivors, of the ill-fated Magpie. + +This tale might almost be discredited, but the facts from which it was +taken bear the signature of the officers composing the court-martial +who sat upon the two remaining men. Mr. Maclean is at the present +moment alive, and is now serving as a lieutenant in the coast-guard. +Meldrum was promoted for his gallantry to the rank of gunner, and died +two years ago. + + + + +THE THETIS. + + +His Majesty's ship, Thetis, Captain Samuel Burgess, sailed from Rio +Janeiro on the evening of the 4th of December, 1830, having a large +amount of treasure on board. The weather was so thick, that as they +worked out of the harbour, the islands at its entrance were not +visible; but as the evening was tolerably fine, with the exception of +the fog, Captain Burgess determined to persevere in his course. The +following morning the fog dispersed, but it was soon succeeded by such +heavy rain, that the obscurity was nearly as great as before. The ship +continued her course with the wind upon the starboard tack, until +half-past one in the afternoon, when, from the reckoning, they +supposed Cape Frio to be about thirty-eight miles distant, lying north +36° east. From the hour of their departure from Rio Janeiro, till the +time of which we speak, neither sun, moon, nor stars had been visible. +On account of the cross sea, which appeared to impede the progress of +the vessel, and the lightness of the wind, her course was kept east by +north until two o'clock, when it was changed to E.N.E. At four +o'clock P.M. it was calculated that they had run about nineteen miles, +and that they must be nearly abreast of Cape Frio, and about +twenty-four miles distant from it. The weather clearing up at that +time, they discovered a large ship, with all sail set, standing in +shore, and no land being visible, they concluded that they were still +further from land than they had reckoned, and therefore they changed +their course again to N.E. by E. At five o'clock the people were +mustered at quarters, and then a looming of land was seen to the +N.N.W., which, according to their calculation, was the direction Cape +Frio would bear; and there being no land near it that could have the +same appearance, the reckoning was considered correct, and a prudent +proportion of sail was made, regard being had to the state of the +weather, and the course they were steering. Between six and seven +o'clock P.M. the rain again began to fall; the fog returned, and +became gradually so thick, that it was impossible to see the length of +the ship. + +At eight P.M. the watch was mustered, and the men placed at their +stations to keep a vigilant look-out, while the officer of the watch +went forward himself to see that the sails were well trimmed, and that +every one was on the alert. At half-past eight, when the captain had +retired to his cabin, and was waiting for the usual evening report +from the master, a midshipman entered with the startling intelligence +that land had been seen close ahead, the ship at the time going at +the rate of eight or nine miles an hour. + +Captain Burgess was on deck in a moment; he ordered the helm to be put +'hard a-port,' and was told it had been done. The next instant the +jib-booms and bowsprit were heard to crash; the captain hastened to +the gangway, and was just in time to see the foremast go. Scarcely had +he called to the men to stand clear, when all the three masts fell +aft, one after the other, covering the deck with masts, yards, sails, +and rigging, and in their fall killing some and dreadfully mangling +others. Within a few feet of the ship rose a stupendous black rock, +against which the surf was raging violently. The rock was so +perpendicular, that both the fore and main yardarms were (before they +fell) scraping against the granite cliff. The hull, however, did not +appear to come in contact with the rock; but, as if answering the +helm, her head turned off shore, and as she swung round, the larboard +quarter boat was completely smashed between the ship's side and the +rock. Nothing could exceed the alarm that prevailed on board for a few +minutes after the sudden crash. The decks were covered with spars and +rigging, lying pell-mell upon the bodies of those who had been injured +by their fall. The man at the helm had been killed at his post, and +the wheel itself was shivered to atoms; whilst the darkness of the +night, and the roar of the breakers against the cliff, added to the +horrors of a catastrophe of which the suddenness alone was sufficient +to paralyse the energies of the men. + +Captain Burgess saw that everything depended upon promptitude and +decision: he quickly rallied his people, and order was soon restored: +he then gave directions that the well should be sounded, and that the +men should stand by the small bower anchor. + +A sentinel was placed to guard the spirit-room, and two small sails +were run up the fore and main-masts, the stumps of which were from +twelve to fifteen feet above the deck, and the helm was put to +starboard. The winches were next manned, and guns, rockets, and blue +lights let off in rapid succession. + +The well was reported dry; orders were given for the small bower +anchor to be let go, but it was found covered with the wreck of the +bowsprit, and it was necessary to cut away the best bower in order to +keep the ship off shore; and for the same purpose every spar that +could be obtained was made use of to bear her off the rocky cliffs, +but in vain, for from the depth of the water, the anchor did not reach +the bottom, and the stern tailed upon a shelving rock in spite of all +their efforts. The men were next ordered to clear away the boats and +get them ready--but they were found totally destroyed. Those on the +quarters had been smashed by the rocks, and those on the booms and +stern by the falling of the masts. During the whole of this anxious +period, the conduct of the men was most exemplary. Aware that all +depended upon individual exertion, each one appeared to emulate the +example set by his officers, and worked with hearty good will; not a +single instance of anything like bad conduct occurred. + +Their condition was most disheartening; the boats were no longer +available; the water was gaining on the vessel; and the rockets and +blue lights, as they darted into the air, served but to show them the +rugged face of the high rocks, which appeared to afford no footing by +which the summit could be gained, even if they should be so fortunate +as to reach them at all. + +Whilst all on board were weighing these chances of destruction or of +safety, the vessel's head had gone round off, and a few succeeding +heavy surfs threw her again with her starboard quarter upon the rock, +and whilst she was in this position, there appeared a possibility of +getting some of the people on shore. Captain Burgess, therefore, +ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to do everything in his power to +facilitate such a proceeding, and shortly afterwards that officer, Mr. +Mends, midshipman, and about seventy others, effected a landing by +jumping either from the broken end of the mainyard, which was lying +across the ship, or from the hammock netting abaft the mizenmast; +several others who attempted to land in the same way were less +fortunate; some were crushed to death, and some drawn back by the +recoil of the surf and drowned. + +From the time the ship first struck, the current had been carrying her +along the cliffs at the rate of at least a quarter of a mile an hour; +it now carried her off the rock, and she drifted along shore, a +helpless wreck, at the mercy of the winds and waves. The captain saw +that nothing more could be done for the vessel, and therefore he +directed all his energies to the preservation of the crew. The marine +who had been appointed to guard the spirit-room still remained at his +post, and never left it till commanded to do so by his superior +officer, even after the water had burst open the hatch. We mention +this as an instance of the effect of good discipline in times of the +greatest peril. + +The vessel, or rather the wreck, was now carried towards a small cove, +into which she happily drifted; she struck heavily against the rocks, +then gave some tremendous yauls, and gradually sunk until nothing was +left above water but the bows, the broken bowsprit, and the wreck of +the masts as they laid on the booms. + +All on board deemed that the crisis of their fate had arrived,--and +they prepared for the final struggle between life and death. There +were some moments of awful suspense, for every lurch the ill-fated +vessel gave, was expected to be the last; but when she seemed to sink +no deeper, there came the hope that her keel had touched the bottom, +and that they should not all he engulfed in a watery grave. + +Before she sunk, the frigate's bows had gone so close into the rocks +as to enable some sixty or seventy people to jump on shore; and a +hawser was got out and fixed to a rock, by which several others were +saved; but by a tremendous surge, the piece of rock to which the +hawser was fastened was broken away, and for a time all communication +with the land was suspended. They tried every means that could be +devised to convey a rope from the ship to the land, but for a long +time without success, until Mr. Geach, the boatswain, swung himself on +the stump of the bowsprit, and by making fast two belaying pins to the +end of a line, he succeeded in throwing it on shore. To this a +stronger cable was bent, and it was dragged through the surf by the +people on the rocks, who then kept it taut. + +Although a few words only are required to describe the mode by which a +communication was established between the ship and the shore, yet it +had been a work of toil, time, and danger. The boatswain had more than +once nearly lost his life by being washed away by the waves as they +swept over the wreck; the captain, who directed his proceedings, was +standing up to his middle in water, upon one foot only, frequently +losing his hold, and with great difficulty regaining his position. + +The boatswain, when the preparations were completed, suggested that, +in order to test the strength of the cable, a boy should be the first +to make a trial of it; accordingly, a young lad was firmly secured to +a sort of cradle or bowling knot, and drawn on shore in safety. The +success of the attempt was announced by a loud cheer from the strand, +and the captain then took upon himself to direct the landing of the +rest of the crew by the same means. He stationed himself on the knight +head, so as to prevent a general rush being made; he then called each +man separately, and one by one they slung themselves upon the rope and +were swung on shore. Nothing could exceed the good conduct displayed +by the whole of the ship's company, every order was promptly obeyed, +and the utmost patience and firmness exhibited by every individual. + +When the greater part of the people had quitted the wreck, there +still remained several who could not be induced even by the earnest +and repeated entreaties of their commander to leave their _dry_ +position on the yards. The strength of the captain and boatswain was +almost exhausted, and as they could not persuade any more of the men +to avail themselves of the proffered means of safety, they were +obliged, though very reluctantly, to leave them on the wreck, and they +themselves joined the crew on the rocks. + +In the course of an hour or two, however, the party who had stayed by +the wreck, took courage and ventured upon the rope; but as the stump +of the bowsprit, which was over the larboard cathead, rendered it +extremely hazardous to come forward, they did not all get on shore +till daylight. In the morning, Captain Burgess's first care was to +muster his men, and a melancholy spectacle presented itself. Sixteen +were missing, and of those who were gathered around him, many had been +dreadfully bruised and lacerated in their efforts to reach the shore. +Amongst those who perished was a fine spirited lad, the son of Captain +Bingham, late commander of the Thetis. But a few months before, +Captain Bingham himself had been drowned in the Guayaquil: thus father +and son lay far from their native land, beneath the western flood. + + The warlike of the isles, + The men of field and wave, + Are not the rocks their funeral piles, + The seas and shores their grave? + Go, stranger! track the deep-- + Free, free, the white sail spread; + Wind may not rove, nor billows sweep, + Where rest not England's dead. + +The crew of the Thetis had now time to look around them, and to +consider what was next to be done. The prospect was a sad one. Before +them, and almost hidden by the white foam, lay the once noble frigate, +now a complete wreck; the cove into which she had drifted was bound by +lofty and precipitous crags, arising abruptly from the sea, and +varying in height from 80 to 194 feet. The men and officers were +perched in groups on points of the rocks; few of them had clothing +enough to cover them, and scarcely any had shoes. There seemed to be +no means of ascending the precipice; but to do so must be their first +object; and anxiously they sought for some part which might offer a +surer footing, and a less perilous and perpendicular ascent. At last +they succeeded in casting a rope round one of the projecting crags, +and by help of this some of the strongest of the party climbed the +giddy height, and then assisted in hauling up their weaker comrades. + +To give some idea of the difficulties which they had to surmount, and +their almost miraculous escape, we subjoin the following description +of the place from the pen of Captain Dickenson:-- + +'The coast is formed of rugged and almost perpendicular rocks, varying +from 80 to 194 feet in height, a peak rising at each point, and +another in nearly the centre of the north-eastern side. + +'On viewing this terrific place, with the knowledge that at the time +of the shipwreck the wind was from the southward, I was struck with +astonishment, and it appeared quite a mystery that so great a number +of lives could have been saved; and indeed it will never cease to be +so, for that part on which the crew landed is so difficult of access, +that (even in fine weather) after being placed by a boat on a rock at +the base, it required considerable strength and agility, with the +assistance of a man-rope, to climb the precipitous face of the cliff, +and I am certain that in the hour of extreme peril, when excess of +exertion was called forth, there must have been a most extraordinary +display of it by a few for the benefit of the whole.' + +When the party were all safely landed on the top of the rocks, they +perceived that they were on an island without inhabitants, and +affording no shelter, except a few huts, that had been erected for the +convenience of the natives curing fish. Fortunately these huts +contained a considerable quantity of salt fish and farina. This was +placed in charge of the purser, and immediately distributed amongst +the ship's company, who stood in great need of refreshment. As soon as +the men were sufficiently recovered from their fatigues, they were +despatched in parties in all directions, to discover means of +communicating with the mainland, from which the island was a few miles +distant. Most of them soon returned with the tidings that no means of +transport could be procured. This was a very disheartening +announcement; but its effects were quickly dispelled by the appearance +of a canoe coming into the little cove where the huts were situated. + +The seamen made signals to the men in the canoe, inviting them to +approach, which they did; and when they came up, they communicated the +welcome intelligence, that round a point to the left, on the mainland, +there was a village which afforded all kinds of accommodation. + +Captain Burgess then ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to go in a canoe, +with two or three of his men, to this village, and there to make +arrangements for proceeding to the commander-in-chief at Rio Janeiro, +and to send off as many canoes as he could procure to convey the +ship's company to the mainland. + +In a short time several canoes arrived at the island, and Mr. Drake, +the purser of the Thetis, was amongst the first sent off to the +village, with directions to despatch a sufficient quantity of +provisions for the people on the rock; but after making two or three +trips between the parties, Mr. Wilson, the master's assistant, +returned in one of the canoes to say, that the natives refused to come +again without being paid. In this dilemma, Captain Burgess went across +himself, and by dint of persuasion and promises of payment, he at last +induced some of the natives to go to the assistance of his people; and +in the course of a few hours as many were conveyed to the village as +was deemed prudent. It was necessary to leave some men to look after +the wreck; and to this duty Lieutenant Otway, Mr. Mends, midshipman, +the gunner, carpenter, four marines, and thirty-three seamen, were +appointed: they therefore remained on the island; and before night +Captain Burgess had the satisfaction of seeing all the rest of his +crew, if not very comfortably lodged, at least safe and under shelter. +In the evening, Lieutenant Hamilton set out overland to Rio Janeiro to +apprise the commander-in-chief of the loss of the Thetis, and the +distressing situation of her men. + +The following morning the people had great difficulty in hiring +canoes, and only one could be obtained, in which Lieutenant West and +the boatswain went off to the wreck, where they were for several days +actively employed. None of the men were allowed to be idle, for they +had full occupation in carrying wood and water, which were only to be +found at a great distance. + +The behaviour of the local authorities was disgraceful in the extreme; +although fully aware of the destitute condition of the Englishmen who +had been cast upon their shores, they denied them the most trifling +assistance, and turned a deaf ear to every entreaty and remonstrance. + +Money! money! was the constant cry. In vain Captain Burgess assured +them that the little he had saved was almost expended; but that as +soon as assistance should arrive from his countrymen, every article +should be paid for. All his arguments and promises were thrown away +upon the natives, whose rapacity knew no bounds; they would give +nothing without payment, and their charges were exorbitant. + +Captain Burgess was so exasperated at one of these natives, who had +agreed to let the crew have a small bullock, but, upon finding there +was no money to pay for it, had driven it away, that he thought it +almost justifiable to desire his men to help themselves. There was, +however, one bright exception to this universal hard-heartedness. A +sergeant, named Antonio das Santos, who commanded a small fort of +three guns, seeing the unwillingness of the natives to render any aid +to the strangers, came forward and asked if anything was wanted that +he could supply. Captain Burgess replied, that both his officers and +men stood in great need of food, and that a loan of money for present +use would be very acceptable. The sergeant immediately placed in the +captain's hands forty milreas in copper, and most generously put at +his disposal everything he possessed. The example of this +noble-hearted fellow had no effect on the conduct of the rest; their +great object seemed to be to make as much gain as possible by the +misfortunes of their fellow-creatures, and they went so far as to +plunder the wreck, breaking open the chests, and taking possession of +their contents whenever an opportunity occurred. + +In order to attract the notice of vessels passing near, two +flag-staffs had been erected upon the heights, with the ensign +downwards; but day after day passed on, and no friendly sail appeared. +The cupidity of the natives was insatiable, and provisions became more +and more scarce. It was not until the 15th of December, ten days +after the loss of the Thetis, that a vessel was seen in the offing. +She proved to be the Algerine, which arrived most opportunely, when +they were almost reduced to extremity, and brought them the articles +of which they were in greatest need. + +The next day, just after the Algerine had entered the harbour of Cape +Frio, Admiral Baker arrived with a necessary supply of money. He had +attempted the sea-passage from Rio Janeiro, for three days, in his +barge, but had been obliged to put back on account of the current, and +had then performed the journey of seventy miles overland in +forty-eight hours. From the admiral, Captain Burgess had the +satisfaction of hearing that the Druid, Clio, Adelaide, and a French +brig of war might be hourly expected. + +These all arrived in due course, and took on board the officers and +men of the late Thetis, who were safely landed at Rio Janeiro on the +24th of December. + +In conclusion, we cannot refrain from noticing the firmness and +presence of mind evinced by Captain Burgess under the most appalling +circumstances. After having adopted every available means for saving +the ship without effect, he superintended for many hours the +disembarkation of the crew, and during all that tedious process he was +standing in a heavy surf up to the middle in water; nor could he be +persuaded to quit the wreck until not one more of his officers or men +would consent to go before him. Respecting the conduct of the officers +and men, we cannot do better than lay before our readers Captain +Burgess's own estimate of its merits. + +'I owe,' he says, 'to the whole of my officers and men (and which most +sincerely and unreservedly I render,) the meed of praise due to the +conduct of every one, without exception. It was their prompt obedience +to all my orders, and the firmness, fortitude, and alacrity which +they perseveringly as well as patiently displayed amidst their great +perils, sufferings, and privations, through the whole of this trying +scene, that contributed, under Providence, to the saving of so many of +their lives. + +'Their subsequent orderly and excellent conduct on shore as much +bespeaks my approbation; and, in truth, the general character of their +conduct throughout has induced an esteem in me which it is impossible +can ever cease but with my life.'[18] + +Captain Samuel Burgess entered the navy in 1790, and served on board +the Impregnable at the victory of the 1st of June, 1794. He was almost +constantly employed from that time until the year 1804, when he was +appointed a lieutenant on board the Prince, of 98 guns, in which ship +he was present at the battle of Trafalgar. + +He next served on board the Dreadnought, 98, and subsequently was +appointed to the command of the Pincher, a 12-gun brig, employed in +the North Sea and Baltic. Whilst in command of this vessel, Lieutenant +Burgess distinguished himself on many occasions, particularly in +assisting Lord George Stuart in reducing the batteries of Cuxhaven and +Bremerleke. His next appointment was to the Vixen gun-brig; and +although he might well have expected promotion for his services, he +remained lieutenant until the year 1816, when he was appointed to the +Queen Charlotte, in which ship he served as flag-lieutenant to Lord +Exmouth at the bombardment of Algiers. Upon the arrival of the +dispatches in England, Lieutenant Burgess was promoted to the rank of +commander. He received his post rank on the 27th November, 1830, when +he took the command of the Thetis. A more lengthened statement of the +services of this officer will be found in O'Byrne's _Naval Biography_, +to which work we are indebted for the above sketch. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[18] The greater part of the treasure lost with the Thetis (806,000 +dollars) has subsequently been recovered. An interesting description +of the means used for raising it will be found in a volume published +by Captain Dickenson. + + + + +THE FIREFLY. + + +The Firefly, a small schooner, with a crew of about fifty men, was +proceeding on her voyage from Belize to Jamaica, on the 27th of +February, 1835. The wind had been moderate during the day, and as they +were steering a course laid down in the chart, no danger was +anticipated. + +Between nine and ten o'clock at night, the greater part of the crew, +with the exception of those whose duty it was to be upon deck, had +retired below, when the seaman in charge of the watch reported to the +commander, Lieutenant Julius McDonnell, that it was very dark ahead. +He instantly went upon deck, when the sound of surf breaking upon +rocks was distinctly heard. The helm was put down, under the hopes of +staying the vessel, but as the wind was light, and a heavy swell +setting in at the time, she did not come round, but getting stern-way, +struck with a shock which made every timber vibrate, and appeared to +threaten instant destruction to the vessel. All were in a moment upon +deck; the sweeps were got out on the larboard side, the best bower +anchor let go, and the boats hoisted out, and ordered to sound, whilst +the cutter was sent to carry out the stream anchor. The cable was then +held taut, but snapped almost immediately: the best bower came home, +and the small bower was let go. In the meantime, the wind had shifted +to the northward, and was blowing in heavy squalls, and their small +bower anchor, which was their sole dependence, came home. + +Everything that could be done was put into practice to save the +vessel, but all in vain; and when daylight broke, her commander saw +that there was nothing now left him but to take measures for +preserving the lives of the crew. + +For this purpose, all the officers and men were set to work to +construct rafts, as the boats were not sufficient to contain the whole +of the crew. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, one raft +was completed, and the cutter and gig prepared to receive the men. The +vessel was all this time rapidly breaking up; the bolts of her keelson +and the stempost had started; the deck was broken in, and there was +but little hope of her holding together many hours. + +One officer, Mr. Nopps, the master's assistant, had been placed in the +cutter, to prevent the men from taking away anything save the clothes +they had on. Eighteen were already in the boat, including Captain West +(an engineer officer) and his son, and fifteen were mustered in the +raft, which was lashed to the larboard of the wreck, when from some +accident the raft got adrift, and was carried away by the current. +This proved most unfortunate, as the raft was their great resource; +and all on board of her would inevitably have perished, had not the +cutter pushed out to their assistance. A rope was fastened to the +raft, and they attempted to tow her back to the schooner; but as the +cutter had only four oars, and the wind set so strong to the +southward, they were unable to reach the schooner. + +Those who remained upon the wreck had only the gig left; and as this +could contain but a few, Lieutenant McDonnell thought it advisable to +direct an officer to take on board the sick, and proceed for +assistance to Belize, and if he fell in with the cutter to send her +back to the schooner. The gig accordingly shoved off, but again +returned, in consequence of an accident having happened to the mast; +this being remedied, she again pulled away from the wreck and having +fallen in with the cutter, communicated the orders of Mr. McDonnell +for her return. This, as has before been shown, was impossible, and +the gig having taken on board Captain West and his son, parted from +the cutter, with the intention of proceeding to Belize. + +When Lieutenant McDonnell saw that the cutter did not return, he +directed and assisted the men who remained upon the wreck to construct +a second raft. This, after considerable labour, was completed by the +following morning: it was then launched overboard, and made fast to +the rocks within the reef. As the wreck still held together, Mr. +McDonnell considered it prudent to remain by her as long as possible, +in the hope that some assistance might arrive from Belize: but in this +he was disappointed. In the meantime, another and stronger raft had +been formed from the after part of the quarter-deck, which had been +broken up by the sea; this also was launched, and brought forward +under the bows. The men almost hoped against hope, but yet no +assistance arrived. Fortunately, the weather was partially moderate, +but still the sufferings, from exposure to the weather, and the +deprivation of proper food, were severely felt; and Lieutenant +McDonnell determined, under all these circumstances, to wait no +longer, and on the 4th of March everything was in readiness to quit +the wreck. A small barrel of bread was placed on the raft, but this +was immediately washed off into the sea. A beaker one-third full of +rum was then fastened more securely, and this was the only thing that +they could take with them. + +All having embarked, they started with the intention of steering +towards a cay which was in sight, but the current proved too strong, +and the raft was swept into deep water. The sail was then set, and +they steered in the direction of what was supposed to be a wreck, or +vessel, in the same situation as themselves; but on nearing, it proved +to be a sand-bore, on which people were distinctly seen walking to and +fro. They immediately conjectured that these must be the crew of one +of the boats, a supposition which afterwards proved to be correct. +Every effort was made to gain the bank, but the current was too +strong, and they found it impossible to reach any part of the reef. + +Lieutenant McDonnell, who had been suffering some days from ill +health, was now so exhausted that he was obliged to be supported upon +the raft. He was, therefore, unable to give any commands; and, after a +short consultation, it was considered best to stand out to sea, in the +hopes of falling in with some vessel. The night had set in, and they +steered a course westward. On the following morning a white bottom was +seen, but immediately afterwards the raft was again in deep water. All +this time they had nothing to eat; their sole subsistence being a +small quantity of rum, which was served out at stated intervals. + +The following morning, about eight o'clock, land was observed right +ahead, and they endeavoured to steer in that direction; but their +progress, from the heavy construction of the raft, was necessarily +very slow, and it was not until sunset that they found themselves +about nine or ten miles from the shore. All the next night they stood +in the same direction; and about four or five o'clock in the morning, +as near as they could guess, they were cast by the surf upon the +beach. Utterly prostrate with the fatigues they had undergone, they +threw themselves upon the sand, and soon found in sleep a brief +forgetfulness of their past cares and troubles. They did not awake for +many horn's, when, upon looking around, they discovered that the +commander was absent. This, however, gave them no uneasiness, as it +was supposed that he had gone in search of assistance. The first +object was to proceed in quest of water, of which they stood in most +need. They had gone for more than a mile without finding anything to +moisten their lips, or any signs of habitation, when one of the men +discovered a cocoa-nut tree: here was both food and drink, and with +avidity they seized upon the fruit, and found relief from their most +urgent wants. + +Amongst the party who were cast on shore were Mr. Malcolm, a master's +assistant, and Mr. Price, a merchant; these, with the rest of the men, +proceeding a little further into the woods, became so fatigued that +they were obliged to return to the place where they were first cast, +whilst their companions prosecuted the search for Lieutenant +McDonnell, whose continued absence had given the greatest alarm. + +About one o'clock, some of the men returned, but brought no tidings of +the commander; they said that the rest of the men had determined to +walk round the cay, as they conjectured the place on which they were +cast was Ambegris Cay, and more especially as Mr. Price, who had been +long a resident at Honduras, had assured them that to the south-east +there was a plantation belonging to one of his friends. + +About two hours afterwards the men returned, but neither their +endeavours to find a habitation nor any traces of Lieutenant McDonnell +had been successful. They said that it had been their intention to +walk round the cay, but from the appearance of the coast, they did not +think it was possible to do so that day. It was then proposed that +they should rest where they were during night, and renew their search +at an early hour next morning. + +Whilst they were sitting on the beach, one of the men thought he saw +Mr. McDonnell running in the surf, about half a mile distant. Ritchie, +the gunner's mate, immediately proceeded in the direction where he was +supposed to be, and found that unfortunate officer in a state of +delirium. He endeavoured to persuade him to come down to where the +rest of the men were assembled, but a few incoherent words were his +only reply. Ritchie was, therefore, obliged to return to his comrades +for assistance; and having communicated the sad condition of their +officer, they all proceeded together to the spot where he was last +seen, but found no traces of the commander. Search was made in every +direction, but in vain; and as night was approaching, they were +reluctantly obliged to return to the place which they had fixed upon +as their rendezvous. In their way thither they gathered some more +cocoa-nuts, and having satisfied their hunger and thirst, lay down to +rest, under the canopy of heaven, and with no softer bed than what the +sandy beach afforded. + +The next morning the men again declared their intention of walking in +search of the plantation mentioned by Mr. Price. Mr. Malcolm, who had +become the senior officer in the absence of Mr. McDonnell, advised +them to remain where they were, and to build a hut, and dig a well for +water; he assured them that, as long as there was a plentiful supply +of cocoa-nuts, they could not starve, and that the chances were, +assistance would arrive. All was, however, to no purpose; they would +not listen to any argument, and even disregarded his authority. It was +as much as he could do to insist upon their first going in search of +their commander. + +After a long time employed for this purpose, they discovered Mr. +McDonnell asleep beneath a parmetta tree. Upon hearing footsteps +approaching, he awoke, but in such a feeble state that he was unable +to rise without assistance, and from the wildness of his manner, there +was too much reason to fear that his reason had fled. They gave him +some cocoa-nut milk, which he eagerly drank, and this appeared to give +him some relief. With difficulty they made him comprehend that they +intended to proceed to the plantation for assistance, but he refused +to join them, alleging that a boat was coming for him. In a short time +he appeared a little more collected, and agreed to join the +expedition. There still remained a small supply of rum, and a portion +of this being poured into some empty cocoa-nuts, it was distributed +equally amongst the men, and they all commenced their journey, the men +about 200 yards ahead, and Mr. McDonnell, supported by Malcolm and Mr. +Price, brought up the rear. + +After proceeding in this way about two miles, Mr. McDonnell's strength +utterly failed, and he sank down upon the ground, declaring that he +could go no further; every entreaty was urged to persuade him to make +another effort, but both the powers of the mind and body had deserted +the unfortunate officer, and Malcolm and his companion were at a loss +to know what course to pursue. After a brief consultation they +determined to leave Mr. McDonnell, and as soon as they reached the +plantation, which Mr. Price declared could not be far distant, return +with assistance. + +They then once more resumed their journey, the men proceeding ahead +as before; in the middle of the day they stopped to rest, and again +resumed their march until about an hour before sunset, when they +arrived at two cocoa-nut trees; and as these formed not only a place +of shelter, but also a means of procuring food, they determined to +remain there for the night. The men who had climbed up the trees, and +were gathering fruit, descried a pond, or creek, in the wood, about +half a mile distant. Mr. Price then observed, if that was the case, +they were on the mainland, and not on Ambegris Cay. + +They were now in a great dilemma, for they were uncertain which way to +proceed, and Mr. Malcolm endeavoured to persuade the men to return to +the beach, assuring them that it was quite useless their proceeding +any further, for they did not know where they were going; but they +turned a deaf ear to every argument, declaring that they would walk as +long as they were able. Mr. Price, the merchant, agreed with the rest +of the men, and urged them to continue their journey, in the hopes +that they might be seen by some coasting boats going to Belize. This +was Saturday night; and after toiling all day, they had only walked +ten miles from where they had left Mr. McDonnell. The next morning Mr. +Malcolm again entreated the men to remain, but it was of no avail, and +they recommenced their march. + +The men continued to walk together until Tuesday evening, subsisting +upon cocoa-nuts, which they gathered on their way, when Malcolm was +obliged to be left behind, as he was unable to walk any further. The +next morning he was found by some natives, and taken to Ambegris Cay, +where the men had arrived the previous evening. + +We must now return to the fate of the cutter, which it will be +remembered left the wreck on the morning of the 28th of February, +taking the raft in tow. They endeavoured to return to the schooner, +but the current proving too strong, they were obliged to abandon the +attempt, and ran before the wind until they made a sand-bore, on the +south end of the reef, about an hour afterwards. + +They then cut the raft adrift, and landed the men that were in the +cutter, sending the boat back with two men to carry the rest off the +raft, as it was impossible to bring the raft to the sand-bore. It was +about seven o'clock in the evening when they were all safely landed, +the cutter being at this time in such a condition, that she could not +have floated, even in smooth water, without baling. + +They then dragged the boat up the beach, where they remained until +daylight next morning, the 1st of March. Mr. Nopps, master's-assistant, +who was the commanding officer of the party, determined to leave the +majority of the men on the sand-bore, and proceed to the wreck; he +accordingly started with five men in the cutter, in hopes of reaching +the schooner, but as it blew strongly from the northward, and the boat +had no jib or mizen, and the mainmast and sprit sprung, they found it +impossible to beat to windward. In this condition, as there was no +appearance of the wind abating, and nothing to eat except some salt +pork, and only two beakers of water, one of which had been drunk during +the night, Mr. Nopps considered it his duty to take the boat with these +five men, and run for the first place they could fetch, hoping to reach +Belize, which was nearly before the wind. + +For two days they scudded before the wind, without being able to set +any sail, and had passed at least forty miles to the southward of +Belize, before the wind abated; during this time they suffered +severely from want of water, the last beaker having been finished, +and the salt pork increasing their thirst. It was not until twelve +o'clock on Tuesday, the 3rd of March, that they arrived in Belize +roads, and were taken on board the Fly. + +Here they received every attention that was necessary, and Mr. Rogers, +the master of the Fly, accompanied by Mr. Nopps, was despatched in the +Governor's schooner to the assistance of the men who were left on the +sand-bore, and of the others who were still supposed to be upon the +wreck. + +On the following Friday, the 6th of March, they reached the sand-bore, +and having taken off the men, proceeded to the wreck, where they found +only two men, from whom they learnt that Lieutenant McDonnell, and the +rest of the people, had quitted the wreck two days previously. Pilot +boats were then sent in search, and another party explored the coast; +and after visiting Long Bay, without hearing any tidings, returned to +Belize. + +In the course of two days, a boat arrived with the eight men who had +been with McDonnell, who reported that they had left that officer, +almost dead, in the wood. + +Mr. Nopps again departed in a pilot-boat in search of his commander, +but when he reached Ambegris Cay, the boat was unable to beat up +outside the breakers, and it came on to blow so violently during the +night, that they were prevented from landing; the following day they +were more successful, and Mr. Nopps walked up the coast. For two days +his search proved useless, but on the third he had the pleasure of +finding Mr. McDonnell still alive, in a hut, under the care of some +Indians. After the lapse of two days, he was so far recovered as to be +taken on board the pilot-boat, and arrived next morning at Belize Bay. + +It would have been happy if all connected with the Firefly had been +equally fortunate. The gig, which had been sent from the wreck to +Belize for assistance, was found several days afterwards cast upon the +beach, broken in two, and all in her must have perished. + +Lieutenant McDonnell was promoted to the rank of commander in 1846, +and at present is unemployed. + + + + +THE AVENGER. + + +The Avenger, a steam frigate, with an armament of 6 heavy guns and 280 +men, sailed from Gibraltar on the afternoon of the 17th of December, +1847. As her commander, Captain Charles G.E. Napier, was anxious to +spare the coal, the steam was reduced to the least possible degree, +leaving sufficient to work the wheels up to the rate of sailing. On +Monday, the 20th, the steamer was running with square yards, at the +rate of eight or nine knots an hour, steering about east by south, +under double-reefed topsails and reefed foresail. At eight o'clock in +the evening the usual watch was placed, with directions to keep a +careful look-out. The night was dark and squally, with a high sea +running, and occasionally loud peals of thunder were heard, +accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning. + +Most of the officers were collected in the gun-room, with the +exception of the captain, who had retired to his sleeping cabin. He +had directed his steward to request the attendance of the master, and +of Mr. Betts, the second master, who soon joined him in the cabin, +where they remained for a few minutes examining the charts. The +captain's steward relates, that the above officers went upon deck, +when Captain Napier desired him to take away the light, and to leave a +small lamp burning in the fore-cabin, which was always kept alight at +sea during the night. He accordingly did so, and returned to his +berth. In about half-an-hour afterwards he heard some one come down +from the quarter-deck, and go into the captain's cabin. In about five +minutes the captain went upon deck, where he remained for a short +time, and again returned to his cabin, but had scarcely closed the +door, before he was summoned upon deck by the officer of the watch. + +The officers in the gun-room were upon the point of retiring to their +berths, when they were startled by a sudden jerk, which they at first +supposed to be a gun broken adrift, but the next moment the ship gave +a heavy lurch, as if filling, and her whole frame appeared shaken, and +every beam loosened. It would be in vain to attempt to describe the +dismay of the crew of the ill-fated Avenger, when thus roused from a +sense of comparative security, to find themselves in an instant upon +the verge of destruction. Already the deck was crowded with people, +most of them only partially clothed, and the rest almost naked. On the +bridge between the paddle-boxes stood the captain and master; Mr. +Ayling, the master's assistant, the quarter-master, and two seamen +were at the wheel. In another minute the ship gave a heavy lurch to +starboard, and the sea poured over the forecastle. The captain then +gave the order, 'Out boats--lower away the boats.' These were his last +words, for he was immediately afterwards washed overboard and drowned. + +Lieutenant Rooke, who never appears to have lost his presence of mind, +immediately went forward to assist in lowering the boats, but under +the firm impression that the ship was fast sinking, and with little +hope that there was time enough to get out the boats, or even if +lowered, that they could live in such a heavy sea. He saw, however, if +anything was to be done, it must be done immediately; he therefore +went amongst the men endeavouring to persuade them to lower the +starboard cutter; Mr. Betts, the second master, at the same time +attempted to lower the port one. Every entreaty and persuasion that +Lieutenant Rooke could use was, however, of no avail; the men seemed +paralysed with the sudden panic and the apparent helplessness of their +situation. Instead of affording assistance, they clustered together, +exclaiming, 'Oh, my God, Sir, we are lost--we are lost!' Mr. Rooke, +finding that all his arguments were of no avail, crossed the deck to +the port side for the purpose of helping Mr. Betts in lowering the +port cutter. In his way he met Larcom, the gunner, who had just come +from below, with his clothes under his arm, having been in bed when +the ship struck. Hastily acquainting him with his intention, they made +the best of their way to the cutter, where they were joined by Dr. +Steel, the surgeon, Mr. Ayling, master's-assistant, John Owen, a +stoker, James Morley, a boy, and W. Hills, captain's steward. At this +moment, Lieutenant Marryat made his appearance, his manner calm and +self-possessed; he was in the act of addressing himself to one of the +party, when the ship gave a heavy lurch to starboard, and the gallant +young officer lost his footing, and was washed overboard. + +Whilst they were in the act of lowering the cutter, an accident +occurred, which was nearly proving fatal to all their hopes of +preservation. + +In lowering the boat, the foremost fall got jammed, and the after one +going freely, the boat had her stern in the water, and her bows in the +air; at this moment, Dr. Steel threw in his cloak, which fortunately +got into the sleave-hole of the after fall, and stopped it. + +Just as the boat touched the water, and before the tackles were +unhooked, the ship struck again heavily, and began swinging broadside +to the sea, falling over to starboard at the same time, which, from +the cutter being the port one, made her crash with great violence +against the ship's side; however, by dint of great exertion, the boat +was got free from the tackles, and pulled clear of the ship. + +The Avenger now lay broadside to the sea, with her head towards +Africa, falling at the same time to windward, with her deck exposed; +the foremast, mainmast, and mizen topmast falling over the starboard +side, and the funnel on the gangway, no doubt killing many of the crew +as it fell. As the boat left the ship's side, some one attempted to +burn a blue-light, but it went out immediately. The sea was now +occasionally seen to break over the forecastle and quarter, and Mr. +Rooke, in the hope of saving some of the crew, gave orders to lie on +their oars, and keep the boat's bow to the ship, to be ready to pick +up any of the survivors in the event of the ship's falling to pieces. +Lieutenant Rooke and his little party[19] remained by the ship for +about an hour and a half, the moon at intervals shining out brightly +from behind the heavy clouds, and discovering the Island of Galita, +apparently at about ten or twelve miles distant. The weather now +became more tempestuous; the rain poured in torrents; and all being +almost exhausted with pulling against a strong current, and being +gradually drawn away from the ship, Lieutenant Rooke considered it +most advisable to run under the lee of Galita, and there, if possible, +remain on their oars until there was daylight sufficient to land, and +seek assistance for the ship, in the event of the island being +inhabited. + +All being of the same opinion, the boat's head was turned towards +Galita, and they took a last look of the Avenger, which appeared to be +firmly fixed, and likely to hold together for some time. + +The weather grew worse and worse; the boat, under a close-reefed mizen +on the bumpkin stepped as a foremast, was steered with an oar by the +second master. When they had arrived within about two miles of the +island, the wind shifted to a very severe squall, accompanied with +lightning, thunder, and a heavy hail-storm. Mr. Larcom, the gunner, +now took the place of the second master in steering the boat, which +was scarcely got round, before the wind caught her with such violence, +that it seemed impossible the boat could live. + +The squall continued without intermission for two hours and a half, +when the moon again emerged from the clouds, and the Island of Galita +was discovered on the port quarter. Some in the boat exclaimed, 'That +is the island!' which, at the time, they supposed to be long out of +sight, as the boat appeared to be going rapidly through the water; +this naturally led to a conjecture that a strong current set to the +northward and eastward. The wind still continued to veer about, and at +one time they thought that they must have passed the ship, but the +night was too dark to enable them to discern anything clearly many +yards beyond the boat. + +In this manner they passed the long hours of night, exposed to cold, +hunger, and exhaustion; and, as Lieutenant Rooke afterwards observed, +with the full expectation that they would be unable to survive until +morning. The second master appeared to have lost all reason. Upon +being questioned as to whereabouts they were, or in what direction it +was necessary to steer, he seemed to be scarcely aware that he was +addressed. The doctor, the master's assistant, and the boy Morley, +were lying at the bottom of the boat during the whole night, and the +stoker, John Owen, was wrapped in his jacket, and appeared, if +possible, in a worse condition than the second master. When asked to +do anything, he only replied by vacant answers, and before morning +became an idiot. At last the wished-for day broke, and the coast of +Africa was discerned about eight or nine miles distant. As Lieutenant +Rooke considered that the boat could not be kept above water much +longer, he determined upon attempting a landing, and accordingly he +himself steered her towards a small spot of sand, apparently clear of +the rocks, and slightly sheltered by a reef running out into the sea. + +This officer, from the time the boat quitted the Avenger, had, +notwithstanding his own personal sufferings, set a noble example to +his comrades, by exerting every effort to sustain their drooping +spirits. As he approached the shore, he exclaimed in a cheerful voice, +'This is something like Don Juan's shipwreck; I only hope we shall +find a Haidee.' It must not be supposed that this was said out of +bravado, or because he was not perfectly aware of the danger, but from +the necessity of his duty, as their commanding officer, to infuse a +new spirit into his exhausted crew, and to encourage them in the +approaching struggle, which he well knew would he 'life or death.' On +hearing the above words, poor Steel, the doctor, exclaimed, 'Rooke! +Rooke! there are other things to think of now.' The words were +prophetic, for before many minutes had elapsed, he had ceased to +exist. As they approached the shore, the sail was shifted from the +port side to the starboard, and the sheet which had been held by +Hills, the captain's steward, for ten hours, was fastened to the +thwarts. + +Mr. Rooke now again resigned his place as steerer to Larcom, the +gunner, and assisted the others in baling out the boat, which had +shipped a heavy sea on the quarter. The boat was steered within about +one hundred and fifty yards of the beach, when the rollers caught her, +first lifting her upright, and, as there was not water enough to float +her whole length, she filled and capsized. Larcom, Lieutenant Rooke, +Hills, the captain's steward, and the boy Morley, succeeded in gaining +the beach, but the rest of their unfortunate comrades perished. + +We should here mention that this was the second occasion on which the +boy Morley narrowly escaped a watery grave. + +When the Avenger was at Lisbon, the boy fell overboard, and would have +perished, had it not been for Lieutenant Marryat, who, at the risk of +his own life, sprung into the sea, and rescued the boy. + +In a few minutes a Bedouin Arab, who had been watching the boat from +some high ground, came toward them and conducted them to his hut, +where he supplied them with some milk; and having lighted a fire, they +were enabled to dry their clothes. + +They remained with their hospitable entertainer during that day, and +in the evening made a supper of maize-cake and sour milk. In the +meantime, Mr. Rooke had made the Arab understand their situation, and +their wish to get to Tunis; and after some trouble and promise of +reward, he agreed to conduct them next morning to Biserta. The wearied +men then threw themselves on the ground, where they passed the night +in company with dogs, cows, and goats, exposed to a violent wind and +pouring rain. + +Their subsequent proceedings are thus related by Lieutenant Rooke:-- + +'Wednesday, December 22nd.--At about 9 A.M. we started. Our road lay +at first over a ridge of high hills, from which we saw nothing of the +ship. We then crossed a sandy plain covered with the cactus, which +severely wounded my feet. Afterwards passed through some wooded +ravines, and over an extensive marsh intersected with brooks. Towards +the evening a horseman overtook us, who seeing the tired condition of +the steward, his feet bleeding, and also suffering from a gash on his +head, received whilst landing, carried him for about four miles, and +when his road lay in a different direction, gave our guide his gun, +and a piece of silver for us. + +'The night being now dark, and all of us exhausted, we stopped at a +Bedouin encampment, and asked for shelter, which after some time was +granted. We had been walking about ten hours, and got over more than +thirty miles of broken ground, having stopped once for a few minutes +to pick the berries off some arbutus trees, being our only food since +breakfast till late that night. We were wet, coverless, and all except +myself shoeless. + +'They gave us some maize-cake and milk. Seeing horses, I made them +understand that they would be well paid if they let us have them to +take us on to Biserta that night, when they made signs that the gates +were locked, but that we should have them in the morning. + +'Thursday, December 23rd.--At daylight we set out, but none of us +could walk from swollen feet. After a ride of about fifteen miles, +sometimes fording streams, and at others nearly up to our horses' +knees in mud, we arrived about ten A.M., at Biserta, and went to the +house of our consular agent, an Italian, whom I immediately asked to +prepare a boat for Tunis. + +'The boats here were all too small to send to the wreck, and for which +the wind was foul, with a fresh breeze. About 1 P.M. I started for +Tunis, and arrived about 11 P.M. at the Goletta, where I landed, and +sent to our Vice-Consul, who after some difficulty, owing to the port +regulations, came to see me, and tried to pass me through the gates, +but did not succeed. He promised to get two vessels ready, as +unfortunately there were no steamers here at the time of our arrival. +In one I meant to have sent Mr. Larcom to Galita, and the other I +intended to take to the wreck. + +'Friday, December 24th.--At daylight, when the gates opened, I entered +a carriage, and drove up to our consul-general, who ordered his agent +to forward my views in every way, sending his son to hurry matters, +whilst he communicated with the Bey, who ordered his squadron to sea. + +'Whilst my boat was preparing (a Maltese speronara, with a crew of +twelve men, selected for their knowledge of the coast,) I wrote two +letters, one to Malta, and the other to Lisbon, stating the loss of +the ship. Not having slept for four nights, and being thoroughly +tired, would account for the vague statement I sent. I then +breakfasted, and started about two P.M., having put on board such +provisions as my hurried departure admitted of--tea, coffee, biscuits, +and spirits, in case I should be fortunate enough to save anybody. + +'Saturday, December 25th, on my passage, and at daylight on Sunday I +was close to the spot where the Avenger was wrecked, although there +was no broken or discoloured water to mark it. I cruised about till +satisfied she had either broken up or sunk. Whilst here I saw two +steamers (Lavoisier and Pasha) come up and cruise about Galita +together: a merchant ship, and a gun-boat of the Bey's, with which I +communicated, asking them to take me to Galita, which I wished to +examine personally, as also to speak the steamers, my own crew, with +whom I had great trouble, refusing to do so. They declined, when I +asked them to take half my crew out, and lend me two men, to which +request I also received a negative; so I returned to Tunis, arriving +at about 1 A.M. on the morning of Tuesday, December 28th. Sir Thomas +Reade took all to his house, and made it a home for us. I went on +board the French steamer Lavoisier, to thank the captain for his +assistance, and also waited on the governor for the same purpose.' + +During the summer of the present year, the French government directed +Captain Bouchet Rivière to make a survey of the Sorelle. In +conclusion, therefore, we will give the following extract from that +officer's letter, as it throws some light upon the circumstances which +led to the loss of the Avenger:-- + +'The English frigate, Avenger, was lost on the two Sorelle; I saw +between the two heads of rocks, which are aptly named 'Sisters,' her +entire engine, two anchors, a shell gun, and some loose parts of the +wreck. I recovered and took on board some pieces of iron from the bed +of the engine, and a boarding cutlass. The engine lies in a medium +depth of ten metres (thirty-three feet). + +'From information which has been given me by boats which saw the +Avenger at sea the day of her loss, and adding the observations which +I was enabled to make on the spot itself, I have every reason to +believe that the event happened in the following manner:-- + +'The Avenger had, during the day, run along the coast of Algeria, but +on the approach of night, being then north of Calle, and the weather +having suddenly become very bad, with a great deal of wind from the +north-west, the captain of the Avenger altered her course immediately +to the northward, in order not to be caught in the middle of a +dangerous channel. As soon as he thought that the ship had passed the +parallel of the Sorelle, he resumed his course to the eastward, +satisfied that he would pass several miles to the northward of them. +He had not calculated on the currents which I have found at this +dangerous spot, and which, with a north-west wind, set to the +south-eastward with a rapidity of about 3 miles an hour. The track of +the Avenger must have been materially altered by this cause. When she +steered east, she was only in the latitude of the Sorelle, and was +shortly afterwards, on a very dark night, shattered against these +rocks. The first shock must have been dreadful. It took place on the +point south-east of the north-west rock; when she cleared this rock, +which is at this spot thirteen feet below the surface, leaving a large +white furrow, she ran a hundred and sixty feet further, and struck on +the south-east rock, which is only about four feet (one metre twenty +centimetres) below the surface. She again marked the rock very +distinctly. The sea, which is often very rough on this spot, has left +nothing remaining but the massive part of the engine, where it can be +perceived between the two rocks, covered with thick weed. + +'The dangerous Sorelle are formed by two tables of rocks, distant +about a hundred and sixty feet from each other, and separated by a +channel of a medium depth of thirty-nine to forty-nine feet (twelve to +fifteen metres). These two tables of rocks extend from the north-west +to the south-east. The north-west one has a diameter of 66 English +feet (twenty metres), its highest point is to the eastward, 16 feet +under water (five metres). The southeastern has a diameter of 197 feet +(sixty metres), and its highest point is only at a depth of 4 feet. +This last point is situated, according to my observations, which agree +with the position laid down in the chart of Admiral Berard, in 37° 24' +of north latitude, and 6° 16' 25" of east longitude from Paris, (or 8° +36' 45" east of Greenwich); 17'.4 miles S. 65° 15' W. of the east +point of the Island of Galita, and 27'.3 miles N. 0° 30' E. of Cape +Roux.' + +The fate of the Avenger leads to many sad reflections. The last of the +wrecks described in this volume, one of yesterday, as it were, was +more disastrous than many others. It is painful to contemplate the +scene of dismay, when the ship struck, so unlike the presence of mind +and calm deportment which we have recorded on similar occasions. But +every allowance is to be made for the panic which followed a +catastrophe so sudden and so overwhelming. The night was dark and +tempestuous, the sea was running high, and all the elements were in a +state of uproar. The paralyzing effect of this accumulation of horrors +appears in the fact, that even after the small party of eight had so +far secured their preservation as to be in possession of the cutter, +and were within sight of the Island of Galita, two of them were found +to be bereft of their reason. + +The first crash, and the rapid plunge of the ship into the gulf that +opened for her, and the loss of their captain among the first that +perished, left the crew without that guidance and control to which +seamen are in the habit of looking for support. + +But though we have to regret the consternation that prevailed, there +was no gross neglect or misconduct to throw a darker shade over the +last hours of the Avenger. Captain Napier had been in consultation in +his cabin with the master and second-master, examining the charts, and +had also been on deck, giving directions to the officer of the watch, +but a short time before the first alarm. When the panic was at its +height, there was no act of dastardly selfishness for personal +preservation, to the disregard of the safety of others. The officers +are not accused of losing their composure. Lieut. Marryat is stated to +have been 'calm and self-possessed;' and Mr. Rooke's strenuous efforts +to lower the cutter, and his manly resolution to remain by the ship, +as long as there was any chance of saving the lives of some of the +survivors, attest his devotion to his duty to the very last. + +The French officer, Captain Bouchier Rivière, who made a survey of the +Sorelle after the wreck, and who deliberately considered all the +circumstances, imputes no blame to the officers of the Avenger, but +generously accounts for the misfortune by referring to the dangers of +the spot, the force of the currents, the wildness of the weather, and +the darkness of the night. 'The first shock,' says he, 'must have been +dreadful.' + +It would have been humiliating and afflicting, had this record of the +Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, in which there is so much to admire, +been closed with the details of a calamity in any way disgraceful to +the service. Truth has required that the words '_dismay_' and +'_panic_' should be used in the foregoing relation; but the terrible +suddenness of the event, the instantaneous shock which broke up the +Avenger in a moment, without the preparatory warning of 'breakers +ahead,' or the previous notice of rocks or shoals in sight, will more +than account for the helplessness to which the crew were reduced. +They had not time to brace up their shattered nerves. The noble +bearing of the two lieutenants, Rooke and Marryat, cool as they were, +and in full command of their energies in the midst of crashing timbers +and perishing men, places the character of the British seaman in its +title light, and winds up our narrative with two more examples of +naval heroism. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[19] The party in the boat consisted of Lieutenant Rooke; Mr. Betts, +second master; Mr. Ayling, master's assistant; Mr. Larcom, gunner; Dr. +Steel, the surgeon; Wm. Hills, captain's steward: John Owen, stoker; +and the boy Morley. + + + + +LIST OF THE SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY, +BETWEEN 1793 AND 1850. + + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+---------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+---------------- +Advice, | June 1, 1793| 4 |Edward Tyrell | 30| None |Bokell Key, + Cutter | | | | | |Honduras. +Amphitrite | Jan. 20, 1794| 24 |Anthony Hunt |160| None |On a sunken + | | | | | |rock in the + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Ardent | April, 1794| 64 |Robert M. |500| All |Blown up or + | | | Sutton | | |burnt off + | | | | | |Corsica. +Amethyst | Dec. 29, 1795| 44 |Thomas |300| None |Striking on + | | | Affleck | | |rocks off + | | | | | |Guernsey. +Arab, Sloop | June 10, 1796| 14 |Stephen | 96|Capt. |Rocks off the + | | | Seymour | | |Glenan Isles, + | | | | | |near Brest. +Active |Sept. 15, 1796| 32 |Ed. Leveson |215| None |Running on shore + | | | Gower | | |at Anticosti + | | | | | |River St. + | | | | | |Lawrence. +Amphion |Sept. 22, 1796| 32 |Isaac Pellew |215|Grter.|Burnt by + | | | | |pt. of|accident, and + | | | | |crew |blown up in + | | | | | |Hamoaze Harbour. +Albion |April 27, 1797| 64 |Henry Savage |491| None |Striking on + | | | | | |Middle Sand in + | | | | | |the Swin. +Artois | July 31, 1797| 32 |Sir Edmund |284| None |Running on + | | | Nagle | | |Ballien Rocks. +Amazon | Jan. 14, 1797| 32 |Robert C. |264| None |Engaged with the + | | | Reynolds | | |Droits des + | | | | | |Hommes, and ran + | | | | | |on shore in + | | | | | |Audernie Bay, + | | | | | |coast of France. +Aigle | July 18, 1797| 36 |Charles Tyler |274| None |Off Farina, + | | | | | |coast of Spain. +Apollo | Jan. 7, 1797| 38 |Peter Halkett |284| None |Running on Haak + | | | | | |Sand, coast of + | | | | | |Holland. +Amaranthe, | Oct. 25, 1799| 14 |George Hans | 86| 22 |Coast of + Sloop | | | Blake | | |Florida. +Augustus, | July 7, 1801| |James Scott | | None |In the Sound, + G. Boat | | | | | |on the Hoe. +Assistance | Mar. 29, 1802| 50 |Richard Lee |345| None |Between + | | | | | |Dunkerque and + | | | | | |Gravelines. +Avenger, | Dec. 5, 1803| 14 |F. Jackson | 80| None |Running on sand + Sloop | | | Snell | | |bank at the + | | | | | |mouth of the + | | | | | |River Jade, + | | | | | |Heligoland. +Apollo |April 2, 1804| 36 |J.W. Taylor |264| 62 |Running on shore + | | | Dixon | | |in Mondego Bay, + | | | | | |Portugal. +Athenienne | Oct. 20, 1806| 64 |Robert |491| 350 |On the + | | | Raynsford | | |Esquerques, off + | | | | | |Sicily. +Adder, | Dec. 9, 1806| 12 |Molyneux | | None |Driven on shore + Gun Brig | | | Shuldham | | |on coast of + | | | | | |France. +Ajax | Feb. 14, 1807| 74 |Hon. Hy. |600| 250 |Burnt by + | | | Blackwood | | |accident in the + | | | | | |Dardanelles. +Atalanta, | Feb. 12, 1807| 14 |John Bowker |110| None |On La Grande + Sloop | | | | | |Blanche, Island + | | | | | |of Rhe, France. +Anson | Dec. 29, 1807| 44 |Charles |330| 60 |On sand-bank + | | | Lydiard | | |off Helstone, + | | | | | |Falmouth. +Astræa | Mar. 23, 1808| 32 |Edmund |215| 4 |On a reef, + | | | Heywood | | |Island of + | | | | | |Anegada, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Alemene | Apr. 20, 1809| 32 |W. Henry |254| None |On a shoal at + | | | Tremlett | | |the mouth of + | | | | | |the Loire. +Agamemnon | June 16, 1809| 64 |Jonas Rose |491| None |Ran on shore in + | | | | | |Maldonado Roads, + | | | | | |Rio de la + | | | | | |Plata. +Achates, | Feb. 7, 1810| 14 |Thomas Pinto | 76| None |On Englishman's + Sloop | | | | | |Head, + | | | | | |Guadaloupe. +Amethyst | Feb. 15, 1811| 38 |Jacob Walton |284| 8 |On Cony Cliffs, + | | | | | |Plymouth Sound. +Avenger, | Oct. 8, 1812| 18 |Urry Johnson | 80| None |In the narrows + Sloop | | | | | |of St. John's + | | | | | |Harbour, + | | | | | |Newfoundland. +Algerine, | May 20, 1812| 10 |Daniel | 70| None |On the + Schooner | | | Carpenter | | |Galapagos + | | | | | |Roads, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Atalante | Nov. 10, 1813| 18 |Frederick |121| None |In a fog on the + | | | Hickey | | |Sisters' Rocks, + | | | | | |Halifax. +Anacreon, | Feb. 28, 1814| 18 |John Davis |121| |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |the Channel. +Alceste | Feb. 18, 1817| 38 |Murray |315| None |Off Island of + | | | Maxwell | | |Pulo Leat, + | | | (Sir) | | |China Seas. +Arab, Sloop | Dec. 12, 1823| 18 |William |100| All |Near + | | | Holmes | | |Belmullett, + | | | | | |Westport. +Algerine | Jan. 9, 1826| 10 |Charles | 75| All |In a squall in + | | | Wemyss | | |the + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Acorn, | Apr. 14, 1828| 18 |Edward Gordon |115| All |On Halifax + Sloop | | | | | |Station. +Avenger, | Dec. 20, 1847| 6 |Edw. G.E. |250| 246 |On the Sorelle + Steam-ship| | | Napier | | |Rocks, + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Boyne | May 1, 1795| 98 |George Grey |750| 11 |Accidentally + | | | | | |burnt at + | | | | | |Spithead. +Bombay | Dec. 21, 1796| 74 |Thomas |590| None |In the Tagus. + Castle | | | Sotheby | | | +Berbice, | Nov. 1796| 20 |John Tresahar | 42| None |Off the coast + Schooner | | | | | |of Dominique, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Braak, Sloop| May 23, 1798| 14 |James Drew | 86| 35 |Foundered in + | | | | | |the Delaware. +Blanche |Sept. 28, 1799| 16 |John Ayscough |121| None |In Scalp Gat, + | | | | | |in the Texel. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Brazen, | Jan. 26, 1800| 14 |James Hanson |116| 1 |Near Brighton. + Sloop | | | | | | +Bonetta | Oct. 13, 1801| 16 |Thomas New |121| None |On a shoal east + | | | | | |of the + | | | | | |Jardines, Cuba. +Babet | Unknown, 1801| 24 |Jemmett |155| All |Foundered in + | | | Mainwaring | | |the West + | | | | | |Indies. +Barraconta, | Oct. 2, 1805| 10 |Joel Orchard | 48| None |On the south + Schooner | | | | | |side of the + | | | | | |Island of Cuba, + | | | | | |(running on + | | | | | |shore.) +Biter, | Nov. 10, 1805| |Geo. Thos. | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-brig | | | Wingate | | | +Bouncer, | Feb. 1805| |Samuel Bassan | 50| None |Off Dieppe. + Gun-brig | | | | | | +Brave | April 2, 1806| |Edmund Boger | | None |Foundered in + | | | | | |passage from + | | | | | |from Jamaica to + | | | | | |England. +Boreas | Dec. 5, 1807| 28 |George Scott |195| 127 |On the Hannois + | | | | | |Rocks, + | | | | | |Guernsey. +Blenheim | 1807| 74 |Sir Thomas |590| All |Foundered, date + | | | Troubridge, | | |unknown, off + | | | V.-Admiral, | | |the Island of + | | | Austin | | |Rodrigue, + | | | Bissell, | | |Indian Ocean. + | | | Capt. | | | +Blanche | Mar. 4, 1807| 38 |Sir T. Lavie |284| 45 |Off Ushant. +Busy, Sloop | 1807| 18 |Richard |121| All |Foundered on + | | | Keilley | | |the Halifax + | | | | | |Station, date + | | | | | |unknown. +Bolina | Nov. 3, 1807| |Edward | | 1 |Driven on + | | | Claributt | | |shore, Peran + | | | | | |Porth. +Bermuda, |April 22, 1808| 12 |Wm. Henry |121| None |On Little + Sloop | | | Byam | | |Bahama Bank. +Bustler, | Dec. 26, 1808| 10 |Richard Welsh | 50| None |On shore, Cape + Gun-brig | | | | | |Grisnez, + | | | | | |France. +Banterer | Dec. 29, 1808| 22 |Alexander |155| None |In the river + | | | Sheppard | | |St. Lawrence. +Bassora, | Feb. 13, 1808| 12 |James Violett | 50| None |Near + Brig | | | | | |Carthagena. +Barbadoes |Sept. 29, 1812| 28 |Thomas |195| 1 |Sable Island, + | | | Huskisson | | |Bermuda. +Belette, | Nov. 24, 1812| 18 |David Sloane |121| 116 |On rocks off + Sloop | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Lessoe, in the + | | | | | |Kattegat. +Bold, Sloop |Sept. 27, 1812| 10 |John Shekel | 55| |On Prince + | | | | | |Edward's + | | | | | |Island. +Bermuda, | Nov. 24, 1816| 10 |John Pakenham | 76| 1 |On Passage from + Sloop | | | | | |Gulf of Mexico. +Briseis, | Nov. 5, 1816| |Geo. Domett | 76| None |On reef off + Sloop | | | | | |Point Pedras, + | | | | | |Cuba. +Bermuda, | March, 1821| | | | All |Passage from + Schooner | | | | | |Halifax to + | | | | | |Bermuda. +Briseis, | 1838| 6 |John Downey | 33| All |Falmouth to + Packet | | | | | |Halifax. +Buffalo, | July 28, 1841| |James Wood | | 2 |In Mercury Bay, + Store-ship| | | | | |Bay of Islands, + | | | | | |New Zealand. +Convert | Feb. 8, 1794| 32 |John Lawford | | None |On the Grand + | | | | | |Caymanes, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Ca Ira | Apr. 11, 1796| 80 |Chas. Dudley | | 4 |Burnt by + | | | Pater | | |accident, and + | | | | | |blown up in + | | | | | |St. Fiorenzo + | | | | | |Bay. +Courageux | Dec. 10, 1796| 74 |Capt. B. |640| 410 |Struck on rocks + | | | Hallowell | | |under Apes' + | | | | | |Hill, coast of + | | | | | |Barbary. +Cormorant, | Dec. 24, 1796| 16 |Thomas Gott |121| 95 |Burnt and blown + Sloop | | | | | |up by accident, + | | | | | |at + | | | | | |Port-au-Prince, + | | | | | |St. Domingo. +Curlew, | Dec. 31, 1796| 16 |Jas. Ventris | 90| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | Field | | |North Sea. +Charlotte, | Dec. 11, 1797| |John Thukness | | None |Off the Island + Brig | | | | | |of Cuba. +Crash, | Aug. 26, 1798| 50 |Berkeley | 50| None |Blown on shore + Gun-boat | | | Mackworth | | |on the Island + | | | | | |of Vlieland, + | | | | | |Holland. +Colossus | Dec. 9, 1798| 74 |George Murray |640| None |Off the Island + | | | | | |of Scilly. +Contest, | Aug. 28, 1799| |John Ides | 50| None |Driven on shore + Gun-boat | | | Short | | |in the Helder. +Cormorant, | May 20, 1800| 24 |C. Boyle, |155| None |On a shoal near + Sloop | | | (Hon.) | | |Rosetta, coast + | | | | | |of Egypt. +Chance, | Oct. 9, 1800| 14 |George S. |121| 116 |Foundered. + Sloop | | | Stovin | | | +Charlotte, | Mar. 28, 1801| |John Williams | 60| None |Running on reef + Schooner | | | | | |of rocks near + | | | | | |Ash, (Island + | | | | | |of.) +Calypso | Aug. 1803| 16 |William |121| All |Foundered in a + | | | Venour | | |gale, coming + | | | | | |from Jamaica. +Circe | Nov. 16, 1803| 28 |Chas. |195| None |On the Leman + | | | Fielding | | |and Ower, North + | | | | | |Sea. +Creole | Jan. 2, 1804| 38 |Austin | | None |Foundered in + | | | Russell | | |passage from + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Cerbére, | Feb. 20, 1804| |John Patey | 50| None |Rocks near + Gun-boat | | | | | |Berry Head. +Conflict, | Oct. 24, 1804| |Chas. Cutts | 50| None |Near Newport, + Gun-boat | | | Ormsby | | |Isle of Wight. +Clinker, | Dec. 1806| 14 |John Salmon | 50| All |Foundered in a + Sloop | | | | | |cruize off + | | | | | |Havre. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Cassandra, | May 13, 1807| 10 |Geo. Le Blanc | 35| 11 |By upsetting in + | | | | | |a sudden squall + | | | | | |off Bourdeaux. +Capelin, | June 28, 1808| 6 |Josias Bray | 20| 1 |Sunken rock off + Schooner | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Brest Harbor. +Crane, | Oct. 26, 1808| 4 |Joseph | 20| None |Running on a + Brig | | | Tindale | | |rock to the W. + | | | | | |of the Hoe, + | | | | | |Plymouth. +Crescent | Dec. 5, 1808| 36 |John Temple |280| 220 |On the coast of + | | | | | |Jutland, in a + | | | | | |heavy gale. +Carrier, | Jan. 24, 1808| 4 |W. Milner | 20| None |On a sand-bank + Cutter | | | | | |near Boulogne. +Carieux, |Sept. 25, 1809| 18 |Henry Geo. |110| None |Off Petit + Sloop | | | Moysey | | |Terre, Island + | | | | | |of Marigalante, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Contest | 1809| |John Gregory | | All |Foundered, as + | | | | | |is supposed, + | | | | | |in passage from + | | | | | |America. +Claudia, | Jan. 20, 1809| 10 |Anth. Bliss, | 42| None |Off Norway. + Brig | | | W. Lord | | | +Cuckoo, |April 4, 1810| 4 |Silas Hiscutt | 20| 2 |Haaks, off + Brig | | | Paddon | | |Texel. +Conflict, | Nov. 9, 1810| 10 |Joseph B. | 50| All |Foundered in + Brig | | | Batt | | |the Bay of + | | | | | |Biscay. +Chichester | May, 2, 1811| |William Kirby | 88| 2 |In Madras + | | | | | |Roads. +Centinel, | Oct. 10, 1812| |W. Elletson | 45| None |North-east end + Gun-boat | | | King | | |of the Island + | | | | | |of Rugen, + | | | | | |Baltic. +Chubb, | Aug. 14, 1812| |Samuel | 20| All |Foundered near + Gun-boat | | | Nisbett | | |Halifax. +Calibre, | Aug. 23, 1813| 16 |John Thomson |100| None |In crossing the + Sloop | | | | | |bar of Port + | | | | | |Royal, Jamaica. +Captain | Mar. 22, 1813| 74 |In Ordinary |590| None |Burnt in + | | | | | |Hamoaze, + | | | | | |Plymouth. +Crane, |Sept. 30, 1814| 14 |Robert |121| All |Foundered in the + Sloop | | | Stanley | | | West Indies. +Cuttle, | 1814| 4 | | 20| All |Exact date + Gun-boat | | | | | |unknown, on the + | | | | | |Halifax Station. +Cygnet, | 1815| 16 |Robert Russel |121| All |Date unknown, + Sloop | | | | | |off the + | | | | | |Courantine + | | | | | |River. +Comus | Nov. 4, 1816| 22 |J. John G. |175| None |Off Cape Pine, + | | | Bremer | | |Newfoundland. +Carron |July. 6, 1820| |John Furneaux |135| 19 |Four miles to + | | | | | |the north of + | | | | | |the Black + | | | | | |Pagoda, Poorie. +Confiance, |April 21, 1822| 18 |W.T. Morgan |100| |Between Moyin + Sloop | | | | | |Head and Three + | | | | | |Castle Head, + | | | | | |Crookhaven. +Columbine, | Jan. 25, 1824| 18 |Chas. Abbott |100| None |In the harbor + Sloop | | | | | |of Port Longue, + | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Sapienza. +Cynthian, | June 6, 1827| 6 |John White | 28| None |Off the Island + Pack.-brig| | | | | |of Barbados. +Cambrian | Jan. 31, 1828| 48 |G.W. Hamilton |275| None |Off Carabusa, + | | | | | |Mediterranean, + | | | | | |in attacking + | | | | | |pirates. +Contest, |April 14, 1828| 12 |Edw. | 50| All |On Halifax + Gun-boat | | | Plaggenborg | | |Station. +Calypso, | 1833| 6 |H. Peyton | 30| All |In passage from + Packet | | | | | |Halifax to + | | | | | |England. +Challenger | May 19, 1835| 28 |Michael |160| 2 |Coast of + | | | Seymour | | |Moquilla, + | | | | | |Conception, + | | | | | |Chili. +Diomede | Aug. 2, 1795| 44 |Matthew Smith |294| |Striking on a + | | | | | |sunken rock off + | | | | | |Trincomalee. +Deux Amis, | May 23, 1799| |Mr. Samuel | | None |In Great Chine, + Schoon. | | | Wilson | | |Isle of Wight. +Dromedary, | Aug. 10, 1800| 20 |Bridges W. |120| None |Parasol Rock, + Store-sh. | | | Taylor | | |Island of + | | | | | |Trinidad. +Diligence | Oct. 8, 1800| 16 |Charles H.B. |121| None |On a shoal on + | | | Ross | | |the coast of + | | | | | |Havannah. +Determinée | Mar. 25, 1803| 26 |Alexander |145| 19 |Striking on a + | | | Becher | | |sunken rock off + | | | | | |the Island of + | | | | | |Jersey. +Drake, | July 12, 1804| 14 |William King | 86| None |On a shoal off + Sloop | | | | | |the Island of + | | | | | |Nevis. +De Ruyter | Sept. 4, 1804| 32 |Joseph |250| None |In a hurricane + | | | Beckett | | |in Deep Bay, + | | | | | |Antigua. +Doris | Jan. 12, 1805| 36 |Patrick |264| None |On a sunken + | | | Campbell | | |rock in + | | | | | |Quiberon Bay. +Dover, Mar. | Aug. 20, 1806| | | | |Burnt at + Barr. | | | | | |Woolwich. +Delphinen | Aug. 4, 1808 | 16 |Richard |100| None |On the + | | | Harward | | |South-West part + | | | | | |of Vieland, + | | | | | |Holland. +Delight, | Jan. 31, 1808| 16 |Phillip C. | 95| All |On the coast of + Sloop | | | Handfield | | |Calabria. +Defender, |Dec. 14, 1809 | 10 |John George | 50| None |Near + Brig | | | Nops | | |Folkestone. +Dominica, | Aug. 1809 | 10 |Charles Welsh | 65| 62 |Foundered near + Brig | | | | | |Tortola. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Diana, | May 1810| 10 |Wm. | 50| None |At the Island + Cutter | | | Kempthorne | | |of Rodrigue, + | | | | | |East Indies. +Dover | May 2, 1811| 38 |Edward Tucker |300| 2 |In Madras + | | | | | |Roads. +Defence | Dec. 24, 1811| 74 |David Atkins |593| 587 |Off the coast + | | | | | |of Jutland. +Dædalus | July 2, 1813| 38 |Murray |315| None |Off Island of +Dart, | | | Maxwell | | |Ceylon. +Cutter | 1814| 10 |Thomas Allen | 40| |Foundered, date + | | | | | |unknown. +Dominica, | Aug. 15, 1815| 14 |Richard | | |Near Bermuda. + Schooner | | | Cranford | | | +Drake, | June 20, 1822| |Charles Baker | 76|Cmdr.&|Off the + Sloop | | | | |others|coast of + | | | | | |Newfoundland. +Delight | Feb. 23, 1824| 10 |Robert Hay | 75| All |In a hurricane + | | | | | |at the + | | | | | |Mauritius. +Dwarf | Mar. 3, 1824| 10 |Nicholas | 60| 1 |Ran against the + | | | Gould | | |Pier in + | | | | | |Kingstown + | | | | | |Harbour. +Etrusco, | Aug. 23, 1798| 26 |George |125| None |Foundered in + Store-ship| | | Reynolds | | |the West + | | | | | |Indies. +Espion | Nov. 17, 1799| 18 |Jonas Rose | | None |In Goodwin + | | | | | |Sands. +Ethalion | Dec. 25, 1799| 38 |John Clark |284| None |On the + | | | Searle | | |Saints. +Explosion, |Sept. 10, 1807| 10 |Edward Elliot | 57| None |On a reef near + Bomb | | | | | |Sandy Island, + | | | | | |Heligoland. +Elizabeth, | 1807| 12 |John Sedley | 55| All |Foundered, date + Schooner | | | | | |unknown, in + | | | | | |West Indies. +Electra, | Mar. 23, 1808| 16 |George | 95| None |On a reef at + Sloop | | | Trolloppe | | |the entrance of + | | | | | |Port Augusta, + | | | | | |Sicily. +Ephira, | Dec. 26, 1811| 14 |Thomas | 76| None |On Cochinos + Sloop | | | Everard | | |Rocks, in + | | | | | |passage + | | | | | |between Cadiz + | | | | | |and Tarifa. +Encounter, | July 11, 1812| 10 |S.H. Talbot | 60| |Attempting to + Brig | | | | | |cut out some + | | | | | |vessels, on the + | | | | | |coast of Spain. +Emulous, | Aug. 2, 1812| 18 |W. Howe |121| None |Ragged Island, + Sloop | | | Mulcaster | | |Nova Scotia. +Exertion, | July 8, 1812| |James Murray | 60| None |In the Elbe. + Gun-boat | | | | | | +Elizabeth, | Oct. 1814| 10 |Jonathan W. | 35| |Upsetting in + Schooner | | | Dyer | | |chase of an + | | | | | |American + | | | | | |Privateer. +Fleche | Nov. 12, 1795| 14 |Charles Came | | None |Reef of Rocks + | | | | | |off Fernelli + | | | | | |Tower, Saint + | | | | | |Fiorenzo's Bay, + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Fortune, | June 15, 1797| 14 |Valentine | 86| |Ran on shore + Sloop | | | Collard | | |near Toreiro, + | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Portugal. +Fox |Sept. 18, 1799| 32 |James |215| None |In St. George's + | | | Wooldridge | | |Sound, Gulf of + | | | | | |Mexico. +Fulminante, | Mar. 24, 1801| 10 |Robert | 60| None |Drifted on + Cutter | | | Corbett | | |Shore at La + | | | | | |Cruelle, coast + | | | | | |of Egypt. +Forte | Jan. 28, 1801| 50 |Lucius F. |343| None |On a sunken + | | | Hardyman | | |rock in the + | | | | | |harbour of + | | | | | |Jedda, Red Sea. +Fly, | Jan. 1802| 16 |Thomas Duval |121| All |Foundered, + | | | | | |date unknown, + | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Newfoundland. +Fearless, | Jan. 19, 1804| |Richard | 50| 1 |Driven on shore + Gun-boat | | | Williams | | |in Cawsand Bay. +Firebrand, | Oct. 13, 1804| |William | 18| 1 |Off Dover. + Fire-ship | | | Maclean | | | +Fly, | Mar. 3, 1805 | 18 |Pownole |121| None |On the + Sloop | | | Bastard | | |Carysfort, + | | | Pellew | | |Reef, Gulf of + | | | | | |Florida. +Felix, | Jan. 23, 1807| 18 |Robert Clarke | 60| 57 |In St. Andero + Schooner | | | | | |Bay. +Firefly | Oct. 17, 1807| |Thomas Price | | All |Foundered in a + | | | | |except|hurricane off + | | | | |Surg &|the Spanish + | | | | |3 men.|Main. +Flora | Jan. 19, 1803| 36 |Loftus Otway |264| 9 |On the coast of + | | | Bland | | |Holland. +Flying Fish,| Dec. 15, 1808| 2 |J. Glassford | 50| None |On reef to + Schooner | | | Gooding | | |eastward of + | | | | | |Point Salines, + | | | | | |St. Domingo. +Fama, | Dec. 23, 1808| |Chas. Topping | | 2 |On Bornholm, + Sloop | | | | | |Baltic. +Foxhound, | Aug. 31, 1809| 18 |James |121| All |Foundered on + Sloop | | | Mackenzie | | |her return from + | | | | | |Halifax. +Fleche, | May 24, 1810 | 16 |George Hewson | 86| None |On the + Sloop | | | | | |Shaarhorn Sand, + | | | | | |off Newark, + | | | | | |Elbe. +Fleur | Dec. 29, 1810| |John | 40| None |Foundered in + de la Mer | | | Alexander | | |lat. 15° 15' + | | | | | |long. 71° 2'. +Firm, | June 28, 1811| 10 |John Little | 50| None |On a bank off + Brig | | | | | |the coast of + | | | | | |France. +Fancy, | Dec. 24, 1811| |Alexander | 50| All |In the Baltic + Gun-boat | | | Sinclair | | |(foundered.) +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Fly, Sloop | Feb. 28, 1812| 16 |Henry Higman | 95| None |On Anholt Reef. +Fearless | Dec. 8, 1812 | 10 |Henry L. | 50| None |Rocks off St. + | | | Richards | | |Sebastian. +Ferret, | Jan. 7, 1813 | 18 |Fred. Alex. |121| None |On Newbiggin + Sloop | | | Halliday | | |Point, + | | | | | |Northumberland. +Fantôme, | Nov. 24, 1814| 18 |Thomas Sykes |121| None |On rocks near + Sloop | | | | | |Prospect + | | | | | |Harbour, Nova + | | | | | |Scotia. +Fury | Aug. 1, 1825 | |H.P. Hoppner | 75| None |In Regent's + | | | | | |Inlet. +Firefly, | Feb. 27, 1835| 5 |Julius | 50|A few |Reef near + Schooner | | | McDonnell | | |Belize. +Fairy | 1841| 6 |William | 63| All |Foundered in + | | | Hewett | | |the North Sea. +Garnet | Jan. 7, 1798| |James Clark | | None |On a reef off + | | | | | |Cape François. +Garland | July 26, 1798| 28 |James Athol |195| None |Coast of + | | | Wood | | |Madagascar. +Grampus, | Jan. 19, 1799| 20 |John Hall |155| None |Near Woolwich. + Store-ship| | | | | | +Galgo | Oct. 9, 1800| |Thomas | | 25 |Upset in a + | | | Forrest | |saved |squall, in lat. + | | | | | |21° long. 61° + | | | | | |west. +Grappler, | Dec. 20, 1803| |Abel Wantn. | 50| None |On the Isle de + Gun-boat | | | Thomas | | |Chausey, + | | | | | |Jersey. +Garland |Sept. 10, 1803| 24 |Frederick |135| None |Caracol Reef, + | | | Cotterell | | |off St. + | | | | | |Domingo. +Georgiana, |Sept. 25, 1804| |Joshua | | None |On a sand-bank + G.-boat | | | Kneeskarn | | |near Harfleur. +Griper | Feb. 18, 1807| 10 |Edward Morris | 50| All |Off Ostend. +Greyhound | Oct. 11, 1808| 32 |Hon. W. |215| 1 |On the coast of + | | | Pakenham | | |Lemonia. +Glommen, | Nov. 1809| 18 |Charles |100| None |In Carlisle + Sloop | | | Pickford | | |Bay, Barbados. +Guachapin, | July 7, 1811| 10 |Michael | | None |On Rat Island, + Brig | | | Jenkins | | |Antigua. +Grouper, | Oct. 21, 1811| 4 |James Atkins | 40| None |Off Guadaloupe. + Brig | | | | | | +Goshawk, |Sept. 21, 1813| 16 |Hon. W.J. | 95| None |To the eastward + Sloop | | | Napier | | |of the Mole + | | | | | |Head, + | | | | | |Barcelona. +Hussar | Dec. 24, 1796| 28 |James Colnett |195| None |In a gale of + | | | | | |wind to the + | | | | | |westward of the + | | | | | |Island of Bass, + | | | | | |France. +Helena, | Nov. 3, 1796 | 14 |Jeremiah J. | 86| All |On the coast of + Sloop | | | Symons | | |Holland. +Hamadryad | Dec. 24, 1797| 36 |Thomas |264| None |Blown on shore + | | | Elphinstone | | |in Algier Bay. +Hermes | Jan. 1797| 14 |William Malso | 76| All |Place unknown. +Hunter, | Dec. 27, 1797| 14 |Tudor Tucker | 80| 75 |Wrecked on Hog + Sloop | | | | | |Island, off + | | | | | |Virginia. +Hound, |Sept. 26, 1800| 16 |Wm. Jas. |235| None |Near Shetland. + Sloop | | | Turquand | | | +Harwich | Nov. 9, 1801| 16 |Phillip |121| None |In St. Aubin's + | | | Bartholomew | | |Bay, Jersey. +Hindostan, | Mar. 20, 1804| 20 |John Le Gros |140| 3 |Burnt in Bay of + Store-sh | | | | | |Rosas. +Hussar | Feb. 8, 1804| 38 |Philip |284| None |On the Saintes + | | | Wilkinson | | |in the Bay of + | | | | | |Biscay. +Hawke, | May, 1805| 14 |James Tippet | 96| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |the Channel. +Heureux | 1806| 24 |John Morrison |155| All |Foundered, date + | | | | | |unknown, in + | | | | | |passage from + | | | | | |West Indies to + | | | | | |Halifax. +Hirondelle, | Feb. 23, 1808| 12 |Joseph Kidd | 50| 46 |On shore the + cutter | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Barbary. +Harrier, | 1809| 18 |Thomas B. |121| All |Foundered, date + Sloop | | | Ridge | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |East Indies. +Hero | Dec. 24, 1811| 74 |J. Newman |590| All |Off the coast + | | | Newman | | |of Jutland. +Halcyon, | May 19, 1814| 14 |J. Houlton |121| None |On reef of + Sloop | | | Marshall | | |rocks in + | | | | | |Annatto Bay, + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Holly, | Jan. 29, 1814| 10 |S. Sharpe | 50| 44 |Off St. + Schooner | | | Treacher | | |Sebastian. +Herring, | 1814| 4 |John Murray | 20| All |Exact date + Gun-boat | | | | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |Halifax station. +Illustrious | Mar. 17, 1795| 74 |Thomas L. |600| None |In a gale of + | | | Frederick | | |wind on rocks + | | | | | |near Avenga. +Jason | Oct. 13, 1798| 38 |Chas. |284| None |Unknown rock + | | | Stirling | | |near Brest. +Impregnable | Oct. 19, 1799| 74 |Jonathan |190| None |Striking on + | | | Faulknor | | |Chichester + | | | | | |Shoals. +Invincible | Mar. 16, 1801| 74 |John Rennie |590| 464 |Ranon Hammond's + | | | | | |Knowl, near + | | | | | |Yarmouth. +Iphigenia | June 20, 1801| 20 |Hayard | 60| None |Burnt by + | | | Stackpool | | |accident in + | | | | | |Aboukir Bay. +Jason | July 24, 1801| 36 |Hon. J. |264| None |On a rock not + | | | Murray | | |laid down in + | | | | | |the Charts, + | | | | | |entrance of St. + | | | | | |Malocs. +Julia | Jan. 21, 1805| |James Harley | | None |On Castle Rocks + | | | | | |at the entrance + | | | | | |of Dartmouth + | | | | | |Harbour. +Imogene, | Mar. 12, 1805| 18 |Henry Vaughan |121| None |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |passage from + | | | | | |Leeward Islands. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Jupiter | Dec. 10, 1807| 50 |Hon. E. Reg. |343| None |Reef of rocks + | | | Baker | | |in Vigo Bay. +Java | 1807| 32 |Georg Pigot | | All |Foundered with + | | | | | |Blenheim. +Inveterate, | Feb. 18, 1807| 14 |George Norton | 50| 4 |Off Etables, + Gun-boat | | | | | |France. +Jackall, | May 29, 1807| 14 |Charles | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-boat | | | Stewart | | | +Ignition, | Feb. 19, 1807| |Phillip | 32| 28 |Wrecked off + Fire-ship | | | Griffin | | |Dieppe. +Jaspar, | Jan. 20, 1817| |Thomas Carew | 76| 72 |Rocks under + Sloop | | | | | |Mount Batten, + | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Catwater. +Julia, | Oct. 2, 1817| |Jenkin Jones | 95| 55 |Off Tristan + Brig | | | | | |d'Acunha, coast + | | | | | |of Africa. +Jasper, | Oct. 11, 1828| 10 |L.C. Rooke | 75| None |Grounded in + Sloop | | | | | |running for + | | | | | |Harbour of St. + | | | | | |Maura. +Jackdaw | Mar. 11, 1835| 4 |Edw. Burnett | 36| None |On reef off Old + | | | | | |Providence. +Kangaroo, | Dec. 18, 1828| 6 |Anthony de | 45| 1 |South-east of + S.-vessel | | | Mayne | | |Reef of + | | | | | |Hogsties. +Leda | Dec. 11, 1796| 38 |John Woodley |264| 257 |Foundered by + | | | | | |upsetting in a + | | | | | |heavy gale, + | | | | | |lat. 38° 8' + | | | | | |long. 17° 40' +Lively |April 12, 1798| 36 |Jas. N. |254| None |On Rosa Point, + | | | Morris | | |near Cadiz. +Lord |April 10, 1799| 26 |Edward |121| None |Arklow Bank, + Mulgrave | | | Hawkins | | |Irish Channel. +Lutine | Oct. 9, 1799| 32 |Lancelot |240| 1 |Off the Vlie + | | | Skinner | | |Island, coast + | | | | | |of Holland. +Legère, | Feb. 2, 1801| 16 |Cornelius |121| None |Jamba Bay, east + Sloop | | | Quinton | | |of Carthageua, + | | | | | |S. America. +Lowestoffe | Aug. 10, 1801| 32 |Robert. |215| None |On the Island + | | | Plampin | | |of Great + | | | | | |Heneaga, W. + | | | | | |Indies. +Leveret, | Nov. 10, 1807| 18 |Jas. L. |121| None |On the Albion + Sloop | | | O'Connor | | |Shoal, Galloper + | | | | | |Rock. +Leda | Jan. 31, 1808| 32 |Robert |284| None |At the entrance + | | | Honyman | | |of Milford + | | | | | |Harbour. +Lark, Sloop | Aug. 3, 1809| 18 |Robert |121| 3 |In a sudden + | | | Nicholas | | |squall off + | | | | | |Point Palenqua, + | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Domingo. +Lively | Aug. 10, 1810| 38 |George |284| None |Point of + | | | M'Kinley | | |Salina, + | | | | | |South-east of + | | | | | |Bay of St. + | | | | | |Paul's, Malta. +Laurel | Jan. 31, 1812| 38 |Samuel C. |300| None |On a sunken + | | | Rowley | | |rock in + | | | | | |Teigneuse + | | | | | |Passage, + | | | | | |Quiberon Bay. +Laurestinus | Aug. 21, 1813| 24 |Thos. Graham |175| 1 |North end of + | | | | | |the Island of + | | | | | |Abaco, Halifax. +Leopard, | June 28, 1814| |Edward | |Gr'ter|Near the Island + Transport | | | Crofton | | part |of Anticosti, + | | | | | saved|Gulf of St. + | | | | | |Lawrence. +Lizard, | July 24, 1843| 3 |Charles | 60| None |Off Carthagena, +Steam-vessel| | | Postle | | |by being run + | | | | | |foul of by a + | | | | | |French + | | | | | |man-of-war. +Musquito, | 1795| |---- McCarty | 50| |Wrecked, date + G.-boat | | | | | |unknown, on the + | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |France. +Malabar | Oct. 10, 1796| 54 |Thos. Parr |324| None |Foundered + | | | | | |coming home + | | | | | |from West + | | | | | |Indies. +Medusa, | Nov. 22, 1798| |Alexander |118| None |Drifting on + Store-ship| | | Becher | | |shore in Rosier + | | | | | |Bay, Gibraltar. +Mastiff, | Jan. 5, 1800| |James Watson | 50| Many |In Cockle + Gun-boat | | | | | |Sands, Yarmouth + | | | | | |Roads. +Marlborough | Nov. 4, 1800| 74 |Thomas |590| None |In the + | | | Sotheby | | |Bervadeux + | | | | | |Shoal, near + | | | | | |L'Orient, + | | | | | |France. +Martin, | October, 1800| 16 |Hon. Matth. | 76| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | St. Clair | | |North Sea. +Melenger | June 9, 1801| 16 |Hon. T. |215| None |In the + | | | Bladen Capel | | |Westernmost + | | | | | |Triangle, G. of + | | | | | |Mexico. +Minerve | July 2, 1803| 40 |Jaheel |294| None |On the western + | | | Brenton | | |point of the + | | | | | |Cones of + | | | | | |Cherbourg. +Magnificent |March 25, 1804| 74 |Wm. Henry |500| None |Wrecked near + | | | Jervis | | |the Pierres + | | | | | |Noires, Brest. +Morne | Dec. 5, 1804| |John L. Dale | | None |On Crooked + Fortunée | | | | | |Island, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Mallard, | Dec. 24, 1804| |John William | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-boat | | | Miles | | | +Martin, | 1806| 18 |Thomas Prouse |121| All |Date unknown. + Sloop | | | | | |In passage + | | | | | |to Barbadoes. +Moueheron | 1807| |James Hawes |121| All |Wrecked, date + | | | | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Maria, | 1807| 10 |John | 50| All |Foundered, date + Gun-boat | | | Henderson | | |unknown, in + | | | | | |West Indies. +Melbrook, |March 25, 1808| 10 |James Leach | 50| None |On the + Schooner | | | | | |Burlings. +Muros |March 24, 1808| 24 |Archibald |155| None |At the entrance + | | | Duff | | |of the Harbour + | | | | | |of Bahia Honda, + | | | | | |Cuba. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Meleager | July 30, 1808| 36 |Fred. Warren |264| 4 |On Barebush + | | | | | |Cay, Jamaica. +Magnet, | Jan. 11, 1809| 18 |George Morris |121| None |In the Baltic. + Sloop | | | | | | +Morne | Jan. 9, 1809| 10 |John Brown | 65| 41 |Off Martinique. +Fortunée, | | | | | | + Bg. | | | | | | +Minotaur | Dec. 22, 1810| 74 |John Barrett |640| 400 |On the North + | | | | | |Haaks, Texel. +Monkey, | Dec. 25, 1810| 10 |Thomas | 50| |Rocks at Bell + Brig | | | Fitzgerald | | |Isle, France. +Manilla | Jan. 28, 1812| 38 |John Joyce |274|8 men |On Haaks, + | | | | | |Texel. +Magnet, | 1812| 16 |F. Moore | 95| All |Foundered, date + Sloop | | | Maurice | | |unknown, near + | | | | | |Halifax. +Magnet, | Aug. 4, 1814| 16 |G.I. | 90| None |Run on shore + Sloop | | | Hawksworth | | |near Niagara. +Martin, | Dec. 8, 1817| 18 |---- Mitchell |121| None |Western coast + Sloop | | | | | |of Ireland. +Magpie, | Aug. 27, 1826| 3 |Edward Smith | 35| 33 |Colorados + Schooner | | | | | |Roads, Island + | | | | | |of Cuba. +Myrtle | April 3, 1829| 6 |Samuel Sism | 29| None |Western head of + | | | | | |Ragged Island, + | | | | | |Nova Scotia. +Megoera | March 4, 1843| 2 |George | 60| 1 |On Bare Bush + | | | Oldmixon | | |Cay. +Mutine, | Dec, 21, 1848| 12 |J. Lewis |120| 5 |Reef near + Sloop | | | Palmer | | |Palestrina, + | | | | | |Adriatic. +Narcissus | Oct. 3, 1796| 24 |Percy Fraser |155| None |On Sandy Key, + | | | | | |near Nassua, + | | | | | |New Providence. +Nautilus | Feb. 2, 1799| 16 |Henry Gunter |121| None |Near + | | | | | |Flamborough + | | | | | |Head. +Nassau | Oct. 24, 1799| 36 |George Tripp |250| 42 |Haaks Sand, in + | | | | | |the Helder. +Nautilus, | Jan. 4, 1807| 18 |Capt. Palmer |122| 58 |On Cerrigoto, + Sloop | | | | | |a barren rock + | | | | | |in the Levant. +Netley, | July 10, 1808| 12 |Charles | 65| 56 |On the Leeward + Schooner | | | Burman | | |Island Station. +Nymphe | Dec. 18, 1810| 36 |Edward Sneyd |254| None |Wrecked off + | | | Clay | | |Dunbar. +Nimble, | Oct. 6, 1812| 10 |John Reynolds | 50| None |On Salo Beacon, + Cutter | | | | | |coast of Sweden. +Nimrod, | Jan. 14, 1827| 18 |---- |115| None |Driven on shore + Sloop | | | Sparshott | | |in Holyhead Bay. +Nightingale,| Feb. 17, 1829| 2 |George Wood | 31| None |On ground in + Schoon. | | | | | |the Shingles. +Nimble, | Dec. 4, 1834| 5 |Charles | 50| None |On reef between + Schooner | | | Bolton | | |Key Verde and + | | | | | |Old Bahama + | | | | | |Channel. +Orestes | Unknown, 1799| 16 |William |121| All |In a hurricane + | | | Haggett | | |in the Indian + | | | | | |Ocean. +Orestes, | July 11, 1805| 14 |Thomas Brown | 80| None |Splinter Sand, + Sloop | | | | | |Dunkerque. +Orquino | Nov. 7, 1805| |Charles | | Many |In a sudden + | | | Balderson | | |squall off Pt. + | | | | | |Antonio, Jamaica. +Orpheus | Jan. 23, 1807| 36 |Thomas Briggs |255| None |Running on + | | | | | |shore at the + | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Port Royal + | | | | | |Harbour. +Osprey, |March 11, 1846| 12 |Fred. Patten |110| None |At False + Sloop | | | | | |Hokianga. +Pigmy, | Dec. 16, 1793| 4 |A. Pullibank | 60| 10 |On the + Cutter | | | | | |Motherbank. +Placentia, | May 8, 1794| 4 |Alexander | | None |Saddle Back, + Sloop | | | Sheppard | | |Marticot Island, + | | | | | |N. America. +Pylades, | Nov. 26, 1794| 16 |Thomas |125| None |Heraldswick Bay, + Sloop | | | Twysden | | |Nest, Shetland. +Port Royal |March 30, 1797| |Elias Man | | None |Running on shore + | | | | | |near Cape St. + | | | | | |Nicolas. +Providence, | May 17, 1797| 14 |W.R. | 96| None |On a reef in + Sloop | | | Broughton | | |the Pacific. +Pandora | 1797| 14 |Samuel Mason | 75| All |In the North + | | | | | |Sea. Date + | | | | | |unknown. +Pallas |April 4, 1798| 36 |Hon. Henry |254| None |On Mount Batten + | | | Curzon | | |Point, Plymouth + | | | | | |Sound. +Pique | June 30, 1798| 32 |David Milne |250| None |Running on shore + | | | | | |on the French + | | | | | |coast, after + | | | | | |action with the + | | | | | |French frigate, + | | | | | |La Seine. +Proserpine | Feb. 1, 1799| 28 |James Wallis |195| 14 |On a sand-bank, + | | | | | |near Newark + | | | | | |Island, River + | | | | | |Elbe. +Proselyte | Sept, 2, 1801| 32 |Henry Whitly |215| None |On shoal, Isle + | | | | | |of St. Martin, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Porpoise | Aug. 17, 1803| |Richard | | None |On a reef of + | | | Fowler | | |coral, in the + | | | | | |Pacific. +Pigmy, | Aug. 9, 1805| 10 |William Smith | 60| None |On Sillet Rock, + Cutter | | | | | |St. Aubyn Bay, + | | | | | |Jersey. +Pigeon | Dec. 1805| |John Luckraft | | None |Running on + | | | | | |sand-bank, off + | | | | | |Texel. +Papillon, | 1806 | 18 |William |121| |Foundered in + Sloop | | | Woolsey | | |Jamaica station, + | | | | | |exact date + | | | | | |unknown. +Pert, Sloop | Oct. 16, 1807| 14 |Donald | 70| 10 |Driven on shore + | | | Campbell | | |in a hurricane, + | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Mucarva, Spanish + | | | | | |Main. +Prospero, | Feb. 18, 1807| 10 |William King | 67| All |Foundered in + Bomb | | | | | |the North Sea. +Pigmy, | March 2, 1807| 10 |Geo. M. | 60| None |Off Rochefort. + Cutter | | | Higginson | | | +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Pickle, | June 27, 1808| 10 |Moses | 40| None |On the Chipiona + Schooner | | | Cannadey | | |Shoal, Cadiz. +Proselyte, | Dec. 5, 1808| 12 |James Hy. | 78| None |On Anholt Reef, + Bomb | | | Lyford | | | Anholt Island. +Primrose, | Jan. 22, 1809| 18 |James Mein |121| 120 |On the Manacle + Sloop | | | | | |Rocks, near + | | | | | |Falmouth. +Pelter, | Dec. 1809| 10 |William | 50| None |Foundered in + Brig | | | Evelyn | | |passage from + | | | | | |Halifax to + | | | | | |Leeward Islands. +Pigeon | Jan. 15, 1809| |Richard Cox | | 2 |Off Kingsgate + | | | | | |Point, near + | | | | | |Margate. +Pallas | Dec. 18, 1810| 32 |George Paris |215| 11 |Wrecked off + | | | Monke | | |Dunbar. +Pandora, | May 13, 1811| 18 |John Ferguson |121| 29 |On the Skaw + Sloop | | | | | |Reef, Kategat. +Pomone | Oct. 14, 1811| 38 |Robert Barrie | 84| None |On a sunken rock + | | | | | |in the Needles. +Porgey, | 1812| |Name Unknown | 20| All |Foundered, date + Gun-boat | | | | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |West Indies. +Persian, | June 26, 1813| 18 |Charles |121| All |On the Silver + Sloop | | | Bertram | | |Keys, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Peacock, | Aug. 1814| 18 |Richard Coote |121| All |Off the southern + Sloop | | | | | |coast of the + | | | | | |United States. +Penelope | | 36 |James |284| |To the east of + | | | Galloway | | |Magdalen River, + | | | | | |Lower Canada. +Phoenix | Feb. 20, 1816| 36 |Charles John |284| None |Near Smyrna. + | | | Austin | | | +Partridge | Nov. 27, 1825| 10 |G. Younge | 75| None |Stranded at the + | | | | | |mouth of the + | | | | | |Texel. +Parthian, | May 15, 1828| 10 |Fred. Hotham | 75| None |Stranded 16 + Sloop | | | | | |miles to the + | | | | | |westward of + | | | | | |Mayabout, Egypt. +Pincher, |March 6, 1838| 5 |F. Hope | 40| All |In a squall off + | | | | | |the Owers. +Queen | Mar. 17, 1800|110 |Andrew Todd |859| 673 |Burnt by + Charlotte| | | | | |accident off + | | | | | |Leghorn. +Rose | June 28, 1794| 28 |Matthew H. |200| None |Rocky Point, + | | | Scott | | |Jamaica. +Reunion | Dec. 7, 1797| |W. Henry |249| A few|In the Swim. + | | | Baynton | | | +Resolution, | Unknown, 1797| |W. Huggett | 60| All |Foundered at sea. + Cutter | | | | | | +Raven, | Feb. 3, 1798| 16 |John W.T. |121| None |On a sand-bank, + Sloop | | | Dixon | | |Cuxhaven, in + | | | | | |the Elbe. +Rover | June 23, 1798| 14 |George Irvine | 80| None |Running on + | | | | | |shore on coast + | | | | | |of Cape Breton. +Resistance | July 24, 1798| 44 |Edward |294| 290 |Blown up in the + | | | Pakenham | | |Straits of Banca. +Repulse | Mar. 10, 1800| 64 |James Alms |491| 3 |Saints, Coast of + | | | | | |France. +Railleur, | May 16, 1800| 14 |John Raynor | 76| All |Foundered in the + | | | | | |Channel. +Requiem, | Feb. 1, 1801| 12 |James Fowell | 59| None |On rocks in + Brig | | | | | |Quiberon Bay. +Resistance | May 31, 1803| 36 |Hon. P. |264| None |Running on + Wodehouse | | | Wodehouse | | |rocks near Cape + | | | | | |St. Vincent. +Raven, | Jan. 5, 1804| 14 |Spelman | 86| None |Ran on shore, + Sloop | | | Swaine | | |near Mayara + | | | | | |Bay, Sicily. +Romney | Nov. 10, 1804| 50 |Hon. John |343| None |In the Haaks, + | | | Colville | | |near the Texel. +Raven, | Jan. 30, 1805| 18 |William |121| None |In Cadiz Bay. + Sloop | | | Layman | | | +Redbridge, | Feb. 26, 1805| 10 |F. Blower | 60| None |Foundered in + Schooner | | | Gibbs | | |Pedro Bay, + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Redbreast, | Feb. 24, 1807| 14 |J. Bayley | 50| None |Running on + Gun-boat | | | Harrison | | |shore at the + | | | | | |Needles. +Rhodian, | Feb. 2, 1813| 14 |John George | 76| None |On Little Plumb + Sloop | | | Boss | | |Point, Port + | | | | | |Royal, Jamaica. +Racer, | Oct. 10, 1814| 14 |H.F.G. Pogson |178| None |In the Gulf of + Schooner | | | | | |Florida. +Racehorse | Dec. 14, 1822| 18 |Benjamin |125| 5 |Ran on Langness + | | | Suckling | | |Point, Isle of + | | | | | |Man. +Redwing | 1827| 18 |D.C. |125| All |Near Mataceney, + | | | Clavering | | |coast of Africa + | | | | | |(supposed). +Recruit, | 1832| 10 |T. Hodges | 52| All |Supposed to be + Gun-brig | | | | | |lost in a + | | | | | |hurricane off + | | | | | |Bermuda. +Rapid, Brig | Apr. 12, 1838| 10 |Hn. G.S.V. | 50|Commr.|Off Cape Biso, + | | | Kinnaird | | |Mediterranean. +Spitfire, | Feb. 1794| 16 |J.W. Rich |125| All |Foundered or + Sloop | | | | | |upset off St. + | | | | | |Domingo. +Scourge, | Nov. 7, 1795| |W. Stap | 30| None |On Penconsand, + Gun-boat | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Friesland. +Salisbury | May 10, 1796| 50 |William |343| None |On the Isle of + | | | Mitchell | | |Ash, West + | | | | | |Indies. +St. Pierre | Feb. 12, 1796| |Christopher | | None |Rocks off Point + | | | Paule | | |Negroe. +Spider, | April 4, 1796| |J. Oswald | | None |Running foul + Hired Lug | | | | | |of the Ramilies. +Swift, | Unknown| 16 |Thomas |121| All |In the China + Sloop | | | Hayward | | |seas + | | | | | |(foundered), + | | | | | |all perished, + | | | | | |date unknown. +Sceptre | Nov. 5, 1799| 64 |Valentine |491| 438 |In Table Bay, + | | | Edwards | | |Cape of Good + | | | | | |Hope. +Stag | Sept. 6, 1800| 36 |Robert |271| None |In Vigo Bay. + | | | Winthrop | | | +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Scout | Mar. 25, 1801| 16 |Henry Duncan |121| None |Running on + | | | | | |Shingles in + | | | | | |British Channel. +Sensible, | March 3, 1802| 16 |Robert Sauce |155| None |Stranded to + Troop-Ship| | | | | |southward of + | | | | | |Moeltiva, + | | | | | |Trincomalee. +Seine | July 23, 1803| 28 |David Milne |284| None |Runing on + | | | | | |sand-bank, off + | | | | | |Schelling Island, + | | | | | |Texel. +Suffisante, | Dec. 25, 1803| 14 |Gilbert | 86| None |Off Spike + Sloop | | | Healthcote | | |Island, Cork + | | | | | |Harbour. +Shannon | Dec. 10, 1803| 36 |Edward L. |264| None |In a gale, + | | | Gower | | |under the + | | | | | |batteries near + | | | | | |Cape La Hogue. +Starling, | Dec. 24, 1804| |George | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-brig | | | Skottowe | | | +Severn | Dec. 20, 1804| 32 |Duke de |224| None |In Gronville + | | | Bouillon | | |Bay, Jersey. +Sheerness | Jan. 8, 1805| 44 |Lord G. |294| 2 |In a hurricane + | | | Stuart | | |off Trincomalee. +Seagull | 1805| 18 |Henry Burke |121| All |Foundered. +Serpent, | 1806| 18 |John Waller |121| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |Jamaica station. +Seaforth, | Feb. 1806| 14 |George Steel | | All |Foundered on + Gun-brig | | | | | |the Leeward + | | | | | |Island station. +Subtle | Oct. 26, 1807| |W. Dower | | None |On a reef of + | | | | | |rocks, near + | | | | | |Somerset Island, + | | | | | |Bermuda. +Speedwell, | Feb. 18, 1807| |L.W. | 60| All |Foundered off + Cutter | | | Robertson | | |Dieppe. +Snipe, | 1807| 14 | | 50| |Near + Gun-brig | | | | | |Lowestoffe. +Sparkler, | Jan. 29, 1808| 10 |Sam. Akid | 50| 14 |On a reef, S.W. + Gun-brig | | | Dennis | | |of the Island + | | | | | |of Schelling, + | | | | | |Holland. +Sacorman | Dec. 23, 1808| |Andrew Duncan | | 1 |Foundered in + | | | | | |Baltic. +Solebay | July 11, 1809| 32 |E.H. |215| None |Coast of + | | | Columbine | | |Africa. +Scalark, | June 18, 1809| 4 |James Proctor | 20| |In the North + Brig | | | | | |Sea. +Satellite, | Dec. 1810| 16 |Willoughby | 95| All |In the Channel. + Sloop | | | Berkie | | | +Saldanha | Dec. 4, 1811| 36 |Hon. W. |274| All |Off + | | | Pakenham | | |Loughswilly, + | | | | | |Ireland. +Shamrock, | Feb. 25, 1811| 10 |W. Parsons | 40| 1 |On Cape + Brig | | | Croke | | |Sta-Maria. +St. George | Dec. 24, 1811| 98 |R. Carthew |738| 731 |Off the Coast + | | | Reynolds, R. | | |of Jutland. + | | | Adm., Daniel | | | + | | | O. Guion, | | | + | | | Captain | | | +Skylark, | May 3, 1812| 16 |James Boxer | 95| None |Between Etaples, + Sloop | | | | | |& Cape Grisnez, + | | | | | |France. +Southampton | Nov. 27, 1812| 32 |Sir James |215| None |Sunken rock off + | | | Lucas Yeo | | |Island of + | | | | | |Conception, + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Sarpedon, | Jan. 1, 1813| 10 |Thomas Parker | 76| All |Foundered. + Sloop | | | | | | +Subtle, | Nov. 30, 1812| 10 |Charles Brown | 50| All |Foundered off + Schooner | | | | | |St. + | | | | | |Bartholomew's, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Statira | Feb. 27, 1815| 38 |Spelman |315| None |On a sunken rock + | | | Swaine | | |off the S.E. + | | | | | |Point of the + | | | | | |Great Macque, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Sylph, | Jan. 17, 1815| 18 |George |121| 115 |On Southampton + Sloop | | | Dickens | | |Bar, North + | | | | | |America. +Success | Nov. 29, 1829| 28 | | 61| All |In Cockburn + | | | | | |Sound. +Spey, Packet| | |---- James | | |In passage to + | | | | | |Havanna. +Skipjack, | | 3 |H. Wright | 40| | + Schooner | | | | | | +Spitfire, |Sept. 10, 1842| 6 |H.E.S. | 53| None |On the + St.-vessel| | | Winthrop | | |Lighthouse Reef, + | | | | | |British + | | | | | |Honduras. +Skylark, |April 25, 1845| 2 |Geo. Morris | 50| None |Ran on shore, + Brig | | | | | |Kemeridge, + | | | | | |Isle of Wight. +Snake | Aug. 29, 1817| 14 |T. Bourncaster|130| None |On a reef, + | | | Brown | | |Coast of Africa, + | | | | | |5 miles from + | | | | | |Mozambique. +Thetis | | |A.F. Cochrane | | None |Forty-four + | | | | | |miles south of + | | | | | |Cape Henry. +Trompeuse, | July 15, 1796| 14 |J. Rowley |106| None |On Dudley + Sloop | | | Watson | | |Point, Kinsale. +Tartar | July 1, 1797| 28 |Hon. G. |195| None |Coming out of + | | | Elphinstone | | |Port Plate, + | | | | | |St. Domingo. +Tribune | Nov. 16, 1797| 32 |Scory Barker |244| 238 |Off Halifax, + | | | | | |Nova Scotia. +Trompeuse, | May 16, 1800| 16 |Peter | 86| 83 |Supposed to + Sloop | | | Robinson | | |have foundered + | | | | | |in Channel. +Tartarus | Dec. 20, 1804| 10 |Thomas | 67| 1 |On Margate + | | | Withers | | |Sands. +Tartar | Aug. 18, 1811| 32 |Joseph Baker |254| None |On a sand in + | | | | | |the Baltic. +Thistle, | Mar. 6, 1811| 10 |George | 50| |Near New York. + Cutter | | | McPherson | | | +Tweed, |Nov. 5, 1813 | 18 |William |121| 61 |In Shoal Bay, + Sloop | | | Mather | | | Newfoundland. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Tay | Nov. 11, 1816| 20 |Samuel |135| None |On the Isles + | | | Roberts | | |Alacranes, Gulf + | | | | | |of Mexico. +Telegraph, | Jan. 20, 1817| |John Little | 50| None |Rocks under + Schooner | | | | | |Mount Batten, + | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Catwater. +Thetis | Dec. 5, 1830| 46 |Samuel |275| 16 |Off Cape Frio. + | | | Burgess | | | +Tribune | Nov. 28, 1839| 20 |C. Hamlyn |190| None |Off Port of + | | | Williams | | |Tarragona. +Thunderbolt,| Feb. 3, 1847| 6 |Alex. Boyle |148| None |Cape Recife, + St.-ves. | | | | | |Algoa Bay. +Undaunted | Aug. 31, 1796| 38 |Robert |286| None |Morant Keys, + | | | Winthrop | | |West Indies. +Vanceau, | Oct. 21, 1796| |John Gourly | 60| |Running on + Cutter | | | | | |sunken rock, + | | | | | |Port Ferrajo, + | | | | | |Elba. +Viper | Jan. 2, 1797| |H. Harding | | All |Off the + | | | Parker | | |Shannon. +Urchin, | 1800| |T. Pearson |120| 116 |In tow of the + | | | Croasdale | | |Hector, in + | | | | | |Tetuan Bay. +Utile, | Nov. 1801| 14 |Edward Jekyl | 76| All |Foundered in a + | | | Canes | | |gale in passage + | | | | | |from Gibraltar + | | | | | |to Malta. +Venerable | Nov. 24, 1804| 74 |John Hunter |590| None |In Torbay. +Volador, | Oct. 22, 1808| 18 |Francis G. |121| 1 |Near Cape + Sloop | | | Dickens | | |Arrekla, Spanish + | | | | | |Man. +Unique, | May 31, 1809| 10 |Thomas | 65| |Burnt at Basse + Brig | | | Fellowes | | |Terre, + | | | | | |Guadaloupe. +Union, | May 17, 1828| |C. Madden | 32| None |On a reef off + Schooner | | | | | |the East End of + | | | | | |Rose Island, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Victor | 1843| 16 |Charles Otway |130| All |In a passage + | | | | | |from Vera Cruz + | | | | | |to Halifax. +Weazel, | Jan. 12, 1799| 14 |Hon. Henry | 86| 85 |In Barnstaple + Sloop | | | Grey | | |Bay. +Weazel, | Feb. 29, 1804| 12 |William | 70| None |On Cabreta + Sloop | | | Layman | | |Point, + | | | | | |Gibraltar Bay. +Woodlark | Nov. 13, 1805| 14 |Thos. Innes | 50| None |Near Calais. +Wolfe, | Sept. 4, 1806| 18 |G.C. |121| None |On Heneaga, one + Sloop | | | Mackenzie | | |of the Bahama + | | | | | |Islands. +Woodcock, | Feb. 13, 1807| 10 |I.C. Smith | 18| None |West of Villa + Schooner | | | Collett | | |Franca, Saint + | | | | | |Michael's. +Wagtail, | Feb. 13, 1807| 10 |William | 18| None |West of Villa + Schooner | | | Cullis | | |Franca, Saint + | | | | | |Michael's. +Widgeon, |April 20, 1808| 6 |George Elliot | 20| None |On a reef of + Schooner | | | | | |rocks, near + | | | | | |Banff. +Wildbear, | Feb. 15, 1810| 10 |Thomas Burton | 76| 12 |On the Rundel + Sloop | | | | | |Stone, Scilly + | | | | | |Islands. +Woolwich |Sept. 11, 1813| 20 |Thos. Ball |135| |Off Barbuda, + | | | Sullivan | | |West Indies. +Whiting, |Sept. 21, 1816| 14 |John Jackson | 50| None |Near Dunbar. + Schooner | | | | | | +Wolf, Sloop | Mar. 10, 1830| 18 |Robt. Russell,|116| None |Off Isle of + | | | Esq. | | |Wight (Brock). +York | Jan. 1803| 64 |Henry Mitford |491| All |Foundered in + | | | | | |the North Sea. +Zenobia | 1806| |Name unknown | | All |Wrecked, exact + | | | | | |date unknown, + | | | | | |on the Coast + | | | | | |of Florida. +Zebra, Brig | 1841| 16 |J.S. Shepperd |115| None |In the Levant. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE +ROYAL NAVY; BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849*** + + +******* This file should be named 15301-8.txt or 15301-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/3/0/15301 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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S. Gilly</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .poem span.i16 {display: block; margin-left: 16em;} + .poem span.i19 {display: block; margin-left: 19em;} + .poem span.i22 {display: block; margin-left: 22em;} + .poem span.i41 {display: block; margin-left: 41em;} + .poem span.i42 {display: block; margin-left: 42em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 90%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .c {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px; font-size: 90%;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy: +between 1793 and 1849, by William O. S. Gilly</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; between 1793 and 1849</p> +<p>Author: William O. S. Gilly</p> +<p>Release Date: March 9, 2005 [eBook #15301]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY; BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Steven Gibbs<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (https://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + <h1><a name="Page_-35" id="Page_-35"></a><a name="Page_-34" id= + "Page_-34"></a><a name="Page_-33" id="Page_-33"></a> NARRATIVES + OF SHIPWRECKS<br /> OF THE ROYAL NAVY:<br /> + BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849.</h1> + + <h4>COMPILED<br /> + PRINCIPALLY FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS IN<br /> + THE ADMIRALTY,</h4> + + <h3>BY</h3> + + <h2>WILLIAM O. S. GILLY.<br /></h2> + + <h4>WITH A PREFACE<br /> + BY</h4> + + <h3>WILLIAM STEPHEN GILLY, D.D.<br /> + <span style="font-size: smaller;"><i>VICAR OF NORHAM AND CANON OF + DURHAM</i>.</span></h3> +<p> </p> + + <h6>LONDON:<br /> + JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND</h6> + + <h4>MDCCCL</h4> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2>CONTENTS.<a name="Page_-32" id="Page_-32"></a><a name= + "Page_-31" id="Page_-31"></a></h2> + <!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> + + <p><span style= + "font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bolder;"><a href= + "#ADVERTISEMENT">Advertisement.</a><br /> + <br /> + <a href="#PREFACE">Preface, by the Rev. Dr. Gilly</a><br /> + <br /> + The Wreck of the<br /> + <a href="#THE_BOYNE">Boyne</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_AMPHION">Amphion</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_TRIBUNE">Tribune</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_RESISTANCE">Resistance</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_PROSERPINE">Proserpine</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_SCEPTRE">Sceptre</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_QUEEN_CHARLOTTE">Queen + Charlotte</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_INVINCIBLE">Invincible</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_GRAPPLER">Grappler</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_APOLLO">Apollo</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_HINDOSTAN">Hindostan</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_ROMNEY">Romney</a><br /> + <a href="#VENERABLE">Venerable</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_SHEERNESS">Sheerness</a><br /> + <a href="#ATHENIENNE">Athenienne</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_NAUTILUS">Nautilus</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_FLORA">Flora</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_AJAX">Ajax</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_ANSON">Anson</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_BOREAS">Boreas</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_HIRONDELLE">Hirondelle</a><br /> + <a href="#BANTERER">Banterer</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_CRESCENT">Crescent</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_MINOTAUR">Minotaur</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_PALLAS_AND_THE_NYMPH">Pallas and + Nymph</a><br /> + <a href="#ST_GEORGE_AND_DEFENCE">St. George and + Defence</a><br /> + <a href="#HERO">Hero</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_DAEDALUS">Dædalus</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_PERSIAN">Persian</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_PENELOPE">Penelope</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_ALCESTE">Alceste</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_DRAKE">Drake</a><br /> + <a href="#FURY">Fury</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_MAGPIE">Magpie</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_THETIS">Thetis</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_FIREFLY">Firefly</a><br /> + <a href="#THE_AVENGER">Avenger</a><br /> + <br /> + <a href="#LIST">List of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy<br /> + between 1793 & 1850</a></span></p> + <!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="ADVERTISEMENT" id= + "ADVERTISEMENT"></a>ADVERTISEMENT.<a name="Page_-29" id= + "Page_-29"></a></h2> + + <p>Some time ago a friend suggested that a selection of the most + interesting naval shipwrecks might be made from the official + documents of the Admiralty, in illustration of the discipline and + heroism displayed by British seamen under the most trying + circumstances of danger: permission to search the records was + accordingly asked, and most kindly granted by the Lords + Commissioners of the Admiralty, and the present volume is the + result.</p> + + <p>The Author is well aware that the task of preparing these + materials for publication might have fallen into better hands; + and whilst he gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the + Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for allowing him to have + access to their Records, he desires also to express his most + cordial thanks for the assistance he has received from those + friends, who have kindly revised and improved his pages as they + passed through the press. Without such aid, his own literary + inexperience would have left the work more defective than it is. + He is especially indebted to some naval friends for + correcting<a name="Page_-28" id="Page_-28"></a> his errors in the + use of nautical terms and descriptions.</p> + + <p>A list of all the shipwrecks that have occurred in the Royal + Navy since the year 1793 has been appended to this volume, in the + hope that it may be useful as a table of reference. The ships are + classed, first, under the initial letter of their names; and + secondly, they are arranged in chronological order as regards the + time of their wreck.</p> + + <p>W.O.S.G</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a><a name="Page_-27" id= + "Page_-27"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + <p>At the request of my son, the Author of this volume, I have + undertaken to write the Preface, and to say a few words on the + very peculiar and noble traits of character, which distinguish + the British seaman on all trying occasions, and especially in the + terrible hour of shipwreck.</p> + + <p>Many circumstances have combined to make me take a warm + interest in all that concerns the navy. In early life, having + passed several months in a line-of-battle ship during the war + with France, I was an eye-witness of scenes and events, which + called forth some of those qualities that are illustrated in the + following pages. For the restoration of my health, in the year + 1811, I was advised to try the effects of sea air and a change of + climate, and was glad to accept the opportunity offered me, by + the captain of an eighty-gun ship, to take a cruise with him off + the southern parts of the French coast.</p> + + <p>On one occasion, in a severe tempest in the Bay of Biscay, a + flash of lightning struck the ship and set her on fire. The + calmness with which orders were given and obeyed, and the + rapidity with which the fire was extinguished, without the least + hurry or confusion, made a deep impression on me. This was + afterwards increased by the conduct of the crew in a severe gale + of wind, <a name="Page_-26" id="Page_-26"></a>when it was + necessary to navigate one of the narrow channels, by which the + squadron that blockaded Rochelle and Rochfort was frequently + endangered. The vessel had to pass between two rocks, so near + that a biscuit could have been thrown from the deck on either. An + old quarter-master was at the wheel; the captain stood by to con + and to direct his steering. At one fearful crisis, every blast + threatened to shiver a sail, or to carry away a spar, and a + single false movement of the helmsman, or the slightest want of + steadiness or of obedience on the part of any man on duty, would + have been fatal to the life of every one on board.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>As they drifted on their path<br /></span> <span>There + was silence deep as death,<br /></span> <span>And the boldest + held his breath<br /></span> <span class="i4">For a + time.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>When the danger was over, the captain thanked the officers and + men for their conduct, and gave a snuff-box with five guineas in + it to the quarter-master, in admiration of his steady head and + iron nerves.</p> + + <p>I mention these incidents in my early experience as a sort of + apology for a landsman's presumption, in venturing to write this + Preface to a series of nautical details. In after years, the + death of a dear brother, a lieutenant in the navy, who lost his + life in a generous attempt to save a vessel from shipwreck on the + coast of Sussex, moved me to a still deeper concern for those + whose employment is 'in the great waters.'</p> + + <p>My early observation of the hazards of a sailor's career, and + my brother's sudden call to his last account, in the awful perils + of a storm at sea, taught me to reflect with <a name="Page_-25" + id="Page_-25"></a>painful solemnity on the many thousand + instances, in which our naval protectors are summoned in a + moment, prepared or unprepared, to stand before the throne of the + Eternal. Often have I asked myself and others, Can nothing be + done to elevate the hopes, and to place the fortitude of these + men on a firmer foundation than that of mere animal courage, or + the instinct of discipline? The present is an opportunity of + pleading for the sailor which I should be sorry to lose, and of + suggesting something, which may establish his good conduct on a + basis more durable, and more certain, than even the well-known + courage and discipline of a British tar.</p> + + <p>I shall begin by noticing the extraordinary displays of + self-possession, self-devotion, and endurance, which shed lustre + on our naval service; and I will close my remarks with hints for + the improvement of these noble qualities.</p> + + <p>The intrepidity and mental resources of a brave man are more + discernible in the hour of patient suffering, than in that of + daring action: and the contents of this volume form a record of + heroic doings and endurances, which exhibits the British seaman + as a true specimen of the national character. Duty is his + watchword, and the leading principle by which he is governed. + Nelson knew the spirits he had to deal with, when he hoisted the + memorable signal, 'England expects every man to do his duty.' He + was well aware that the men who could patiently and calmly face + the toil and danger of a blockading fleet, day and night, on the + stormy waves of the Bay of Biscay, or on the lee shores of the + Mediterranean, such as his fleet had had to encounter, wanted no + other stimulus, in the presence of the enemy, than <a name= + "Page_-24" id="Page_-24"></a>that which he so confidently + applied. Napoleon found to his cost, on the field of Waterloo, + that the word <i>Glory</i> had no longer any power to launch his + battalions successfully against troops, who had learnt in the + British school of duty and obedience to confront death, not only + in the impetuous battle-charge, but in the more trying season of + long endurance in the Lines of Torres Vedras. Men who can wait, + and bear and forbear, and remain steadily at their post under + every provocation to leave it, are invincible opponents. The cool + determination which resisted the onset, and withstood the furious + rush of the French Guards, was part and parcel of the same + character which made heroes of the comrades of Nelson. To obey + implicitly, and to feel that no quality is superior to that of + obedience,—to wait for your commander's word,—to keep + order,—to preserve presence of mind,—to consider + yourself one of many, who are to follow the same rule, and to act + in unison with each other,—to regulate your movements + according to the demands of the common safety,—to consider + your honour to be as much at stake in submitting to a command to + remain stationary and not to stir, as to dash + forward,—these are the peculiarities, which constitute the + substantial excellence of the national character; and the + shipwrecks of the Royal Navy illustrate this national character + even more than the battles of the Nile and of Trafalgar. The + perils of a shipwreck are so much beyond those of a battle, that + the loss of life, when the St. George, the Defence, and the Hero, + were wrecked in the North Seas, in 1811, was far greater than + that on the part of the English in any naval action of late + years. In order to <a name="Page_-23" id="Page_-23"></a>place the + qualities of obedience and endurance—so characteristic of + the British seaman—in the strongest light, and to show by + contrast that the possession of them is the greatest security in + danger, whilst the want of them ensures destruction, I commend + the following statement to the attention of all who shall read + this volume.</p> + + <p>In the year 1816 two stately vessels were sailing on the + ocean, in all the pride of perfect equipment and of glorious + enterprise. The one was an English frigate, the Alceste, having + on board our ambassador to China; the other was a French frigate, + the Medusa, taking out the suite of a governor for one of the + colonies of France on the coast of Africa. The importance of the + mission on which each ship was despatched, and the value of the + freight, would seem to assure us that the Alceste and the Medusa + were officered and manned by the best crews that could be + selected. Two nations, rivals in science and civilization, who + had lately been contending for the empire of the world, and in + the course of that contest had exhibited the most heroic examples + of promptitude and courage, were nautically represented, we may + suppose, by the elite who walked the decks of the Alceste and the + Medusa. If any calamity should happen to either, it could not be + attributed to a failure of that brilliant gallantry, which the + English and French had equally displayed on the most trying + occasions.</p> + + <p>But a calamity of the most fearful nature did befal both, out + of which the Alceste's crew were delivered with life and honour + untouched, when that of the Medusa sank under a catastrophe, + which has become a proverb and a bye-word to mariners. Both ships + were <a name="Page_-22" id="Page_-22"></a>wrecked. For an account + of the good conduct, of the calm and resolute endurance, and of + the admirable discipline to which, under Providence, the + preservation of the crew of the Alceste is to be attributed, see + pages <a href="#Page_204">204-226</a> of this volume. A total + relaxation of discipline, an absence of all order, precaution, + and presence of mind, and a contemptible disregard of everything + and of everybody but self, in the hour of common danger, filled + up the full measure of horrors poured out upon the guilty crew of + the Medusa. She struck on a sand-bank under circumstances which + admitted of the hope of saving all on board. The shore was at no + great distance, and the weather was not so boisterous as to + threaten the speedy destruction of the ship when the accident + first happened.</p> + + <p>There were six boats of different dimensions available to take + off a portion of the passengers and crew: there was time and + there was opportunity for the construction of a raft to receive + the remainder. But the scene of confusion began among officers + and men at the crisis, when an ordinary exercise of forethought + and composure would have been the preservation of all. Every man + was left to shift for himself, and every man did shift for + himself, in that selfish or bewildered manner which increased the + general disaster. The captain was not among the last, but among + the first to scramble into a boat; and the boats pushed off from + the sides of the frigate, before they had taken in as many as + each was capable of holding. Reproaches, recrimination, and + scuffling took the place of order and of the word of command, + both in the ship and in the boats, when tran<a name="Page_-21" + id="Page_-21"></a>quillity and order were indispensable for the + common safety.</p> + + <p>When the raft had received the miserable remnant, one hundred + and fifty in number, for whom the boats had no room, or would + make no room, it was found, when it was too late to correct the + evil, that this last refuge of a despairing and disorderly + multitude had been put together with so little care and skill, + and was so ill provided with necessaries, that the planking was + insecure; there was not space enough for protection from the + waves, and charts, instruments, spars, sails, and stores were all + deficient. A few casks of wine and some biscuits, enough for a + single meal only, were all the provision made for their + sustenance. The rush and scramble from the wreck had been + accomplished with so little attention to discipline, that the + raft had not a single naval officer to take charge of her. At + first, the boats took the raft in tow, but in a short time, + though the sea was calm and the coast was known to be within + fifteen leagues, the boats cast off the tow-lines: and in not one + of the six was there a sufficient sense of duty, or of humanity + left, to induce the crew to remain by the floating + planks—the forlorn hope of one hundred and fifty of their + comrades and fellow-countrymen! Nay, it is related by the + narrators of the wreck of the Medusa, that the atrocious cry + resounded from one boat to another, '<i>Nous les + abandonnons</i>!'—'we leave them to their + fate,'—until one by one all the tow-lines were cast off. + During the long interval of seventeen days, the raft struggled + with the waves. A small pocket compass was the only guide of the + unhappy men, who lost even this in one of <a name="Page_-20" id= + "Page_-20"></a>the reckless quarrels, which ensued every hour for + a better place on the raft or a morsel of biscuit. On the first + night twelve men were jammed between the timbers, and died under + the agonies of crushed and mangled limbs. On the second night + more were drowned, and some were smothered by the pressure + towards the centre of the raft. Common suffering, instead of + softening, hardened the hearts of the survivors against each + other. Some of them drank wine till they were in a frenzy of + intoxication, and attempted to cut the ropes which kept the raft + together. A general fight ensued, many were killed, and many were + cast into the sea during the struggle; and thus perished from + sixty to sixty-five. On the third day portions of the bodies of + the dead were devoured by some of the survivors. On the fourth + night another quarrel and another fight, with more bloodshed, + broke out. On the fifth morning, thirty only out of the one + hundred and fifty were alive. Two of these were flung to the + waves for stealing wine: a boy died, and twenty-seven remained, + not to comfort and to assist each other, but to hold a council of + destruction, and to determine who should be victims for the + preservation of the rest. At this hideous council twelve were + pronounced too weak to outlive much more suffering, and that they + might not needlessly consume any part of the remaining stock of + provisions, such as it was, (flying fish mixed with human flesh.) + these twelve helpless wretches were deliberately thrown into the + sea. The <i>fifteen</i>, who thus provided for their own safety + by the sacrifice of their weaker comrades, were rescued on the + seventeenth day after the wreck by a brig, sent out in quest of + the wreck of the <a name="Page_-19" id="Page_-19"></a>Medusa by + the six boats, which reached the shore in safety, and which might + have been the means of saving all on the raft, had not the crews + been totally lost to every sentiment of generosity and humanity, + when they cast off the tow-lines.</p> + + <p>In fact, from the very first of the calamity which befel the + Medusa, discipline, presence of mind, and every generous feeling, + were at an end: and the abandonment of the ship and of the raft, + the terrible loss of Life, the cannibalism, the cruelty, the + sufferings, and all the disgraceful and inhuman proceedings, + which have branded the modern Medusa with a name of infamy worse + than that of the Gorgon,—the monster after which she was + called,—originated in the want of that order and prompt + obedience, which the pages of this volume are intended to record, + to the honour of British seamen.</p> + + <p>In the history of no less than forty shipwrecks narrated in + this memorial of naval heroism,—of passive heroism, the + most difficult to be exercised of all sorts of + heroism,—there are very few instances of misconduct, and + none resembling that on board the Medusa.</p> + + <p>This contrast is marked and stated, not in an invidious spirit + towards the French, but because there is no example on record, + which furnishes such a comparison between the safety which + depends on cool and orderly behaviour in the season of peril, and + the terrible catastrophe which is hastened and aggravated by want + of firmness, and confusion.</p> + + <p>'It is impossible,' said a writer in the <i>Quarterly + Review</i>, of October, 1817, 'not to be struck with the + extraordinary difference of conduct in the officers and <a name= + "Page_-18" id="Page_-18"></a>crew of the Medusa and the Alceste, + wrecked nearly about the same time. In the one case, all the + people were kept together in a perfect state of discipline and + subordination, and brought safely home from the opposite side of + the globe; in the other, every one seems to have been left to + shift for himself, and the greater part perished in the horrible + way we have seen.'<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id= + "FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class= + "fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + + <p>I have brought the comparison between the two wrecks again + under notice to show, that as certainly as discipline and good + order tend to insure safety on perilous occasions, so, + inevitably, do confusion and want of discipline lead to + destruction. In the one case, intrepidity and obedience prompted + expedients and resources: in the other case, consternation was + followed by despair, and despair aggravated the catastrophe with + tenfold horrors.</p> + + <p>It is not to be concealed, that occasional instances of + insubordination and pusillanimity have occurred in the British + navy. Some such appear in this narrative, and they invariably + have produced their own punishment, by leading always to + disaster, and often to death; and they serve as beacons to point + out the fatal consequences of misconduct, under circumstances + either of drunkenness, disobedience, panic, selfishness, or + confusion.</p> + + <p>The selfish cowardice, noticed in page <a href= + "#Page_94">94</a>, on the part of the men in charge of the + jolly-boat of the Athenienne, and of some of the crew of the + launch of the Boreas, (see p. <a href="#Page_136">136</a>,) and + the tumult, intoxication, and desertion <a name="Page_-17" id= + "Page_-17"></a>of the majority of the crew of the Penelope, which + were followed by the prolonged sufferings and painful deaths of + the culprits, (see pp. <a href="#Page_200">200-204</a>,) are but + a few dark spots in the shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, to set off + by contrast the many bright pages, which describe innumerable + traits of character that do honour to human nature.</p> + + <p>As a direction to some of these noble traits, every one of + which will make the reader warm to the name of a British sailor: + and, if he be one himself, will bring the blood from his heart to + his face in a glow of emulation and honest pride,—I ask him + to turn for examples of perfect discipline to pages <a href= + "#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href= + "#Page_62">63</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href= + "#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href= + "#Page_109">110</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href= + "#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href= + "#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href= + "#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href= + "#Page_267">268</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href= + "#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>, <a href= + "#Page_280">280</a>. Here he will behold the portraits of men on + the brink of destruction, steady, 'as if they were moving from + one ship to another in any of the Queen's ports,' and unmoved by + images of death under the most appalling forms; and he will say, + 'Lo! these are triumphs of order and subordination, and examples + of such resolute defiance of the terrors of the last enemy, when + covered with the shadow of death, that no exploits in battle can + exhibit fortitude that will compare with them.'</p> + + <p>For instances of generous thought for others, of self-devotion + and of disregard of personal safety, I refer the reader to pages + <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href= + "#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_67">68</a>, <a href= + "#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href= + "#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href= + "#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href= + "#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href= + "#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_233">234</a>, <a href= + "#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</p> + + <p>In the long list of heroes, which these references to examples + of indomitable courage and unhesitating self-devotion will + unfold, it is almost wrong to mark out one more than another for + observation, and yet the following <a name="Page_-16" id= + "Page_-16"></a>stand so prominently forward in the front rank of + heroism, that it is impossible to refrain from noticing them. + Captain Lydiard sacrificed his life in his desperate endeavour to + rescue a boy from the wreck of the Anson, (pp. <a href= + "#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.) Captain + Temple, of the Crescent, and more than two hundred of his crew, + displayed a noble disregard of themselves, when they permitted + the jolly-boat, their own last hope of escape, to take off as + many as it would hold, and leave them to perish. There was no + rushing, no struggling, to get away from the sinking ship, but + with orderly care they helped the boat to push off, bade her God + speed, and calmly waited their fate, (p. <a href= + "#Page_153">153</a>.) The resolution of Captain Bertram, of the + Persian, to brave the danger of taking some men off a raft into + his over-crowded gig, was generously followed by the crews of the + other boats, who threw their clothing and provisions overboard to + make room for the additional weight, (p. <a href= + "#Page_191">191</a>.)</p> + + <p>I may refer also to the magnanimous contest between Captain + Baker, of the Drake, and his officers and men, each insisting on + being the last to make his way from the ship to a rock (p. + <a href="#Page_231">231</a>), and which ended in Captain Baker + refusing to stir until he had seen every man clear of the wreck. + A second struggle for precedency in glorious self-devotion took + place, when the same commander declared, that all his crew should + pass from the rock to the mainland, by help of a line, before he + himself would consult his own safety, (p. <a href= + "#Page_233">234</a>.) The rope broke, and the last means of + communication between the rock and the shore was severed, while + the captain of the Drake and three of his companions were waiting + their <a name="Page_-15" id="Page_-15"></a>turn to escape. They + met their fate with intrepid composure, (p. <a href= + "#Page_235">235</a>.) Lieutenant Smith, of the Magpie, offered + another memorable example, when his schooner was upset in a + squall, and he took to his boat with seven men. The boat + capsized, and while the struggling crew were endeavouring to + right her, they were attacked by sharks. The lieutenant himself + had both his legs bitten off; but when his body was convulsed + with agony, his mind retained and exercised all its energies, and + his last words were expressive of dying consideration for others. + 'Tell the admiral, if you survive,' said he, to a lad named + Wilson, 'that my men have done their duty, and that no blame is + attached to them. I have but one favour to ask, and that is, that + he will promote Meldrum to be a gunner,' (p. <a href= + "#Page_270">270</a>.) And richly did Meldrum deserve the + distinction. When all in the boat had perished but himself and + another, a brig hove in sight, but did not seem to notice the + speck on the ocean. Meldrum sprang overboard, and swam towards + the ship, and was thus the means of saving his companion's life + as well as his own.</p> + + <p>In a volume like this, 'the dangers of the seas' come before + the reader in such rapid succession, that he has scarcely time to + think of the many other awful perils and sufferings, besides + those of wind and storm, which put the mariner's fortitude to the + test. The narratives in pages <a href="#Page_1">2</a>, <a href= + "#Page_1">3</a>, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href= + "#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href= + "#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href= + "#Page_115">115</a>, present to view the horrors of a ship on + fire.</p> + + <p>In pages <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href= + "#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href= + "#THE_PENELOPE">196</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href= + "#Page_242">242</a>, we learn something of the terrible + consequences of being exposed to fogs and mist, ice and snow. In + page <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, we have a vivid picture of a + combination of these terrors; and in <a name="Page_-14" id= + "Page_-14"></a>pages <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href= + "#Page_267">268</a>, the most appalling of all the dangers a + sailor has to encounter is brought in view.</p> + + <p>We will hope that the rigours and perils of the blockade + system, which occasioned so fearful a loss of life at different + periods of the late war, but especially in the disastrous year + 1811, are at end for ever. From page <a href="#Page_154">154 to + 159</a>, and from <a href="#Page_168">168 to 186</a>, the + accounts of the loss of life in the Baltic and North Seas alone + occur in fearful succession; and the magnanimity with which + hundreds, nay, thousands of our bravest officers and men met + death on that most perilous of all services, has rendered the + names of British blockading ships memorable in the annals of + hardship, hardihood, and suffering. Many invaluable lives + perished from the inclemency of the weather; men were frozen to + death at their posts. It is recorded of one devoted officer, + Lieutenant Topping, that rushing on deck in anxiety for his ship, + without giving himself time to put on his clothes, 'in fifteen + minutes he fell upon the deck a corpse, stricken by the piercing + blast and driving snow,' (p. <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.)</p> + + <p>In page <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, we read of the bodies of + the dead, victims to the cold and tempest, piled up by the + survivors in rows one above another, on the deck of the St. + George, to serve as a shelter against the violence of the waves + and weather. 'In the fourth row lay the bodies of the Admiral and + his friend Captain Guion;' and out of a crew of 750, seven only + were saved.</p> + + <p>The Defence, the consort of the St. George, was cast away in + the same storm: out of her complement of 600, six was the small + remnant of survivors. This ship might probably have escaped, but + her gallant captain (Atkins) <a name="Page_-13" id= + "Page_-13"></a>said, 'I will never desert my admiral in the hour + of danger and distress,' (p. <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.)</p> + + <p>An instance of obedience and discipline, worthy of particular + mention, occurred before the St. George went down. A few men + asked leave to attempt to reach the shore in the yawl. Permission + was at first granted, but afterwards withdrawn, and the men + returned to their posts without a murmur. 'As if Providence had + rewarded their implicit obedience and reliance upon their + officers,' says the narrative (p. <a href="#Page_173">173</a>), + 'two of these men were of the few (seven) that were saved.'</p> + + <p>The question now arises, to what are we to attribute the + extraordinary display of cool determination manifested by British + seamen, in such trials of nerve as are described in the following + pages? The series of shipwrecks extends from 1793 to 1847, a + period of fifty-four years; and tragic scenes are described, many + of them far exceeding the imaginary terrors of fiction, and all + of them equal in horror to anything that the Drama, Romance, or + Poetry has attempted to delineate.</p> + + <p>We rise from the perusal with scarcely any other impression + upon our minds than that of wonder and admiration, at the + extraordinary self-command exercised when death was staring every + man in the face. Doubtless there are some instances of + misbehaviour, and of lack of firmness: it could not be otherwise. + 'When the stormy wind ariseth, and they are carried up to the + heaven and down again to the deep, their soul melteth because of + their trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken + man, and are at their wit's end.' But such examples are so few in + the British navy, that we have little on this score wherewith to + reproach our seamen.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_-12" id="Page_-12"></a>To what, then, are we to + attribute the manly bearing of British seamen, when the planks of + their ship tremble under their feet, and the waves are yawning to + swallow them up!</p> + + <p>First.—To the early training which almost all our youth + receive, in one way or other. It begins at school. The first + principles of generosity, as of obedience and order, are taught + in our schools: whether in the national and parochial schools, or + at Westminster, Eton, and Harrow, and other schools of a higher + order, where in his very games the boy learns to exercise + presence of mind, daring, and self-command. In our streets and + play-grounds, where the humblest or the proudest are at their + sports, the germ of the manly spirit is discernible in emulous + contention as to who shall bear and forbear, remain at his post, + give and take, with most patience and good-humour.</p> + + <p>Foreigners have allowed that there is nothing like an English + school to discipline a lad for the high places, or rough places, + of after-life; and that our mixed schools of every grade are the + seminaries, where one learns to lead, and another to follow, in + the path of honour and duty.</p> + + <p>Secondly.—To the habit which prevails so universally in + this country, of giving place to those to whom deference is due, + and of looking up to those, who are above us in station, with + ungrudging respect and confidence. This goes with the man into + all the walks of life. Some attribute it to the aristocratic + feeling, which is said to be stronger in England than elsewhere: + but it maybe more justly traced to that good sense, which is at + work in all <a name="Page_-11" id="Page_-11"></a>orders of our + people, and which understands when to obey and to hearken. In the + seaman it displays itself in a predisposition to regard his + officer as one worthy of his confidence, and whom it is his + safety as well as duty to obey in the hour of danger. And this + confidence is justified by the almost unfailing manner, in which + the officer shows himself deserving of the trust reposed in him, + and takes the lead in the very front of danger, and exhibits in + moments of doubt and difficulty all the resources of a cool and + collected mind, at the very juncture when life and death depend + upon his composure.</p> + + <p>The leadership to which a British tar is accustomed, and which + ever responds to his own confiding spirit, is one of the primary + causes of his endurance and daring. His officer is the first to + advance, the foremost to encounter, the last to hesitate, and the + most willing to take more than his share of danger and of + suffering; and this inspires the men with an emulation to do + likewise.</p> + + <p>Conduct such as that displayed by the captains and officers of + the Queen Charlotte (pp. <a href="#Page_37">37</a> and <a href= + "#Page_41">41</a>), of the Hindostan (p. <a href= + "#Page_71">71</a>), of the Athenienne (p. <a href= + "#Page_96">96</a>), of the Anson (p. <a href= + "#Page_128">128</a>), of the Dædalus (p. <a href= + "#Page_189">189</a>), could not fail of producing a sort of + instinctive effect upon a ship's crew. Under the command of + officers who never flinch from their duty, who share their last + biscuit with the lowest cabin-boy, and who will not move from the + vessel when it is sinking under them, until every other man has + taken his seat in the boat, or planted his foot on the raft that + is to carry him from the wreck, where can be the quailing heart + or the unready hand?</p> + + <p>Thirdly.—The blockading service has had much to do + <a name="Page_-10" id="Page_-10"></a>in training our seamen for + passive heroism and enduring fortitude. During the long war with + France, it was a service wherein all those qualities were called + into action, which are of most value in sudden emergencies. + Vigilance, promptitude, patience, and endurance, were tried to + the utmost in the course of those wintry months, and tempestuous + seasons, when single ships, squadrons, and fleets were cruising + off the enemy's coast, and every man on board was perpetually + exposed to something that put his temper or his nerves to the + test. Then was the time to learn when to keep a sharp look-out, + to be on the alert in handling the gear of a vessel, to respond + to the word of command at the instant, to do things at the right + point of time, to hold life at a moment's purchase, and to stare + death in the face without flinching. It was a hard and rigorous + school; but if proficiency in readiness and fortitude was to be + attained anywhere, it was in the blockading service, and there + the heart of oak was tried, and the seaman was trained for the + exercise of that discipline, of which this Record of Naval + Shipwrecks presents so complete a picture.</p> + + <p>But we will hope that the principal cause, to which we may + ascribe the good conduct of our sailors in the trying hour, when + there seems to be a span only between life and death, is the + religious feeling which they bring with them to their ship from + their homes, whether from the cabin on the sea-shore, or the + cottage on the hill-side. The scene described in page 115, and + the anecdote of the poor boy, in whose hand was found an open + Bible when his corpse was cast on shore, show the power of + religious feeling in the soul of the sailor. It may be a very + imperfect feeling, <a name="Page_-9" id="Page_-9"></a>but the + sailor has it; and even in its imperfection it has a strong hold + on his mind. From the first outbreak of the Revolution; the + French sailor entered the service of his country as a volunteer + or a conscript, embued with infidel notions: or to say the least, + with the religious indifference which had become so common in + France. Not so the English sailor. He was not one of the fools to + say in his heart. 'There is no God!' It is not easy to define the + nature of that awe which fills the mind of a religions mariner; + but most certainly those 'who see the works of the Lord and his + wonders in the deep,' face danger more steadily, under the solemn + belief that there is a ruling power to control the waters, and to + say to the winds, 'Peace! be still.' They are predisposed to 'cry + unto the Lord in their trouble,' and to implore Him to 'make the + storm a calm, so that the waves thereof may be still:' and this + fear of God, which is before their eyes, has its influence in + making them willing to adopt every expedient proposed to them by + their officers for their common safety. Under this higher + impulse, the spirit of obedience works in them more confidingly; + and humbled before the Supreme Power, they are prepared to yield + submission to every intellect superior to their own. Now if there + be a feeling of this kind already at work for good in the minds + of our seamen, it is of the utmost importance to strengthen + it,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href= + "#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> to give it a sure + direction, <a name="Page_-8" id="Page_-8"></a>and to make it run + in a deeper and a broader channel, by all the appliances of + instruction and education.</p> + + <p>To the credit of the official Boards, under whose + administrative authority provision is made for the religious and + educational improvement of men and boys in the Navy, very much + has been done lately to secure this great object. Within my own + memory few seamen could read, still fewer could write, but now + the majority of them can do both, and they respond largely to the + instruction they receive, by their intelligence and good conduct. + There is no more imposing sight than that of the crew of a + man-of-war, when assembled for divine service; and if the + chaplain be a clergyman, who applies himself zealously to his + duties, he has a congregation before him, who show by their + attentive looks, that they are under the power of religious + impressions. Almost all ships commanded by post-captains have + chaplains and naval instructors, and where there is no chaplain, + the commanding officer is expected to read prayers on Sundays. In + <a name="Page_-7" id="Page_-7"></a>port the crews of the Queen's + ships have the opportunity of observing the sacred day, either on + board the flag-ship, the ordinary, or in the dockyard chapel. I + believe every ship in the navy is provided with a library; and + first, second, third, fourth, and fifth-rates have schoolmasters. + To men and boys desirous of entering the service, the preference + is given to those who can read and write; and an admirable + regulation has lately been adopted, which will contribute further + to advance our navy in the intellectual scale. Boys are entered + as naval apprentices, to the number of one hundred each, at + Devonport, Portsmouth, Sheerness, and Cork. They remain for one + year on board the flag-ship, under a systematic course of + education, and are then drafted into sea-going ships. The happy + effects produced by mental cultivation were felt in an especial + degree, when the Discovery ships, under Captain, now Sir Edward + Parry, were blocked up with ice, and had to pass so many dismal + days and nights in the Polar Sea. A school was established both + in the Hecla and Fury, under able superintendence; and men, whose + time would have hung heavily during their icy imprisonment, were + kept in good humour and cheerfulness by the intellectual + occupations in which they were engaged. Captain Parry's remarks + in attestation of the moral effect produced by this means, and on + the uninterrupted good order which prevailed among his men, are + cited in page <a href="#Page_243">243</a> of this work.</p> + + <p>It would add greatly to the intellectual and spiritual + improvement of our seamen, if a Chaplain-general were appointed + to take the oversight of the religious instruction, and an + <i>Examiner</i> to direct the secular instruction, <a name= + "Page_-6" id="Page_-6"></a>of the Navy. The former should + exercise authority similar to that of an archdeacon, and the + functions of the latter should resemble those of her Majesty's + Inspectors of Schools. The impulse given to parochial education + by the latter is beyond all calculation; and the difference of + ecclesiastical discipline in a diocese, where there are active + archdeacons and where there are not, is a matter of well + ascertained fact.</p> + + <p>The duties of a chaplain-general<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id= + "FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class= + "fnanchor">[3]</a> should be to visit the naval posts, and to go + on board the Queen's ships, (especially before they are + despatched on foreign service,) for the purpose of reporting and + advising. He should look out for and recommend competent + chaplains,—consult with admirals and captains on the best + mode of securing the regular performance of the sacred + offices,—make inquiry into the state of the ship-libraries, + keep them well supplied with religious books and tracts, and + direct observation generally to the spiritual wants of <a name= + "Page_-5" id="Page_-5"></a>ships and ports. He would thus be of + infinite use in making religion an object of more and more + thoughtfulness to those, who take an interest in the comfort and + good conduct of the Navy: two things which always go + together.</p> + + <p>If an Inspector of all the naval schools and schoolmasters + were appointed (Professor Mosely has now the inspection of the + Dockyard Schools,) he should consider it to be part of his office + to look to the libraries, and to recommend elementary books. His + periodical examinations would be likely to stir up the same + spirit of emulation on board ship, which has been the result in + our towns and villages, where the schools are visited by persons + appointed by the Committee of Privy Council on Education. I am + satisfied with throwing out these suggestions without dwelling + further upon them, under the persuasion that every practical hint + of the kind will be well considered, and acted upon (if it + commend itself to their judgment,) by those who preside over + naval affairs, and who have at heart the mental improvement of + our seamen.</p> + + <p>I have another suggestion to make, which is meant not for + those only, who are officially interested in the condition of the + navy, but for all who love and value it. The merchant service, + the fisheries, and the coasting trade are the nurseries of the + navy. Every shipmate and every boatman on the sea and on the + river ought, therefore, to come in for a share of our sympathy, + because he belongs to a class to which the Queen's ships must + look for a supply of men. But none are exposed to more trials + than they, and especially in the larger <a name="Page_-4" id= + "Page_-4"></a>ports. Many of them come home from a voyage of + danger and deprivation, full of excitement, and become victims of + plunder and temptation; and the man who last week was impressed, + by the perils of the tempest, with the terrors of the Lord, and + was inclined to fear God and to serve him, is waylaid by + unfeeling wretches, who first entice him into scenes of + profligacy and blasphemy, and then cast him off, robbed of his + money, seared in his conscience, and in a miserable condition of + soul and body. Many benevolent efforts have been made to protect + and fortify some of those who are thus beset, and to reclaim such + as are not utterly lost; and associations have been formed for + the purpose of affording temporary relief and instruction to + seamen, who might otherwise become outcasts, and perish in want + and ignorance. I allude to such institutions as the 'Sailor's + Home,' or 'Destitute Sailor's Asylum,' in London, for the + reception of seamen who have squandered or have been despoiled of + their earnings after their return from a foreign voyage, or who + are disabled for employment by illness, age, or accident. There + is also. 'The Floating Chapel,' opened to invite and enable + mariners to avail themselves of the opportunity of attending + Divine service, (under the Thames Church Missionary Society,) + which moves from one thickly populated sailors' locality to + another. The establishment of a district church and minister in a + large sea-port parish, like that of St. Mary's, Devonport, to + relieve the necessities of a district crowded with mariners, and + rife with all the snares and temptations which entrap a <a name= + "Page_-3" id="Page_-3"></a>sailor, and endanger his bodily and + spiritual safety, is another undertaking worthy of notice.</p> + + <p>Institutions like these must depend principally on public and + voluntary support. There is much need for them in all our + principal sea-ports; for who require them more than the men who + are perpetually exposed to the double shipwreck of body and soul? + The members of these and similar institutions are instrumental in + preserving some from ruin—in restoring others to character + and employment, to usefulness, to self-estimation, and to + religious feeling; and in making both our merchant and naval + service an example to the world of subordination and patient + endurance.</p> + + <p>The promoters of these institutions are not satisfied with + providing a remedy for the evil which exists, but they do much to + prevent the ills of irreligion and immorality, by supplying + seamen with instructive and devotional books, and by employing + agents to go among them and to tell them where the offices of + religion are performed. The countenance which admirals and + captains, prelates and lords of the Admiralty, have given to + them, are the best warrant for their necessity and usefulness. A + short notice of 'The Swan' and its Tender, will not be thought + out of place in this volume.</p> + + <p>'The Swan' is a large cutter of about 140 tons. On her bows + she bears an inscription which describes her as 'The Thames + Church.' She conveys a clergyman and a floating sanctuary from + one pool in the river to another, to carry the Word of God to + those who do not seek for it themselves. Hers is a missionary + voyage. She is <a name="Page_-2" id="Page_-2"></a>freighted with + Bibles and Testaments and Prayer-books, and religious tracts. She + runs alongside colliers, outward-bound vessels, and emigrant + ships especially, that the services, the consolation, and the + instruction of the Church may be offered as a parting gift to + those, who are taking a last leave of their native shores, and + are saying farewell to weeping friends and kindred.</p> + + <p>There is also a Tender, called 'The Little Thames Church,' + which sails lower down the river, as occasion may require, + fraught on the same holy errand. One extract from the last Report + of the 'Thames Church Mission Society,' which is patronized by + the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops of London and + Winchester, will suffice to explain the nature of her + mission.</p> + + <p>'Sunday, February 24, Long Reach. Morning service. The + congregation was 128 seamen. Afternoon, Bible class, 62. Evening + service, 132,—total 322. One of the captains observed that + there was a great change for the better, which he was rejoiced to + see: 'For,' said he, 'about four years ago I attended a service, + and found that I was the only sailor that had come from the + fleet; but this morning so crowded was the church, that I had + some difficulty in getting a seat.''</p> + + <p>It is by means such as these, which as a Christian nation we + are bound to provide, that we might hope, not only to keep alive, + but to improve the noble spirit which distinguishes the British + Navy.</p> + + <p>The discipline which now prevails would be established on the + highest principle of obedience and action. The endurance, which + now bears suffering with fortitude, would learn to submit to + severer trials under the sanction of a <a name="Page_-1" id= + "Page_-1"></a>higher teaching, and patience would have her + perfect work. The courage and steadiness of a brave crew would + receive an accession of energy from the hope that is set before + them. The allegiance, which they owe to their Sovereign, would be + strengthened by a sense of the more sacred duty which they owe to + Him, by whom kings reign and rulers govern: and committing + themselves habitually to the protection of Providence, they would + face deprivation, fatigue, and danger with unshaken + composure.—with a hand for any toil, and a heart for any + fate.</p> + + <p>WILLIAM STEPHEN GILLY.</p> + + <p><i>Durham, Oct 28, 1850.</i><a name="Page_0" id= + "Page_0"></a></p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> See also + an elaborate article on the same subject in the <i>Edinburgh + Review</i>, September, 1818. No. 60.</p> + </div> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> In + September, 1849, five colliers were wrecked off the Gunfleet + Sands. The crews were saved, and the following extract from + the <i>Ipswich Express</i>, copied into the <i>Times</i> of + the 12th of December, contains a proof of the strong hold + which religious awe has on the minds of + seamen:—'Yesterday (Monday) afternoon, the united + crews, amounting to about thirty men, had a free passage to + Ipswich by the River Queen. The scene on board was of the + most extraordinary and affecting description. The rough, + weather-beaten seamen, who had gone through the perils of + that night with undaunted courage, were, in the review of it, + completely overwhelmed with gratitude to God for His mercy in + granting them deliverance. For the most part they were in the + fore cabin of the steamer, and at one time all would be on + their knees in devout prayer and thanksgiving to God, then a + suitable hymn would be read, and the voices of those who had + been saved from the yawning ocean would presently sound it + forth in solemn thanks to God. From port to port they were + entirely occupied in these devotional exercises, and the + effect of them, and indeed the whole scene, upon several + hardy sons of ocean who were on board, will never be + forgotten.'</p> + </div> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> His duties + would be similar to those described in the following letter + from a clergyman in one of the colonies, though more general + in their extent:—'My own duties are pretty much those + you would suppose. I visit the emigrant ships + <i>immediately</i> on their coming into port, and am often on + board before they drop anchor. I then inquire for the members + of the Church of England, and for such others as may require + the services of a Church of England clergyman; and having + assembled them together, inquire as to the occurrences on the + voyage, whether they have had schools, and a regular Sunday + or daily service, whether there are children to be baptized, + and a thousand other matters of a like nature, which it would + be but tiring you to detail. We then appoint an hour for + holding a thanksgiving service for their preservation from + the perils of the sea, and their safe arrival in the colony. + This service consists in the proper service for the day, with + a short sermon suited to the occasion.'</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_BOYNE" id="THE_BOYNE"></a><a name="Page_1" id= + "Page_1"></a>THE BOYNE</h2> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i2">Roll on, thou deep and dark blue + ocean—roll!<br /></span> <span class="i2">Ten thousand + fleets sweep over thee in vain;<br /></span> <span class= + "i2">Man marks the earth, with ruin—his + control<br /></span> <span class="i2">Stops with the + shore;—upon the watery plain<br /></span> <span class= + "i2">The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth + remain<br /></span> <span class="i2">A shadow of man's + ravage, save his own,<br /></span> <span class="i2">When, for + a moment, like a drop of rain,<br /></span> <span class= + "i2">He sinks into thy depths with bubbling + groan,<br /></span> <span>Without a grave, unknell'd, + uncoffin'd, and unknown.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>BYRON'S <i>Childe Harold</i>.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>In the Preface to this work it has been stated that it is not + our intention to give a detailed account of every wreck that has + happened in the Royal Navy from the year 1793, to the present + time, but only of a few of those which appear to be most + interesting. We therefore pass over the first two years, giving + only a catalogue of the wrecks that occurred during that time; + because the calamities that befel the British Navy in 1793 and + 1794 were but slight in comparison with those of a later date. + The first loss that we have to record is that of the BOYNE, of 98 + guns, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Peyton, and commanded by + Captain George Grey. This ship took fire as she lay at anchor at + Spithead, on the 1st of May, 1795.</p> + + <p>The origin of the fire has never been correctly ascertained; + but it is supposed that some of the lighted paper <a name= + "Page_2" id="Page_2"></a>from the cartridges of the marines, as + they were exercising and firing on the windward side of the poop, + flew through the quarter gallery into the admiral's cabin, and + set fire to the papers or other inflammable materials that were + lying there. Be this as it may, the flames burst through the poop + before the fire was discovered, and, notwithstanding the united + efforts of both officers and men, they soon wrapt the vessel in a + blaze fore and aft.</p> + + <p>Upon the discovery of the fire, all the boats from the + different ships put out to the Boyne's assistance, and the crew, + with the exception of eleven, were saved.</p> + + <p>The Boyne's guns, being loaded, went off as they became + heated, and much injury would have been done to the shipping and + those on board, had not the Port-Admiral, Sir William Parker, + made signals for the vessels most in danger to get under weigh. + As it was, two men were killed, and one wounded on board the + Queen Charlotte.</p> + + <p>About half-past one in the afternoon, the burning ship parted + from her cables, and blew up with a dreadful explosion. At the + time of the accident, Admiral Peyton and Captain Grey were + attending a court martial in Portsmouth Harbour.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_AMPHION" id="THE_AMPHION"></a>THE AMPHION</h2> + + <p>The next catastrophe which we have to describe, was of a far + more appalling nature, and one which long threw a gloom over the + inhabitants of Plymouth and the neighbourhood.</p> + + <p>The AMPHION frigate had been obliged to put into Plymouth for + repairs, and, on the 22nd Sept., 1796, was lying alongside of a + sheer-hulk taking in her bowsprit, within a few yards of the + dockyard jetty. The ship, being on the eve of sailing, was + crowded with more than an hundred men, women, and children, above + her usual complement. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon + that a violent shock, like an earthquake, was felt at <a name= + "Page_3" id="Page_3"></a>Stonehouse and Plymouth. The sky towards + the dock appeared red, as if from fire, and in a moment the + streets were crowded with the inhabitants, each asking his + neighbour what had occurred. When the confusion had somewhat + abated, it was announced that the Amphion had blown up, and then + every one hastened to the dock, where a most heartrending scene + presented itself. Strewed in all directions were pieces of broken + timber, spars, and rigging, whilst the deck of the hulk, to which + the frigate had been lashed was red with blood, and covered with + mangled limbs and lifeless trunks, all blackened with powder. The + frigate had been originally manned from Plymouth; and as the + mutilated forms were collected together and carried to the + hospital, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters flocked to the + gates, in their anxiety to discover if their relatives were + numbered amongst the dying or the dead.</p> + + <p>From the suddenness of the catastrophe, no accurate account + can of course be given; but the following particulars were + collected from the survivors.</p> + + <p>The captain, Israel Pellew, was at dinner in his cabin, with + Captain Swaffield of the Overyssel, a Dutch 64, and the first + lieutenant of the Amphion, when in an instant they were all + violently thrown against the carlings of the upper deck. Captain + Pellew had sufficient presence of mind to rush to the cabin + window before a second explosion followed, by which he was blown + into the water; he was soon, however, picked up by a boat, and + was found to have sustained but little injury.</p> + + <p>The first lieutenant, who followed his example, escaped in a + similar manner. Unfortunately, Captain Swaffield perished, in all + probability having been stunned either by the first blow he + received against the carlings, or by coming in contact with some + part of the hulk. His body was found a month afterwards, with the + skull <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>fractured, apparently + crushed between the sides of the two vessels.</p> + + <p>At the moment of the explosion, the sentinel at the cabin door + was looking at his watch, when it was dashed from his hands and + he was stunned: he knew nothing more until he found himself safe + on shore, and comparatively unhurt. The escape of the boatswain + was also very remarkable; he was standing on the cathead, + directing the men in rigging out the jib-boom, when he felt + himself suddenly carried off his feet into the air: he then fell + into the sea senseless; and on recovering his consciousness, he + found that he had got entangled amongst the rigging, and that his + arm was broken. He contrived to extricate himself, though with + some difficulty, and he was soon picked up by a boat, without + further injury.</p> + + <p>The preservation of a child was no less singular: in the + terror of the moment, the mother had grasped it in her arms, but, + horrible to relate, the lower part of her body was blown to + pieces, whilst the upper part remained unhurt, and it was + discovered with the arms still clasping the living child to the + lifeless bosom.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Till then we had not wept—<br /></span> <span>But + well our gushing hearts might say,<br /></span> <span>That + there a <i>Mother</i> slept!<br /></span> <span>For her pale + arms a babe had prest<br /></span> <span>With such a + wreathing grasp,<br /></span> <span>The fire had pass'd o'er + that fond breast,<br /></span> <span><i>Yet not undone the + clasp</i>.<br /></span> <span>Deep in her bosom lay his + head,<br /></span> <span>With half-shut violet + eye—<br /></span> <span><i>He</i> had known little of + her dread,<br /></span> <span>Nought of her + agony.<br /></span> <span>Oh! human love, whose yearning + heart,<br /></span> <span>Through all things vainly + true,<br /></span> <span>So stamps upon thy mortal + part<br /></span> <span>Its passionate adieu:<br /></span> + <span><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a>Surely thou hast + another lot,<br /></span> <span>There is some home for + thee,<br /></span> <span>Where thou shalt rest, rememb'ring + not<br /></span> <span>The moaning of the sea.—MRS. + HEMANS.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>The exact complement of the Amphion was 215, but from the + crowded state of her decks at the time of the accident, it is + supposed that 300, out of 310 or 312 persons, perished with the + ship.</p> + + <p>The captain, two lieutenants, a boatswain, three or four + seamen, a marine, one woman, and the child were all that were + saved.</p> + + <p>The cause of this unfortunate event was never clearly known; + but it was conjectured that the gunner might have let fall some + powder near the fore-magazine, which accidentally igniting, had + communicated with the magazine itself. The gunner had been + suspected of stealing the powder, and on that day he is said to + have been intoxicated, and was probably less careful than usual. + He was amongst the numbers who perished.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_TRIBUNE" id="THE_TRIBUNE"></a>THE TRIBUNE</h2> + + <p>The loss of the TRIBUNE frigate, in November of the following + year, is too interesting to be omitted.</p> + + <p>At about eight o'clock on the morning of the 16th of November, + 1797, the harbour of Halifax was discovered, and as a strong wind + blew from the east-south-east, Captain Scory Barker proposed to + the master to lie to, until a pilot came on board. The master + replied that there was no necessity for such a measure, as the + wind was favourable, and he was perfectly well acquainted with + the passage. The captain confiding in this assurance, went below, + and the master took charge of the ship.</p> + + <p>Towards noon they approached so near the Thrum Cape shoals, + that the master became alarmed and sent for Mr. Galvin, one of + the master's mates. The message was scarcely delivered, before + the man in the main-chains <a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a>sung + out, 'By the mark five.' In a few minutes after the ship + struck.</p> + + <p>Signals of distress were immediately made, and as speedily + answered by the military posts, and the ships in the harbour.</p> + + <p>Some boats put out from the harbour to the assistance of the + Tribune, and Mr. Rackum, boatswain of the Ordinary, succeeded in + reaching her in a boat from the dockyard, but all the other boats + were forced to put back,—the wind was blowing so hard + directly against them.</p> + + <p>The ship continued to beat until eight o'clock, P.M., when all + the guns having been thrown overboard (except one, retained for + signals), and all means taken to lighten her, she began to heave, + and in about an hour after she swung off the shoal,—not, + however, without having lost her rudder.</p> + + <p>She was then found to have seven feet of water in the hold; + the chain pumps were instantly manned, and every exertion made to + save the vessel. At first these efforts seemed to be successful, + but by ten o'clock the gale had increased to a frightful + violence, and the water was gaining on them so fast that little + hope remained. The ship was driving rapidly towards the rocky + coast, against which she must have been dashed to pieces had she + kept afloat a few minutes longer, but she gave a lurch and went + down, rose again for an instant, and with another lurch sank, and + all was over,—and there were nearly two hundred and fifty + human beings struggling with the waves.</p> + + <p>Of all the crew twelve only were saved.</p> + + <p>Mr. Galvin, the master's mate, was below, directing the + working of the pumps, when the ship went down; he was washed up + the hatchway, and thence into the sea; he then struck out for the + shrouds, but was seized by three of his drowning comrades. To + extricate himself <a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a>from their + grasp, he dived for a few seconds, which caused them to let go + their hold. He reached the shrouds, which were crowded with + people, and then climbed to the main-top. Ten men had taken + refuge in the foretop, and about a hundred persons altogether are + supposed by Mr. Galvin to have been clinging to the shrouds, + tops, and other parts of the rigging; but the long November + night, the intense cold, and the fierce gale, finished the work + that the waves had left undone; and one by one the poor creatures + let go their hold, frozen or exhausted, and dropped into the + foaming sea.</p> + + <p>About forty persons were clinging to the mainmast when it fell + over, and all were lost, except Mr. Galvin and nine others, who + had strength enough left to enable them to gain the top, which + rested on the mainyard, being fortunately sustained by a part of + the rigging. But of the ten who regained the main-top, four only, + including Mr. Galvin, survived the night. Of the ten in the + foretop, six perished, three from exhaustion, and three were + washed way.</p> + + <p>Here we cannot refrain from relating an instance of the + coolness which is so often characteristic of the British sailor. + Amongst those who survived in the foretop were two seamen, Robert + Dunlap, and Daniel Munroe; the latter disappeared in the night, + and his companion concluded that he had been washed away with the + others. About two hours, however, after he had been missed, + Munroe, to the surprise of Dunlap, thrust his head through the + lubber's hole. Dunlap asked where he had been.</p> + + <p>'Been.' said Munroe; 'I've been cruizing, d'ye see, in search + of a better berth.'</p> + + <p>After swimming about the wreck for a considerable time, he had + returned to the fore-shrouds, and crawling in at the + cat-harpings, had been sleeping there more than an hour.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a>When the morning dawned, + there were only eight men still alive on the rigging, and no + effort was made to rescue them until about eleven o'clock, A.M., + when a boy of thirteen years of age put out alone, in a small + skiff from Herring Cove, to their assistance, thus setting a + noble example of humanity and heroism to older and more + experienced men, who should have been leaders, and not followers, + on such an occasion. With great courage and skill, and at the + peril of his life, he reached the wreck, and backing his skiff + close to the foretop, carried off two of the people. Upon this + occasion, also, a noble instance of the magnanimity of the true + British tar was displayed.</p> + + <p>Munroe and Dunlap, who, during the night, had preserved their + strength and spirits, and had done everything in their power to + sustain their less fortunate comrades, refused to quit the wreck + until the other two men, who were so exhausted as to be unable to + make any effort for their own safety, were taken on shore. They + accordingly lifted them into the skiff, and the gallant boy rowed + them off in triumph to the Cove, and deposited them in safety in + the nearest cottage.</p> + + <p>He again put off in his skiff, but this time all his efforts + were unavailing, and he was obliged to return. His gallant + example, however, had the effect of inducing others to make the + attempt, and the six survivors were conveyed to the shore in + large boats.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_RESISTANCE" id="THE_RESISTANCE"></a>THE + RESISTANCE</h2> + + <p>Before concluding this chapter, we will briefly relate another + catastrophe, somewhat similar to that of the Amphion, but which + affords a still more remarkable instance of the preservation of + four individuals, from one of whom the following particulars were + ascertained:——</p> + + <p>It appears that the RESISTANCE, of 44 guns, Captain Edward + Pakenham, had anchored in the Straits of Banca, on the 23rd of + July, 1798. Between three and <a name="Page_9" id= + "Page_9"></a>four o'clock in the morning of the 24th, the ship + was struck by lightning: the electric fluid must have penetrated + and set fire to some part of the vessel near to the magazine, as + she blew up with a fearful violence a few moments after the + flash. Thomas Scott, a seaman, one of the few survivors, stated + that he was lying asleep on the starboard side of the + quarter-deck, when being suddenly awakened by a bright blaze, and + the sensation of scorching heat, he found his hair and clothes + were on fire. A tremendous explosion immediately followed, and he + became insensible. He supposed that some minutes must have + elapsed before he recovered, when he found himself, with many of + his comrades, struggling in the waves amongst pieces of the + wreck. The Resistance had sunk, but the hammock netting was just + above water on the starboard side, and with much difficulty Scott + and the other survivors contrived to reach it. When they were + able to look around them, they found that twelve men alone + remained of a crew of above three hundred, including the marines. + The calmness of the weather enabled the unfortunate sufferers to + construct a raft with the pieces of timber that were floating + about; but most of the men were so much bruised and burnt as to + be unable to assist in the work. The raft was finished about one + o'clock, P.M., but in a very rough and insecure manner. Part of + the mainsail attached to the mast of the jolly-boat served them + for a sail, and they committed themselves to the care of + Providence upon this frail raft, and made for the nearest shore, + which was the low land of Sumatra, about three leagues + distant.</p> + + <p>About seven o'clock in the evening, a gale sprung up, the sea + ran high, and the lashings of the raft began to give way, the + planks which formed the platform were washed off, and in a short + time the mast and sail were also carried away. An anchor-stock + which formed part <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>of the raft + had separated, and was floating away; but although it was at some + distance, Scott proposed to swim for it, and encouraging three + others to follow his example, they all reached it in safety. In + about an hour afterwards they lost sight of their companions on + the raft, and never saw them more. The four men upon the + anchor-stock gained the shore, and they then fell into the hands + of the Malays.</p> + + <p>Thomas Scott was twice sold as a slave, but was at length + released, at the request of Major Taylor, the governor of + Malacca, who, hearing that four British seamen were captives at + Lingan, sent to the Sultan to beg his assistance in procuring + their liberty. Thomas Scott returned with Major Taylor's + messenger to Malacca, from whence he sailed to England: the other + three men had been previously released by the Sultan's orders, + and conveyed to Penang.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_PROSERPINE" id="THE_PROSERPINE"></a>THE + PROSERPINE.</h2> + + <p>On Monday, January the 28th, 1799, His Majesty's frigate + Proserpine, 28 guns, commanded by Captain James Wallis, sailed + from Yarmouth to Cuxhaven. She had on board the Hon. Thomas + Grenville, who was the bearer of important despatches for the + Court of Berlin. On Wednesday, the 30th, the ship was off + Heligoland, and there took in a pilot for the Elbe. The day being + fine, with a fair wind from the N.N.E., the Proserpine's course + was steered for the Red Buoy, where she anchored for the night. + It was then perceived that the two other buoys at the entrance of + the river had been removed: a consultation was therefore held + with the pilots, in the pre<a name="Page_11" id= + "Page_11"></a>sence of Mr. Grenville, as to the practicability of + proceeding up the river in the absence of the buoys. The + Heligoland pilot, and the two belonging to the ship, were + unanimous in declaring that there was not the slightest + difficulty or danger in ascending the river; they professed the + most perfect knowledge of the passage, and assured Captain Wallis + they had no fear of carrying the vessel to Cuxhaven provided only + he would proceed between half ebb and half flood tide; for in + that case they should be able to see the sands and to recognise + their marks.</p> + + <p>The next morning (31st), the Proserpine was got under weigh, + and proceeded up the river, having the Prince of Wales packet, + which had accompanied her from Yarmouth, standing on ahead.</p> + + <p>At four o'clock in the afternoon, when they were within four + miles of Cuxhaven, the weather became very thick, and some snow + fell, so that Captain Wallis was obliged to anchor.</p> + + <p>At nine o'clock, P.M., the wind changed to east by south, + blowing a violent gale, accompanied by a heavy fall of snow, + which made it impossible to see beyond a few feet from the ship; + and what was still worse, the tide and the wind brought such + large masses of ice against the ship, that, with all hands upon + deck, it was with the greatest difficulty they prevented the + cables being cut, and were able to preserve their station till + daylight.</p> + + <p>By eight o'clock next morning, the flood tide had carried up + most of the ice, and left a passage clear below the ship, while + all above it was blocked tip. The Prince of Wales packet had gone + on shore during the night; and, warned by her fate, Captain + Wallis determined to retreat out of the Elbe. Mr. Grenville was + very anxious to be put on shore as speedily as possible, his + mission being of much importance; but the river was so completely + blocked up above them, that there seemed no <a name="Page_12" id= + "Page_12"></a>possibility of effecting a landing at Cuxhaven: + Captain Wallis therefore got his ship under weigh, and stood out + to sea, intending to land Mr. Grenville on the nearest part of + the coast of Jutland, if it were practicable.</p> + + <p>The pilots were congratulating the captain on the frigate's + getting safely out of the river, and clear of the sands, and the + people had been allowed to go to breakfast, on the supposition + that all danger was past, when the vessel struck upon Scharborn + Sand, with Newark Island bearing south by east, at half-past nine + o'clock, A.M.</p> + + <p>As it was blowing a very strong gale of wind, the Proserpine + struck with great force, though she carried no other canvass than + her foretopmast stay-sail. Upon sounding there was found to be + only ten feet of water under the fore part of her keel.</p> + + <p>The boats were immediately lowered to carry out an anchor, but + the ice was returning upon them so fast that this was found + impossible, and the boats were hoisted on board again. All hands + were then employed to shore the ship up, and make her heel + towards the bank, to prevent her falling into the stream, which + would have been certain destruction. Happily this object was + effected; for as the tide ebbed, she lay towards the bank.</p> + + <p>The next tide, however, brought down such huge masses of ice + that the shores were carried away—the copper was torn from + the starboard quarter, and the rudder cut in two, the lower part + lying on the ice under the counter.</p> + + <p>Notwithstanding all these disasters, Captain Wallis still + hoped to get the ship off at high water, and to effect this, they + proceeded to lighten her by throwing most of her guns and part of + her stores overboard, all of which were borne up on the ice. One + party was employed in hoisting out the provisions, another in + starting the casks of wine and spirits; and such were the + <a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>good discipline and right + feeling of the men, that not one instance of intoxication + occurred.</p> + + <p>At ten o'clock on Friday night, they abandoned all hope of + saving the vessel; it was then high water, yet the heavy gale + from the south-east so kept back the tide, that upon sounding, + they found three feet less water than there had been in the + morning, when the ship first struck.</p> + + <p>The situation of the crew was dreadful. When the tide ebbed, + they expected every moment that the ship would be driven to + pieces by the ice. The cold was intense, and the darkness such + that it was almost impossible to distinguish one another upon + deck; and the snow, falling very thick, was driven against their + faces by the wind, and froze upon them as it fell.</p> + + <p>There was no possibility of keeping up warmth and circulation + in their bodies, for the frozen snow and ice made the deck so + slippery they could scarcely stand, much less walk about quickly, + and all they could do was, to try to screen themselves as much as + possible from the pitiless blast. Thus the night was spent in + anxious fears for the future, and dread of immediate destruction. + But morning came at last, though with little comfort to the + sufferers, for the wind had increased, the ice was up to the + cabin windows, the stern-post was found to be broken in two, and + the ship otherwise seriously damaged.</p> + + <p>In this state they could not long remain. Mr. Grenville and + some of the officers proposed to Captain Wallis that the crew + should make an attempt to get over the ice to Newark Island, as + the only means of preserving their lives.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" + id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class= + "fnanchor">[4]</a> <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>At first, + Captain Wallis was inclined to reject the proposal; he saw all + the danger attending such an attempt; and it appeared to him, + that they could scarcely expect to succeed in crossing the ice + through a dense fog and heavy snow-storm, without any knowledge + of the way, without a guide, and exhausted as they were by mental + and bodily suffering, and benumbed with cold.</p> + + <p>On the other hand, he confessed that the plan presented a hope + of safety, and that it was their only hope. The ship's company + were unanimous in wishing to adopt it, and therefore Captain + Wallis finally consented.</p> + + <p>The people then set heartily to work to consider the + difficulties of the undertaking, and the best means of meeting + them. It was determined that they should be divided into four + companies, each headed by an officer; that the strongest of the + men should carry planks, to be laid down in the most dangerous + places by way of assistance to the less able and active of the + party; and that others should hold a long line of extended rope, + to be instantly available in case of any one falling between the + blocks of ice.</p> + + <p>When all these measures were decided upon, and every man had + provided himself with what was most essential for his safety and + sustenance, they began their perilous journey at half-past one + o'clock, P.M. By three o'clock, every one had left the ship, + except Captain Wallis, and he then followed the party, + accompanied by Lieutenant Ridley, of the Marines.</p> + + <p>To describe the dangers and difficulties the crew of the + <a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>Proserpine had to encounter is + almost impossible. The snow was still falling heavily, driving + against their faces, and adhering to their hair and eyebrows, + where in a few minutes it became solid pieces of ice. Sometimes + they had to clamber over huge blocks of ice, and at other times + were obliged to plunge through snow and water reaching to their + middle.</p> + + <p>As the wind blew from the direction in which they were + proceeding, the large flakes of snow were driven into their eyes, + and prevented them from seeing many yards in advance. This caused + them to deviate from their proper course, and to travel in a + direction which, if continued, would have carried them off the + shoal and field of ice into the sea, or at least have taken them + so far from any place of shelter, as to have left them to perish + in the ice and snow during the night.</p> + + <p>This dreadful calamity was, however, prevented, by one of the + party having in his possession a pocket compass. Fortunately, + bearings had been taken previous to their leaving the wreck. The + course they were pursuing was examined, and to their surprise it + was discovered that they had been deviating widely from the + direct line which they ought to have pursued. This, however, + enabled the party to correct the march, and after a toilsome + journey of six miles, they at length reached Newark.</p> + + <p>In the course of their hazardous journey, a striking instance + was afforded of the inscrutable ways of Providence. Two females + were on board the Proserpine when she was stranded,—one a + strong healthy woman, accustomed to the hardships of a maritime + life: the other exactly the reverse, weak and delicate, had never + been twelve hours on board a ship until the evening previous to + the frigate's sailing from Yarmouth. Her husband had been lately + impressed, and she had come on board for the purpose of taking + farewell. Owing <a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>to a sudden + change of the weather, and the urgency of the mission for which + the Proserpine had been despatched, she had been unable to quit + the ship. The poor creature was upon the eve of her confinement, + and naturally being but ill prepared to combat with the + inconvenience of a ship at sea, in the course of the day she was + delivered of a dead child. The reader can well imagine the + sufferings endured by this helpless woman, with but one of her + own sex to tend her, in a vessel tossed about in the stormy seas + of the Northern Ocean.</p> + + <p>But this was little compared with what she had yet to undergo. + Before many hours the frigate stranded: the night was passed in + torture of mind and body, and then was she compelled, with + others, to quit the ship, and travel through masses of snow and + ice, and to combat with the bitter north wind, hail, and + sleet.</p> + + <p>It may well be supposed that her strength, already weakened by + the sufferings she had undergone, was totally unprepared to bear + up against a trial from which the strongest of the crew might + have shrunk; but it turned out otherwise. The robust, healthy + woman, with her feeble companion, left the wreck together, the + former bearing in her arms an infant of nine months old. No doubt + many a ready arm was stretched forth to assist them in their + perilsome journey. But man could have done but little against the + piercing winter's blast with which they had to contend. Before + they had proceeded half the distance, the child was frozen in its + mother's arms, and ere long the mother herself sunk on the snow, + fell into a state of stupor, and died. Not so the delicate + invalid; sustained by help from above, she still pursued her way, + and ere long gained with others the hospitable shore. The + inhabitants of the village received the strangers with great + kindness, and did everything in their power to alleviate their + sufferings. The ship's <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>company + were distributed amongst them for the night, but the poverty of + the place afforded them little more than shelter.</p> + + <p>The next morning a general muster was made, and it was + ascertained that, of the whole company, twelve seamen, a woman, + and her child, only were missing; these had either been frozen to + death, or had died from the effects of cold, and the loss was + small when compared with the hardships they had suffered. Several + men had their legs and fingers frozen, but through proper medical + treatment they all recovered.</p> + + <p>The storm lasted without intermission till the night of the + 5th, and during that time the crew of the Proserpine were + suffering much from the want of necessary food, clothing, &c. + Provisions were so scarce that they were all put upon short + allowance; and their scanty store being nearly exhausted, it + became absolutely necessary that part of them should proceed to + Cuxhaven.</p> + + <p>They learnt that at low water it was possible to get to + Cuxhaven on foot; and as some of the islanders offered their + services as guides, and the tide served, it was settled that the + first lieutenant and half the officers and men should start with + the guides on the morning of the 6th.</p> + + <p>Mr. Grenville being very anxious to proceed on his mission to + Berlin, determined to accompany the party, with the secretary to + the embassy, and some of the servants; and they accordingly all + set off at eight o'clock in the morning, the severity of the + weather having somewhat abated.</p> + + <p>Great as had been the difficulties they had encountered in + their passage from the Proserpine to Newark Island, the dangers + of their present expedition, over sand and ice, were nearly as + formidable. At one part of their journey they found themselves on + the banks of a river. The guides had assured them it was only a + very narrow <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>stream, and would + most probably be frozen over: it proved, however, to be a river + of considerable width; the ice was broken and floating upon it in + large masses; the tide, too, was rising, and altogether the + passage presented a formidable appearance. There was little time + for deliberation, so the word was given to push forward, and the + next moment they were up to their waists in the water, struggling + against the tide and the large flakes of ice, which swept against + them with such force that they had great difficulty in keeping + their footing.</p> + + <p>But through the mercy of Providence they all reached the + opposite bank in safety, and before evening they arrived at + Cuxhaven, without the loss of a single man. Many of them were + more or less frost-bitten, but by rubbing the parts affected with + snow, circulation was restored.</p> + + <p>We must now return to Captain Wallis and the officers and men + who had remained with him at Newark, in hopes of being able to + save some of the stores from the frigate.</p> + + <p>On Friday, the 8th, Mr. Anthony, the master, volunteered with + a party to endeavour to ascertain the state of the vessel, and if + possible to bring away some bread, of which they were in much + need.</p> + + <p>They had great difficulty in reaching the ship, which they + found lying on her beam ends, with seven feet and a half of water + in her hold, having her quarter-deck separated six feet from her + gangway, and apparently only-kept together by the vast quantity + of ice which surrounded her.</p> + + <p>From this report, it was deemed unadvisable to make any more + expeditions to the ship; but on the 10th, the clearness of the + day induced Mr. Anthony, in company with the surgeon, a + midshipman, the boatswain, and two seamen, to go off a second + time.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>Those who remained at + Newark anxiously expected the return of the party, but they came + not. Evening advanced, the tide was flowing, and at last it was + too late for them to cross the sands and ice till the next ebb. + The watchers were obliged to content themselves with the hope + that Mr. Anthony and his party had found it safe and practicable + to remain on board the frigate till morning. But during the night + a violent storm arose, which increased the anxiety of Captain + Wallis for the safety of his people; and this anxiety became deep + distress, when in the morning he gazed wistfully towards the + wreck, and saw nothing but the foaming waters, and moving fields + of ice. Not a vestige of the frigate was visible. We cannot + better describe Captain Wallis's feelings on this occasion than + by quoting his own words, when he communicated the intelligence + to Vice-Admiral Archibald Dickson.</p> + + <p>'They got on board,' says Captain Wallis, 'but unfortunately + neglected, until too late in the tide, to return, which left them + no alternative but that of remaining on board till next day. + About ten o'clock at night the wind came on at S.S.E., and blew a + most violent storm; the tide, though at the neap, rose to an + uncommon height, the ice got in motion, the velocity of which + swept the wreck to destruction, (for in the morning not a vestige + of her was to be seen,) and with it, I am miserably afraid, went + the above unfortunate officers and men,—and if so, their + loss will be a great one to the service, as, in their different + departments, they were a great acquisition to it.</p> + + <p>'The only hope I have is, that Providence which has so + bountifully assisted us in our recent dangers and difficulties, + may be extended towards them, so as to preserve their lives, by + means of boat or otherwise; but I am very sorry to say my hopes + are founded on the <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>most + distant degree of human probability. This melancholy accident + happening so unexpectedly, added to my other misfortunes, has + given so severe a shock to my health and spirits, as to prevent + me hitherto undertaking the journey to Cuxhaven, where the + survivors of the ship's company now are, except a few who are + here with me, with whom I shall set out as soon as we are + able.'</p> + + <p>It is now necessary that we should follow the proceedings of + Mr. Anthony and his party.</p> + + <p>They reached the wreck at ten o'clock on Sunday morning; but, + being busily occupied in collecting what stores they could, they + neglected to watch the tide, and whilst they were thus employed, + the time passed over, and the waves rolling between them and + their temporary home at Newark; they were obliged to wait till + the next day's ebb. During the night, as we have stated, the wind + changed to the S.S.E.: it blew a violent gale, and the tide rose + to such an unusual height, that it floated the ship, and the ice + that had stuck to her, without the men on board being aware of + it. The next morning, to their horror and dismay, they found the + vessel drifting out to the ocean. We can scarcely imagine a + situation more terrible than that in which these unfortunate men + were placed. They were in all six persons, four officers and two + seamen, and these few hands had to manage a frigate of 28 guns, + which was actually going to pieces, and it was impossible to + conjecture how long she might swim. She was merely buoyed up on + the sea by the fields of ice that surrounded her; and if the ice + were to break away, in all probability she would not hold + together for an hour.</p> + + <p>Mr. Anthony and his companions did not, however, give way to + despair, nor lose time in useless repining. They set to work + immediately, to avoid the danger as far as circumstances would + permit.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>Their first care was to + drop the lead between two of the masses of ice, and they found + that the ship was floating in eleven fathoms. They then fired + several guns, to give warning of their situation. By turns they + worked at the pumps, and, in order to lighten the vessel, threw + all the remaining guns, except four, overboard—a labour of + no small magnitude for six men to perform.</p> + + <p>Their next object was to get up the tackles for hoisting out + the boat, in case of their getting into clear water, or being + obliged to quit the wreck.</p> + + <p>There was one advantage in all this hard labour, to which most + of them were unaccustomed: it prevented their suffering so much + as they otherwise must have done from the extreme cold; and in + one respect they were better off than their comrades at Newark, + for they had plenty of provisions on board. So passed the first + day on the wreck.</p> + + <p>The next morning, Tuesday, the 12th, at about eleven o'clock, + land was descried on their lee, on which they fired several guns, + and hauled the colours on the main-rigging, union downwards, as a + signal of distress. An hour afterwards the ship struck on a rock + off the island of Baltrum, about a mile and a-half distant from + the shore.</p> + + <p>Mr. Anthony and his companions then tried to launch the + cutter, but they were obliged to give up the attempt, as the sea + was not sufficiently clear of ice; they therefore remained on + board another night.</p> + + <p>The next morning, however, they hoisted out the boat, and + pulled towards the shore; but they had not gone more than half + way, when they were surrounded by fields of ice, so that they + were obliged to get upon the ice, and drag the boat with + them.</p> + + <p>About noon they had reached to within a cable's length of the + shore, and here they were compelled to leave the boat: they were + all completely exhausted, and <a name="Page_22" id= + "Page_22"></a>found it impossible to drag her any further. They + themselves had to leap from one piece of ice to another, often + falling into the water; and it was at the imminent risk of their + lives that they at last gained the beach.</p> + + <p>They were tolerably well received by the inhabitants, who took + them to their houses, and allowed them to seek that repose which + they so much needed.</p> + + <p>The next day the islanders, unable to resist the temptation of + plunder, took to their boats, and made off to the ship, which + they ransacked, and carried off all the arms, stores, and + provisions of every kind. In vain Mr. Anthony protested against + this base conduct: it was as much as he could do to persuade them + to spare some part of the provisions for himself and his + friends.</p> + + <p>The party were obliged to remain at Baltrum amongst their + rapacious hosts until Saturday, the 16th, when they deemed that + the ice was sufficiently cleared away to allow of their sailing + for Cuxhaven; they accordingly secured the cutter and took their + departure. As there was not the remotest chance of getting the + Proserpine afloat again, they abandoned her to the island + plunderers. They reached Cuxhaven about the 22nd, and there they + found Lieutenant Wright and those who had accompanied him from + Newark.</p> + + <p>On the following day, Captain Wallis arrived, with the rest of + the ship's company, the sick and wounded. We can imagine the joy + and gratitude with which Captain Wallis received the announcement + of the safe arrival of Mr. Anthony and his friends, whom he had + deplored as lost.</p> + + <p>Thus were the crew of the Proserpine, with the exception of + thirteen persons, brought once more together after three weeks + endurance of innumerable hardships, and having been exposed to + many perils. Never was the Almighty hand of Providence more + visibly displayed <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>than in the + protection afforded to these gallant fellows; and never did men + do more to help themselves than they did, We cannot but admire + the calm courage they evinced throughout that long and dismal + night when almost certain destruction awaited them; as well as + their obedience and cheerful alacrity through their toilsome + march from the wreck to Newark, and again from Newark to + Cuxhaven. Nor must we forget the fortitude displayed by Mr. + Anthony and his companions, when they were a second time wrecked + in the Proserpine.</p> + + <p>Throughout the history of their dangers and sufferings from + cold and hunger, and the other evils attending a shipwreck on + such an inhospitable shore and in such a climate, there is no + mention of one single instance of murmuring, discontent, or + disobedience of orders.</p> + + <p>When the Elbe was again navigable and free from ice, the crew + embarked in different packets and sailed for England, where they + all arrived without further disasters.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Newark + Island is the highest point of one of those long ridges of + sand which abound on the south and southeastern coasts of the + North Sea, formed by the deposits of ages from the rivers + that empty themselves into the German Ocean, acted upon by + the alternate ebb and flow of the tide, till they assume a + form and establish a position and a name. Upon Newark Island + is a village and light-house, situated a few miles from + Cuxhaven, and accessible at low water by the sand. The sand + ridge takes a north-westerly direction from Newark Island, + and extends about six miles further. It was on the extremity + of the northwestern bank that the Proserpine was wrecked.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_SCEPTRE" id="THE_SCEPTRE"></a><a name="Page_24" + id="Page_24"></a>THE SCEPTRE.</h2> + + <p>Early in the spring of 1799, a large convoy of transports and + merchantmen sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, with troops and + stores for the siege of Seringapatam. The Sceptre, 64 guns, + commanded by Captain Valentine Edwards, was appointed to the sole + charge of the convoy, and to take Sir David Baird and the whole + of the 84th regiment on board. The Sceptre may, perhaps, have + been the only king's ship then at the Cape; it is certain that + she had been an unusual length of time on that station, and had + become so weak and leaky as to be hardly sea-worthy, when she was + dispatched on this important service.</p> + + <p>Happily, the insecure state of the vessel induced extreme + watchfulness on the part of both officers and men, and all went + on well till she had made about two-thirds of her way, when one + night a brisk gale sprung up, which increased in violence so + rapidly, that the officers of the watch felt some anxiety on + account of the unusual strain upon the ship. Captain Edwards + ordered the well to be sounded, and the result confirming his + apprehensions, the pumps were manned in an incredibly short time, + every one on board being aroused to a sense of danger.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant the Honourable Alexander Jones had been relieved + from the first watch, and had retired to his berth about an hour + before without any misgivings. He was suddenly awakened by the + alarming cry that the ship was sinking, and the call of 'all + hands,' He sprang up, and in a few moments joined the group of + officers, naval <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>and military, + assembled on the quarter-deck. Anxiety was depicted on every + countenance; for although the pumps were worked incessantly, the + soldiers taking their turn with the sailors, the water was still + gaining on them fast; and even whilst the men relieved each + other, it rose several inches. But when human efforts were + unavailing, the hand of Providence was stretched out to save. The + wind fell as suddenly as it had risen, and after many hours of + hard labour, the water was got under, and the vessel was + considered comparatively safe.</p> + + <p>Had the Sceptre gone down that night, hundreds and hundreds of + England's best and bravest defenders must have sunk into a watery + grave, and in all probability the enemy's ships, which were + hovering upon the track of the convoy, would have got possession + of the transports and merchantmen; and even the success of our + arms in India might have been seriously affected.</p> + + <p>A few weeks after the gale we have mentioned, the Sceptre and + her convoy arrived safely at Bombay. She was there put into dock + and repaired, and was strengthened by having large timbers, + technically termed riders, bolted diagonally on either side, fore + and aft.</p> + + <p>When again fit for sea, she returned to Table Bay, and + anchored there about the middle of October.</p> + + <p>On the 1st of November, the captain and officers gave a ball + to the inhabitants of Cape Town, and on that night the ship + presented an appearance of unusual gaiety; mirth and music + resounded on all sides; in place of the stern voice of command, + the laugh, the jest, and the soft tones of woman's voice were + heard; whilst many a light footstep glided over the decks of the + old ship.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a> <span>The lamps shone + o'er fair women and brave men;<br /></span> <span>A thousand + hearts beat happily; and when<br /></span> <span>Music arose + with its voluptuous swell,<br /></span> <span>Soft eyes + looked love to eyes that spake again,<br /></span> <span>And + all went merry as a marriage bell.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>CHILDE HAROLD.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>The night was calm and beautiful, and as the guests left the + ship, little did they think of the fearful doom that was so soon + to overwhelm many of those whose hands they had clasped for the + last time.</p> + + <p>The weather continued perfectly calm till the evening of the + 4th of November, when some ominous looking clouds indicated an + approaching storm.</p> + + <p>In addition to the Sceptre there remained in the Bay the + Jupiter of 50 guns, the Oldenburg, a Danish 64 gun ship, and + several other vessels. On the morning of the 5th, a strong gale + blew from the north-west, but no danger was apprehended, and the + ship, dressed in flags, and with the royal standard hoisted, + fired her salute at noon in commemoration of the Gunpowder + Treason.</p> + + <p>The gale had increased considerably by two o'clock, and as + Table Bay affords no shelter from a north-west wind, the captain + took every precaution to make all secure: the topmasts were + struck, and the fore and main-yards were lowered to ease the + ship. But half-an-hour had not elapsed before the violence of the + storm was such, that the ship parted from her best bower cable; + the sheet anchor was immediately let go, and the cable veered + away to twenty-eight fathoms. The storm gathered strength, and at + half-past six the whole fury of the elements seemed to be + concentrated in one terrific blast.</p> + + <p>Orders were given to let go the anchor, with two of the + forecastle guns attached; but even this proved insufficient to + hold the ship.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>One of the boats was then + hoisted out, in order to communicate with the Jupiter, and + procure the end of a cable from her, but in a few minutes the + boat upset and was lost, with all her crew. For some hours signal + guns of distress had been fired, and the ensign had been hoisted + downwards, but no help could reach the vessel: in that + tempestuous sea no boat could live. Some of the officers who had + gone on shore the previous evening were standing on the beach, + unable to render any assistance to their comrades, and compelled + to remain inactive spectators of the harrowing scene, and to + behold their brave ship foundering at her anchors.</p> + + <p>About eight o'clock, loud above the howling of the tempest and + the booming of the minute gun, arose the wild cry of <i>fire</i>: + and thick smoke was discernible from the shore, issuing from the + hatches. Now were the opposing elements of air, fire, and water + combined for the destruction of the ill-fated ship. For an + instant, all stood paralysed; but it was only for an instant. + Again the voices of the officers were raised in command, and + every man was ready at his post.</p> + + <p>The smoke came up from the hatches in such dense volumes, that + all attempts to go below to extinguish the fire were abortive. + Each man felt that his last hour was come,—there was not a + shadow of hope that their lives could be saved; it was but a + choice of death by fire or water: to quit the ship must be fatal; + they had seen the boat and its crew swallowed up by the yawning + waves, when the tempest raged less fiercely than now, and she was + too far from the shore to afford even a ray of hope that the + strongest swimmer might gain the beach. On the other hand, to + remain on board was to encounter a still more terrible + death—a burning funeral pile amidst the waters. While they + hesitated in doubt and horror, <a name="Page_28" id= + "Page_28"></a>one of their fears was relieved,—the heavy + sea that washed incessantly over the wreck extinguished the fire. + The ship continued to drive at the mercy of the waves till about + ten o'clock, when she stranded, broadside to the shore, heeling + on her port side towards the sea.</p> + + <p>The captain then ordered the main and mizen masts to be cut + away, and the foremast soon afterwards went by the board. At this + juncture, a man of the name of Connolly, a favourite with both + officers and crew, volunteered to jump overboard with a deep-sea + line attached to his body, in order to form a communication + between the ship and the shore. He made but a few strokes ere he + was borne away by the eddy and drowned.</p> + + <p>The ship being lightened by the falling of the masts, righted + herself and got clear off the ground: there appeared some slight + chance of preservation, and every heart was buoyed up with hope + that she might be thrown high enough upon the beach to enable the + people on shore to render them some assistance.</p> + + <p>She was driven nearer and nearer to the land—voices + became more and more audible, so as even to be recognised—- + in a few minutes more, the perishing crew might be + safe—when a heavy sea struck the ship, the orlop deck gave + way, and the port side fell in—many were swept + away,—those who had the power to do so, retreated to the + starboard side.</p> + + <p>A most heartrending scene must that have been! The people were + so benumbed with cold and exhaustion, and paralysed by fear, that + many of them could no longer cling to the ropes and spars for + support, and every wave that broke over the wreck, washed away + its victims.</p> + + <p>Many in despair leaped overboard, and attempted to swim to + shore, but the eddy caused by the wreck was so <a name="Page_29" + id="Page_29"></a>strong, that they were carried out to sea; and + in spite of the attempts made by those on board to rescue them, + they all perished. Mr. Tucker, a midshipman, lost his life in the + endeavour to reach the bow of the ship.</p> + + <p>About half an hour later the poop was washed away, and carried + towards the shore. Seventy or eighty men who were upon it seemed + likely to be saved from the surrounding destruction. The people + on the beach crowded to the spot where they would probably be + driven, that they might render every possible assistance; but + what was their horror to see a tremendous wave strike the poop, + capsize it, and turn it over and over; whilst every one of those + who clung to it perished!</p> + + <p>But the terrors of that awful night were not yet exhausted. + The wreck, to which the remaining officers and men were clinging, + heeled towards the shore; but when the gale increased and blew + with redoubled force, it heeled off again, rent fore and aft, and + parted in two places—before the main-chains, and abaft the + fore-chains—and then all disappeared from the eyes of the + awe-stricken spectators on the beach.</p> + + <p>High above the crash of timbers and the roaring of the blast, + rose the despairing cry of hundreds of human beings who perished + in the waters, and whose mutilated forms, with the fragments of + the wreck, strewed the beach for miles on the following + morning.</p> + + <p>Thirty or forty seamen and marines still clung to the bow, the + sea breaking over them incessantly; they kept their hold, + however, in the fond hope that the signal gun remaining, might by + its weight prevent the bow from being capsized; but the timbers, + unable to resist the fury of the tempest, suddenly + parted,—the gun reeled from side to side, and the unhappy + men shared the fate of their companions. It has been said that + during that awful time, whilst threatened with instant death, + many <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>of these men were in a + stupor, with their hands locked in the chain plates.</p> + + <p>Among the incidents connected with the wreck, it is related + that Mr. Buddle, a midshipman, (one of the few who escaped,) was + cast upon the waves almost insensible. He had not strength to + strike out for the beach, and he therefore merely tried to keep + himself above water. This proved to be the means of saving his + life, for he floated in a direction parallel with the shore, and + avoided the huge pieces of wreck by which all his companions who + made directly for land (excepting three) were dashed to + pieces.</p> + + <p>Mr. Buddle was nearly exhausted, when he caught hold of a + small piece of timber that was floating near him; a nail which + projected from it wounded him on the breast; he fainted, and did + not recover his senses until he found himself lying on the beach + upon a heap of dead bodies. He attempted in vain to rise; for + though he felt no pain, his left leg was broken, his knee cut + almost half through, and his body much bruised. In this state he + was discovered, and carried by some persons to a large fire until + further assistance could be obtained, and he was then conveyed to + the hospital.</p> + + <p>One of the officers of the Sceptre, who is still alive, and + who happened to be on shore at the time this terrible catastrophe + occurred, declares, that nothing imagination could conceive ever + equalled the horrors of that night. When the first signals of + distress were made from the Sceptre, the whole population of Cape + Town, with the officers and soldiers of the garrison, crowded + down to the beach, in the vain hope of being able to afford some + assistance. The night was bitterly cold; the wind blew with + terrific violence, and the sea, lashed into fury, broke with a + deafening roar upon the beach. As night approached, and darkness + hid the vessel from their sight, <a name="Page_31" id= + "Page_31"></a>the feelings of the agonized spectators became + almost insupportable. The booming of the guns alone told that the + ship still lived among the raging waters; whilst ever and anon a + piercing shriek announced that the work of death had begun.</p> + + <p>All along the beach large fires were lighted, as beacons to + guide those who might be cast upon the shore. At length the ship + was driven nearer, and again she became visible from the land. + She appeared, says an eye-witness (before mentioned), like a huge + castle looming in the distance. The hopes of the spectators + revived as she heeled on towards them, and they all stood ready + to give assistance whenever it should be available. At one + moment, a fearful crash was heard—next, a piercing shriek, + and the flash of the torches waved in the air displayed the + struggling forms of the drowning seamen, tossed to and fro upon + the waves amongst masses of the wreck, which, in many instances, + killed those whom the waters would have spared.</p> + + <p>The only help that the people on shore could render to the + unhappy sufferers was, to watch the opportunity when the waves + brought a body near to the land, and then to rush into the water, + holding one another at arm's length, and to grasp the exhausted + creature before he was borne back by the receding wave.</p> + + <p>In this manner forty-seven men were saved, together with Mr. + Shaw, a master's mate, and two midshipmen, of the names of Spinks + and Buddle, before-mentioned. Six officers had fortunately been + on shore at the time; all the others, with the captain, were lost + on the wreck, together with about three hundred and ninety-one + seamen and marines.</p> + + <p>The people of Cape Town and the troops were employed the whole + night in searching for the dead, amongst whom they discovered the + son of Captain Edwards, with <a name="Page_32" id= + "Page_32"></a>one hand grasping an open Bible, which was pressed + to his bosom, the parting gift, perhaps, of a fond mother, who + had taught the boy to revere in life that sacred volume, from + which he parted not in death.</p> + + <p>Three waggon-loads of the dead were next morning taken to a + place near the hospital, and there buried. About one hundred + bodies, shockingly mangled, were buried in one pit on the beach. + The remains of all the officers (with the exception of Captain + Edwards) were found, and were interred the following Sunday with + military honours.</p> + + <p>The reader may be interested by being informed of a few of the + providential escapes which were experienced by Lieutenant Jones + (now Rear-Admiral Jones), one of the few survivors of the + catastrophe above described. This officer had been midshipman of + the Providence, discovery-ship, commanded by Captain William + Broughton, which vessel, after many dangerous vicissitudes, was + finally wrecked among the Japanese islands. Mr. Jones having + faced all the dangers consequent on such a trying position, with + difficulty escaped a watery grave, by taking refuge, with the + rest of the officers and crew, on board the tender which + accompanied this ill-fated ship. This great addition to her small + complement, and her want of accommodation, produced a virulent + disease amongst the crew, from which Sir. Jones did not escape. + On arrival at Macao, Mr. Jones was ordered a passage, with his + surviving shipmates and crew of the Providence, to England, in + the Swift, sloop of war, selected to convoy a large fleet of + Indiamen. The evening before their departure, it was found that + the accommodation in the Swift was not sufficient for the + supernumeraries, and, consequently, Mr. Jones and Lord George + Stuart (also a midshipman of the Providence) were, by order of + Captain Broughton, distributed among the mer<a name="Page_33" id= + "Page_33"></a>chant ships, the former to the Carnatic, the latter + to the Duke of Buccleugh. The Swift and her convoy sailed on the + morrow. They had not proceeded far, before a succession of + violent typhoons overtook them, which scattered and disabled the + Indiamen, most of which were obliged to return to India; but the + Swift foundered: she was seen for a short time struggling with + the elements, and making signals of distress—a moment more, + and she disappeared for ever.'</p> + + <p>Mr. Jones, arriving at the Cape of Good Hope, was detained by + Rear Admiral Pringle, and employed to communicate with his + flag-ship, the Tremendous, then in a state of mutiny, the + mutineers having put her officers ashore. His courage on this + occasion was much lauded, as it was believed by all, and expected + by himself, that he would have been thrown overboard. Harmony was + at length restored on board the Tremendous, and six of the + mutineers were executed. As a reward for his services, Mr. Jones + was appointed acting lieutenant of the Sceptre: his preservation, + and the part he acted on that occasion, have already been + described.</p> + + <p>When lieutenant of the Ajax, attached to the fleet under Sir + J. Borlase Warren, lying in Vigo Bay, he was sent with a boat's + crew to the assistance of the Tartarus, sloop of war, which ship + was then driving to leeward in a gale on a rocky shore. So + inevitable appeared her destruction, that the officers and crew + had abandoned her, after letting go an anchor, to retard her + expected crash against the rocks. At this critical moment, whilst + held by only one strand of the cable, Lieutenant Jones's boat + (although nearly swamped by the frequent shipping of seas) neared + the ship; and this officer, watching an opportunity, sprung on + board with his intrepid crew, and, by almost superhuman + exertions, succeeded in hauling her ahead. She had just reached + the point of <a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>safety, when her + officers and crew, who witnessed her more favourable position, + brought about by Lieutenant Jones's courage and perseverance, + returned on board, and Lieutenant Jones and his gallant followers + rejoined their ship amidst the cheers of the fleet. For this + service Lieutenant Jones was sent for by the commander-in-chief, + and thanked by him on the quarter-deck of his flag-ship.</p> + + <p>As lieutenant of the Naiad, this officer had the misfortune to + be involved in a serious quarrel with his superior officer + (Lieutenant Dean), and on that person using very abusive, and + unofficer-like language, Lieutenant Jones struck him. A court + martial being held, Lieutenant Jones was sentenced to be hanged; + but, in consideration of the very provoking language used by + Lieutenant Dean, and Lieutenant Jones's previous irreproachable + conduct, his Majesty George the Third was graciously pleased to + pardon him, and restore him to his former position in the Navy, + while Lieutenant Dean was dismissed the service.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_QUEEN_CHARLOTTE" id= + "THE_QUEEN_CHARLOTTE"></a><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>THE + QUEEN CHARLOTTE.</h2> + + <p>One of the greatest calamities that ever befel a ship + belonging to the British Navy was the destruction of the Queen + Charlotte of 100 guns, launched in 1790. She was the sister-ship + to the Royal George, and was destined to a no less tragical fate. + Her first cruise was with the fleet fitted out against Spain; + Lord Howe, the commander-in-chief, being on board of her; and she + carried his flag on the 1st of June.</p> + + <p>She was afterwards sent to the Mediterranean, under the + command of Captain James Todd, and bearing the flag of + Vice-Admiral Lord Keith. Before entering upon our narrative, we + may be permitted to apologize for any inaccuracy, or lack of + incident, that may be apparent in the following account, by + stating that the official reports of the disaster are so vague + and imperfect, that it is almost impossible to give the details + of it as fully as we could wish; and so many years have elapsed + since the event, that we cannot obtain information from private + sources.</p> + + <p>On the 16th of March, 1800, Lord Keith, with Lieutenant + Stewart, and four other persons, having landed at Leghorn, + directed Captain Todd to proceed in the Queen Charlotte to + reconnoitre the Island of Cabrera, about thirty miles from + Leghorn, then in possession of the French, and which it was his + lordship's intention to attack.</p> + + <p>At four o'clock on the morning of the 17th, the men who were + washing the decks stowed some hay close aft to the admiral's + cabin, near a match-tub, in which it was usual to keep a match + burning, for the purpose of firing signals. At six o'clock, when + the men were in the act of <a name="Page_36" id= + "Page_36"></a>removing the hay, a portion of it was discovered to + have ignited. Not a moment was lost in giving the alarm, and + those at hand used every means in their power to extinguish the + slumbering element; but the fire had been smouldering for some + time before it was discovered. The water thrown upon it from the + buckets was useless—the flames bursting forth with such + violence that they baffled the most strenuous efforts to overcome + them. Such was the posture of affairs when the captain, officers, + and men, alarmed by the cry of fire, rushed from all parts of the + ship to the scene of conflagration. It would be no easy task to + describe the feelings of a number of human beings thus suddenly + and awfully awakened to the perils of their situation. For the + moment, no doubt, fear predominated over every other feeling, and + a degree of confusion ensued. Nor can this be regarded with + astonishment, when we remember that of all the dangers to which a + sailor is familiarized in his hazardous profession, none is so + fraught with horror as a fire at sea.</p> + + <p>The battle has no terror for him: he rushes to the conflict + excited by the cheers of his comrades and the hopes of + victory—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Though fore and aft the blood-stained + deck,<br /></span> <span class="i2">Should lifeless trunks + appear,<br /></span> <span>Or should the vessel float a + wreck,<br /></span> <span class="i2">The sailor knows no + fear.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>He glories in the stormy sea, and in 'the wild wind's roar:' + they fill him with a fierce delight, while with steady hand and + steadfast heart he obeys the voice of his commander; he trusts to + his good ship, and 'laughs at the storm and the battle.'</p> + + <p>But how differently does he feel, when roused from his deep + slumber by the cry of fire. He rushes upon deck, but half awake, + to meet an enemy far more terrible than <a name="Page_37" id= + "Page_37"></a>any he has yet encountered. He finds himself + enveloped in a suffocating smoke—here and there gleams a + lurid flame—the fire becomes gradually more vivid: it rises + higher and higher; grows brighter and brighter. In vain he looks + for help,—beneath, nothing meets his eye but the boundless + waste of waters, that can avail so little to quench those flames; + above, the pathless fields of air, that serve but to increase + their fury. The insidious enemy quietly but surely creeps onward, + and the sailor knows but too well, that if not speedily arrested, + the flames must reach the powder magazine, and then a few + smouldering fragments strewed upon the waters will alone remain + of the gallant ship and her living freight.</p> + + <p>Such was the hideous form in which death presented itself to + the minds of the crew of the Queen Charlotte, who now anxiously + turned their eyes to their captain and officers, in the hope + that, as on former occasions, their example and assistance might + enable them to avert the threatened danger. Nor was their + confidence misplaced.</p> + + <p>Captain Todd and his first lieutenant (Mr. Bainbridge) stood + upon the quarter-deck, displaying a calmness and self-possession + of which the effects were soon felt throughout the vessel, and + restored order among the ship's company.</p> + + <p>They went among the people, calming their fears, and + encouraging them to increased exertion, neither of them seeming + for a moment to think of his own safety in comparison with that + of his companions in danger.</p> + + <p>All that man could do in such a case was done; but human + foresight and presence of mind were of no avail against the + irresistible power of that relentless enemy.</p> + + <p>The flames darted up the mainmast, reached the boats upon the + boom, and now wrapped in wreathing fires the <a name="Page_38" + id="Page_38"></a>whole of the quarter-deck, from whence all had + been driven save the captain and first lieutenant, who still + nobly kept their posts.</p> + + <p>Amongst those who more particularly distinguished themselves + on this occasion (where all did their duty) was Lieutenant the + Hon. G.H.L. Dundas. This officer was roused from his sleep by the + sentinel announcing to him that the ship was on fire. Springing + from his cot, he hastily put on some clothes and attempted to + ascend the after hatchway, but was driven back by the smoke. He + then went to the main hatchway, and had almost reached the top of + the ladder, when he was so overpowered, that he fell exhausted + upon the middle deck.</p> + + <p>When he had in some degree recovered, he rushed to the fore + hatchway and thence to the forecastle, where he found the first + lieutenant, some petty officers, and the greater part of the + ship's company. These were endeavouring to haul up the mainsail + which was in flames. The carpenter, seeing Lieutenant Dundas, + suggested that he might direct some of the men to sluice the + lower decks, and secure the hatchways, to prevent the fire + reaching that part of the ship.</p> + + <p>Mr. Dundas collected about seventy men, who volunteered to + accompany him, and descended to the lower decks. The ports were + opened, the cocks turned, and water thrown upon the decks. All + the hammocks were cleared away, and as many people as could be + spared were employed in heaving water upon the burning wood, + rigging, and spars, which kept falling down the hatchways. The + gratings were fastened down and covered over with wet blankets + and hammocks. In this way the lower deck was kept free from fire + for some time, until at length it broke out in both of the + transom cabins, and burnt forward with great rapidity. Mr. Dundas + and <a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>his party did not leave + that part of ship, till several of the middle guns came through + the deck.</p> + + <p>At nine o'clock, finding it impossible to remain longer below, + he got out of one of the starboard lower deck ports, and reached + the forecastle, followed by most of the officers and men who had + been with him. On the forecastle, about 250 men were drawing + water, and throwing it upon the fire as far aft as possible.</p> + + <p>For nearly four hours every exertion was made to subdue the + flames. Officers and men behaved with heroic courage and + self-possession; but in spite of their almost superhuman efforts, + the flames rolled on, and the destruction of the ship became + inevitable.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>With fruitless toil the crew oppose the + flame,<br /></span> <span>No art can now the spreading + mischief tame.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>And many of that gallant company verified the poet's + description: almost maddened by the intense heat, they sprung + overboard and perished.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Some, when the flames could be no more + withstood,<br /></span> <span>By wild despair directed, + 'midst the flood,<br /></span> <span>Themselves in haste from + the tall vessel threw,<br /></span> <span>And from a dry to + liquid ruin flew.<br /></span> <span>Sad choice of death, + when those who shun the fire,<br /></span> <span>Must to as + fierce an element retire.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Lieut. Archibald Duff, who had been alarmed by the firing of + guns, attempted to get out of the ward-room door, but was driven + back by the smoke. He at last succeeded in scrambling out of the + quarter gallery, and reached the poop, from whence he jumped into + the sea, and was picked up by the launch, when in the act of + casting off the tow-rope. He had hardly left the ship when the + mizenmast fell over the side, by which great numbers were thrown + into the water, and left struggling in the waves; for, as the + launch had only one oar, and <a name="Page_40" id= + "Page_40"></a>neither sail nor mast, she drifted much faster than + the men could swim, and many, whom those on board her would + gladly have saved, perished within a few feet of the boat.</p> + + <p>At length a ray of hope dawned upon the anxious survivors: + vessels and boats were seen coming towards them from Leghorn; and + as they neared the ship, every heart beat quicker, and every hand + was nerved with increased strength. But the boats' crews, alarmed + by the explosion of the guns, which were most of them shotted, + refused to approach nearer, and hove to. Seeing their hesitation, + the crew of the Queen Charlotte gave them three cheers to + encourage them. The English cheers seemed to have the desired + effect, for again the boats pulled towards the hapless vessel; + but it was afterwards discovered that this renewed activity was + entirely owing to the persuasions of Lieut. Stewart and other + English officers who were in the boats.</p> + + <p>Lord Keith, who was watching with intense anxiety the + destruction of his noble ship, used every possible effort to + induce the Tuscans to put to sea; but his entreaties, backed as + they were by the commands of the governor and other authorities, + had no influence save with a few only, and even these, when they + did venture to the rescue, were with great difficulty prevailed + upon to approach the vessel. A boat from an American ship + presented a striking contrast. She was manned by three men only, + who, in their generous ardour to save the lives of their + fellow-creatures, came alongside too incautiously, so that the + wretched sufferers from the burning deck leaped into the boat in + such numbers that she capsized, and every one of them perished. + The fire had now advanced so rapidly that it was impossible to + bear the heat on the forecastle, and most of the people got on to + the bowsprit and jib-boom. The latter, however, gave way under + the <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>pressure, and numbers were + precipitated into the water and drowned.</p> + + <p>The boats, headed by Lieutenant Stewart, approached about ten + o'clock, and the people continued dropping into them from the + ship for some time. Captain Todd and Mr. Bainbridge continued to + the last to give orders for the safety of those who remained + alive.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Duff gives the following account of the closing + scene:—</p> + + <p>'Lieutenant Stewart's ardour in the cause of humanity was only + equalled by his judgment in affording relief. When he reached the + Queen Charlotte, he dropped his tartane under the bows, where + almost all the remaining crew had taken refuge. Little more than + an hour had elapsed, after this assistance was given, before the + ship blew up. All that had been left unburnt immediately sunk + down by the stern, but when the ponderous contents of the hold + had been washed away, she for an instant recovered her buoyancy, + and was suddenly seen to emerge almost her whole length from the + deep, and then, turning over, she floated on the surface, with + her burnished copper glistening in the sun.'</p> + + <p>Such was the fate of the Queen Charlotte, which, excepting the + Ville de Paris, was the largest ship in the British navy.</p> + + <p>With the gallant vessel perished six hundred and seventy-three + of her men and officers; amongst whom were Captain Todd and + Lieutenant Bainbridge. These two officers, with heroic + self-devotion, remained to share the fate of their ship, occupied + to the last in endeavouring to save the lives of the men.</p> + + <p>Before Captain Todd fell a victim to the flames, he had the + presence of mind to write the particulars of the melancholy + event, and to give copies of his account to <a name="Page_42" id= + "Page_42"></a>several of the sailors, charging them to deliver it + to the admiral if they should be so fortunate as to + escape.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href= + "#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + + <p>The following daring exploit is related of Lieutenant + Bainbridge in James's <i>Naval History</i>. We transcribe it as + affording a striking example of the union of undaunted courage + with endurance in the character of a British sailor.</p> + + <p>"On the evening of the 21st of December, the British hired 10 + gun cutter, Lady Nelson, while off Carbareta Point, was + surrounded and engaged by two or three French privateers, and + some gun vessels, in sight of the 100 gun ship, Queen Charlotte, + and the 36 gun frigate Emerald, lying in Gibraltar Bay. + Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, whose flag was flying on board the + former ship, immediately ordered the boats of the two to row + towards the combatants, in the hope that it might encourage the + Lady Nelson to resist, until she could approach near enough to be + covered by the guns of the ships. Before the boats could get up, + however, the Lady Nelson had been captured, and was in tow by two + of the privateers.</p> + + <p>"Notwithstanding this, Lieutenant Bainbridge, in the Queen + Charlotte's barge, with sixteen men, ran alongside, and boarded + with the greatest impetuosity; and after a sharp conflict, + carried the Lady Nelson, taking as prisoners seven French + officers and twenty-seven men.—six or seven others having + been killed or knocked overboard in the scuffle. Lieutenant + Bainbridge was severely wounded in the head by the stroke of a + sabre, and slightly in other places."</p> + + <p>We have seen how, a few months afterwards, this brave officer + patiently anticipated death in a more terrible form on board the + Queen Charlotte.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <i>Naval + Chronicle</i>, vol. iii. p. 302.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_INVINCIBLE" id="THE_INVINCIBLE"></a><a name= + "Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>THE INVINCIBLE.</h2> + + <p>The Invincible, of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral + Totty, and commanded by Captain Rennie, sailed from Yarmouth on + the morning of the 16th of March, 1801, to join the fleet of + Admiral Sir Hyde Parker in the Baltic.</p> + + <p>The master and the pilot were both considered very skilful + mariners of those seas, and their orders were to navigate the + ship into the North Sea, and to put her in the way of joining the + fleet to the northward, as soon as she had cleared all the + shoals.</p> + + <p>About half-past two o'clock, P.M., of the same day, the + Invincible, going at the rate of nine knots an hour, struck + violently upon a sand-bank, and before the sails could be furled, + she was fast aground in little more than three fathoms water.</p> + + <p>The pilot and master assured Captain Rennie that there was no + danger, and that the ship must have struck upon a lately formed + knowl. In order to lighten her as much as possible, the yards and + topmasts were struck, and some of the provisions thrown + overboard, and then strong hopes were entertained that she would + float off the bank with the next tide.</p> + + <p>During this time she lay tolerably quiet, and the water gained + but little upon the pumps. Every means was used to draw the + attention of vessels passing near—guns were fired, and + signals hoisted; but they remained unanswered until about five + o'clock, P.M., when a cutter was observed scudding towards + Yarmouth Roads, as if to inform Admiral Dickson of the situation + of the Invincible. As the ship remained easy, neither the + officers nor men suspected that the danger was imminent, and + <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>they performed their duty with + the same regularity as if the ship were proceeding under ordinary + circumstances.</p> + + <p>All went on well until about half-past five, P.M., when the + wind freshened, and the vessel began to beat the ground with such + violence, that it was thought necessary to cut away the masts. + The ship at this time dropped from three and a half into + seventeen fathoms. She was then brought to with her bower anchor, + and there appeared every probability of her getting safely off + till about nine o'clock, when the flood-tide was making; she then + lost her rudder, became unmanageable, and was driven back upon + the rock.</p> + + <p>Fortunately a fishing-smack had come near the Invincible a + short time before, and Admiral Totty learnt from her master that + the ship had struck upon Hammond's knowl; whereupon the admiral + requested that the smack might be anchored as near as possible, + so as to be ready in case of emergency.</p> + + <p>In the meantime, the ship continued to strike with increasing + violence, and the water gained considerably upon the pumps. At + ten o'clock, the wind rose, and again the ship swung off into + deep water, and the only prospect of saving her was by pumping + and baling till daylight. Both officers and men laboured + incessantly at the pumps, but all to no purpose, for + unfortunately the Invincible was an old ship (built in the year + 1766), and the water gained fast upon them in spite of all their + efforts. Admiral Totty, seeing there was no hope of saving the + ship, ordered Captain Rennie to send all the boys, and the least + able of the crew and passengers, on board the smack, and to make + arrangements for the rest of the crew to leave the ship at + daybreak, or sooner, if possible.</p> + + <p>A boat was lowered, into which the admiral and his secretary + immediately descended, with as many others as she would carry, + and they reached the smack in safety. <a name="Page_45" id= + "Page_45"></a>Two other boats were also lowered and filled with + people, but they were less fortunate than the admiral's, for + before they reached the smack, the tide being to windward and + against them, they were carried out to sea, and all on board + would inevitably have perished, if they had not been picked up by + a collier, which conveyed them in safety to Yarmouth.</p> + + <p>The fishing-smack, with the admiral on board, remained at + anchor during the night, without being able to afford the + slightest assistance to the crew of the Invincible. At daybreak, + as soon as the tide permitted, the cable of the smack was cut, + and she stretched under the stern of the ship, endeavouring by + all possible means to get alongside of her, but before that could + be accomplished, the ill-fated vessel began to sink. About sixty + men jumped into the launch, but they had only just time to clear + the poop, when the gallant ship went down with four hundred + men.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>And first one universal shriek there rush'd,<br /></span> + <span class="i2">Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash<br /></span> + <span>Of echoing thunder, and then all was hush'd,<br /></span> + <span class="i2">Save the wild wind and the remorseless dash<br /></span> + <span>Of billows: but at intervals there gushed,<br /></span> + <span class="i2">Accompanied with a convulsive splash,<br /></span> + <span>A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry<br /></span> + <span class="i2">Of some strong swimmer in his agony.<br /></span> + <span class="i16">LORD BYRON.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>'The horror of the scene,' writes Admiral Totty, 'and the + screams of the unhappy sufferers, at the moment the ship went + down, exceed all power of description. Numbers who were + struggling with the waves attempted to lay hold of the launch, + but the boat was already overladen, and, for the safety of those + who were in her, the drowning wretches were beaten off, and, soon + exhausted, they perished in the waves.'</p> + + <p><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>Captain Rennie remained in + his ship till she sank. He then attempted to swim to the launch, + and by great exertion got within reach of her oars, when, too + much exhausted to make any further effort, he was seen to raise + his hands as if in supplication to Heaven, then putting them + before his face, sank into his watery grave. All the other + commissioned officers, with the exception of Lieutenants Robert + Tucker and Charles Quart, perished.</p> + + <p>Captain Rennie had distinguished himself, when a lieutenant, + at the Helder; and Admiral Mitchell had mentioned him in such + high terms of commendation in his public despatches, that he was + made a post-captain. After remaining for some time unemployed, he + was appointed to the Invincible, and proud of his first command, + full of life and hope, he had just put to sea when this + melancholy catastrophe closed a career that held out such bright + prospects for the future.</p> + + <p>We must not be supposed to have more feeling for an officer + than for the men before the mast. If we dwell with peculiar + sorrow upon the loss of a brave commander, like Captain Rennie, + it is not that we are indifferent to the fate of the four hundred + gallant men who perished with him; but there is something in + human nature that compels even the most generous spirit to speak + more of the loss of a man in a responsible station than others; + and one reason for this may be, that our hopes under God, for the + safety of our fleets and our armies, rest on our brave and + efficient commanders.</p> + + <p>No one can read such records of British seamen, as appear in + this volume, without joining heart and soul in the sentiment + expressed by the poet:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>To them your dearest rights you owe;<br /></span> + <span class="i2">In peace, then, would you starve + them?<br /></span> <span>What say ye, Britain's sons? Oh, + no!<br /></span> <span class="i2">Protect them and preserve + them;<br /></span> <span><a name="Page_47" id= + "Page_47"></a>Shield them from poverty and pain;<br /></span> + <span class="i2">'Tis policy to do it:<br /></span> <span>Or + when grim war shall come again,<br /></span> <span class= + "i2">Oh, Britons! ye may rue it.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Lieutenant Robert Tucker, who was saved in the launch, + accompanied Rear-Admiral Totty to the Baltic and West Indies in + the Zealous, 74. He was subsequently promoted, and appointed to + the Surinam in 1803.</p> + + <p>Whilst the Surinam was on the West India station, Captain + Tucker rendered good service to the French garrison at Jacquemel; + and on returning from thence, his ship sprung her foremast, and + was in other respects so much damaged, that he was obliged to put + in at Curaçoa. Whilst refitting, he received private + information that Great Britain and Holland would ere long be + declared enemies. He therefore made every effort to hasten his + departure, and get his ship ready for sea; and he had warped her + to the head of the harbour, when a prize schooner which he had + despatched to Commodore Hood returned from that officer, with + orders for his future guidance. The officer on board the schooner + incautiously permitted his vessel to touch at the government + wharf, when some of the crew, having the opportunity imprudently + afforded them, jumped on shore, and reported that the British had + already commenced hostilities.</p> + + <p>Upon this the Surinam was detained, and Captain Tucker was + ordered on shore, and informed that he must consider himself a + prisoner of war. At first he was not put under strict + surveillance, and he therefore employed the weary hours in taking + plans of the forts and batteries of the island. His occupation, + however, was soon discovered, and highly disapproved by the + authorities, <a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>who immediately + placed him in close confinement in a room of the barracks.</p> + + <p>On the first night of his captivity two musket-balls were + fired into his room, one of which struck a table at which he had + been seated a few moments before. These murderous attempts were + frequently repeated during his imprisonment, and he must + inevitably have been shot in his bed, had he not taken the + precaution of constantly moving its position, and thus baffled + the treacherous designs of his cowardly assailants.</p> + + <p>A friendly warning was given to him, that where bullets + failed, <i>poison</i> might succeed; and he was thenceforth + obliged to watch most narrowly, lest it should be administered in + his food. In this wretched state of suspense, he lingered for + four months, when happily he and his officers were released in + exchange for nine Dutch clergymen.</p> + + <p>We regret that our pen should have to record such treachery as + that we have described. We ask, and others have asked, were these + soldiers and gaolers free men and Christians, or were they slaves + and heathens? It must, however, be remembered that politics ran + very high at that time; and in this particular instance, at the + outbreak of a war, men's minds were half frantic, and we must not + judge of the character of a nation by the isolated acts of a + petty colonial government.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_GRAPPLER" id="THE_GRAPPLER"></a><a name= + "Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>THE GRAPPLER.</h2> + + <p>CHAUSSEY, or Choyé, is a group of islets lying off the + coast of Normandy, about twenty miles from Jersey, and nine from + Granville. They stretch north, east, and west, and cover a space + of nearly twelve miles. The principal of them is called the + Maitre Isle, and is the resort of a few French fishermen during + the summer, but being only a rock, and totally devoid of + vegetation, its inhabitants are entirely dependent on the + neighbouring shores for all the necessaries of life, excepting + what their nets may produce. At the time of which we are writing, + the winter of 1803, this group of islets was in the hands of the + English, and was the scene of the wreck of the Grappler in that + year.</p> + + <p>On the 23rd December, 1803, Lieutenant Abel Thomas, commanding + His Majesty's brig Grappler, then stationed at Guernsey, was + directed by Admiral Sir James Saumarez to proceed, with some + French prisoners on board, to Granville, in Normandy, and there + to set them at liberty; after which he was to touch at the + islands of Chaussey, on his return to Guernsey, in order to + supply twelve French prisoners who were on the Maitre Isle with + fifteen days' provisions.</p> + + <p>On the evening of the 23rd,—the same day that they + sailed from Guernsey,—the Grappler anchored off the north + side of Chaussey, but a heavy gale of wind which came on during + the night rendered her position so dangerous, that Lieutenant + Thomas thought it advisable either to return to Guernsey, or to + run into one of the small harbours formed among the rocks, which + afford a safe shelter during the severest gales, but are by no + means easy of access, and are available only to small <a name= + "Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>vessels, and with the aid of an + experienced pilot. Into one of these natural harbours, Lieutenant + Thomas, by the advice of his pilot, determined to run the + Grappler, and succeeded in anchoring her in safety under the + Maitre Isle. There they remained four or five days, keeping a + sharp look-out by day from the top of one of the adjacent rocks, + to guard against a surprise from the enemy's cruizers; while for + their better security at night, a guard-boat was stationed at the + entrance of the harbour. As the weather still continued too + boisterous to trust the brig with safety on a lee shore, her + commander determined to return to Guernsey, and offered his + prisoners the alternative of returning with him, or remaining + with their countrymen at Chaussey. As they all chose to remain, + they were promptly landed, and furnished with a boat and a week's + supply of provisions, in addition to what had already been left + for the use of the inhabitants. To enable his prisoners to land + with greater security at Granville, Lieutenant Thomas read aloud + and sealed in their presence a letter, addressed by Sir James + Saumarez to the Commissary of Marine at that port, containing an + explanation of his reasons for liberating these + Frenchmen,—with his hopes that the French authorities would + act in the same manner towards any English who might fall into + their hands,—and entrusted it to one of them, with another + letter from himself, in which he stated how he had been prevented + from conveying them to Granville in his own vessel, and begged + that any English prisoners who chanced to be at that place might + be sent to one of the Channel Islands. The sequel will show in + what manner this courtesy and generosity were repaid by the + French government.</p> + + <p>At six, A.M., December 30th, all was in readiness for the + Grappler to leave the harbour. The anchor was up, and the vessel + was riding between wind and tide, with a hawser <a name="Page_51" + id="Page_51"></a>made fast to the rocks. Unfortunately, the + hawser either broke or slipped while they were in the act of + close reefing the topsails, and the brig cast to port. She + drifted about three or four hundred yards, and struck at last on + a half-tide rock, from which all their efforts were unavailing to + haul her off again, and at low water she bilged, and parted in + two abreast the chess tree.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Thomas, foreseeing the inevitable loss of the brig, + had ordered the master to proceed with the cutter and eight men + to Jersey for assistance; and he was directing the crew in their + endeavours to mount some guns upon a small rocky islet, to which + they had already carried the greater part of the provisions, + small arms, and ammunition, when the look-out man, who had been + stationed on the summit of the rock, reported that several small + craft were steering towards them. Upon receiving this + intelligence, the commander and pilot repaired to the high + ground, and after carefully examining the appearance of the + vessels, agreed that they were merely fishing boats, and + considered that it would be imprudent to let them depart before + assistance had been procured from Jersey, as, in case there were + no ships of war at that place, these boats might possibly be + hired to carry the men and stores to Jersey. With this object in + view, Lieutenant Thomas pushed off in the jolly boat, accompanied + by the French fishermen's small boat which had come to the + assistance of the Grappler's crew.</p> + + <p>In order to approach the supposed fishing boats, it was + necessary to double a point of the Maitre Isle; and this they had + no sooner accomplished, than they came in sight of three chasse + marées, which had been concealed behind the point. On the + sudden appearance of the English boat, the men on board the + chasse marées were thrown into some confusion, and + Lieutenant Thomas <a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>determined + to attack them before they had time to recover themselves. On + communicating his intention to his boat's crew, they dashed + forwards at once with a loud cheer, but had scarcely pulled a + dozen strokes when a body of soldiers, who had been concealed + behind some rocks on the Maitre Isle, poured in so severe a fire + that Lieutenant Thomas, seeing the superiority of the French in + point of numbers, thought it prudent to retreat. No sooner had he + given orders to do so, than a shot struck him on the lower jaw + and passed through his tongue, rendering him incapable of further + exertion. A second volley of musketry riddled the boat, so that + she began to fill with water, and finding that they had no + alternative but to surrender, the English made a signal to that + effect, which was either unobserved, or purposely disregarded, as + the firing did not cease till the arrival of the officer in + command of the French, when the little party were all made + prisoners. Upon Lieutenant Thomas being carried on shore, he + found that he had fallen into the hands of a Capitaine de + Frigate, who commanded a detachment of fourteen boats and a + hundred and sixty men. As soon as the captives were landed, a + party of the French troops proceeded to the wreck of the + Grappler, and made prisoners of the men who were on the adjacent + rock, and after seizing all the stores and provisions, they blew + up the remains of the brig.</p> + + <p>When Lieutenant Thomas had partially recovered from the + faintness and insensibility caused by his wound, he handed his + pocket-book to the French officer. After reading the orders of + Sir James Saumarez, which it contained, this officer expressed + much regret that Lieutenant Thomas had been so seriously wounded, + and alleged that the troops had fired without his orders. Such + was the apology of the French commander, but it certainly does + not tell well for the discipline of his troops, nor is it easy + <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>to understand how so large a + body of men could be left without a commissioned officer even for + a moment, much less how they could have kept up a continued fire, + which this seems to have been. Perhaps, however, it is not fair + to comment too severely upon the conduct of the French on this + occasion; the signal of surrender might not have been observed, + and as the English had commenced the attack, the enemy may + naturally have supposed that a larger force was shortly advancing + to the support of their comrades. We should also bear in mind + that the war had just broke out anew, after a short cessation of + hostilities, and that national animosity was at its height.</p> + + <p>Thus far we may attempt to palliate the conduct of the French, + but it might naturally be supposed that upon learning from his + papers the errand of mercy upon which Lieutenant Thomas had been + engaged, the French officer would have done all in his power to + alleviate the sufferings of his prisoner, and have shown him + every mark of courtesy and attention. However this may be, no + sooner were all arrangements completed, than the prisoners were + marched to the boats, and Lieutenant Thomas was handed over to + the care of two grenadiers, with directions that every attention + should be paid to him; but the officer's back was scarcely + turned, when these grenadiers, assisted by some of their + comrades, stripped poor Thomas of all his clothes, broke open his + trunk, which had been restored to him, and appropriated to + themselves every article of value that he possessed. Having + secured their plunder, they dragged their unfortunate victim to + the beach, regardless of his wound and sufferings, and after + gagging him with a pocket-handkerchief, threw him on the deck of + one of their boats.</p> + + <p>The wind blowing fresh on their passage to Granville, <a name= + "Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>which was three leagues from Chaussey, + the greater part of the soldiers were prostrated by sea-sickness, + whilst the seamen were in such a state of intoxication, that had + Lieutenant Thomas been able to rise, or to communicate with his + fellow-prisoners, he might easily have overpowered the French, + and gained possession of the vessel. If such an idea flashed + across his mind, it was but for a moment: he could neither speak + nor move, and lay for many hours exposed to the insulting jeers + of the French, and the inclemency of the weather. It was late at + night when they landed at Granville, but the naval and military + staff waited upon Mr. Thomas the next morning, and told him that + it was the intention of the authorities to send him back to + England, in consideration of his kindness to the French + prisoners. The expectation raised in the English officer's breast + by these promises were, to the disgrace of the French government + of that day, never realized. He was thrown into prison, and + treated with the utmost severity; in vain did he protest against + this injustice—in vain did he represent that he was engaged + on no hostile expedition at the time of his capture, which, + moreover, was not through the fortune of war, but through the + violence of the elements. He was kept in close confinement at + Verdun for ten years, and when he was at last released, liberty + was scarcely a boon to him. The damp of his prison, and the + sufferings attendant on his wound, had impaired his eyesight, and + otherwise so injured his constitution, that he was no longer fit + for active service. He was, however, promoted to the rank of + commander immediately on his return to England: this rank he + still holds, but the best years of his life had been spent in + captivity, and his hopes of promotion were not realized till too + late for the enjoyment of its honours, or for the service of his + country.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_APOLLO" id="THE_APOLLO"></a><a name="Page_55" + id="Page_55"></a>THE APOLLO.</h2> + + <p>The following account of the loss of the Apollo is taken + almost verbatim from the narrative of Mr. Lewis, clerk of the + ship, an eye-witness of the occurrence. His narrative is too + graphic to be suppressed:—'On Monday, the 26th of March, + 1804, His Majesty's ship Apollo sailed from the Cove of Cork in + company with the Carysfort, and sixty-nine sail of merchantmen + under convoy, for the West Indies. On the 27th, we were out of + sight of land, with a fair wind blowing fresh from the + west-south-west. At eight o'clock on the evening of Sunday, the + 1st of April, the wind shifted from south-west to south-east. At + ten o'clock, we up mainsail and set mainstay-sail. At a quarter + past ten, the mainstay-sail split by the sheet giving way. All + hands were called upon deck. It blew strong and squally; we took + in the foretop-sail and set the foresail. At half-past eleven the + maintop-sail split; furled it and the mainsail. The ship was now + under her foresails, the wind blowing hard, with a heavy sea.</p> + + <p>'At about half-past three on Monday morning, April 2nd, the + ship struck the ground, to the astonishment of every one on + board, and by the last reckoning, we conjectured we were upon an + unknown shoal.</p> + + <p>'The vessel struck very heavily several times, by which her + bottom was materially injured, and she made a great deal of + water. The chain pumps were rigged with the utmost despatch, and + the men began to pump, but in about ten minutes she beat and + drove over the shoal, and on endeavouring to steer her, they + found her rudder was carried away. The ship was then got before + the <a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>wind, the pumps were kept + going, but from the quantity of water shipped, there was every + probability of her soon foundering, as she was filling and + sinking very fast.</p> + + <p>'After running about five minutes, the ship struck the ground + again with such violent shocks, that we feared she would go to + pieces instantly; however, she kept striking and driving further + on the sands, the sea washing completely over her. Orders were + given to cut away the lanyards of the main and mizen rigging, + when the masts fell with a tremendous crash over the + larboard-side: the foremast followed immediately after. The ship + then fell on her starboard-side, with the gunwale under water. + The violence with which she struck the ground and the weight of + the guns (those on the quarter-deck tearing away the bulwarks) + soon made the ship a perfect wreck abaft, and only four or five + guns could possibly be fired to alarm the convoy and give notice + of danger.</p> + + <p>'On her drifting a second time, most pitiful cries were heard + everywhere between decks; many of the men giving themselves up to + inevitable death. I was told that I might as well stay below, as + there was an equal likelihood of perishing if I got upon deck. I + was, however, determined to go—and attempted, in the first + place, to enter my cabin, but I was in danger of having my legs + broken by the chests floating about, and the bulkheads giving + way.</p> + + <p>'I therefore desisted and endeavoured to get upon deck, which I + effected after being several times washed down the hatchway by + the immense body of water incessantly pouring down. As the ship + still beat the ground very heavily, it was necessary to cling + fast to some part of the wreck to save oneself from being washed + away by the surges, or hurled overboard by the concussions. The + people held on by the larboard bulwark of the quarter-deck and in + <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>the main chains. The good + captain stood naked upon the cabin skylight grating, making use + of every soothing expression that suggested itself—to + encourage men in such a perilous situation. Most of the officers + and men were entirety naked, not having had time to slip on even + a pair of trousers.</p> + + <p>'Our horrible situation became every moment more dreadful, + until at daybreak, about half-past four o'clock, we discerned + land at two cables' distance, a long sandy beach reaching to Cape + Mondego, three leagues to the southward of us. On daylight + clearing up, we could perceive between twenty and thirty sail of + the convoy ashore, both to northward and southward, and several + of them perfect wrecks. We were now certain of being on the coast + of Portugal, from seeing the cape mentioned above,—though I + am sorry to say no person in the ship had the least idea of being + so near the coast. It was blowing very hard, and the sea was + running mountains high, so that there was little hope of being + saved. About eight o'clock, the ship seemed likely to go to + pieces, and the after part lying lowest, Captain Dixon ordered + every one forward,—a command it was difficult to comply + with, from the motion of the mainmast working on the larboard + gunwale, there being no other way to get forward. Mr. Cook, the + boatswain, had his thigh broken in endeavouring to get a boat + over the side. Of six boats not one was saved, all being stoved, + and washed overboard with the booms, &c.</p> + + <p>'Soon after the people got forward, the ship parted at the + gangways. The crew were now obliged to stow themselves in the + fore-channels, and from thence to the bowsprit end, to the number + of 220,—for, out of the 240 persons on board when the ship + first struck, I suppose twenty to have previously perished + between <a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>decks and otherwise. + Mr. Lawton, the gunner, the first who attempted to swim ashore, + was drowned; afterwards, Lieutenant Witson, Mr. Runice, surgeon, + Mr. McCabe, surgeon's mate, Mr. Staudley, master's mate, and + several men, were also drowned (though they were excellent + swimmers), by the sea breaking over them in enormous surges. + About thirty persons had the good fortune to reach the shore upon + planks and spars, amongst whom were Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. + Callam, master's mate. On Monday night, our situation was truly + horrible; the old men and boys were dying from hunger and + fatigue; Messrs. Proby and Hayes, midshipmen, died also. Captain + Dixon remained all night upon the bowsprit.</p> + + <p>'Tuesday morning presented no better prospect of relief from + the jaws of death. The wind blew stronger, and the sea was much + more turbulent. About noon, our drooping spirits were somewhat + revived by seeing Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam hoisting out a + boat from one of the merchant ships to come to our assistance. + They attempted several times to launch her through the surf; but + she was a very heavy boat, and the sea on the beach acted so + powerfully against them, they could not effect their purpose, + though they were assisted by nearly one hundred of the merchant + sailors and Portuguese peasants. This day, several men went upon + rafts made from pieces of the wreck; but not one reached the + shore: the wind having shifted, and the current setting + <i>out</i>, they were all driven to sea, and amongst them our + captain and three sailors. Anxious to save the remainder of the + ship's company, and too sanguine of getting safe on shore, he had + ventured upon the spar, saying, as he jumped into the sea, 'My + lads, I'll save you all.' In a few seconds, he lost his hold of + the spar, which he could not regain: he drifted to sea, and + perished: and such <a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>was also + the fate of the three brave volunteers who shared his + fortune.</p> + + <p>'The loss of our captain, who had hitherto animated the almost + lifeless crew, and the failure of Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. + Callam, in their noble exertions to launch the boat, extinguished + every gleam of hope, and we looked forward to certain death on + the ensuing night, not only from cold, hunger, and fatigue, but + from the expectation that the remaining part of the wreck might + go to pieces at any moment. Had not the Apollo been a new and + well-built ship, that small portion of her could not have + resisted the waves, and held so well together, when all the + after-part from the chess-tree was gone, the starboard bow under + water, and the forecastle deck nearly perpendicular. The weight + of the guns hanging to the larboard bulwark on the inside, and on + the outside the bower and spare anchors, which it was not prudent + to cut away, as they afforded a resting-place to a considerable + number of men, added to the danger. It had become impossible to + remain any longer in the head, or upon the bowsprit, the breakers + washing continually over those places, so that one hundred and + fifty men were stowed in the fore-channels and cat's-head, where + alone it was possible to live.</p> + + <p>'The night drawing on, the wind increasing, with frequent + showers of rain, the sea washing over us, and the expectation + becoming every instant more certain, that the forecastle would + give way and that we must all perish together, afforded a + spectacle truly deplorable, and the bare recollection of which + makes me shudder. The piercing cries of the people, this dismal + night, as the sea washed over them every two minutes, were + pitiful in the extreme. The water running from the head down over + the body kept us continually wet. On that fearful night <a name= + "Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>every man's strength was exerted for + his own individual safety. From crowding so close together in so + narrow a compass, and having nothing to moisten their mouths, + several poor wretches were suffocated, like those in the black + hole,—with this only difference, that we were confined by + water instead of strong walls; and the least movement or + relaxation of our hold would have plunged us into eternity.</p> + + <p>'Some unfortunate men drank salt water, several endeavoured to + quench their raging thirst by a still more unnatural means; some + chewed leather, myself and many others thought we experienced + great relief by chewing lead, as it produced saliva.</p> + + <p>'In less than an hour after the ship had struck the ground, + all the provisions were under water, and the ship a wreck, so + that we were entirely without food. After a night of most intense + suffering, daylight enabled us to see Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. + Callam again endeavouring to launch the boat. Several attempts + were made without success, and a number of men belonging to the + merchant ships were much bruised and injured in their efforts to + assist. Alternate hopes and fears possessed our wretched + minds.</p> + + <p>'Fifteen men got safe on shore, this morning, on pieces of the + wreck. About three, P.M., of Wednesday, the 4th, we had the + inexpressible happiness of seeing the boat launched through the + surf, by the indefatigable exertions of the two officers, + assisted by the masters of the merchant ships, and a number of + Portuguese peasants, who were encouraged by Mr. Whitney, the + British Consul from Figuera.</p> + + <p>'All the crew then remaining on the wreck were brought safe on + shore, praising God for this happy deliverance, from a shipwreck + which never yet had its parallel.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>'As soon as I slipt out of + the boat, I found several persons whose humanity prompted them to + offer me refreshment, though imprudently, in the form of spirits, + which I avoided as much as possible.</p> + + <p>'Our weak state may be conceived when it is remembered that we + had tasted no nourishment from Sunday to Wednesday afternoon, and + had been exposed all that time to the fury, of the elements. + After eating and drinking a little, I found myself weaker than + before, owing, I imagine, to having been so long without food. + Some men died soon after getting on shore, from taking too large + a quantity of spirits. The whole of the crew were in a very weak + and exhausted state, and the greater part of them were also + severely bruised and wounded.'</p> + + <p>Such is Mr. Lewis's account of the wreck of the Apollo, one of + our finest frigates, and the loss of sixty of her men.</p> + + <p>The cause of this catastrophe seems to have been an error in + the reckoning. At twelve o'clock on Sunday, the land was supposed + to be thirty or forty leagues distant, nor were they aware of + their true position when the vessel struck at three o'clock the + following morning, on what was supposed to be an unknown shoal. + Never, perhaps, in the annals of maritime disaster, was there a + scene more rife with horror than that upon which the daylight + broke on the morning of the 2nd of April.</p> + + <p>The frigate, which but a few hours before had been careering + on her way with her gallant company full of life and energy, now + lay a hapless wreck—her timbers crashing beneath the fury + of the waves. The merchant vessels around were stranded in all + directions, and the air resounded with the despairing shrieks of + those on board. The destruction of the Apollo seemed inevitable; + but in this hour of trial, the captain was firm and resolute, + sustaining by words and example the courage of <a name="Page_62" + id="Page_62"></a>his crew; and when no other means of escape + presented themselves, he sacrificed his own life in the endeavour + to obtain rescue for those under his charge.</p> + + <p>The narrator of this sad tale, has touchingly described in no + exaggerated terms the sufferings of the wretched crowd who were + exposed for nearly three days and nights to the worst of physical + and mental evils—hunger, thirst, cold, and + nakedness—in their most aggravated form, rendered still + more painful by the almost utter hopelessness of their condition, + while they watched the repeated failures of Lieutenant Harvey and + Mr. Callam in their attempts to send a boat to their relief. We + need not therefore dwell on this subject further than to observe + that, under Providence, it was by the undaunted courage and + perseverance of those two officers that the remainder of the crew + of the Apollo were saved from destruction—for no one else + had been found bold enough to attempt their rescue, although the + Consul of Figuera had offered 100 guineas to any man that would + take a boat to the wreck.</p> + + <p>No less than forty merchantmen were wrecked at the same time. + Several sunk with all their crew, and the remainder lost from two + to twelve men each. Yet Mr. Lewis describes the situation of + these ships as not so dangerous as that of the frigate, because + the merchantmen, drawing less water, were driven closer in to + shore, and the men were enabled to land after the first + morning.</p> + + <p>The Apollo's company received every mark of kindness and + attention when they got on shore, from the masters of the + merchant vessels, who had erected tents on the beach, and who + shared with the sufferers whatever provisions they had saved from + the wrecks.</p> + + <p>Dead bodies floated on shore for many days after, and pieces + of wreck covered the beach, marking the scene of <a name= + "Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>this sad calamity. Fortunately, the + Carysfort, with part of the convoy, escaped the fate of her + consort by wearing, and arrived safely at Barbadoes. The + surviving officers and crew of the Apollo marched to Figuera, a + distance of eighteen miles, from whence they were conveyed in a + schooner to Lisbon, and brought by the Orpheus frigate to + Portsmouth.</p> + + <p>On their arrival in England, they were tried by a court + martial; and it is satisfactory to know that they were all fully + acquitted.</p> + + <p>It is a principal object in this work to draw attention to the + advantages of firm and steady discipline in all cases of + emergency. We cannot, therefore, omit to show than when a spirit + of insubordination breaks out under circumstances of danger, how + surely it is attended with fatal results.</p> + + <p>In the course of the evidence adduced before the court of + inquiry upon the loss of the Apollo, it was proved that about + twenty of her men had broken into the spirit room; disorder, of + course, ensued; and Lieutenant Harvey gave it as his opinion, + that, if these men had remained sober, many lives might have been + spared. There is so much cause for regret in the whole + catastrophe, that we will not harshly impute blame to one party + or another. We may see some palliation for the misconduct of the + men in the awful situation in which they were placed—their + fears, perhaps, made them forgetful alike of their duty to their + king, their country, and themselves; but it is cheering to know + that such cases are rare in the British Navy, and we are happy in + having very few such to record: they are alluded to only in the + hope that our seamen may learn from them to value that strict + discipline and order, which, in a moment of danger, is their + greatest safeguard.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>Lieutenant, now Rear + Admiral, Harvey subsequently served in the Amethyst, Amaranthe, + and Intrepid. His promotion to the rank of commander took place + in 1808, when he was appointed to the Cephalus, in the + Mediterranean, and there he captured four of the enemy's + privateers, and several merchant vessels. His post commission + bears date April 18, 1811, and he was employed off Corfu till the + month of December following. His last ship was the Implacable, + which he paid off in 1814. He obtained his flag as rear-admiral + in December, 1847. This officer now holds the appointment of + Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_HINDOSTAN" id="THE_HINDOSTAN"></a>THE + HINDOSTAN.</h2> + + <p>In the year 1804, the Government sent out the Hindostan, of + 1100 tons, laden with supplies for Lord Nelson, then + commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet. This ship was + commanded by Captain Le Gros, with 259 persons on board, + including passengers, women, and children.</p> + + <p>She arrived at Gibraltar in the month of March, and sailed + again from thence in company with the Phoebe frigate, to join + Lord Nelson off Toulon, but she was separated from her consort + during a heavy gale of wind, in the Gulf of Lyons.</p> + + <p>On the 2nd of April, at about seven o'clock in the morning, + the ship being then thirteen leagues to the south-east of Cape + St. Sebastian, a thick smoke was observed to issue from the fore + and main hatchways.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Tailour, who was on the quarter-deck, heard the cry + of "fire," and saw the people rushing up the <a name="Page_65" + id="Page_65"></a>hatchway in the midst of volumes of smoke, + coming from the orlop deck. He instantly called for the drummer + and the mate of the watch, and desired the former to beat to + quarters, and the latter to inform Captain Le Gros of what had + occurred, whilst he himself would go below, and endeavour to + ascertain the cause and the place of the fire.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Tailour then went down into the orlop gratings, and + penetrated some distance into each tier; the smoke was very thick + in both, particularly forward. He next went to the sail room, + where there was no appearance of either fire or smoke. He was + then joined by Lieutenant Banks and several other officers, and + they proceeded together to the hold. Here the smoke was very + dense, and it affected the throat like that from hot tar. The + officers were satisfied, upon inquiry, that there had not been + either light or tar in the hold. They then tried to re-enter the + tiers, but were driven back by the suffocating smoke. The absence + of heat, however, convinced them that the fire was not in that + part of the ship. A cry was heard that the fire was down + forward,—but we will use Lieutenant Tailour's own words to + describe the scene. He says,—</p> + + <p>'When I reached the fore-ladder, none being able to tell me + where the fire was, I went down to examine, when at the orlop, I + put my head over the spars which were stowed in the starboard + side, then behind the ladder in the larboard side; the smoke came + thickest in the starboard side from aft; feeling nothing like + fire heat, I attempted to go down to the cockpit, but ere I + reached the third or fourth step on the ladder, I felt myself + overpowered, and called for help. Several men had passed me + upwards on my way down, none I believe were below me. By the time + I came up to the orlop ladder, some one came and helped me; when + I reached <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>the lower deck, I + fell, but not, as many did that day, lifeless.'</p> + + <p>When Lieutenant Tailour recovered, he made strict inquiries, + whether any fire had been discovered in the cockpit or + store-rooms, and being assured that there had not, he ordered the + lower deck to be scuttled.</p> + + <p>So energetic was this officer, that eight or ten minutes only + had elapsed since the first alarm had been given, before the + hammocks were all got on deck, and the ports opened, to give + light and room below, until the place of fire could be + discovered, and better means obtained for drawing water. Mr. + Tailour did not recover from the suffocation so fast as he + expected, and was obliged to go upon deck for air. There he found + Captain Le Gros in consultation with the master, who, being of + opinion that the fire was on the larboard side, gave orders to + wear the ship, so as to allow the water which had been hove in to + flow over her. Mr. Tailour differed from them, and said he was + convinced that the fire was on the orlop starboard side. In a few + minutes he again went below and assisted in working the engine, + and giving directions for scuttling on the larboard side, where + the smoke appeared most dense.</p> + + <p>The engine, however, proved of little avail, for the smoke + increased to such a degree as to prevent the people working on + the orlop deck; the hatches were, therefore, laid over, the ports + lowered, everything covered up, and all means used to prevent the + circulation of air. Having taken these precautions, Lieutenant + Tailour reported to Captain Le Gros what had been done, and at + the same time advised that the boats should be got out without + loss of time. The captain seems to have objected to this, on the + plea that if the boats were got out, the people would all crowd + into them, and abandon the ship without an effort to save her. To + this objection Mr. Tailour <a name="Page_67" id= + "Page_67"></a>replied, that to save human life must be their + first consideration, and that every moment's delay was fraught + with peril and death. 'If we wait,' said he, 'till the last + moment, it may not be possible to save any; we can get the + marines under arms.' Captain Le Gros yielded the point; he + directed the sergeant of marines to get his men under arms, with + orders to load with ball, and to shoot without hesitation the + first man who should attempt to go into the boats without + permission. All hands were then turned up, and the command given + to 'out boats.'</p> + + <p>The order was promptly executed, and as soon as the boats were + out and secure for towing, the ship's head was pointed to the + north-west, with the view of nearing the land, and in hopes that + she might fall in with the Juno.</p> + + <p>In the meantime, a party was employed in getting the booms + overboard for a raft, the fore and main gratings were laid up and + covered over, and Lieutenant Banks was sent down to get the + powder out of the magazine, and stow it away in the stern + gallery. He could only partially accomplish this; for the smoke + increased upon them so much that the men were obliged to desist. + The powder they had got up was thrown overboard, and water was + poured down to drown that which remained; but the task of filling + the magazine was hopeless, and therefore abandoned. Many of the + men were drawn up apparently lifeless, amongst whom were + Lieutenant Banks and the gunner. Lieutenant Tailour then went + below to ascertain how matters were going on; he found only the + boatswain's mate in the cockpit, who was almost stupified by the + smoke. Mr. Tailour assisted him to reach the deck, and then the + gallant officer was preparing to return to the magazine, taking a + rope with him by way of precaution, when Lieutenant Banks, with + noble generosity, darted past him, also with a rope in his hand, + and descended on the dangerous service; but in a <a name= + "Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>short time he was drawn up in a state + of insensibility. All hope of doing anything with the magazine + was then given up; but although the smoke was so powerful below, + it had not yet got possession of the after part of the lower + deck.</p> + + <p>It was therefore proposed, and the proposition was immediately + acted on, to cut scuttles through the starboard foremost cabin in + the ward-room, and one under it in the gun-room, into the + magazine. This was found more practicable than was at first + supposed, as the cabins kept out the smoke. When they were + cutting these scuttles, the smoke came up in such dense volumes + through the after-hatchway, that it was necessary to shut it + closely up, and the scuttle in the after-part of the captain's + cabin was opened for a passage to the ward-room, and they began + to haul up the powder, and heave it overboard out of the gallery + windows. The ward-room doors, and every other passage for the + smoke were carefully closed, and thus it was kept tolerably well + under; yet many of the men employed in the duty were taken up to + all appearance dead. Amongst them we again find Lieutenant Banks, + and Mr. Pearce, the gunner. We cannot proceed without expressing + the admiration we feel for the heroism and self-devotion + displayed by officers and men. This is the third time we have + seen Lieutenant Banks risk his life in the performance of his + duty, and it was not the last of such efforts to save the vessel + and the lives of his fellow-sufferers.</p> + + <p>For the present, we will again adopt the language of + Lieutenant Tailour:—- 'About noon,' said he, 'I went aft + upon the poop, where many were collected, but the marines were + drawn up on duty upon the poop above. Francis Burke, the purser's + steward, was lying dead on one of the arm chests, said to have + been suffocated by the smoke below. Soon after this, my attention + was <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>drawn forward, where a + vast body of smoke issued from the hatchway, gallery doors, + funnels, and scuttles, which I soon saw were blown off; I rushed + forward and got them secured again, and in coming aft found the + hatches had all been blown off; the two foremost main-gratings + had gone down the hatchway. The after one I assisted to replace, + also the tarpaulin, which was excessively hot, and left the + carpenter to get it secured on. I next thought of the magazine, + where I dreaded some accident. On my way aft, I met some people + again bringing Mr. Banks up in their arms. On reaching the + ward-room, I saw through the windows the stern ladders filled + with people; I broke a pane of glass, and ordered them on the + poop, threatening instant death to any one who dared disobey. On + their beginning to move up, I just took time to summons the men + from the magazine, and went up to the poop to see every one was + once more under the eye of the marines. This done, the smoke + having in a great measure subsided, the maintop-sail was filled, + and top-gallant sails set.'</p> + + <p>About two o'clock in the afternoon, when they had been seven + hours contending with the fire and smoke, land was discerned + through the haze, on the weather-bow, and it was supposed to be + above Cape Creux.</p> + + <p>Captain Le Gros, fearing the signals might fall into the + enemy's hands, hove them all overboard. The sight of land gave a + turn to the men's thoughts, and spurred them on to greater + exertion. The fire rapidly increased; but the efforts of the + captain and his noble crew increased with the danger.</p> + + <p>Again they attempted to clear the magazine; but the smoke + again drove the men from below, and rendered them powerless. + Their courage was, indeed, kept up by the sight of land, though + still five leagues distant; but there was still much to be + done—many perils yet <a name="Page_70" id= + "Page_70"></a>surrounded them.—and it was awful to feel + that fire and water were contending for the mastery, and that + they must be the victims of one of these elements, unless by the + mercy of God the progress of the conflagration was stayed, and + time allowed them to reach the distant shore. The fire was + increasing fearfully; so much so, that Lieutenant Tailour + describes the lower deck 'burning like the flame in an oven.' All + communication was cut off from the fore-part of the ship. The + flames flew up the fore and main hatchways as high as the lower + yards, but still the brave crew remained firm to their duty; and + by keeping tarpaulins over the hatchways, and pouring down water, + they managed for a time to keep the fire from taking serious hold + abaft.</p> + + <p>But the crisis was fast approaching when human skill and human + fortitude could be of no avail. In defiance of all their + exertions and precautions, the devouring element pursued its + course. Every moment it was gaining aft; and had not officers and + men been true to themselves and to each other, they must all have + perished. The mizenmast was on fire in the captain's cabin, and + the flames were bursting from all the lee-ports. It was now a + quarter past five o'clock, and they were entering the Bay of + Rosas. Could they venture to hold on their way, and still remain + in the ship? A moment's glance around him sufficed for Captain Le + Gros to decide the question. The now triumphant element was no + longer smouldering and creeping stealthily onwards amidst smoke + and darkness, but with a lurid glare, and a sullen roar, the + flames rolled on. The word was given to launch the raft; it was + obeyed, and in a few minutes more the vessel struck, about a mile + from the beach, between the Fort of Ampurius and the Church of + St. Pierre. She was now on fire both fore and aft. + Self-preservation is the law of nature, it is said; but there + <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>is a stronger law governing + the actions of the British seaman. Officers and men were of one + mind. They all united in putting first the women and children, + then the sick and the foreigners, into the launch. The two yawls + and the jolly-boat took as many as they could carry from the + stern, and put them on board some Spanish boats from La Escada, + which had been sent to their assistance, but which neither + threats nor entreaties could avail to bring near to the ship.</p> + + <p>The remainder of the people were then ordered on to the raft, + and by the time it was covered, the flames came aft so thick, + that it was necessary to send it off from the stern. All now had + left the ill-fated vessel, except the gallant Captain Le Gros, + Lieutenant Tailour, and the master. When they saw all the rest + clear away, and not till then, did they descend by the stern + ladders into one of the yauls and pulled towards the shore, which + they had scarcely reached when she blew up.</p> + + <p>The value of this ship was estimated at 100,000<i>l.</i>, and + the loss to Lord Nelson must have been incalculable. Yet it is + said that he was much more distressed by the loss of the + despatches, which were taken by the enemy, about the same time, + in the Swift cutter.</p> + + <p>In a letter to Lord St. Vincent, dated the 19th of April, + Admiral Nelson says, speaking of Captain Le Gros.—"If his + account be correct (he was then upon his trial), he had great + merit for the order in which the ship was kept. The fire must + have originated from medicine chests breaking, or from wet + getting down, which caused the things to heat. The preservation + of the crew seems little short of a miracle. I never read such a + journal of exertions in my whole life."<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id= + "FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class= + "fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>The captain, officers, and + ship's company were most honourably acquitted by the sentence of + court-martial.</p> + + <p>Brenton, in his <i>Naval History</i>, remarks, 'In support of + the reasonable conjectures of the Admiral (Lord Nelson), as to + the origin of the fire, we might adduce many instances of ships + in the cotton trade having been on fire in the hold during a + great part of their voyage from China, owing to the cargo having + been wet when compressed into the ship. Hemp has been known to + ignite from the same cause; and the dockyard of Brest was set on + fire by this means in 1757. New painted canvas or tarpaulin, laid + by before it is completely dry, will take fire; and two Russian + frigates were nearly burnt by the accidental combination of a + small quantity of soot, of burnt fir wood, hemp, and oil, tied up + with some matting,'</p> + + <p>Mr. Thomas Banks, acting-lieutenant of the Hindostan, was + recommended to Lord Nelson for promotion, by the members of the + court-martial, in consequence of his conduct on this occasion; + and he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant on the 23rd of + June, 1804. This gallant officer died in 1811. Lieutenant George + Tailour was appointed to the Tigre in 1808, and was promoted for + his gallant conduct in cutting out a convoy of transports which + had taken refuge in this same Bay of Rosas, where, five years + before, he had equally distinguished himself, under even more + trying circumstances.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Clark and + McArthur, vol. ii. p. 361.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_ROMNEY" id="THE_ROMNEY"></a><a name="Page_73" + id="Page_73"></a>THE ROMNEY.</h2> + + <p>'In the month of November, 1804,' writes Brenton, in his + <i>Naval History</i>, 'the severity of blockading the Ports of + the Texel was practically experienced in the loss of the Romney, + of fifty guns, commanded by Captain the Hon. John Colville.'</p> + + <p>The Romney sailed from Yarmouth on the 18th of November, under + orders to join Rear-Admiral Russel, off the Texel; but on the + 19th she went aground on the south-west part of the sand-bank off + the Haaks. Regular soundings had been made during the run from + Yarmouth; and a few minutes before the ship struck, the pilots + were confident they were on the edge of the Broad Fourteens. They + then sounded, and the pilots proposed standing in under + double-reefed topsails, and foretopmast stay-sail, with the wind + S.S.W., until they should be in ten or eleven fathoms. To this + Captain Colville objected, as from the unsettled appearance of + the weather, and the thickness of the fog, he deemed it would be + imprudent to approach the shore. They were accordingly in the act + of wearing, when they perceived, through the fog, a large ship + bearing east by north. They stood towards her to make her out + more plainly, and in four or five minutes they discovered that + she was a large merchant vessel on shore.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" + id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class= + "fnanchor">[7]</a> Upon this, the pilots were anxious to haul off + on the larboard tack; but before the ship could be brought to the + wind, she struck. The wind was increasing, the fog very great, + and a heavy sea rolling in. In spite of every exertion, the water + <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>gained upon the vessel so + fast, that all hope of saving her was soon at an end; and had she + been in deep water, she must have sunk immediately. The pilots + supposed that the Romney would be dry at low water, the topmasts + were therefore struck, and every preparation made to shore her + up.</p> + + <p>The captain having done all in his power to save his ship, + next turned his attention to the preservation of his officers and + men, determined to use every possible means for their safety. + Minute guns were fired, in the hope that they might attract the + notice of some of our cruisers, and procure assistance.</p> + + <p>At this time it blew a gale from the south-west, and the sea + ran so high, as to endanger the boats which were lowered in order + to lighten the ship.</p> + + <p>The two cutters were sent to a galliot and a schuyt, that were + in sight near the land, to ask for help, but they failed in + obtaining it; and one of them in returning to the Romney was + upset in the breakers, and a master's mate with her crew + perished. Lieutenant Baker, who commanded the other cutter, + finding it impossible to reach the ship again, bore up to the + Texel, in hopes of being more successful in obtaining assistance + there than he had been with the schuyt.</p> + + <p>On board the ship, in the meantime, the minute guns were + fired, and officers and men looked anxiously for a responsive + signal that would tell them of approaching succour—but they + waited in vain; no help was at hand. The people were therefore + set to work to make rafts, and three were soon finished. Between + two and three o'clock in the afternoon the ship struck again, + with such violence, that the rudder broke away, and she seemed + likely to go to pieces immediately. The captain seized the first + moment of the weather-tide slacking to order the masts to be cut + away, which was promptly done, <a name="Page_75" id= + "Page_75"></a>and fortunately without causing any injury in their + fall. After this, the ship became more easy, although the sea + still made a clean breach over her. Captain Colville saw that the + slightest alteration in her position would be attended with + imminent danger, and he therefore ordered the bower anchors to be + let go—her head then swung to the wind, and this enabled + her to settle gradually on the sand, where she lay comparatively + easy. Darkness was fast gathering around, and the hearts of the + crew were becoming dreary and hopeless.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Nor sail nor shore appeared in sight,<br /></span> + <span>Nought but the heavy sea and coming night.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>When the tide flowed, no part of the ship below the + quarter-deck was accessible. To add to the misery of their + situation, out of the four bags of bread which had been put for + safety into the cabin, one only could be got upon deck, and that + one was so soaked in salt water, that the bread could scarcely be + eaten. This, with two cheeses, and a few gallons of wine, + composed the whole of their stock of provisions, and during the + day they had had no leisure to take refreshment of any kind.</p> + + <p>Such was the condition of the crew of the Romney, who passed + that awful night on the quarter-deck, the starboard side of which + was under water at high tide. The wind blew in violent gusts; + sleet and rain were falling, and the sea dashed over the vessel + every instant. Although the men were shivering with cold and + hunger, not a murmur escaped their lips, not a whisper of + complaint; but they patiently awaited the break of day. At length + the morning dawned, and with it hope dawned upon the hearts of + those patient sufferers, for the wind and the waves subsided, the + clouds gradually dispersed, and the sun shone forth with glorious + and invigorating light and warmth.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>All eyes were turned to the + offing, but still no assistance appeared. Captain Colville then + resolved to hoist the white flag on the stump of the mizen mast, + in hopes that it might be seen from the shore, and that he might + preserve the lives of his crew by surrendering to the enemy.</p> + + <p>This step was necessary, as it was the only means of rescue + that remained to them. The barge had been swamped along side, + soon after the masts were cut away, and three of the crew had + been drowned. The launch, also, which was lying to leeward, had + parted from her grapnel, and had been obliged to bear up for the + Texel.</p> + + <p>At 11 o'clock A.M., Captain Colville asked the carpenter if he + thought they could remain another night upon the wreck: the + carpenter assured him that he considered it almost impossible to + do so, and that the attempt would be attended with the greatest + risk to all on board. The ship had already parted amidships, the + main beam and several others being broken.</p> + + <p>Five rafts had been carefully instructed, each fitted with a + mast and sail; and at the earnest entreaty of the crew, Captain + Colville, on hearing the carpenter's report, allowed a part of + the men to leave the wreck on these rafts.</p> + + <p>About noon, as the fifth and last raft was about to leave the + ship, seven boats (one bearing a flag of truce) were seen coming + towards them from the shore. The captain ordered the people to + throw the quarter-deck guns, and all the arms and warlike stores + overboard, which they did.</p> + + <p>When the boats arrived alongside, an officer hailed the wreck, + and said that if Captain Colville was willing to secure the + preservation of his officers and crew, by surrendering as + prisoners of war, the whole company should be conducted in safety + to the Helder. Captain <a name="Page_77" id= + "Page_77"></a>Colville felt himself obliged to submit to the + imperious dictates of necessity, and he accordingly accepted the + proffered conditions, and surrendered himself to the Dutch, with + all the ship's company that remained on the wreck.</p> + + <p>Before nightfall they were all landed. Only those who have + been placed in similar circumstances can judge of the feelings of + men so rescued from the awful contemplation of immediate and + certain death. How happy now did they feel in occupying a + position, which two days before they would have shrunk from with + horror, and have shed their life's blood to avoid. But 'there is + no virtue like necessity,'</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>All places that the eye of heaven visits,<br /></span> + <span>Are to a wise man ports and happy havens.<br /></span> + <span class="i16">RICHARD II.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>And the Romney's company were wise enough to rejoice, under + the circumstances of their hard case, in finding themselves + safely landed in an enemy's country as prisoners of war.</p> + + <p>Nine seamen had been drowned; thirteen others, who had left + the wreck upon a raft of timber, were afterwards picked up and + taken on board the Eagle; the others who had been saved by the + boats and rafts joined Captain Colville at the Helder. The + following extracts from Captain Colville's dispatches show the + high estimation in which he held the services of his officers and + crew:—'That every possible exertion was made to lessen the + calamity, after having struck, I trust will appear from the + minutes.' ... 'Under the uneasiness of mind which the loss of the + ship I had the honour to command, naturally occasioned, I feel + some alleviation in reflecting upon the zealous, active, and + orderly conduct of my officers and crew in circumstances the most + trying, and under which they endured the severest hardships with + cheerfulness, <a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>and in perfect + reliance on Divine Providence, whose interposition in our behalf + was strongly evident.'</p> + + <p>Nothing could exceed the kindness and consideration shown by + the Dutch admiral towards the crew of the Romney. Captain + Colville, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the + Admiralty, does ample justice to a generous foe:—</p> + + <p>'We have experienced,' he says, 'from the Dutch Admiral + Kirkhurt, every attention that our distressed situation made so + necessary, and which his disposition seems incapable of + withholding, even from an enemy. But the wants of my + fellow-sufferers are great, for not an article of clothing or + anything else was saved by any one from the general wreck. I hope + the Dutch government will be disposed to alleviate, in some + degree, their wants,—in clothing, particularly. And I have + solicited the assistance of Rear-Admiral Russel in obtaining + these necessaries.'.... 'I have reason to believe we shall be + sent to Amsterdam, until exchanged.'</p> + + <p>Subsequently, the Dutch admiral, with noble generosity, sent + Captain Colville, with eight of his officers, to Rear-Admiral + Russel. It is always delightful to record such traits of + magnanimity and kindness, and we feel that British sailors can + well afford to do honour to those virtues in others, for which + they have ever been so distinguished themselves.</p> + + <p>Admiral Russel handsomely acknowledged his obligation to the + Dutch government in the following letter to Admiral + Kirkhurt:—</p> + + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>H.B.M. Ship Eagle, Dec. 2, 1804.</p> + + <p>'Sir—I have this moment received your flag of truce, + conveying to me the Honourable Captain Colville, late of his + Majesty's ship, the Romney, (wrecked upon your coast,) with + eight of his officers, whom you have first humanely saved from + impending destruction, and whom <a name="Page_79" id= + "Page_79"></a>your government, with its ancient magnanimity, + has released and restored to their country and their friends, + on their <i>parole d'honneur</i>. They are all, Sir, most + sensibly affected with heartfelt gratitude to the Batavian + government for their emancipation from captivity; to Admiral + Kirkhurt for their preservation from the jaws of death, and to + all the Dutch officers and inhabitants of the Texel, for their + kindness and most humane attention.</p> + + <p>'This, Sir, is nobly alleviating the rigours of war, as the + Christian heroes of your country and mine were wont to do in + these seas, before a considerable portion of European intellect + was corrupted by false philosophy. Captain Colville will + communicate to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of + the Admiralty, your proposal for an exchange of prisoners. + Accept my sincere thanks, and the assurance that I am, &c. + &c.</p> + + <p>'(Signed) T.M. RUSSEL.'</p> + </div> + + <p>On the 31st of December, Captain Colville, the officers and + ship's company of H.M. (late) ship Romney were tried by a + court-martial on board the Africaine at Sheerness, for the loss + of their ship off the Tezel on the 19th of November.</p> + + <p>It appeared to the court, that the loss of the ship had been + occasioned by the thickness of the fog and the ignorance of the + pilots; that the utmost exertions had been used by the captain, + officers, and crew, to save the vessel after she struck, and to + prevent the ship's company becoming prisoners of war. The + sentence of the court was to this effect: that the captain, + officers and crew were fully acquitted of all blame, but that the + pilots should forfeit all their pay, and be rendered henceforth + incapable of taking charge of any of his Majesty's ships or + vessels of war, and that they should be imprisoned in the + Marshalsea—one for the space of twelve, and the other, of + six months.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>In 1805, Captain Colville + was appointed to the Sea Fencibles, at Margate. In 1807, he + obtained the command of L'Hercule, a 74-gun ship, on the coast of + Portugal, and subsequently commanded the Queen on the North Sea + Station.</p> + + <p>He succeeded to his title (Lord Colville) on the death of his + father in 1811, and was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral in + 1819. On the 10th of November, 1821, he hoisted his flag on board + the Semiramis, as commander-in-chief on the Irish station. Lord + Colville died an Admiral of the White, in 1849.</p> + + <p>We are aware that the foregoing narrative may appear deficient + in novel and striking incidents, but we have introduced it for + the sake of exhibiting some of the best and noblest attributes of + the true-hearted sailor—courage, patience, and perfect + obedience under the most trying circumstances, and generous + kindness towards an unfortunate enemy. It is well to think of + these things, and the more we read of the details of naval + life—its sufferings, dangers, and trials, the more fully + shall we be persuaded that <i>true</i> courage is ever generous + and unselfish. In the words of the quaint old song—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Says the captain, says he, (I shall never forget + it,)<br /></span> <span>'If of courage you'd know, lads, the + true from the sham,<br /></span> <span>Tis a furious lion in + battle, so let it,<br /></span> <span>But, duty appeased, + 'tis in mercy a lamb.'<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>That my friend, Jack or Tom, I should rescue from + danger,<br /></span> <span>Or lay down my life for each lad + in the mess,<br /></span> <span>Is nothing at all,—'tis + the poor wounded stranger,<br /></span> <span>And the poorer + the more I shall succour distress:<br /></span> <span class= + "i2">In me let the foe feel the paw of the lion,<br /></span> + <span class="i2">But, the battle once ended, the heart of a + lamb.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> She proved + to be an American, and she went to pieces during the + night.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="VENERABLE" id="VENERABLE"></a><a name="Page_81" id= + "Page_81"></a>VENERABLE.</h2> + + <p>On Saturday, the 24th of November, 1804, the fleet under the + command of Admiral the Hon. W. Cornwallis, lay at anchor in + Torbay. As it was late in the year, and the night dark and + stormy, orders were given for the fleet to put to sea.</p> + + <p>Unfortunately, in fishing the anchor of the Venerable, 74-gun + ship, the fish-hook gave way, and a man was precipitated into the + sea. The alarm was immediately given, and one of the cutters was + ordered to be lowered. Numbers of the crew rushed aft to carry + the orders into effect, but in the confusion, one of the falls + was suddenly let go, the boat fell by the run, filled, and a + midshipman and two of the crew were drowned. In a few minutes + another boat was lowered, which fortunately succeeded in picking + up the man who first fell overboard.</p> + + <p>Owing to this delay, the Venerable fell off considerably + towards Brixham, and getting sternway, was unable to weather the + Berry Head. Every effort was made to stay her, but the ship + refused; and, not having room to wear, she drove on shore, at the + north part of the bay, on a spot called Roundem Head, near + Paington.</p> + + <p>Orders were given to cut away the masts, in the hopes of their + falling between the ship and the shore. This was found + impracticable, as the ship, from her position on the declivity of + the rock on which she struck, heeled to such an extent, as to + render the falling of the masts in the desired direction quite + impossible.</p> + + <p>Her commander, Captain John Hunter, however, with undaunted + fortitude, continued to animate the crew with hope, and + encouraged them to acts of further perseverance, with the same + calmness and self-possession as if <a name="Page_82" id= + "Page_82"></a>he were simply conducting the ordinary duties of + his ship. From the moment the ship struck, not the least + alteration took place in his looks, words, or manner; and + everything that the most able and experienced seaman could + suggest was done, but in vain. On signals of distress being made, + H.M. cutter Frisk, Lieutenant Nicholson, immediately stood + towards her, and hailing to know in what manner she could be + useful, was requested to anchor as near as possible to receive + the crew, with which her commander immediately complied, assisted + by the boats of the Goliath and Impetueux.</p> + + <p>All hope of saving the Venerable being now abandoned, the only + object that remained was to preserve the lives of the crew, who + were told to provide for their own safety on board the boats + which had been sent to their assistance, the captain and officers + declaring their intention of remaining on board till all the men + had quitted the wreck.</p> + + <p>At this time the sea ran tremendously high, and the men + lowered themselves into the boats from the stern, this being the + only accessible part of the ship. Most anxious was the situation + of the officers and men who were left, during the absence of the + boats. Many gave up all hopes of rescue, for every time the boats + approached the ship, the attempt became more and more dangerous. + The night still continued dark and foggy, with driving sleet and + violent gusts of wind, which seemed to freshen every hour. In + this forlorn and dismal state, the officers continued on the + outside of the ship (for she was nearly on her beam ends), + encouraging the men, and affording every assistance for their + escape on board the boats.</p> + + <p>The Venerable was now a complete wreck, beating against the + rocks, and was expected to go to pieces at <a name="Page_83" id= + "Page_83"></a>every surge; yet all this time was she so near the + shore that those on board were able to converse with the people, + whom the report of the guns had brought in great numbers to the + rocks. With much difficulty, they at last contrived to fling a + line on shore, which, being secured there, some of the crew + attempted to land themselves by it. The surf, however, broke with + such violence between them and the shore, although they were + scarcely twenty yards distant, that the poor fellows who made the + attempt were either drowned or dashed to pieces.</p> + + <p>It was now past five o'clock on Sunday morning, the weather + still growing worse. The crew, with the exception of seventeen, + had succeeded in quitting the ship, and these nobly declared that + they would remain to share the fate of their officers. The + situation of the whole was indeed appalling, and sufficient to + quail the boldest heart; the sea breaking over them, the fore + part of the ship under water, and the rest expected momentarily + to go to pieces. Under these circumstances, the officers, feeling + that they could be of no further use on board, deemed it their + duty to represent to the captain the necessity of endeavouring to + save their lives, they having one and all resolved on sharing his + fate.</p> + + <p>This point being arranged, the hopes of life began to revive; + but a further difficulty presented itself, which seemed to render + their safety more problematical than ever. This was, who was to + lead the way. The pause had well nigh been fatal to them all. At + length a junior lieutenant, long known on board, and celebrated + for his courage, agreed to lead the way, the rest solemnly + promising to follow. One after another they descended from the + stern by a single rope, wet, cold, and benumbed; and in this + condition they gained the boats, <a name="Page_84" id= + "Page_84"></a>which were in perilous attendance below. About six + o'clock they reached the Impetueux, where they were treated with + every attention and kindness which their unfortunate position so + loudly called for. They quitted the ship in a most critical time, + for in a little more than an hour after they had left her, she + parted amidships—that part on which they had been standing + for the last five or six hours capsized and was buried in the + surf. In sixteen hours from the time she first struck, the whole + vessel had disappeared, under the action of a raging surf, lashed + into fury by the violence of the gale.</p> + + <p>The conduct of the people on shore was most inhuman; not the + slightest assistance was offered; not a single boat from Brixham + or Torquay having put out to their assistance during the whole of + this dreadful night. To add to this disgraceful conduct, the + cowardly wretches were observed, when daylight broke, plundering + everything of value as it floated ashore.</p> + + <p>The following is the tribute of praise which Captain Hunter so + justly pays to Captain Martin and the officers and crew of the + Impetueux:—</p> + + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>"To Captain Martin, of the Impetueux, whose feelings as a + man, as well as his zeal as an officer, were on this + distressing occasion so conspicuous.—It is the desire of + the officers and crew of the Venerable in this place to express + the high sense they have of the obligations they are under to + his personal exertions, as well as those of the officers and + boats' crews whom he employed in this difficult and dangerous + service,—for it is to their exertions they owe the life + they now enjoy."</p> + </div> + + <p>Captain Hunter also speaks of the conduct of his own ship's + company in the highest terms. Their steadiness throughout was + most remarkable, and to this, in a great measure, may be + attributed the preservation of their own lives.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>One solitary instance of + neglect of duty occurred; and when we consider the circumstances + in which the men were placed, and the temptations which never + fail to present themselves on such occasions, the highest praise + is not only due to the crew, but also to the captain and + officers, who, by their previous conduct, had gained the respect + and confidence of those under them. It is in such moments of + severe trial that the character of a ship's company is put to the + test; and the good behaviour of the men who remained with their + officers proves that, in order to maintain a proper degree of + discipline, no undue severity need be practised.</p> + + <p>To a comparatively recent period, the captain of a man-of-war + had the power of inflicting corporal punishment to an unlimited + extent. This practice has of late years much diminished; owing, + in a great measure, to the increased good feeling of naval + officers, as also to the Admiralty discountenancing such strong + measures, unless in most urgent cases. A captain of a man-of-war + has, notwithstanding, and very properly so, an almost absolute + power, and corporal punishment rests with him alone; but the + humane officer, like Captain Hunter, punishes one man to save + many others, and shares with the delinquent the pain which, for + the sake of example, he is obliged to inflict. The discipline of + a ship of course depends almost entirely upon the conduct of the + captain; to him the officers look for guidance and example; and + whilst they see that the men do their duty properly, they also + learn from him to treat them with due consideration, having their + happiness and comfort in view. As in the case of the Venerable, + when the hour of danger arrives, each cheerfully performs the + duties allotted to him, relying with confidence on those who, + from their clemency, combined with firmness, they have been + accustomed to look up to with respect.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>An additional interest + belongs to the fate of this vessel, when we bear in mind that her + crew, whilst serving under Lord Duncan, in 1797, remained + untainted during the celebrated mutiny at the Nore.<a name= + "FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" + class="fnanchor">[8]</a> She also bore a conspicuous part in Lord + Duncan's action with the Dutch fleet, in October of the same + year, engaging the Vryheid, the flag-ship of the Dutch + admiral.</p> + + <p>The account of this great battle, however, is too well + recorded in the page of history to need repetition. It is + sufficient to add, that the Vryheid, after a noble resistance, + was ultimately obliged to strike, under the destructive fire of + the Venerable, Triumph, Ardent, and Director.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_SHEERNESS" id="THE_SHEERNESS"></a>THE + SHEERNESS.</h2> + + <p>In the afternoon of the 7th of January, 1805, His Majesty's + ship Sheerness, of 44 guns, was lying at anchor in the Colombo + Roads, Ceylon.</p> + + <p>It was one of those days of extreme stillness which often + precede the frightful hurricanes that sweep the eastern seas. Not + a breath of air stirred, not a cloud was to be seen; the ship lay + motionless on the calm and glassy water. The ensign drooped in + heavy folds from the stern, and many of the crew lay stretched on + the decks in listless apathy, little anticipating the terrible + convulsion of the elements which was so soon to arouse them in + fear. The monotony on board was broken for a moment by the voice + of the captain, Lord George Stuart, <a name="Page_87" id= + "Page_87"></a>who ordered his gig to be manned that he might go + on shore with his first lieutenant, Mr. Swan, and some other + officers, whom he had invited to dine with him under a tent. The + bustle of their departure from the ship was soon over, and again + all was still. The captain and officers had scarcely landed and + seated themselves at table, when a roaring sound was heard, at + first distant, but becoming louder and louder every moment, and + before they could conjecture the cause, the canvass of the tent + was almost torn from its fastenings by the sudden violence of the + wind.</p> + + <p>Every one thought first of the Sheerness, and rushing from the + tent a scene presented itself to their gaze little calculated to + diminish their alarm for the ship.</p> + + <p>The sea, which a few minutes before had been smooth as a + polished mirror, now displayed a picture of terrific grandeur; + the waves, crested with foam, rolled and tossed over one another + in wild confusion, whilst the roaring of the winds, and the + torrents of rain, added to the awful sublimity of the scene. Lord + George, though aware of the imminent danger to which he exposed + himself, determined at all risks to get on board his ship. + Without a moment's delay he collected the crew of the gig, and + pushed from the shore towards the vessel—himself steering + the boat, whilst Lieutenant Swan pulled the bow oar. The wind had + now increased to such a hurricane as is only known in tropical + climates, and the waves threatened every instant to engulf the + frail bark. As they advanced, the danger became more and more + urgent; the sea broke over them continually; nevertheless, they + persevered, and strained every nerve to effect their object.</p> + + <p>The stunning roar of the hurricane prevented any communication + except by signs, and several times the wind caught the oars with + such force that the men could <a name="Page_88" id= + "Page_88"></a>scarcely retain their seats. In vain were all their + efforts:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i4">The winds arise,<br /></span> <span>The + thunder rolls, the forky lightning flies;<br /></span> + <span>In vain the master issues out commands,<br /></span> + <span>In vain the trembling sailors ply their + hands,<br /></span> <span>The tempest, unforeseen, prevents + their care,<br /></span> <span>And from the first they labour + in despair.<br /></span> <span class= + "i19">Dryden.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>The boat filled with water three times, and became so nearly + unmanageable, that they saw it would be impossible to gain the + ship, and they bore up to the west part of York Island, from + whence they waded to the shore, but so exhausted from the fatigue + they had undergone, that they could never have reached the land, + had they not been assisted by some workmen who were on the + spot.</p> + + <p>When they arrived, they found Mr. Warner, a midshipman, had + just landed from the Sheerness, with a message to the effect that + the ship had parted an anchor, but that she was riding in safety + with two others. Mr. Warner had been sent in the launch, but in + nearing the shore, she had been upset, and two of her crew were + drowned; there was little hope, therefore, of any boat weathering + the storm in an attempt to reach the ship.</p> + + <p>Lord George, however, would not give up the attempt, and he + expressed so much anxiety to join his vessel, that it was + proposed to go to the weathermost part of the bay. Thither they + accordingly struggled on foot, with the utmost difficulty making + head against the wind, and suffering acutely from the sand + driving into their eyes. In addition to their personal + sufferings, the spectacle around was one of such desolation and + horror as no man can witness without pain. The shore, as far as + the eye could reach, was covered with wrecks, and with the bodies + of the dying and the dead, while the roaring of <a name="Page_89" + id="Page_89"></a>the surf, and the howling of the tempest, + mingled with the piercing cries of those on board the stranded + vessels, who were yet struggling with their fate, added to the + awfulness of the scene.</p> + + <p>At half-past six in the evening, exhausted with fatigue and + suffering, they arrived at the head of the bay; but here they + were again doomed to disappointment, for they found no one to + assist them in launching the boat, although the crew of the + launch had been directed to join them for that purpose.</p> + + <p>The ship was still in sight, but they found it would be + impossible to reach her, and they therefore proceeded to the + neighbouring town of Ostenberg, where they directed a soldier + whom they met, to hasten to his commanding officer, and request + that a party of soldiers with torches should be ordered out ready + to save the crew of the Sheerness, in case of her driving on + shore.</p> + + <p>Lord George and his companions then went to the master + attendant's house, where they passed the night; but although they + were worn out in mind and body, sleep never closed their eyes + that night—they passed it in listening to the reports of + the signal guns from the Sheerness, and in watching the rockets + which from time to time illuminated the darkness, telling of + distress and danger which they could not alleviate.</p> + + <p>When morning broke, they assembled all the workmen they could + muster, and manning a cutter with the crew of the launch, they + went off to the Sheerness, which had been driven on shore to the + west of York Island.</p> + + <p>There a most distressing sight presented itself; two vessels + had been driven on shore, one of which was totally lost. The + Sheerness had parted her cables during the night, and for a time + her situation was exceedingly perilous, it was impossible to + stand upon deck till the main and mizen masts had been cut away. + The water <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>rose above the orlop + deck till it became level with the surface of the sea.</p> + + <p>Not a barrack-house or tree escaped the ravages of the storm; + many were levelled with the ground, others extensively damaged, + and the hospital was completely unroofed, which rendered the + situation of the sick most deplorable. One of the patients was + killed by the falling beams. Several Europeans fell a sacrifice + to the storm, many of them being exposed to the torrents of rain + without any place of shelter within reach.</p> + + <p>Lord George Stuart, the officers and crew of the Sheerness + were acquitted of all blame respecting the loss of that vessel, + it being the opinion of the court, that 'Every exertion was made + for the preservation of the ship by the captain, officers, and + crew upon that trying occasion; and that, owing to the violence + of the hurricane, the loss of the ship was inevitable; and every + subsequent attempt to get her afloat proved ineffectual, in + consequence of the damage she had sustained in grounding when + driven on shore, from the impossibility of keeping her free by + means of the pumps.'</p> + + <p>Lord George Stuart entered the navy in the year 1793 as a + midshipman on board the Providence, in which ship he had the + misfortune to be wrecked in the year 1797.</p> + + <p>He received his post rank in 1804, and was almost constantly + employed from that time until 1809, when he assumed the command + of a light squadron at the mouth of the Elbe.</p> + + <p>Here he performed an important service in taking the town of + Gessendorf, situated on the banks of the Weser, and in driving + from the fortress a body of French troops who had made frequent + predatory and piratical excursions in the neighbourhood of + Cuxhaven.</p> + + <p>A few days after the defeat of the French, the gallant Duke of + Brunswick also arrived on the opposite banks of <a name="Page_91" + id="Page_91"></a>the Weser, after having almost succeeded in + effecting his retreat through the heart of Germany. By the + previous dispersion of the enemy and the destruction of the + fortress, he succeeded in crossing the river and escaping his + pursuers, who would otherwise, in all probability, have captured + or destroyed the whole of his detachment.</p> + + <p>His Lordship was next appointed to the Horatio, a 38-gun + frigate. Whilst cruizing on the morning of the 7th December, + 1813, off the Island of Zealand, he received a letter from a + gentleman who had been in the British service, requesting his aid + to drive the French from Zierick-Zee, the capital of Schowen. He + at once complied with this request, and directed a detachment of + seamen and marines to storm the batteries as soon as the tide + would answer for the boats to leave the ship, which could not be + done until nine P.M. In the meantime, a deputation arrived on + board from the principal citizens, bearing a flag of truce from + the French general, and requesting, that in order to save the + effusion of blood, and to prevent the disorders which would in + all probability arise, as the city was then in a state of + insurrection, terms of capitulation should be granted, by which + the French should be allowed to withdraw with their baggage to + Bergen-op-Zoom. To this, Lord George Stuart gave a peremptory + refusal, and summoned the French to surrender unconditionally. + After a short delay, the signal of surrender was made, and thus, + by the promptitude and decision displayed by the British officer, + the French were compelled to evacuate the Island of Schowen + without bloodshed, and the ancient magistrates of Zierick-Zee + resumed their former functions.</p> + + <p>Lord George Stuart subsequently commanded the Newcastle, and + was employed in the last American war. In 1815, he received the + Order of the Companion of the Bath, and died as rear-admiral in + 1841.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Captain + Hunter died in 1807.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="ATHENIENNE" id="ATHENIENNE"></a><a name="Page_92" + id="Page_92"></a>ATHENIENNE.</h2> + + <p>The Athenienne, of 64 guns, commanded by Captain Robert + Raynsford, with a crew of 470 men, sailed from Gibraltar on the + 16th of October, 1806, and at noon on the 20th, the Island of + Sardinia was seen in the distance. The ship continued under a + press of sail with a fair wind, and sped on her course towards + Malta. At eight o'clock of the evening of the 20th, the first + watch had been stationed, and the officer on duty had reported + the ship's progress at nine knots an hour. The labours of the day + were over, and all, save the few whom duty or inclination kept on + deck, had gone below. Another hour passed away; the majority of + the crew had retired to their berths to seek repose after the + toils of the day, and to gain fresh strength for the + morrow—that morrow which many of them were destined never + to behold.</p> + + <p>One there was on board the Athenienne, to whose care the + safety of the vessel and the lives of her crew had been + entrusted, who appeared to have misgivings as to the course she + was steering. The captain was seated in his cabin, looking over + the chart with one of his officers, when he exclaimed, 'If the + Esquerques do exist, we are now on them,' Scarcely were the words + out of his mouth when the ship struck.</p> + + <p>For the information of our readers, we must state that the + Esquerques, or Shirki, are a reef of sunken rocks lying about + eighty miles west from Sicily, and about forty-eight from Cape + Bon, on the coast of Africa. In 1806, the charts were not as + accurate as they are in the present day, and the reef was not + laid down in all of them; the very existence, indeed, of these + rocks was <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>positively denied by + some navigators, though it was as positively asserted by + others.</p> + + <p>It would be vain to attempt to describe the scene that + followed the first shock, on the vessel's striking the rock. Upon + the captain's hastening on deck, he found the crew rushing up + from their berths, many of them in a state of nudity, and so + stupified as to be utterly incapable of making the least effort + for their own preservation. Some went below, and for the moment + resigned themselves to despair, while others rushed to the poop + for safety.</p> + + <p>In a few minutes, the officers had gathered round their + captain. It needed no words to point out to them the imminence of + their danger, and the necessity of their setting an example of + steadiness and intrepidity to the men. They suffered no signs of + dismay to appear in their demeanour, but immediately proceeded to + consider what were the best steps to be taken to meet the + impending danger. The calmness and courage thus displayed by the + captain and his officers could not fail of having the desired + effect upon the ship's company, who recovered from their panic, + and seeing the necessity for instant exertion, held themselves in + readiness to execute each order as it was issued.</p> + + <p>In order to prevent the ship falling on her broadside, the + masts were cut away; but she continued to beat so violently upon + the rocks, that in less than half-an-hour she filled with water + up to the lower deck ports, and then fell over to larboard on her + beam ends. Captain Raynsford, foreseeing the inevitable loss of + his vessel, had ordered the boats to be hoisted out, with the + idea that they would be useful in towing a raft, which he had + caused to be constructed to leeward. This raft would probably + have been the means of preserving a great <a name="Page_94" id= + "Page_94"></a>many lives, had not the men in charge of the two + jolly-boats pushed off, and left their unhappy comrades to their + fate. Unfortunately, both the cutter and the barge, in hoisting + out, were stove, and immediately swamped, no less than thirty men + perishing with them. Several of the crew had been killed by the + falling of the masts, and others were severely injured. Two + midshipmen were crushed to death between the spanker boom and the + bulwarks.</p> + + <p>Brenton has thus described the horrible scene on + board:—'Nothing was to be heard but the shrieks of the + drowning and the wailings of despair. The man who would + courageously meet death at the cannon's mouth, or at the point of + the bayonet, is frequently unnerved in such a scene as this, + where there is no other enemy to contend with than the inexorable + waves, and no hope of safety or relief but what may be afforded + by a floating plank or mast. The tremendous shocks as the ship + rose with the sea, and fell again on the rocks, deprived the + people of the power of exertion; while at every crash portions of + the shattered hull, loosened and disjointed, were scattered in + dreadful havoc among the breakers. Imagination can scarcely + picture to itself anything more appalling than the frantic + screams of the women and children, the darkness of the night, the + irresistible fury of the waves, which, at every moment, snatched + away a victim, while the tolling of the bell, occasioned by the + violent motion of the wreck, added a funereal solemnity to the + horrors of the scene.'</p> + + <p>The fate of the hapless crew seemed fast approaching to a + termination. When the vessel first struck, signal guns had been + fired, in the hope that some aid might be within reach, but none + appeared; the guns were soon rendered useless, and when the ship + fell on her beam ends, the wreck, with the exception of the poop, + was <a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>entirely under water. Here + were collected all that remained of the ship's company, whose + haggard countenances and shivering forms were revealed to each + other, from time to time, by the glare of the blue lights, and by + the fitful moonbeams which streamed from beneath the dark clouds, + and threw their pale light upon the despairing group.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>The sea-breached vessel can no longer bear<br /></span> + <span>The floods that o'er her burst in dread + career;<br /></span> <span>The labouring hull already seems + half filled<br /></span> <span>With water, through an hundred + leeks distilled;<br /></span> <span>Thus drenched by every + wave, her even deck,<br /></span> <span>Stripped and + defenceless, floats a naked wreck.<br /></span> <span class= + "i16">FALCONER.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Two boats only remained, one of which was useless, her side + having been knocked in by the falling of the masts; and the + other, the launch, was therefore the sole means of preservation + left. She was already filled with men, but it was found + impossible to remove her from her position on the booms; and even + if she had floated, she could not have contained above one-fourth + of the crew. For about half an hour she continued in the same + position, (the men who were in her expecting every moment that + her bottom would be knocked out by the waves dashing against the + spars on which she rested,) when suddenly a heavy sea lifted her + off the bows clear of the ship. Three loud cheers greeted her + release, and the oars being ready, the men immediately pulled + from the wreck, with difficulty escaping the many dangers they + had to encounter from the floating spars and broken masts.</p> + + <p>These gallant fellows, however, would not desert their + companions in misfortune, and although their boat already + contained more than a hundred, they pulled towards the stern of + the frigate; but so great was the <a name="Page_96" id= + "Page_96"></a>anxiety of the poor creatures upon the poop to jump + into the boat, that in self-defence they were obliged to keep at + a certain distance from the wreck, or the launch would have been + instantly swamped. They were therefore reduced to the terrible + alternative, either of leaving their comrades to perish, or of + throwing away their own lives. Nine of the men who had jumped + overboard were picked up, but to have attempted to save any more + would have been to sacrifice all. One of the officers left on + board the wreck endeavoured by every argument to persuade Captain + Raynsford to save himself by swimming to the launch, but all in + vain. This intrepid man declared that he was perfectly resigned + to his fate, and was determined not to quit his ship whilst a man + remained on board. Finding that all entreaties were useless, the + officer himself jumped overboard from the stern gallery into the + sea, and swimming through the surf, gained the launch and was + taken on board.</p> + + <p>The general cry in the boat was, 'Pull off!' and at twelve + o'clock, as the moon sunk below the horizon, her crew took their + last look of the Athenienne. The situation of the launch was of + itself imminently perilous: she had neither sail, bread, nor + water on board. Fortunately there was a compass, and for a sail + the officers made use of their shirts and the frocks of the + seamen. On the following morning they fell in with a Danish brig, + which relieved, in some degree, their urgent necessities. + Lieutenant John Little, a passenger in the Athenienne, with a + party of seamen, went on board the brig, for the purpose of + prevailing on her master to return with them to the wreck, in + hopes of rescuing any of the crew who might be still alive; but + this generous purpose was frustrated by violent and adverse + winds.</p> + + <p>On the 21st, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the party + reached Maritimo, having been sixteen hours in the open <a name= + "Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>boat, and the next day they proceeded + to Trepani, in Sicily. On the 24th, they arrived at Palermo; the + news of the sad event had already been conveyed thither to Sir + Sidney Smith, by a letter which had been written from Maritimo. + The Eagle, of 74 guns, was instantly ordered to the Esquerques, + but returned with the intelligence, that all who were left upon + the wreck had perished, with the exception of two men, who had + been picked up on a raft by some fishermen. They related that the + poop had separated about eleven o'clock on the morning after the + launch left them, and that they, together with ten others, clung + to it, but all had either been washed off or died except + themselves. There were also two other rafts, on one of which were + three warrant officers, and on the other Captain Raynsford and + Lieutenants Swinburne and Salter; but it was found impossible to + disengage the rafts from the rigging to which they were attached, + and the unfortunate men all perished.</p> + + <p>The existence of the Esquerques, as we have already stated, + had been doubted, but from Captain Raynsford's exclamation, + previous to the ship striking, we may infer that he himself was + not sceptical on the subject. From whatever cause this fine + frigate may have been lost, the gallantry, at least, and + self-devotion of her commander, from the time the vessel first + struck, will rescue his memory from reproach.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>There's a prayer and a tear o'er the lowliest + grave;<br /></span> <span>But thousands lament o'er the fall + of the brave;<br /></span> <span>And thou, whose rare valour + and fate we bemoan,—<br /></span> <span>In the + sufferings of others forgetting thy own,—<br /></span> + <span>O'er thy dust, though no trophies nor columns we + rear,<br /></span> <span>Though the storm was thy requiem, + the wild wave thy bier;<br /></span> <span>Yet thy spirit + still speaks from its home on the flood,<br /></span> + <span>Still speaks to the gen'rous, the brave, and the + good;<br /></span> <span>Still points to our children the + path which you trod,<br /></span> <span>Who lived for your + country, and died in your God.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>J.H.J.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>Three hundred and fifty of + the crew perished, while one hundred and forty-one men, with two + women, were all who were saved.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_NAUTILUS" id="THE_NAUTILUS"></a>THE + NAUTILUS.</h2> + + <p>ONLY a few weeks after the loss of the Athenienne, and of so + many of her crew, a shipwreck occurred in another part of the + Mediterranean, attended by circumstances of most painful + interest.</p> + + <p>His Majesty's sloop, Nautilus, commanded by Captain Palmer, + left the squadron of Sir Thomas Louis in the Hellespont, on the + morning of the: 3rd of January, 1807, bearing dispatches of the + utmost importance for England.</p> + + <p>The wind blowing fresh from the north-east, the sloop + continued her course through the Archipelago without danger or + mischance, until the evening of the 4th, when she was off Anti + Milo; the pilot then gave up his charge, professing himself + ignorant of the coast they were now approaching. As the + dispatches confided to Captain Palmer were of great moment, he + determined to run every hazard rather than retard their delivery. + He therefore sailed from Anti Milo at sunset, and shaped his + course to Cerigotto. At midnight, the wind had risen to a gale; + the night was dark and gloomy; torrents of rain were falling, + accompanied by loud and incessant peals of thunder, whilst vivid + flashes of lightning ever and anon illuminated for an instant the + murky sky, and left all in obscurity more dismal than before.</p> + + <p>At two o'clock A.M., the tempest and the darkness having + increased, the captain gave orders to close-reef <a name= + "Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>topsails, and prepare for bringing-to + until daybreak. A little after three o'clock, a bright flash of + lightning discovered to them, the Island of Cerigotto right + ahead, and about a mile distant. The captain considered his + course to be now clear, and therefore directed all possible sail + to be kept on the vessel without endangering the masts, at the + same time he congratulated Lieutenant Nesbitt upon their escape + from the threatened dangers of the Archipelago.</p> + + <p>He then went below, and was engaged with the pilot in + examining the chart, when a cry was heard of 'Breakers ahead!' + Lieutenant Nesbitt, who was on deck, ordered the helm a-lee; it + was scarcely done, when the vessel struck. The shock was so + violent, that the men below were thrown out of their hammocks, + and they had difficulty in getting upon deck, for every sea + lifted up the ship and then again dashed her upon the rocks with + such force that they could not keep their feet. All was confusion + and alarm. Every one felt his own utter helplessness.</p> + + <p>'Oh! my Lord,' writes Lieutenant Nesbitt to Lord Collingwood, + 'it draws tears from my eyes when I reflect on the complicated + miseries of the scene! Heaven, now our only resource, was + piteously invoked; and happy am I to say, our gallant crew left + nothing untried which we imagined could save us—all + cheerfully obeying the orders of the officers. An instant had + hardly elapsed ere our main-deck was burst in, and a few minutes + after the lee bulwark was entirely overwhelmed. A heavy sea broke + entirely over us, and none could see the smallest aperture + through which hope might enter, and enliven the chill and dreary + prospect before us.'</p> + + <p>The only chance of escape for the crew was by the boats, and + one only, a small whale-boat, got clear of the ship in safety, + the others were all either stove or washed <a name="Page_100" id= + "Page_100"></a>off the booms and dashed to pieces on the rocks by + the raging surf. The boat that escaped was manned by the + coxswain, George Smith, and nine others. When they got clear of + the wreck, they lay on their oars, and those who had clothing + shared it with others who were nearly naked. They then pulled + towards the Island of Pauri, seeing that it was impossible for + them to render any assistance to their wretched comrades, as the + boat already carried as many as she could possibly stow.</p> + + <p>After the departure of the whale-boat, the ship continued to + strike every two or three minutes, but as she was thrown higher + on the rock, the men perceived that a part of it was above water; + and as they expected the vessel to go to pieces at every shock, + that lonely rock offered a safer refuge from the waves than the + frail timbers to which they were clinging. The mercy of + Providence soon provided them with the means of exchanging their + perilous situation for one of less certain and instant danger. + The mainmast fell over the side about twenty minutes after the + vessel struck, and the mizen and foremasts followed. These all + served as gangways by which the people passed through the surf + from the wreck to the platform of the coral reef, and thus for + the time were rescued from the certain death that awaited them if + they remained on board.</p> + + <p>The rock, which they reached with difficulty, was scarcely + above water; it was between three and four hundred yards long, + and two hundred wide; and upon this spot, in the midst of the + deep, nearly a hundred men were thrown together, without food, + almost without clothing, and with very little hope that they + should ever escape from the perils that surrounded them. They had + only left the wreck in time to hear her dashed to pieces against + the rocks; her timbers quivering, rending, and groaning, as they + were riven asunder by the remorseless waves. <a name="Page_101" + id="Page_101"></a>When day dawned upon the cheerless group, its + light only revealed new horrors: the sea on all sides was strewed + with fragments of the wreck; not a sail was visible on the + waters, and many of their comrades were seen clinging to spars + and planks, tossed hither and thither by the waves. The situation + of the survivors was truly distressing; they were at least twelve + miles from the nearest island, and their only chance of relief + was in the possibility of a ship passing near enough to see the + signal which they hoisted on a long pole fixed to the rocks.</p> + + <p>The day was bitterly cold, and with much difficulty the + unfortunate men contrived to kindle a fire, by means of a knife + and flint that were happily in the pocket of one of the sailors, + and a small barrel of damp powder that had been washed on to the + rock. They next constructed a tent with pieces of canvas, boards, + and parts of the wreck, and so they were enabled to dry the few + clothes they had upon them. And now they had to pass a long and + dreary night, exposed to hunger, cold, and wet; but they kept the + fire burning, hoping that it might be visible in the darkness, + and be taken for a signal of distress. And so it proved; for the + coxswain and crew of the whale boat, who were on the Island of + Pauri, observed the fire in the middle of the night, and the next + morning the coxswain and pilot, with four of the men, pulled to + the rocks, in hopes that some of their comrades might be still + living.</p> + + <p>They were beyond measure astonished to find so many survivors + from the wreck, when they had scarcely dared to hope that any + could have been saved except themselves. They had no food or + water in their boat; for they had found nothing on the Island of + Pauri (which was only a mile in circumference) but a few sheep + and goats, kept there by the inhabitants of Cerigo, and a + <a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>little rain-water that was + preserved in a hole of the rock. The coxswain attempted to + persuade Captain Palmer to come into the boat, but the intrepid + officer refused. 'Never mind me,' was his noble reply; 'save your + unfortunate shipmates.'</p> + + <p>After some consultation, the Captain ordered the coxswain to + take ten of the people from the rock and make the best of his way + to Cerigotto, and return as soon as possible with assistance.</p> + + <p>Soon after the departure of the boat, the wind increased to a + gale, the waves dashed over the rock and extinguished the fire, + and some of the men were compelled to cling to the highest part + of the rock, and others to hold on by a rope fastened round a + projecting point, in order to save themselves from being washed + away by the surf; and thus a second night was passed, even more + wretched than the first. Many of the people became delirious from + the fatigue, hunger, thirst, and cold, which they had suffered, + and several died during the night; some, apparently, from the + effect of the intense cold upon their exhausted frames. Terrible + was the scene which daylight presented: indiscriminately crowded + together on a small spot, were the living, the dying, and the + dead; and the wretched survivors unable to give any help to those + whose sufferings might shortly be their own.</p> + + <p>There was nothing to be done, but to wait in hope for the + return of the whale-boat, when, to the indescribable joy of all, + a ship, with all sail set, hove in sight: she was coming down + before the wind, and steering directly for the rock.</p> + + <p>This cheering sight infused vigour into the weakest and most + desponding. Signals of distress were instantly made, and at last + they were perceived by the vessel, which brought to, and then + hoisted out her boat. Great <a name="Page_103" id= + "Page_103"></a>was the joy of all the famishing creatures on the + rock, to see their deliverance at hand; the strongest began to + fasten spars and planks together to form rafts, on which they + might get to the ship; the boat came within pistol-shot. She was + full of men, who rested on their oars for a few minutes, as if to + examine the persons whom they were approaching: the man at the + helm waved his hat, and then the boat's head was put round and + they pulled back again to the ship, and left the crew of the + Nautilus to their fate.</p> + + <p>The transition from hope to despair was terrible,—all + that day they watched in vain for the return of their own boat + from Cerigotto; but hour after hour passed away, and they began, + at length, to fear that she had been lost in the gale of the + preceding night.</p> + + <p>Death, in its most horrible forms, now stared them in the + face; the pangs of hunger and thirst were almost insupportable. + There was—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Water, water everywhere,<br /></span> <span>Yet not a + drop to drink.—COLERIDGE.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Some, indeed, of the poor sufferers were desperate enough to + allay their raging thirst with salt water, in spite of the + entreaties and warnings of those who knew how terrible are its + effects. In a few hours those who had drunk it were seized with + violent hysteria and raving madness, which in many ended in + death.</p> + + <p>Another night drew on, and they made their sad preparations + for it by huddling together as closely as they could, to keep + alive the little warmth that remained in their bodies, and + covering themselves with the few ragged garments that were left. + Happily the weather was more moderate, and they hoped to be able + to get through the night; but worn out as they were, the ravings + of some of their companions banished sleep from the eyes of the + <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>rest. In the middle of the + night they were unexpectedly hailed by the crew of the + whale-boat.</p> + + <p>The first cry from the rock was—'water! water!' but + water they had none. They had found it impossible to procure + anything but earthen vessels, and these could not be carried + through the surf. The coxswain, however, informed them that next + morning a large vessel would come to their relief; and in this + hope of a speedy deliverance they were encouraged to further + endurance. The morning broke at last, but no boat appeared; then + came a reaction, and the heart-sickness of hope deferred. The + scenes that occurred on that day were too dreadful to + relate—it was the fourth on which they had not tasted + food.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>......Savagely<br /></span> <span>They glared upon each + other;<br /></span> <span>.............<br /></span> + <span>.... and you might have seen<br /></span> <span>The + longings of the cannibal arise<br /></span> <span>(Although + they spoke not) in their wolfish + eyes.—BYRON.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>They must now either taste human flesh or perish—there + was no alternative.</p> + + <p>A young man who had died the previous night was selected to be + food for the rest.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id= + "FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class= + "fnanchor">[9]</a> Most of them had not power to masticate or to + swallow—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>For every tongue, through utter drought,<br /></span> + <span>Was withered at the root.<br /></span> <span>COLERIDGE + (<i>Ancient Mariner</i>).<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>Before evening death had + made fearful ravages, and had numbered amongst its victims + Captain Palmer and the first lieutenant.</p> + + <p>Another night came on; long and anxiously had they gazed upon + the horizon—in vain had they strained their blood-shot eyes + to see some vessel coming to their relief. The shades of night + closed round them, and sadly they awaited the dawn of another + day, resolving that if they lived to see it they would construct + a raft and commit themselves to the waves, rather than remain to + die of hunger and thirst. Accordingly, at daylight they began to + put their plan into execution by fastening some of the larger + spars together, and in a few hours the raft was completed. The + eventful moment for launching it arrived, when with bitter grief + and disappointment they beheld the work of their hands, which it + had cost them so much labour to achieve, dashed to pieces in a + few seconds and scattered adrift upon the waves. Some of the men, + rendered desperate by seeing their last chance of escape thus + snatched from them, rushed into the sea, grasping at such parts + of the wreck as came within their reach; but they were all swept + away by the current, and their unhappy comrades saw them no + more.</p> + + <p>In the afternoon, the coxswain arrived in the whale-boat, but + he came without bringing them any food or means of + escape—for all his entreaties had been unavailing to + persuade the Greek fishermen to put to sea whilst the gale + continued. They had, however, promised to come to the relief of + the sufferers the next day if the weather should be more + favourable.</p> + + <p>This was the fifth day that these wretched men had passed + without food of any kind except the disgusting morsel they had + attempted to swallow. Many who were completely exhausted, + stretched their weary limbs on the hard rocks and expired, and + before night the greater <a name="Page_106" id= + "Page_106"></a>part of the survivors were in a state of complete + insensibility.</p> + + <p>On the sixth morning they were scarcely able to raise + themselves from the rock to look once more upon the sea, when one + less feeble than the rest exclaimed, 'the boats are coming.' And + most welcome was the sight of four fishing vessels, and the + whale-boat steering towards them. Such joy was theirs as can only + be understood by those who have experienced a similar deliverance + from the jaws of death. The boats reached the rocks; they + contained a supply of water and food, which were distributed in + moderation among the perishing seamen, who, when they were a + little renovated, were taken on board the boats, and in a few + hours landed on Cerigotto.</p> + + <p>The poor but hospitable inhabitants of the island received the + strangers most kindly, and tended them with the utmost care. Out + of one hundred and twenty-two, sixty-four only survived. And when + we think of the complicated miseries they had so long endured, we + may wonder that so many were spared.</p> + + <p>After remaining eleven days at Cerigotto, the remnant of the + crew of the Nautilus went to Cerigo, and from thence they sailed + to Malta.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Nesbitt and the survivors were tried by a + court-martial at Cadiz for the loss of the Nautilus.</p> + + <p>The court gave it as their opinion, 'That the loss of that + sloop was occasioned by the captain's zeal to forward the public + dispatches, which induced him to run in a dark, tempestuous night + for the passage between the Island of Cerigotto and Candia; but + that the sloop passed between Cerigotto and Pauri, and was lost + on a rock, on the south-west part of that passage, which rock + does not appear to be laid down in Heather's Chart, by which the + said sloop was navigated.</p> + + <p>'That no blame attaches to the conduct of Lieutenant <a name= + "Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>Nesbitt, or such of the surviving + crew of the Nautilus, but that it appears that Lieutenant Nesbitt + and the officers and crew did use every exertion that + circumstances could admit.'</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Nesbitt died in 1824.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> 'I well + remember,' says a naval surgeon, 'the above melancholy event, + and particularly from one of the survivors being drafted on + board the ship to which I belonged, (the Thunderer, then in + the Dardanelles.) The poor fellow became my patient; he + complained of no pain but that which arose from the horrible + recollection of his having tasted human flesh to preserve his + life. This preyed so deeply on his mind, that it rendered him + incapable of performing any duty, and when I saw him sinking + under the heavy load, I felt it to be my duty to order him to + the hospital, that he might be invalided and sent home.'</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_FLORA" id="THE_FLORA"></a>THE FLORA.</h2> + + <p>Early in January, 1807, H.M. ship Flora, of 36 guns, under the + command of Captain Otway Bland, had been cruizing off the Texel, + for the purpose of reconnoitring the ships of the enemy. This + object having been effected, they shaped a course towards + Harlingen, the captain ordering the pilots not to run the + slightest risk, but to give the sands of the island sufficient + berth, so as not to endanger the Flora; and so often did he + reiterate these instructions, that the pilots appeared hurt that + their nautical skill and knowledge of the track should be + doubted. However, to the astonishment of all on board, and to the + dismay of the pilots, the ship took the ground, and struck on the + Shelling Reef, about noon on the 18th of January. It was only + just past high water when she struck, and there was therefore no + chance of getting her off till the next tide. In the meantime all + weight was removed from aloft, and the topmasts were lowered over + the side, to shore her up. Towards evening the wind increased to + a gale, and a heavy swell came on, which prevented their getting + out a bower anchor, although a raft was made for the purpose; but + the night became so dark, and the sea so rough, they were obliged + to relinquish the attempt, and resolved to wait with patience for + high water, lightening the vessel as much as possible, <a name= + "Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>by starting the water, and heaving + most of the shot and other heavy articles overboard. All hands + took their turn at the pumps, and worked vigorously; yet the + water gained rapidly upon the vessel: this was partly + attributable to her having struck amidships, and having a hole + through her bottom, instead of her side, to supply the cistern. + At about nine o'clock P.M., she began to heave, but as the tide + made, the wind freshened, the sea rose, and she brought home the + stream anchor, backed by the kedge, and forged on the sand. At + half-past nine o'clock, a last effort was made to get her off, by + letting go a bower anchor with a spring abaft, which brought her + head round. They then made all sail and forced her over the reef. + The ship once more floated in deep water: but this object was not + attained without a most serious loss. The rudder had been carried + away, and with it the launch and the jolly-boat, so that only one + anchor and the worst boat were left for service. After those + moments of breathless anxiety, and after giving utterance to a + short but fervent expression of thankfulness that they had got + clear of the reef, the men, almost worn out as they were, by so + many hours of continued labour, again betook themselves to the + pumps, in hopes of keeping the water under until they could reach + an English port. But in spite of every exertion, in spite of + continued bailing and pumping, and though a thrumbed sail was + under the ship's bottom, the water gained to eight feet. As the + danger increased, so did the vigour of the men. All was order, + energy, and steady obedience throughout. The captain perceiving + that it would be impossible to keep the vessel much longer + afloat, gave orders to wear ship, and run her on the enemy's + shore; nor could even this be done without much difficulty and + danger, as it was necessary to let go their last anchor. Most of + the guns were now thrown over<a name="Page_109" id= + "Page_109"></a>board, and everything done to lighten the ship; + and about half-past six A.M., on the 19th, her head was brought + round, and, steered by the sails and a cable veered astern, + towards the islands. The weather was becoming more gloomy and + threatening, and before ten o'clock A.M. the vessel was so + terribly shaken, that it became absolutely necessary to cut away + the main and mizen masts, leaving the foremast standing, with + sail set, to force the ship on as much as possible, and also to + prevent her drifting off with the ebb, or with a change of wind. + Although the dangerous situation of the Flora was clearly + perceived by the people on shore, no boat put out to her + assistance, the authorities having forbidden them to render such + aid on pain of death.</p> + + <p>Captain Bland, during his cruize on these seas, had allowed + the fishing-boats of the enemy to range unmolested, and had given + strict orders that not a fish should be taken from them without + payment; but even these boats now came near the labouring ship + and passed on, leaving her and her crew to perish. About four + o'clock in the afternoon when she seemed to be sinking, she took + the ground and there remained, surrounded by breakers, the crew + in vain firing guns, and making other signals of distress, which + were totally disregarded. All hands that could be spared from the + pumps had been employed in making rafts, and these were now + launched into the surf, and about one hundred and thirty of the + crew got upon them, and were fortunate enough to gain the high + land.</p> + + <p>Captain Bland, with a few officers and men, pushed off in the + barge, the only boat that was left, and after rowing for eighteen + hours without any sustenance, they reached the Island of Amoland, + where they were made prisoners.</p> + + <p>The rest of the crew, who had chosen to stay by the <a name= + "Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>ship, remained on board for four + days and nights, and, excepting nine, who perished from the + severity of the weather, they all got safe on shore. The above is + a plain, unvarnished account, taken from the narrative of Captain + Bland: it is a true tale, and needs not the aid of romance to + give it interest. For more than twenty-four hours the crew + suffered the horrors of uncertainty; their vessel thrown upon a + hostile shore, whose inhabitants were forbidden on pain of death + to assist them, whilst of all their boats one only remained. Yet, + even during this time of trial and danger, discipline was not for + a moment abandoned; no man's heart appeared to fail him; each one + performed his duty with cheerfulness and alacrity; and nobly did + they all earn the praise bestowed on them by their commander.</p> + + <p>'I cannot help paying here,' said Captain Bland, 'the last + tribute of praise to my crew; they behaved with order, respect, + and perfect coolness to the last moment; nor would they quit the + ship's side in the barge, though at the risk of her being dashed + to pieces, till I took the place they had reserved for me.'</p> + + <p>The gallantry and seamanship displayed by Captain Otway Bland, + when in command of the Espoir, 14-gun brig, in his attack and + subsequent capture of a Genoese pirate, well deserve a place in + these pages.</p> + + <p>On the 7th of August, 1798, the Espoir was sailing near + Gibraltar in charge of part of a convoy, when a large vessel, + which appeared to be a man-of-war, was seen steering apparently + with the intention of cutting off some of the convoy. Captain + Bland, notwithstanding the superiority of the force with which he + had to contend, determined upon attacking the stranger, which + proved to be the Liguria, mounted with 26 guns of various + calibres.</p> + + <p>On approaching within hail, an officer on board the Liguria + ordered the commander of the Espoir to sur<a name="Page_111" id= + "Page_111"></a>render, or he would sink his ship, enforcing the + demand by one shot, and afterwards by a whole broadside. The fire + was returned in a spirited manner by the Espoir, and was kept up + on both sides by the great guns and musketry for upwards of three + hours, when the captain of the Liguria hailed the Espoir, begging + her captain not to fire any more, as he was a Genoese. Upon this, + Captain Bland desired him to lower his sails, and come on board. + As no attention was paid to this demand, and the Genoese appeared + to be attempting some manoeuvre, the Espoir poured in another + broadside, which the Liguria returned; but on the Espoir tacking + to fire her opposite broadside, her opponent surrendered.</p> + + <p>The crew of the Liguria consisted, of one hundred and twenty + men of all nations, whilst that of the Espoir was but eighty men, + of which the master was killed, and six men wounded.</p> + + <p>Captain Bland died in 1810.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_AJAX" id="THE_AJAX"></a>THE AJAX.</h2> + + <p>On the evening of the 14th of February, 1807, H.M. ship Ajax, + 74 guns, commanded by Captain the Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, lay + at anchor off the mouth of the Dardanelles, in company with the + squadron of Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth. The wind, which + during the day had been boisterous, was partially lulled, and in + the clear moonlight every object was visible with a distinctness + almost equal to that of day.</p> + + <p>The scene from the deck of the Ajax was one of surpassing + beauty and interest. The bright moonbeams <a name="Page_112" id= + "Page_112"></a>rested on the waters, and left a silvery track + upon the waves. Ahead and astern, the lofty masts of the squadron + tapered darkly towards the sky, whilst the outline of every rope + and spar was sharply defined against the clear blue vault of + heaven. Every man in the ship, from the commander to the youngest + boy, could feel and understand this natural beauty; but there + were many on board the squadron who had still higher enjoyment, + as they gazed on those isles and shores which recalled the + classic verse of Homer and of Virgil. For them every island, + cape, river, and mountain was fraught with interest. There lay + Tenedos, renowned of old; there the mountain isle of Imbros stood + out in bold relief from the snow-clad summits of Samothracia. In + the distance appeared Mount Ida, and at its foot lay stretched + the plains of Troy, o'er which the 'gulfy Simois' wanders still + as it did of old. There is Cape Sigæum, and on it the tomb + of Patroclus, round which Achilles dragged the godlike Hector's + corpse; there, too, the ashes of Achilles repose near those of + his friend; and a little further north, on the Rhoetian + promontory, is the tomb of 'mighty Ajax.' Homer, Euripides, and + Virgil have, it is true, a very small share in the studies of a + youthful sailor, as they do not form an essential ingredient of a + nautical education; but an English gentleman, although his head + be crammed with mathematics and equations, always contrives to + pick up enough of classic lore to enable him thoroughly to enjoy + such a scene as that we have attempted to describe. He is much to + be pitied who cannot appreciate such enjoyment; but in these + days, when the schoolmaster is aboard, and when, by the wise + liberality of the Government, our ships are furnished with useful + and interesting books, none need of necessity be deprived of the + exquisite pleasure which is to be derived from visiting scenes + which <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>have been 'dignified + either by wisdom, bravery, or virtue.' We are constantly reminded + that 'knowledge is power;' but it might be well to impress upon + youngsters, that '<i>knowledge</i> is enjoyment.' There is, + indeed, no acquirement in literature or science that will not at + some time or other be productive of real pleasure.</p> + + <p>We have lingered on this subject longer than we should have + done, for we must now relate how soon the tranquillity of that + fair scene was disturbed—how for a time another light, + redder and fiercer than that of the moon, shone on the blue + waters of the Hellespont.</p> + + <p>Soon after nine o'clock P.M., Captain Blackwood had received + from his first lieutenant the report of the safety of the Ajax, + and all, except the officers and men who were on duty, had + retired to their berths. A very short time, however, had elapsed, + before the stillness of the night was broken by the appalling cry + of 'Fire!' It must be a fearful sound to hear—the cry of + 'Fire!' as awful as the voice of him who</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night,<br /></span> + <span>And would have told him half his Troy was + burned.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>The officer of the watch instantly informed Captain Blackwood + of the alarm. He hastened upon deck, and found too surely that + flames were bursting from the after-part. He gave orders to beat + to quarters—to fire the guns as signals of distress, and + directed Lieutenant Wood and a midshipman to proceed in one of + the boats to all the ships of the squadron to request + assistance.</p> + + <p>These orders were promptly given, and promptly obeyed; but who + can enter fully into the feelings of Captain Blackwood at that + awfully critical moment. Here was his ship and six hundred men + threatened with immediate destruction, and each one of that six + hundred looked to him for direction and guidance.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>In order to inspire + others with courage and confidence, he must display decision in + every look and gesture. Whatever others might do, his lip must + not tremble, nor his eyelid quiver—no look of apprehension + must be seen on his brow. He must stand forth calm and + undaunted—the recollection of tender ties and loving hearts + might wring his soul with agony, but these thoughts must be + banished; the safety of six hundred human beings depended, under + God, on his firmness and exertion, and every eye was directed to + him in anxious inquiry. When the ship's company had turned out, + every man took his station calmly and in obedience to orders.</p> + + <p>The captain, followed by several of his officers, went down to + the cockpit, from whence issued clouds of smoke. Every effort was + made to extinguish the flames in that part of the ship, but they + increased so rapidly, it soon became impossible for any one to + remain below. Several of the men who were throwing down water + fell from suffocation with the buckets in their hands. To give + more air to the men so employed, the lower-deck ports were hauled + up; but this rather increasing than diminishing the density of + the smoke, they were closed again, and the after-hatchway shut + down. The carpenter's attempt to scuttle the after-part of the + ship was also ineffectual.</p> + + <p>Ten or fifteen minutes only had elapsed after the first alarm + had been given, before the flames raged with such fury, that it + was impossible to hoist out the boats; the jolly-boat had + fortunately been lowered in obedience to the captain's orders + when he first went upon deck. As the flames burst up the + main-hatchway, dividing the fore from the after-part of the ship, + the captain ordered all hands to the forecastle, and seeing that + it was utterly beyond human power to prevent the destruction of + the vessel, he desired every man to provide for his own + safety.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a> <span>The silent plague + through the green timber eats,<br /></span> <span>And vomits + out a tardy flame by fits;<br /></span> <span>Down to the + keels, and upwards to the sails,<br /></span> <span>The fire + descends, or mounts, but still prevails;<br /></span> + <span>Nor buckets pour'd, nor strength of human + hand,<br /></span> <span>Can the victorious element + withstand.<br /></span> <span class="i16">DRYDEN'S + <i>Æneid, Book V</i>.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>The luckless ship was now wrapped in flames from amidships to + taffrail, and the scene of horror is beyond the powers of + description. Hundreds of human beings were assembled together on + the forecastle, bowsprit, and sprit-sail-yard. No boat had yet + come to their assistance. Their perilous situation had levelled + all distinction of rank; men and officers were huddled together, + watching with despairing hearts the progress of the fiery + element, which threatened to hurry them so quickly into eternity. + Volumes of black smoke rose in huge pillars from all parts of the + ship, whilst far above the hissing and crackling of the flames, + as they ricked the masts and rigging, rose the shrieks and death + yells of the hapless men, who, unable to gain the forecastle, had + sought safety aloft, where the flames had now reached them.</p> + + <p>Some, rather than endure the horrible suspense, trusted + themselves to the mercy of the waves, and by plunging overboard, + ended their lives and sufferings in a watery grave. Many, in + their agony, fell on their knees, imploring God for that help + which they despaired of receiving from mortal agency. Perhaps + these men would not have thought of prayer to heaven in face of a + human foe, but now that the 'last enemy' glared upon them in so + fearful a shape, they felt compelled to fly to Him who hath said, + 'Call upon me in the day of trouble.'</p> + + <p>The booming of the guns, as they exploded, echoed far and wide + over the waters, and added to the horrors of that awful + night.</p> + + <p>In the midst of his people stood the captain, + endeavour<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>ing to sustain + their sinking spirits, and exhorting them to be firm and to + depend upon the boats which were now heaving in sight. He then + bade them farewell, and sprung into the sea; he breasted the + waves for a length of time, but his strength was nearly + exhausted, when, happily, he was seen, and picked up by one of + the boats of the Canopus.</p> + + <p>As the boats from the squadron neared the Ajax, the agonizing + fears of the sufferers were changed into wild transports of joy; + so sudden was the transition from despair to hope, that many of + the crew lost all self-possession, and perished by jumping into + the sea in their impatience to reach the boats.</p> + + <p>Such details as these, showing the effects of fear upon + untutored minds, make us thankful that a great change for the + better has been effected within the last forty years with respect + to the religious and moral instruction of our sailors.</p> + + <p>Every ship's company is exposed to casualties similar to that + which befel the crew of the Ajax,—to shipwreck, fire, and + sudden destruction,—and no man will deny that in times of + extreme peril, a calm and composed mind is the greatest of + blessings—the want of it, the greatest misery. Few will be + sceptical enough to deny, on the other hand, that the best + security for such composure, in a moment of unforeseen danger, or + of unlooked-for deliverance, is a firm and sure trust that there + is a God above, who 'ruleth over all;' whom the winds and the sea + obey, and who is 'mighty to save,' even in the hour of man's + direst extremity. To instil this knowledge and trust into the + hearts of our seamen, and by it to make them both better men, and + better sailors, should be the chief object of every improvement + in education.</p> + + <p>Lieut. Willoughby, of the St. George, had hastened in a cutter + to assist the crew of the Ajax, and he very <a name="Page_117" + id="Page_117"></a>soon rescued as many men as his boat could + carry. Numbers, however, were still surrounding him, who, for the + safety of those in the already overladen boat, were, with much + reluctance, left to their fate. Fortunately some launches and a + barge arrived in time to pick them up, and convey them to the + different ships of the squadron.</p> + + <p>The Ajax all this time was drifting towards the island of + Tenedos, with her stern and broadside alternately presented to + the wind. The humane exertions of Lieutenant Willoughby had been + twice crowned with success; his boat was, for the third time, + nearly filled with people, when he observed the Ajax round to, + and that several men were hanging by ropes under her head. He + resolved, at all hazards, to rescue these poor fellows before she + again fell off. Dashing, therefore, towards her, he succeeded in + the first part of his object, but not until the vessel was again + before the wind, flames issuing from every part of both hull and + rigging, and with the cutter across her hawse.</p> + + <p>To extricate himself from this perilous situation was almost + impossible, for every moment increased the speed with which the + Ajax was surging through the water, and the sea thrown up from + her bows threatened his small boat with instant destruction.</p> + + <p>We will now take up the account as given by Marshall, in his + <i>Naval Biograghy</i>:<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id= + "FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class= + "fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + + <p>'Whilst the Ajax was propelling the cutter in the above + alarming manner, the flames reached the shank, painter, and + stopper, of her remaining bower anchor, and it fell from her + bows, nearly effecting the destruction of the boat at its first + plunge into the water. The cable caught her outer gunwale, over + which it ran, apparently <a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>one + sheet of fire; orders, exertion, and presence of mind were now of + no avail. Death to all in the cutter appeared inevitable. The + sole alternative was either to be burned or drowned, for they + were all too much exhausted to be able to save themselves by + swimming.</p> + + <p>'The boats at a distance saw that the cutter was enveloped in + flames, and therefore considered it impossible to assist her. All + that Lieutenant Willoughby and his companions could do while the + cable was running out and binding their boat more firmly to the + ship, was to keep the sparks and flames as much as possible from + the uncovered parts of their persons. Providentially, however, + although the inner portion of the cable had been burnt through, + the anchor took the ground, and gave the ship's head a check to + windward, before the less consumed part had entirely left the + tier; and thus the very event which had seemed to seal the doom + of the cutter was in all respects ordained by the Almighty for + her preservation. The change in the ship's position enabled the + boat to get clear, but not before every individual in her was + more or less severely scorched, and the heat was no longer + endurable.'</p> + + <p>The wreck drifted on shore on the north side of the island of + Tenedos, where, at five o'clock in the morning, she blew up with + an explosion which might be felt on the adjacent shores of Europe + and of Asia; and all that remained of the Ajax were a few smoking + spars, which rose to the surface of the sea.</p> + + <p>Such was the fate of this noble ship, destroyed by a + conflagration more rapid than had ever been known, and of which + the cause has never been clearly ascertained. It appears, + however, certain that, contrary to orders, there had been a light + in the bread-room; for when the first lieutenant broke open the + door of the surgeon's cabin, the after bulk-head was already + burnt down; and <a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>as the + purser's steward, his assistant, and the cooper, were among the + missing, it is but reasonable to suppose that the fire had been + occasioned by their negligence.</p> + + <p>'I trust,' says Captain Blackwood, in his defence before the + court of inquiry, 'that I shall be able to prove to the + satisfaction of this court, that I had instituted a regulation, + which obliged the first lieutenant, the warrant officers, and + master at arms, in a body to visit all the quarters, store-rooms, + wings, &c, and report to me at eight o'clock on their + clearness and safety; and that I had also received at nine + o'clock the report of the marine officer of the guard.'.... 'I + trust this court will consider that in ordering the first + lieutenant and warrant officers to visit all parts of the ship, + whose report, as well as that of the master at arms, I had + received at a few minutes past eight o'clock, I had very fully + provided for every want, and might with perfect confidence have + considered my ship in a state of perfect safety with respect to + fire.'</p> + + <p>Captain Blackwood, his surviving officers and men, were all + most honourably acquitted of any blame respecting the loss of the + Ajax.</p> + + <p>Out of six hundred men, three hundred and fifty were saved by + the boats of the squadron; but two hundred and fifty perished + that night by fire or water.</p> + + <p>Amongst the lost were Lieutenants Reeve and Sibthorpe; Captain + Boyd, Royal Marines; Mr. Owen, surgeon; Mr. Donaldson, master; + twenty-five midshipmen; two merchants of Constantinople, and a + Greek pilot.</p> + + <p>The melancholy fate of the gunner must not be passed over + unnoticed.</p> + + <p>This poor man had two sons on board, whom he was bringing up + to his own profession.</p> + + <p>When the first alarm of fire was given, he had rushed below, + and was soon seen emerging from the smoke with one of the boys in + his arms.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>He threw the lad into the + sea and the jolly-boat picked him up; but on going down for the + other, the unfortunate father fell a victim to his paternal + affection, and either perished in the flames, or was + suffocated.</p> + + <p>Of three women who were on board, one saved herself by + following her husband down a rope from the jib-boom, and was + received into a boat.</p> + + <p>Captain Blackwood served as a volunteer in the subsequent + operations of the squadron in forcing the passage of the + Dardanelles, and his services then were most highly spoken of in + a letter from Sir J. Duckworth to Lord Collingwood. He had + distinguished himself on many previous occasions. He was in the + memorable action of 1st of June, 1794; and he commanded the + Euryalus at the battle of Trafalgar.</p> + + <p>When Sir Henry Blackwood bade farewell to Nelson, on leaving + the Victory to repair on board his own ship, before the + commencement of the action, Lord Nelson said, with prophetic + meaning, 'God bless you, Blackwood; I shall never see you + again.'</p> + + <p>In 1810, he commanded the inshore squadron off Toulon, and for + his gallant conduct on that station he received the thanks of the + commander-in-chief, Sir Charles Cotton.</p> + + <p>In 1814, Captain Blackwood was advanced to the rank of + rear-admiral, and in 1819 he was appointed commander-in-chief in + the East Indies.</p> + + <p>He died a vice-admiral in 1832, and his name is enrolled among + the first class of naval heroes who have fought under the British + flag.</p> + + <p>The memory of Blackwood is still held in veneration by the old + weather-beaten tars of the Nelsonian school.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Willoughby, whom we have seen displaying so much + gallantry in his efforts to save the crew of the Ajax, entered + the service in the year 1790.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>Before big promotion to + the rank of lieutenant, in the year 1798, he distinguished + himself on more than one occasion by that promptitude of action + for which his after career was so remarkable.</p> + + <p>In 1801, he served on board the Russel, at the battle of + Copenhagen. The gallant manner in which he boarded the Provestein + block ship, excited so much admiration, that the Russel's crew + gave him three cheers upon his return to the ship. We next find + this young officer performing a most important service when the + French forces capitulated at Cape François, St. Domingo, + in 1803.</p> + + <p>He was at this period serving on board the Hercule, flag-ship + to Sir John Duckworth. According to the terms agreed upon, the + French men-of-war were to keep their colours hoisted until they + got outside of the harbour, when they were each to discharge a + broadside in return to a shot fired athwart their bows, by one of + the British ships, and then to make the usual signals of + submission.</p> + + <p>The Clorinde frigate, in going out of the harbour, grounded + under Fort St. Joseph, at the moment when the launch of the + Hercule, commanded by Mr. Willoughby, was entering the harbour. + When Mr. Willoughby saw the critical position of the Clorinde, + and the danger which menaced all on board of her (for he knew + that even if they succeeded in gaining the shore, which was + doubtful, no quarter would be given them by the blacks), he + pulled towards the frigate, and when he came alongside, he + proposed terms to General La Poyne (who was on board of her) by + which the safety of the crew would be secured.</p> + + <p>Mr. Willoughby promised, that if the frigate would hoist + English colours, he (Mr. Willoughby) would wait upon General + Dessalines, and demand that the British flag should be respected; + and in the event of the Clorinde going to pieces during the + night, the crew and passengers should be considered prisoners of + war.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>General La Poyne readily + accepted the proposed terms, and accordingly, Mr. Willoughby + proceeded to negotiate with General Dessalines, who promised + compliance with his request.</p> + + <p>The boats of the Hercule were sent to the assistance of the + Clorinde, and they succeeded in heaving her off.</p> + + <p>Thus by the timely exertions of this zealous young officer, + some hundreds of lives were saved, and the British navy obtained + a frigate which, for many years, was one of the finest of the + 38-gun class.</p> + + <p>At the attack on Curaçoa, in 1804, Mr. James relates, + that for the sake of encouraging his men, Mr. Willoughby used to + take his meals sitting in a chair upon the breast-work of a + battery, while the earth was ploughed up all around; and one man, + we believe, was killed on the spot; but still the table and + chair, and the daring officer who sat there, remained + untouched.</p> + + <p>In the following year, the Hercule had captured a merchant + schooner, and one of the prisoners gave notice that a Spanish + corvette of twenty guns, was lying in St. Martha, South America. + Mr. Willoughby thereupon volunteered to attack her; and on the + 4th of July, he took the command of the prize, and parted company + with his ship, accompanied by three midshipmen and thirty + volunteers. On the 6th, they entered the harbour of St. Martha; + Captain Samuel Roberts, then a midshipman, was at the helm, with + a check shirt on, his head covered with a French kerchief, and + his face blackened. The rest of the men were below, except a + black, and a mulatto.</p> + + <p>The schooner being well known, the deception was perfectly + successful, and she passed the batteries without interruption; + but, to the disappointment of all on board, no corvette was to be + found.</p> + + <p>Mortified in the extreme, they put about, but not in <a name= + "Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>time to escape detection. The enemy + had found out the trick that had been played upon them; and the + batteries from the island and harbour opened upon the schooner a + volley of no very gentle reproaches. However, she luckily avoided + the danger, and returned in safety to the Hercule, without + receiving a single shot.</p> + + <p>In 1807, Mr. Willoughby was appointed to the Royal George. We + have already alluded to his humane exertions to save the crew of + the Ajax, while the squadron was off the Dardanelles. He soon + afterwards received a severe wound whilst he was taking more + thought for others' safety than for his own. Upon the return of + the squadron from Constantinople, an attack was made upon a large + building on the island of Prota.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Willoughby perceiving that three men were very much + exposed to the enemy's fire, called out to them, desiring them to + stoop. At that moment, he was himself struck by two pistol balls; + one entered his head, just above the right jaw, and took a + slanting direction upwards—and has never been extracted; + the other shot cut his left cheek in two; For some minutes he lay + apparently lifeless, but fortunately the movement of an arm + indicated enough of life to awaken hope in his companions; and + they carried him on board the Royal George.</p> + + <p>In 1808, he was promoted to the rank of commander, and + appointed to the Otter sloop, then employed in cruizing off the + Isle of France. Here he distinguished himself in cutting out some + vessels under the protection of the batteries of the Black River; + and for his services at the capture of St. Paul, he was appointed + to the Xereide.</p> + + <p>In 1810, he made an attack upon Jacotel: he thought this a + somewhat dangerous enterprise; and, therefore, to inspire his men + with more than usual courage and <a name="Page_124" id= + "Page_124"></a>ardour, he headed them himself, in full uniform. + After a desperate resistance on the part of the enemy, he + succeeded in spiking the guns of the fort, and taking prisoner + the commanding officer. For this service he was promoted to the + rank of captain.</p> + + <p>In the course of the same year, 1810, a musket burst in the + hands of one of the men, so near to the place where Captain + Willoughby stood, that his jaw was fractured, and the windpipe + laid bare, so that his life was despaired of.</p> + + <p>He had hardly recovered from this wound, before he was engaged + in an attack upon Port Louis, Isle de France. The disasters which + befel the squadron upon this occasion have now become a matter of + history, and they need not be recounted here,—suffice it to + say, that Captain Willoughby continued to keep up an unequal + conflict until nearly all on board the Nereide were either killed + or wounded. Nor did he surrender, although he had entirely lost + one of his eyes, and the other was much injured, 'until (to use + the words of Vice-Admiral Bertie) after a glorious resistance, + almost unparalleled even in the brilliant annals of the British + navy,'</p> + + <p>Upon his return to England, Captain Willoughby had a pension + of 550<i>l</i>. per annum awarded to him in consideration of his + wounds.</p> + + <p>Having no immediate prospect of employment at home, he + repaired to St. Petersburg, and offered his services to the + Czar.</p> + + <p>In his very first engagement in his new career, Captain + Willoughby was taken prisoner by the French.—falling a + victim to his own generosity. During the action, he saw two + Prussian soldiers severely wounded,—dismounting himself, + and desiring his servant to do the same, he placed the wounded + men upon his own horses, and attended them on foot. They were + quickly over<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>taken by some + French cavalry, and Captain Willoughby was made prisoner. He was + soon afterwards informed that if he would sign a paper, pledging + himself to hasten to France by a certain route, he would be + allowed to travel alone.</p> + + <p>He gladly consented to this; but to his astonishment, after + signing the required paper, he was ordered to march with the + other prisoners. In vain he protested against this breach of + faith—he was obliged to proceed. His sufferings from cold + and hunger whilst crossing the deserts of Russia and Poland were + intense. After witnessing the heartrending scenes of Moscow, he + at length reached Mayence. Thence he was removed to Metz, and he + had scarcely reached the town, before an order came for his + confinement in the Chateau of Bouillon, where he remained a close + prisoner for nine months. He was then taken to Peronne, and there + he continued until the arrival of the Allies at Chalons, when he + contrived to make his escape.</p> + + <p>Soon after his arrival in England, Captain Willoughby received + the Order of the Bath,—an honour scarcely commensurate with + the many and valuable services he had performed for his country. + It may safely be asserted that no officer living has been engaged + in so many hard-fought actions, or has received so many dangerous + wounds. From his first entrance into the service, to the end of + the late war, all his energies were devoted to the service of his + country; and now that his services are no longer required, with a + constitution shattered by age and wounds, he is employing the + remainder of his days in deeds of charity and kindness towards + his fellow-creatures.</p> + + <p>Captain Willoughby became admiral in 1847, and since the + foregoing pages were written, death has closed his eventful + life.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> <i>Life + of Sir Nisbet Willoughby</i>.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_ANSON" id="THE_ANSON"></a><a name="Page_126" id= + "Page_126"></a>THE ANSON.</h2> + + <p>The year 1807 was most disastrous to the British navy: during + that period, we lost no less than twenty-nine ships of war, and, + unhappily, the greater part of their crews. Some of these vessels + foundered at sea, others were wrecked or accidentally burnt, and + it was at the close of this eventful year that a calamity + occurred which equalled, if it did not surpass, any previous + disaster.</p> + + <p>The Anson, of 40 guns, under the command of Captain Charles + Lydiard, after completing her stores for a few months' cruise, + sailed from Falmouth on the 24th of December, to resume her + station off Brest. The wind was adverse, blowing very hard from + the W.S.W., until the morning of the 28th, when Captain Lydiard + made the Island of Bas, on the French coast. As the gale was + increasing rather than subsiding, he determined to return to + port, and accordingly shaped his course for the Lizard. At three + o'clock P.M. land was discovered, apparently about five miles + west of the Lizard, but owing to the thickness of the fog, there + was a difference of opinion as to the land that was seen, and + therefore the ship was wore to stand out to sea. She had not been + long on this tack before land was descried right ahead.</p> + + <p>It was now evident that their position was extremely + dangerous,—the ship was completely embayed, and the wind + raged with increasing fury. Every exertion was made to keep the + Anson off shore, but without success, and it was not until she + was fearfully near to the rocks that she could be brought to an + anchor, in twenty-five fathoms, with the best bower anchor veered + away to two cables' <a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>length. + The top-gallant masts were lowered upon deck, and in this state + she rode from five o'clock P.M., when she anchored, till four + o'clock the next morning, when the cable suddenly parted. During + the night, the gale was tremendous, and the sea ran mountains + high; they had nothing now to depend upon for the safety of the + ship but a small bower anchor, which was immediately let go, and + this held until eight o'clock, when it also parted. The ship was + no longer an object of consideration; Captain Lydiard felt that + he had done his utmost to save her, but in vain, and that now + every energy must be put forth for the preservation of human + life. The tempest raged with such fury that no boat could + possibly come to their aid, nor could the strongest swimmer hope + to gain the shore. It appeared to Captain Lydiard that the only + chance of escape for any of the crew was in running the ship as + near the coast as possible. He gave the necessary orders, and the + master run the vessel on the sand which forms the bar between the + Loe Pool and the sea, about three miles from Helstone. The tide + had been ebbing nearly an hour when she took the ground, and she + broached to, leaving her broadside heeling over, and facing the + beach.</p> + + <p>The scene of horror and confusion which ensued on, the Anson + striking against the ground, was one which baffles all + description. Many of the men were washed away by the tremendous + sea which swept over the deck; many others were killed by the + falling of the spars, the crashing sound of which, as they fell + from aloft, mingled with the shrieks of the women on board, was + heard even amidst the roar of the waters and the howling of the + winds. The coast was lined with crowds of spectators, who watched + with an intense and painful interest the gradual approach of the + ill-fated vessel towards the shore, and witnessed the subsequent + melancholy catastrophe.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>Calm and undaunted amidst + the terrors of the scene, Captain Lydiard is described as + displacing in a remarkable degree that self-possession and + passive heroism, which has been so often the proud characteristic + of the commander of a British ship of war under similar harassing + circumstances. Notwithstanding the confusion of the scene, his + voice was heard, and his orders were obeyed with that habitual + deference which, even in danger and in death, an English seaman + rarely foils to accord to his commanding officer.</p> + + <p>He was the first to restore order, to assist the wounded, to + encourage the timid, and to revive expiring hope. Most + providentially, when the vessel struck, the mainmast, in falling + overboard, served to form a communication between the ship and + the shore, and Captain Lydiard was the first to point out this + circumstance to the crew. Clinging with his arm to the wheel of + the rudder, in order to prevent his being washed overboard by the + waves, he continued to encourage one after another as they made + the perilous attempt to reach the shore. It was fated that this + gallant officer should not enjoy in this world the reward of his + humanity and his heroism. After watching with thankfulness the + escape of many of his men, and having seen with honor many others + washed off the mast, in their attempts to reach the land, he was + about to undertake the dangerous passage himself, when he was + attracted by the cries of a person seemingly in an agony of + terror. The brave man did not hesitate for a moment, but turned + and made his way to the place whence the cries proceeded; there + he found a boy, a protégé of his own, whom he had + entered on board the Anson only a few months before, clinging in + despair to a part of the wreck, and without either strength or + courage to make the least effort for his own preservation. + Captain Lydiard's resolution was instantly <a name="Page_129" id= + "Page_129"></a>taken,—he would save the lad, if possible, + though he might himself perish in the attempt. He threw one arm + round the boy, whilst he cheered him by words of kind + encouragement, with the other arm he clung to the spars and mast + to support himself and his burthen. But the struggle did not last + long; nature was exhausted by the mental and physical sufferings + he had endured; he lost his hold, not of the boy, but of the + mast, the wild waves swept over them, and they perished + together.</p> + + <p>It must not be supposed that the people on the shore were + unconcerned spectators of the fearful tragedy that was enacted + before their eyes. British fishermen are proverbial for their + daring and intrepidity. Inured from childhood to the dangers and + hardships attendant on their perilous calling, with very few + exceptions our fishermen have always been ready to succour the + wrecked and tempest-tossed mariner. There is not, we believe, a + fishing village between the Land's End and the Orkneys, that + cannot produce its true <i>heroes</i>—men who have risked, + and are willing again to risk, their own lives to save others. + Our fisheries are the best nurseries for our navy. Englishmen may + be justly proud of the boatmen, from amongst whom spring those + 'hearts of oak' which have so long rendered our fleets + pre-eminent over those of every other country in the world. But, + besides the generous disposition to assist any perishing fellow + creature, there were in this instance more powerful motives to + exert every effort to save the crew of the Anson. This ship had + been stationed for some time at or near Falmouth, so that + acquaintances, friendships, and still dearer ties, had been + formed between the inhabitants of the neighbouring towns and + villages, and the people of the unfortunate vessel. But a few + days before they had witnessed a far different scene, when she + left their shores in all the pride of a well-ordered and + well-dis<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>ciplined man-of-war, + amidst the shouts, and cheers, and blessings of the multitude, + who now beheld her lying within a few fathoms of them a helpless + wreck, her masts gone, her bulwarks broken in, the waves sweeping + over her, and breaking up her timbers.</p> + + <p>The surf ran so high, it was impossible that any boat could + reach the wreck. The life-boat, in 1807, had not been brought to + the state of perfection it has attained in our day; and the many + inventions which science and art have since introduced for the + preservation of life, were for the most part unknown in the times + of which we are now writing.</p> + + <p>Several men attempted to swim to the ship, but without + success; they were all, one after another, cast back exhausted + upon the beach, and many of them without sense or motion. At + last, when there seemed no hope left of affording aid to the + sufferers, Mr. Roberts, of Helstone, seized hold of a rope, and + boldly struck out in the direction of the Anson. He was a + powerful swimmer, and his courageous efforts were watched from + the shore and from the wreck with intense interest, and many a + heartfelt prayer was breathed for his safety and success. Tossed + on the foaming waters, at one moment lost to sight, and almost + suffocated in the spray, and at another rising on the top of a + huge wave, he at last reached the ship, and was hailed as a + deliverer by those who were still clinging to the spars and + rigging. The rope which Mr. Roberts had taken with him was made + fast to the wreck, and this formed a communication with the + shore, by which many a poor wretch was saved who must otherwise + have perished.</p> + + <p>Another instance of heroic self-devotion was exhibited by a + Methodist preacher, a little later in the day, when, as no one + appeared on the ship's side, it was supposed <a name="Page_131" + id="Page_131"></a>that every one had either come on shore, or had + been drowned; but this brave and good mail thought that there + might be some still left on board who were unable to make an + effort to save themselves, and, under this impression, he + ventured his life through the surf, followed by a few other + daring spirits like himself. With great difficulty they gained + the wreck, where, as they had anticipated, they found several + persons lying below, all too much exhausted to get upon deck. + Some, in terror and despair, called upon God for mercy; others, + in hopeful trust, seemed resigned to their fate; and others were + so weak as to be indifferent to the horrors around them. Two + women and two children were of the number. The preacher and his + gallant comrades had the happiness of saving the women and some + of the men, but the children were lost.</p> + + <p>Sixty men, amongst whom were Captain Lydiard and his + first-lieutenant, perished in the wreck of the Anson. The + survivors of the crew were conveyed to Helstone, where they + received every attention and kindness which their unfortunate + condition required. The body of Captain Lydiard, which was washed + on shore, was interred at Falmouth with military honours.</p> + +<p><br /></p> + + <p>We feel assured that the following particulars of the life of + Captain Lydiard will not be unacceptable to the reader.</p> + + <p>He entered the navy in the year 1780, in the flag-ship of + Admiral Darby, who then commanded the channel fleet, and from + that time served as a midshipman under several commanders on + various stations, both at home and abroad, during thirteen years. + In 1794, he was appointed a lieutenant of the Captain, of 74 + guns, in which ship he served in two general engagements in the + <a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>Mediterranean. In July of + the following year he removed to the Southampton frigate, + commanded by Captain Shields, and afterwards by Captain + Macnamara.</p> + + <p>On the evening of the 9th of June, 1796, the Southampton was + stationed with the fleet under Sir John Jervis, off Toulon, when + a French cruizer was discovered working up to Hieres Bay. The + commander-in-chief called the captain of the Southampton on board + the Victory, and pointing out the ship, directed him to make a + dash at her through the Grand Pas. Accordingly, the Southampton + weighed, and, in order to delude the French into the supposition + that the ship was either a neutral or a French frigate, hauled up + under easy sail close to the batteries at the north-east of + Porquerol. The stratagem succeeded; for before the enemy were + aware of the approach of the Southampton, the ship was alongside + of the French cruizer. Captain Macnamara cautioned her commander + not to make a fruitless resistance; but he replied by snapping + his pistol, and pouring in a broadside. In a moment, the English + boarded, led on by Lieutenant Lydiard, with an impetuosity that + nothing could withstand. After ten minutes' spirited resistance + on the part of the French captain and a hundred of his men under + arms, the 'Utile' surrendered, but not before the death of her + gallant commander, who fell at the beginning of the onset.</p> + + <p>Lydiard was instantly promoted, and appointed to the command + of the ship he had so gallantly captured. In the year 1801, he + was advanced to the rank of post-captain, and though frequently + soliciting employment did not succeed in obtaining a command + until 1805, when he was appointed to the Anson.</p> + + <p>These pages will not admit of our recounting the many + instances in which this officer's gallantry was conspicuous. + Before concluding, however, we cannot refrain <a name="Page_133" + id="Page_133"></a>from laying before our readers the following + account of the last enterprise in which Captain Lydiard was + engaged, and which is related by his biographer in <i>The Naval + Chronicle</i>.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id= + "FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class= + "fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + + <p>'No sooner had the Anson been refitted, than she was again + selected, with three other frigates, under the command of Captain + Brisbane (as Commodore), of the Arethusa, to reconnoitre, and, if + possible, to sound the minds of the inhabitants of Curaçoa + upon the suggestion of an alliance with this country; but the + gallant Brisbane, and his equally gallant partner in this + expedition, soon formed a plan for curtailing this mode of + proceeding, and determined, at all risks, by a <i>coup de + main</i>, either to capture the island, or to perish in the + attempt.</p> + + <p>'With this resolution, having arranged their plan of attack, + they proceeded in their course for the island, and they reached + the entrance of the harbour just at the dawn of day, on the 1st + of January, 1807.</p> + + <p>'In order to inform the reader, who may not be acquainted with + the amazing strength of Curaçoa on the sea face, we will + give some account of the difficulties which they had to contend + with; and, at the same time, shall avail ourselves of such + statements of the facts as the different official and other + communications upon the subject will furnish us with.</p> + + <p>'The harbour was defended by regular fortifications of two + tier of guns. Fort Amsterdam alone mounting sixty-six pieces of + cannon; the entrance only fifty yards wide, and so circumstanced, + that it is impossible for a ship to return by the same wind that + takes it in. Athwart the entrance of the harbour was the Dutch + frigate Kenaw Hatslau, of 36 guns, and the Surinam, of 22 guns, + with <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>two large schooners of + war; a chain of forts was on Mesleberg heights, and that almost + impregnable fortress, Fort Republique, within the distance of + grape-shot, enfilading the whole harbour. The cool determined + bravery of British seamen perceives obstacles only to surmount + them; and with this determination the squadron entered the + harbour, the Arethusa, Captain Brisbane, leading, followed in + close line by the Latona, Captain Wood; Anson, Captain Lydiard; + and Fisguard, Captain Bolton.</p> + + <p>'When the headmost ship got round the point of the harbour's + mouth, the wind became so unfavourable that she could not fetch + in; but to return was impossible—it was too late. What a + trying moment! At that instant, however, there came on a squall, + in which the wind shifted two points in their favour, and they + proceeded close together.</p> + + <p>'The enemy were panic-struck at such unexpected gallantry, and + all was confusion. A severe and destructive cannonade now + commenced, and the Dutch frigate was boarded by Captain Brisbane, + when the Latona instantly warped alongside and took possession, + and Captain Brisbane proceeded to the shore. The Surinam was + boarded from the larboard bow of the Anson, while her starboard + guns were firing at the batteries; and Captain Lydiard, upon + securing the Surinam, went immediately on shore, and landed at + the same moment with Captain Brisbane. Immediately debarking + their respective officers and ship's companies, they proceeded to + storm the forts, citadel, and town, which were by seven o'clock + completely in their possession, and at ten o'clock the British + flag was hoisted on Fort Republique. Captains Brisbane and + Lydiard were the first upon the walls of Fort Amsterdam. Indeed, + too much cannot be said in praise of the almost unparalleled + bravery dis<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>played by the + officers and men of all the ships on this occasion. It may be + truly said to be 'perfectly in union with everything glorious in + the past, and an example of everything glorious to the + future.''</p> + + <p>The same year that opened so brilliantly upon the career of + Captain Lydiard, witnessed, at its close, the total destruction + of the Anson, and the untimely fate of her brave commander.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Vol. + xix., p. 449.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_BOREAS" id="THE_BOREAS"></a>THE BOREAS.</h2> + + <p>In the afternoon of the 21st of November, 1807, the Boreas, of + 22 guns, Captain George Scott, proceeded in search of a + pilot-boat, which had been blown off the coast of Guernsey in a + gale of wind.</p> + + <p>This boat was picked up and taken in tow, when about six + o'clock P.M. it was discovered that the ship was near the Hannois + rocks, about two miles to the south-west of Guernsey. Orders were + immediately given by the pilot to put the helm down, but whilst + in stays, the ship struck on the larboard bow; and although every + exertion was made to get her off, it was found impossible to do + so. The point of a rock was reported to be through the well, + rendering the pumps useless. The ship then heeled on her larboard + broadside, and the captain gave orders to cut away the masts.</p> + + <p>The moment the ship struck, the pilots basely deserted her, + and made off in their own boat, without even offering assistance + to those who had encountered this danger and disaster in their + service. Had the pilots returned to Rocquaine, only two miles + distant, they might have procured aid for the Boreas, and + preserved the lives of her <a name="Page_136" id= + "Page_136"></a>crew. When Captain Scott was convinced that there + was no chance of saving his ship, he ordered an allowance of + spirits to be served round, and the gig, the launch, and cutter + to be prepared for lowering.</p> + + <p>The gig, with Lieutenant Bewick, a lieutenant of marines, and + six men, was sent to give information, and obtain assistance. The + launch, with the gunner, and some others, was ordered to take on + board the sick, and land them at Hannois Point, and then to + return to the ship; and the cutter, with the boatswain, and a few + men, was despatched on the same service. Captain Scott, with + noble intrepidity, remained to share the fate of his vessel.</p> + + <p>The launch, under the orders of the gunner, succeeded in + reaching the Hannois Rocks, as did also the cutter; but the + greater part of the crew of the launch abandoned her as soon as + they touched the land. In vain did the gunner use every + persuasion to induce the men to return with him to the assistance + of their comrades who were left on board the Boreas; they were + deaf to his entreaties, and he was obliged to put off again with + only four men. The wind and tide were so strong, and so much + against them, that the utmost exertion was necessary to enable + them to make their way towards the ship, and when they got within + two hundred yards of the back of the rocks, the launch was half + filled with water. They then tried to make the land again; but + before they could reach it the boat was swamped, and the men were + saved with difficulty by Mr. Simpson, the boatswain, in the + cutter. There is little doubt that if the launch had not been + deserted by the greater part of her crew, she might have reached + the Boreas, and have saved many valuable lives. And here, in + justice to the majority of the ship's company, we must observe, + that those who manned the launch were chiefly smugglers and + privateer's men lately <a name="Page_137" id= + "Page_137"></a>impressed, and were not to be considered as part + of the regular crew of the ship.</p> + + <p>In addition to the boats we have already mentioned as having + left the ship, was a small cutter, (containing two midshipmen, of + the names of Luttrell and Hemmings, and two men,) which was + lowered into the sea by order of the first lieutenant, whose + humanity induced him to take this expedient for saving the lives + of the two boys. The current was so strong that in a few moments + the cutter drifted away from the ship, but the generous feelings + of the boys forbade them to desert their comrades in distress, + and with great exertion they pulled back to the vessel; they + called for a rope, but were ordered to keep off, and again their + little boat was carried away by the current. Once more they + attempted to get back, but their strength was unequal to the + task, and they were carried out into the open sea. Their + situation was in many respects little better than that of the + friends whom they had left upon the wreck,—the night was + pitch dark, the boat had neither mast nor sail, and the sea ran + so high that they could do nothing with the oars. Every now and + then the flash of a gun, seen across the black distance, told + them that the Boreas still held together, and that she was making + signals of distress; but no sound reached their ears save the + roar of the winds and the waves. Even the booming of the guns was + lost in that dismal roar.</p> + + <p>The little party scarcely expected to survive the night; they + were drenched to the skin, and suffering intensely from the cold; + the waves broke over the bows of their frail boat, and threatened + each minute to overwhelm it; but their brave hearts did not sink + in utter despair; they did their utmost to keep themselves + afloat, by incessantly baling out the water with their hats and + hands. They thought the night would never end, <a name="Page_138" + id="Page_138"></a>and that they should never see the morrow; but + day dawned upon them at last, and then with what anxious eyes did + they sweep the horizon. But in vain they looked; not a sail was + to be seen. An hour passed away; they shipped such a quantity of + water that their imperfect attempts to bale it out were almost + useless. The boat sank deeper and deeper, and their hearts sank + too. Suddenly a ship hove in sight, and she seemed to be bearing + towards them. Hope and fear struggled for the mastery in their + breasts; hope urged them to renewed efforts to keep themselves + from sinking, whilst, in breathless anxiety, they watched the + vessel. She came nearer and nearer; the watchers felt sure they + were perceived; then a boat was lowered, and they thanked God for + their deliverance. In a few minutes they were received on board + H.M. ship Thalia, more dead than alive, after so many hours' + endurance of cold, hunger, and dismay.</p> + + <p>We must now return to Captain Scott and his companions on the + wreck. The men were mustered by the officers on the quarter-deck; + they numbered ninety-five or ninety-seven, and they had been all + actively employed in making rafts, and lashing together spars and + other materials, by which they hoped to save themselves, in the + event of the ship going to pieces before assistance should + arrive. Hour after hour passed away, and no help came; by the + noise of the vessel grinding against the rocks they knew that she + could not hold together much longer. Captain Scott continued to + issue his commands with coolness and decision, and they were + promptly obeyed by both officers and men. About four o'clock in + the morning, the quarter-deck being no longer tenable, all the + crew were obliged to betake themselves to the main and mizen + chains. They had <a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>already + suffered severely from the cold, but they had now to endure it in + greater intensity. In their exposed situation the waves + frequently washed entirely over them, and their limbs were so + benumbed with cold that it was with the utmost difficulty they + could hold on to the wreck, so as to save themselves from being + swept into the abyss of waters that seemed yawning to receive + them. By degrees, even the cries and the complaints of the + sufferers became hushed: not a word was spoken; in awful silence + they listened to the groaning of the timbers, and the sullen roar + of the waves dashing against the rocks.</p> + + <p>In this state they had remained another hour, when a hollow + sound was heard below them; still they spoke not a word, for from + the captain to the youngest boy, every one knew what that sound + foretold, and that the last struggle was at hand,—for many, + the last hour of existence. Then a universal tremor was felt + through the wreck, and the boldest heart responded to that + shudder. The very timbers seemed to dread their impending doom: + with a mighty crash they yielded to the force of the waves; for a + moment the ship righted, and then sank beneath the foaming + waters.</p> + + <p>The pen is powerless when we attempt to describe an event like + this, for we cannot penetrate into the secret recesses of the + heart, nor can we delineate the agonies of conscience which too + often increase the anguish of such scenes, when the near approach + of death unveils to men, truths they have been unwilling to learn + or to believe. Many a cry for pardon and mercy is raised in the + hour of shipwreck, from lips that never prayed before. The best + and bravest then bow their heads in awe, however well they may be + prepared for the dangers that are incident to their profession; + and though from childhood 'these men see the works of the Lord, + and His wonders in the <a name="Page_140" id= + "Page_140"></a>deep,' yet it must be an appalling moment when the + plank they have been wont to tread in calm security, is torn from + beneath their feet, and they are left as helpless as infants, to + be the sport of the wild billows!</p> + + <p>The moment the vessel sunk, many of the men struck out for the + plank nearest to them; a few of the strongest and best swimmers + gained the raft, but others who were benumbed with cold, or + otherwise unable to swim, perished immediately. The + quarter-master was one of those who reached the raft, and he + found the captain, the doctor, and some others, already upon it. + Captain Scott was so much exhausted by the mental and bodily + sufferings he had endured, that the doctor and the quarter-master + were obliged to support him on the raft. He became gradually + weaker, and lingered but a short time ere he expired in their + arms; and a few minutes afterwards a huge wave swept over the + raft, and bore with it the body of the lamented commander of the + Boreas. About eight o'clock in the morning, a number of boats put + out from Guernsey to the relief of the survivors, and carried + them safely on shore.</p> + + <p>We have already mentioned the cowardly and inhuman conduct of + the pilots in deserting the Boreas, and it is also a matter of + surprise, that although twenty guns were fired as signals, and + several rockets and blue lights burned, no help of any kind was + sent from the shore till the next morning. One of the witnesses + on the court-martial affirmed, that a pilot on shore had heard + the guns firing, and had inquired of a soldier on guard whether + it was an English or French man-of-war! On the soldier replying + that he thought it was an English vessel, the man refused to put + to sea, saying, by way of excuse, that 'it blew too hard.'</p> + + <p>Through the exertions of Lieut. Colonel Sir Thomas Saumarez, + about thirty seamen and marines were taken <a name="Page_141" id= + "Page_141"></a>off the rocks of the Hannois at daylight, making + the entire number saved about sixty-eight; whilst the loss + amounted to one hundred and twenty-seven.</p> + + <p>The following is an extract from the dispatch of Vice-Admiral + Sir James Saumarez:—'The greatest praise appears due to + Captain Scott and his officers and men, under such perilous + circumstances—in a dark and tempestuous night, in the midst + of the most dangerous rocks that can be conceived, and I have + most sincerely to lament the loss of so many brave officers and + men, who have perished on this melancholy occasion.</p> + + <p>'Captain Scott has been long upon this station, and has always + shown the greatest zeal and attachment to his Majesty's service, + and in him particularly his country meets a great loss, being a + most valuable and deserving officer.'</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_HIRONDELLE" id="THE_HIRONDELLE"></a>THE + HIRONDELLE.</h2> + + <p>The Hirondelle, a 14-gun brig, had been originally a French + privateer. She was taken by the boats of the Tartar in the year + 1804, when attempting to escape from that vessel through a narrow + and intricate channel between the islands of Saona and St. + Domingo. The Tartar finding from the depth of the water that she + could not come up with the schooner, despatched three of her + boats under the command of Lieutenant Henry Muller, assisted by + Lieutenant Nicholas Lockyer and several midshipmen, all + volunteers, to endeavour to bring her out. The instant the boats + put off, the Hirondelle hoisted her colours, fired a gun, and + warped <a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>her broadside towards + them. As they advanced, the privateer opened a fire from her + great guns, and as they drew nearer, from her small arms also. In + spite of this, and of a strong breeze directly on the bows of the + boats, Lieutenant Muller intrepidly pulled up to the privateer, + and after a short but obstinate resistance, he boarded and + carried her, with the loss only of one seaman, and one marine + wounded.'<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id= + "FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class= + "fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + + <p>Such was the first introduction of the Hirondelle into the + British navy. Her career in it was of short duration, and its + conclusion fearfully sudden and disastrous, as the following + account, given by the survivors, will show.</p> + + <p>On the 22nd of February, 1808, the Hirondelle, commanded by + Lieutenant Joseph Kidd, sailed from Malta, bound to Tunis, with + dispatches on board. On Wednesday evening they steered a course + towards Cape Bon, but unfortunately they got within the action of + the strong current that sets eastward along the Barbary Coast, so + that, instead of making the Cape as she intended, the brig fell + some few leagues short of it to the eastward, and run aground. As + soon as the alarm was given, all hands were turned up; the night + was so dark it was impossible to ascertain the exact position of + the ship, but they distinctly heard the breakers on the shore. + Every effort was made to bring the vessel up, by endeavouring to + anchor, but without effect; while this was going on, the cutter + had been manned with ten or twelve men, and she might have been + the means of saving many lives, but she was no sooner lowered, + than the people rushed into her in such numbers that she was + almost immediately swamped, and all who were on board her + perished, except one man, who regained the deck of the + Hirondelle. The commander now saw that the loss <a name= + "Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>of his ship was inevitable, and he + therefore desired his crew to provide for their own safety. The + order was scarcely uttered, no one had had time to act upon it, + when suddenly the brig gave a lurch and went down; the sea washed + over her, and of all her men, four only were left to tell the sad + tale. Happily for them they were clinging to the wreck, and so + escaped the fate of their companions who were swept overboard; + and by aid of some of the spars they succeeded in gaining the + shore.</p> + + <p>This account is necessarily brief: so short a time elapsed + between the unexpected striking of the ship and her going to + pieces, that there is no incident to relate. The commander and + officers of the Hirondelle seem to have done all in their power + to extricate her from her unfortunate position; indeed, it would + appear that had they attended less anxiously to the preservation + of the ship, many lives might have been saved.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> James's + <i>Naval History</i>.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="BANTERER" id="BANTERER"></a>BANTERER.</h2> + + <p>His Majesty's ship Banterer, of 22 guns, under the command of + Captain Alexander Shephard, was lost on the 29th October, 1808, + between Port Neuf and Point Mille Vache, in the River St. + Lawrence, whilst in the execution of orders, which Captain + Shephard had received from Sir John Borlase Warren, directing him + to proceed to Quebec, with all possible despatch, to take a + convoy to England.</p> + + <p>The following is the account of this disastrous affair, as + given by Captain Shephard:—</p> + + <p><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>'Being as far as the + Island of Bie in pursuance of orders, through rather an intricate + navigation, with foul winds the greater part of the time, where + the charge of the ship devolved upon myself, and the only chart I + could procure of the navigation in question being on a very small + scale, I felt myself relieved from much anxiety by receiving a + branch pilot on board on the 28th October last, on which night at + eight P.M. we passed between that island and the south shore, + with the wind north by west, and very fine weather; at nine, the + wind coming more round to the westward, we tacked for the north + shore, in order, as the pilot said, not only to be ready to avail + himself of the prevailing northerly winds in the morning, but + because the current was there more in our favour. At midnight we + tacked to the southward, and at two A.M. again laid her head to + the northward; and at four A.M. the pilot having expressed a wish + to go about, the helm was accordingly put down, and on rising + tacks and sheet, it was discovered that the ship was aground. As + we had then a light breeze at west, the sails were all laid + aback, the land being in sight from the starboard-beam, + apparently at some distance, I immediately ordered the master to + sound round the ship, and finding that the shoal lay on the + starboard quarter and astern, ordered the sails to be furled, the + boats hoisted out, the stream anchor and cable to be got into the + launch, and the boats to tow her out two cables' length, + south-west from the ship, where we found the deepest water; but + by this time the wind had suddenly increased to such a degree + that the boats could not row ahead, and latterly having lost our + ground, we were obliged to let the anchor go in fifteen fathoms, + about a cable's length W.S.W. from the ship, on which, having got + the end of the cable on board, we hove occasionally as the flood + made, and in the meantime got our spare topmasts over <a name= + "Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>the side, with the intention of + making a raft to carry out a bower anchor should it moderate; but + the intense cold, and the still increasing gale rendered it + impossible.</p> + + <p>'About half-past eleven A.M. the stream cable being then taut + ahead, the wind W.S.W., with a very heavy sea, the ship canted + suddenly with her head to the southward, where we had deep water; + we immediately set our courses, jib and driver, and for some time + had the must sanguine hopes of getting her off, but were + unfortunately disappointed, and as the ebb made we were obliged + again to furl sails.</p> + + <p>'As the ship was then striking very hard, with a heavy sea + breaking over her in a body, we cut away the topmasts, not only + to ease her, but to prevent their falling upon deck; we also + endeavoured to shore up the ship, but the motion was so violent + that four and six parts of a five-inch hawser were repeatedly + snapped, with which we were lashing the topmasts as shores, + through the main-deck ports. At about eight P.M., fearing the + inevitable loss of the ship, as the water was then gaining on the + pumps, I availed myself of the first favourable moment to land + the sick, and a party of marines and boys with some + provisions,—this could only be effected at a certain time + of tide, even with the wind off shore,—and employed those + on board in getting upon deck what bread and other provisions + could be come at.</p> + + <p>'Though the water was still gaining on the pumps as the flood + made, the wind coming more round to the northward, we again set + our foresail, but without the desired effect. As the stream + anchor had, however, come home, the wind was too doubtful to + attempt to lighten the ship.</p> + + <p>'On the morning of the 30th, it being moderate, with the wind + off shore, we hove our guns, shot, and everything that could + lighten the ship, overboard, reserving <a name="Page_146" id= + "Page_146"></a>two on the forecastle for signals. As the flood + made, we again set what sail we could, and hove on the stream + cable,—though, with all hands at the pumps, we found the + water increase in the hold as it flowed alongside; and it was the + prevailing opinion that the ship would have foundered if got off. + Being now convinced, from concurring circumstances, as well as + the repeated representations of the carpenter, that the ship + could not swim, the water having flowed above the orlop deck, and + much sand coming up with the pumps, we desisted from further + attempts to get her off the shoal, and continued getting such + stores and provisions as we could upon deck.</p> + + <p>'Towards the afternoon, the wind again increasing from the + W.S.W., and the water being on the lower deck, I judged it proper + to send some provisions, with such men as could be best spared, + on shore, that, in the event of the ship going to pieces, which + was expected, the boats might be the better able to save those + remaining on board; and on the morning of the 31st, conceiving + every further effort for the preservation of the ship unavailing, + it then blowing strong, with every appearance of increasing, I + felt myself called on, by humanity as well as duty to my country, + to use every effort in saving the lives of the people intrusted + to my care, and accordingly directed the boats to land as many of + them as possible, keeping the senior lieutenant and a few others + on board with me.</p> + + <p>'The whole of this day there was little prospect of saving + those who remained with the wreck, as the surf was so great that + the boats could not return to us; several guns were fired, to + point to those on shore our hopeless situation, and stimulate + them to use every possible effort to come to our relief; but they + could not effect it, notwithstanding every exertion on their + part, which we were most anxiously observing. As the only + <a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>means which then occurred to + me of saving the people on board, I directed a raft to be made + with the spars left on the booms, which was accomplished, with + much difficulty, in about six hours; the sea then breaking over + the ship with great violence, and freezing as it fell with such + severity, that even the alternative adopted presented little + prospect of saving any one left on the wreck. During this state + of awful suspense, we had every reason to think that the ship was + completely bilged, and were apprehensive, from the steepness of + the bank, that she would fall with her decks to the lee, as the + ebb made, in which case all on board must have inevitably + perished.</p> + + <p>'About half-past eleven P.M., the barge came off; and as the + lives of the people were now the primary consideration, I sent as + many of them on shore by her as possible, as well as by the + launch, when she was able to come off; and at two A.M., on the + 1st November, having previously succeeded in sending every other + person on shore, I left the ship with regret, in the jolly boat, + and landed, with some difficulty, through the surf. About eight + A.M., the same morning, I attempted to go off in the barge to + save as much provisions and stores as possible, but found it + impracticable, as the boat was nearly swamped. All this and the + succeeding day, the gale continuing, we could not launch the + boats, and were employed carrying such provisions and stores as + were saved, to some empty houses which were discovered about six + miles to the eastward of where we landed. Finding that with all + our exertions we had only been able to save three days' bread, + the officers and crew were put upon half allowances, with the + melancholy prospect of starving in the woods.</p> + + <p>'On Thursday, the 3rd November, the weather moderating, we + launched the boats before daylight, and dispatched the jolly + boat, with the purser, to a village <a name="Page_148" id= + "Page_148"></a>called Trois Pistoles, about forty-five miles + distant, on the opposite side of the river, that he might find + his way to Quebec, to procure us assistance and relief, there + being no possibility of communicating with any inhabited quarter + from where we were but by water.</p> + + <p>'During our stay near the wreck, we had repeated gales of + wind, both to the eastward and westward; and so violent, and with + so much sea, that the mizenmast was thrown overboard, all the + upper deck beams broken, and the ship's bottom beaten out.</p> + + <p>'We embraced every intervening opportunity of going off to + save stores by scuttling the decks, which were covered with ice, + the ship on her broadside, and the water flowing over the + quarter-deck. On these occasions we were generally away ten or + twelve hours, exposed to the wet and cold, without nourishment; + from which, and fatigue, I had to lament seeing the people every + day become more sickly, and many of them frost-bitten from the + severity of the weather. By the indefatigable exertions of the + officers and crew, we succeeded in saving all our spare sails, + cables, and stores, to a considerable amount; though the cables + were frozen so hard, that we were obliged to cut and saw them as + junk.</p> + + <p>'On the 7th, I again sent a boat with the second lieutenant, + to Trois Pistoles, in the hope of procuring, if possible, some + temporary supplies; but the wind increasing to a violent gale + from the eastward, with a heavy fall of snow, they got frozen up + on the opposite shore, and did not return till the 12th, having + then only procured three hundred weight of flour, a few potatoes, + and some beef—two men having deserted from the boat.</p> + + <p>'At this period, I had a respectful request made me from the + people, to be allowed to go to Trois Pistoles, that they might + shift for themselves whilst the weather <a name="Page_149" id= + "Page_149"></a>would admit of it, dreading the consequences of + remaining longer where we were; but out boats would not have + carried above one-third, and I conceived the public service would + have suffered from allowing them to separate. We had, also, + several desertions—in consequence, I believe, of hunger, + and the melancholy prospect before them; two of the deserters + were brought back, and one returned delirious, after five days' + absence, with his feet in a state of gangrene, having had only + one small cake to eat during that time. Those still missing must + have perished in the woods, from the accounts of the men who were + brought back.</p> + + <p>'On Sunday, the 20th November, we were relieved from the most + painful state of anxiety by the arrival of a small schooner, with + a fortnight's provisions, from Quebec, and information that a + transport had been procured, and was equipping for us, which + nothing but the ice setting in would prevent coming down; and on + the 24th I had the satisfaction of receiving a letter by the + government schooner, announcing a further supply of provisions, + with some blankets for the people; it, however, then blew so + hard, with a heavy fall of snow, that she was obliged to take + shelter under Bie. On the 25th the schooner returned, when we + embarked, and were carried to the opposite side of the river, + where the transport was expected,—the pilot conceiving it + unsafe to bring the ship nearer to us at that season of the + year.'</p> + + <p>'Captain Shephard concludes his narrative in paying the + following tribute to the discipline and good conduct of his + crew:—</p> + + <p>In justice to the officers and crew, it now becomes my duty, + and a very pleasing part thereof, to bear testimony to the + particular perseverance with which they bore the cold, hunger, + and fatigue, whilst endeavouring to save the ship; and when that + idea was given up, in <a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>saving + the stores with the dire prospect before them of being cut off + from all supplies had the winter set in, the ice rendering all + communication impracticable during that season of the year.'</p> + + <p>The sufferings and privations endured by the officers and crew + of the Banterer, during such trying circumstances, have been ably + described in the above narrative of Captain Shephard. From the + 29th of October, to the 24th of November, a period of + twenty-seven days, these men, with little hopes of succour, had + borne, with almost unexampled fortitude, not only hunger and + cold, but, to use the words of the surgeon, 'a considerable + number of the crew were affected with inflammation of the + extremities, which in nearly twenty cases produced partial + mortification, and one extensive gangrene on both feet, attended + with delirium and other dangerous symptoms.'</p> + + <p>Captain Shephard died, as rear-admiral, in 1841.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_CRESCENT" id="THE_CRESCENT"></a>THE + CRESCENT.</h2> + + <p>His Majesty's Ship Crescent, of 36 guns, Captain John Temple, + sailed from Yarmouth about four o'clock in the afternoon of the + 29th of November, 1808, for Gottenburg. When she left Yarmouth, + the wind blew fresh from the south-west, and it continued + favourable till the following afternoon, when the weather became + overcast, and the wind increased to a gale. The vessel proceeded + on her course for some days, and at daylight, on the 5th of + December, the coast of Norway was discernible from the deck. At + one o'clock, P.M., they sounded in twenty-five fathoms, on the + coast of Jutland; an hour later they sounded in eighteen fathoms, + <a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>and at three o'clock they + were in thirteen fathoms. The pilots in charge of the Crescent + requested the master to inform Captain Temple that they desired + that the ship should be hove to, with her head to the southward, + and the topsails close reefed. The advice of the pilots was + immediately acted upon, and they at the same time assured the + captain that they were well acquainted with the soundings, and + they had no doubt the ship would drift with safety. Suddenly she + did drift into ten fathoms, and remained in that depth until + eight o'clock, P.M.</p> + + <p>Captain Temple felt anxious for the safety of his ship and her + crew, and he inquired of the pilots if any alteration could be + made with advantage. They replied that none was necessary; but + that the Crescent should be kept on the same tack till daylight. + The vessel drifted till ten o'clock, P.M. when she struck. A boat + was immediately lowered to sound. The men reported the current + setting to eastward at the rate of two and a-half or three miles + an hour.</p> + + <p>As the sails were now only forcing the ship further on the + shoal, orders were given to furl, and to hoist out all the boats + except the jolly-boat and gig—both of these orders were + promptly obeyed. At this time, the current was taking the ship on + the larboard bow, and canting her round. In order to draw her + off, the sails were loosed; but this, instead of having the + desired effect, hove her round into a worse position than before. + The sails were again furled, and an anchor and cable were got + into the launch. The boats then took the launch in tow, and + endeavoured to pull her out; but the force and rapidity of the + current rendered it impossible to do so. The situation of the + Crescent became every instant more perilous; the gale had + increased, and the wind, which had veered round to the + north-west, blew direct <a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>on + shore, forcing the vessel further on the shoal. As a last attempt + to save the ship, the captain directed that the bower anchor + should be let go, and the ship lightened by heaving the guns, + shot, balls, &c., overboard. Little good resulted from this + step; and then the water was started and the provisions thrown + overboard out of the fore and aft holds. Pumping now became + useless, as the water had risen to the hatches; and when at last + the cable parted, all hopes of saving the vessel were abandoned, + and at half-past six in the morning of the 6th of December the + masts were cut away by the captain's orders, and she lay a + helpless wreck. The boats which, until this time, had been lying + off in tow, broke their hawsers; and when the people on board + found it impossible to regain the ship, from the force of the + current, they made for the shore, and fortunately all succeeded + in reaching it, with the exception of one of the cutters, which + was lost with all her crew. Lieutenant Henry Stokes, who was in + one of the other boats, fearing that she would be capsized, + jumped overboard, and attempted to swim on shore, but had not + strength to buffet with the waves, and was drowned. The storm + continued to increase as the day advanced, and the men on board + the wreck being completely exhausted, they piped to breakfast, + and a dram was served round. At one o'clock, P.M., a raft was + commenced, and in about an hour it was completed and launched, + and placed under the charge of Lieutenant John Weaver, of the + Marines, Mr. Thomas Mason, clerk, and Mr. James Lavender, + midshipman. The crew of the raft was composed chiefly of the + sick, or those least capable of exerting themselves for their own + preservation. When the raft left the ship, the captain and + gallant crew of the Crescent gave three hearty cheers to their + companions, whom they were never likely to behold again. It is + hard to say which of <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>the + parties was in greatest peril, or nearest to destruction; but in + all such cases, those who are obliged to wait for the awful + moment, are subjected to more intense mental suffering than those + who act, and are enabled to take any measures, however perilous, + for saving their lives. The people upon the raft returned the + farewell cheer, and as each wave dashed over them, and they again + floated on the surface, they announced their safety with another + and another shout. They had little hope indeed of reaching the + shore alive; they were standing up to their middle in water, and + every billow that rolled over them carried away one or more of + their number. Happily some of those who were washed off the raft, + succeeded in regaining it; but seven of them perished, the rest + were safely landed, and to the constant exertions of the officers + to keep up the spirits of the men, they were greatly indebted for + their preservation.</p> + + <p>A second raft was begun on board the Crescent, but it was + never completed; the sea made a clear breach over her; the + quarter-deck became filled with water, and it was therefore + necessary to launch the jolly-boat in order to save as many lives + as possible, though she could scarcely be expected to live in + such a sea. Once more, Captain Temple and above two hundred men + and officers said farewell to the companions of their toils and + dangers—once more they bade God speed to the frail + bark—their own last chance of escape—and watched it + as it was now borne aloft on the crested wave, now buried in the + briny furrow. For a time they forgot their own danger in anxiety + for the others; but they were soon recalled to what was passing + around them—the groaning of the timbers, as every sea + struck the wreck with an increasing shock, forewarned them that + she could not long resist that mighty force. There were two + hundred and twenty human beings entirely helpless to save + themselves. <a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>None may know + the agonies of that hour, when even hope itself had + fled—when nothing intervened between the soul and the + unseen world. The Crescent went to pieces a short time after the + departure of the jolly-boat, and every one left on board + perished, to the number of two hundred and twenty, out of a crew + of two hundred and eighty. Amongst the lost were the captain, + three lieutenants, a lieutenant of marines, nine midshipmen, the + surgeon, purser, carpenter, and gunner; two pilots, one + passenger, six women, and a child.</p> + + <p>The surviving officers and crew of the Crescent were tried by + a court martial, at Sheerness, for the loss of the vessel, when + the court was of opinion that 'the loss of the Crescent proceeded + from the ignorance and neglect of the pilots, and that the master + was blameable, inasmuch that he did not recommend to the captain + or pilots either coming to an anchor, or standing on the other + tact, for the better security of H.M. late ship Crescent.'</p> + + <p>'The court was further of opinion that every exertion was made + on the part of the remaining officers and crew for the safety of + the Crescent.'</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_MINOTAUR" id="THE_MINOTAUR"></a>THE + MINOTAUR.</h2> + + <p>His Majesty's Ship Minotaur, of 74 guns, Captain John Barrett, + was ordered by Admiral Sir James Saumarez to protect the last + Baltic fleet, in the year 1810.</p> + + <p>After seeing the convoy through the Belt, the ship sailed from + Gottenburg about the 15th December, and, with a strong breeze + from the east, shaped her course alone for the Downs.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>At eight o'clock, in the + evening of the 22nd, Lieutenant Robert Snell took charge of the + watch; the wind was then blowing hard from the south-east, the + weather thick and hazy, and the ship, under close-reefed + topsails, and courses, was going at the rate of four knots an + hour.</p> + + <p>At nine o'clock, the captain gave orders that soundings should + be taken every hour, under the immediate direction of the pilot + of the watch. At midnight, the pilot desired that the vessel + might be put on the other tack, and all hands were instantly + turned up to carry out his directions, and Lieutenant Snell was + in the act of informing the captain of what was going on, when + the ship struck.</p> + + <p>The helm was ordered to be put up, but the first shock had + carried away the tiller; fruitless attempts were then made to + back the ship off, but she had struck with such force upon the + sand that it was impossible to move her. The carpenter now + reported fifteen feet water in the hold; and it increased so + rapidly that in a few minutes it rose above the orlop deck. The + officers and the whole of the ship's company were assembled upon + deck, and the universal question passed from mouth to + mouth—'On what coast have we struck?'</p> + + <p>The pilot of the watch maintained that they were on some shoal + in the English coast; the other pilot, however, was of opinion + that they were upon the North Haacks, and this proved to be + actually the case.</p> + + <p>For a few minutes after the ship first struck there was some + degree of confusion on board; but this soon subsided; order and + tranquillity were restored, and the men all exerted themselves to + the utmost, although she struck the ground so heavily, it was + almost impossible for them to keep their feet.</p> + + <p>The masts were cut away, and other means taken to lighten the + ship; and guns were fired as signals of <a name="Page_156" id= + "Page_156"></a>distress, but no aid was afforded to them during + that long and dismal night. The darkness was so intense, it was + impossible to see beyond a few yards, and they could only judge + of their proximity to land, by the sullen roar of the breakers as + they dashed upon the shore. In this state of uncertainty and + dread, the night passed away; and daylight at last discovered to + the crew of the Minotaur the horrors of their situation. The ship + was firmly imbedded in sand, and had gradually sunk till the + water covered the forecastle. All the boats excepting the launch + and two yauls were destroyed, either by the falling of the masts, + or the waves breaking over them.</p> + + <p>At eight o'clock, A.M., the Minotaur parted amidships, and the + sea made a clear breach over her. The gunner, seeing that she + could not hold together much longer, volunteered to go off in the + yard, and endeavour to obtain assistance from the shore. Captain + Barrett at first refused the offer, as he thought it impossible + the boat could live in such a sea; but upon further + consideration, he gave his consent; and the gunner, with + thirty-one of the crew, succeeded in launching the yaul, and + getting clear of the wreck.</p> + + <p>The ship now presented a most distressing scene—portions + of her timbers and spars were floating about in all directions, + with casks of spirits and provisions which had been washed up + from the hold. Crowded together on the poop and the quarter-deck + were officers and men watching with eager anxiety the progress of + the boat. After two hours of breathless suspense they saw her + reach the shore. Their comrades' success was hailed with joy by + the shipwrecked crew as a happy omen for themselves—it + inspired them with hope and confidence, and some of them + immediately attempted to lift the launch into the sea. They + fortunately succeeded in getting her afloat, and numbers then + rushed to get <a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>into her, + amongst whom was Lieutenant Snell. He failed in his first + attempt, and then swam to the foretop, near which he knew the + launch must pass, to enable her to clear the wreck. He watched + his opportunity, and when the boat approached, jumped into the + sea, and was taken on board.</p> + + <p>In the course of an hour, the launch gained the shore, where, + instead of receiving the assistance they expected, and the + kindness their unfortunate circumstances demanded, the crew were + met by a party of French soldiers, and immediately made + prisoners. In vain, they implored the Dutch officers, who were + also on the beach, to send boats to the aid of their unhappy + comrades on the wreck, their earnest entreaties were met by a + cold refusal.</p> + + <p>During the morning, Captain Barrett, and about a hundred men, + attempted to reach the shore in the second yaul, but she was + swamped and all were lost. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the + after-part of the ship turned bottom up, and the remainder of the + crew perished.</p> + + <p>The fate of Lieutenant Salsford was distinguished by a + singular circumstance. A large tame wolf, caught at Aspro, and + brought up from a cub by the ship's company, and exceedingly + docile, continued to the last an object of general solicitude. + Sensible of its danger, its howls were peculiarly distressing. It + had always been a particular favourite of the lieutenant, who was + also greatly attached to the animal, and through the whole of + their sufferings kept close to his master. On the breaking up of + the ship both got upon the mast. At times they were washed off, + but by each other's assistance regained it. The lieutenant at + last, became exhausted by continual exertions, and benumbed, with + cold. The wolf was equally fatigued, and both held occasionally + by the other to retain his situation. When within a short + distance of <a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>the land, + Lieutenant Salsford, affected by the attachment of the animal, + and totally unable any longer to support himself, turned towards + him from the mast, the beast clapped his fore paws round his + neck, while the lieutenant clasped him in his arms, and they sank + together.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id= + "FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class= + "fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + + <p>Such was the fate of the Minotaur, her captain, and four + hundred of her crew. There is not the slightest doubt but that, + had the Dutch sent assistance, the greater part of the ship's + company would have been saved; and it would appear by the + following extract from a letter, written on the subject by + Lieutenant Snell, that the risk attending such a humane attempt, + on the part of the Dutch, would not have been great. Lieutenant + Snell says:—</p> + + <p>'The launch which had brought on shore eighty-five men, was of + the smallest description of 74 launches, with one gunwale + entirely broken in, and without a rudder. This will better prove + than anything I can say how easy it would have been for the Dutch + admiral in the Texel to have saved, or to have shown some wish to + have saved, the remaining part of the crew.'</p> + + <p>On the other hand, we have the report from the chief officer + of the marine district of the North coast, addressed to the + Minister of Marine, in which he states, that 'Captain Musquetie, + commander in the Texel Roads, sent, at daylight on the 23rd, two + boats to reconnoitre the Minotaur, but the wind and sea prevented + them approaching the vessel.'</p> + + <p>It is to be hoped, for the honour of the Dutch officers, that + they <i>did</i> really put out to the relief of the Minotaur, and + that they considered the attempt an impossibility, which a + British sailor deemed one of little risk. It is evident that + there must have been considerable danger <a name="Page_159" id= + "Page_159"></a>for boats, from the fact of the second yaul being + lost, and Captain Barrett's hesitation before he allowed the + gunner to leave the ship in the first yaul; and in charity we + must give the Dutch the benefit of this evidence. At the same + time, we have the equally conclusive testimony of the safe + landing of two boats from the Minotaur, that it was not + 'impossible' for even a somewhat crazy boat to live on such a + sea. At daylight, on the 24th, the survivors of the Minotaur's + crew were marched off as prisoners to Valenciennes. From which + place, the gunner, Mr. Bones, contrived to make his escape on the + 3rd of February. After suffering the greatest privations, + concealing himself in barns and stables by day, and travelling by + night, on the 17th of March he got on board a smuggling lugger, + about a mile from Ostend, the Master of which agreed to land him + in England for the sum of £50.</p> + + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p class="c">NOTE BY A NAVAL FRIEND.</p> + + <p>The loss of the Minotaur may be attributed to their not + knowing their position; the pilot's desire to put the ship on the + starboard tack at twelve o'clock at night, with the wind from the + south-east, showed that he thought himself on the English coast. + This fatal error in the navigation of the ship is not easily + accounted for; it arises in a great measure from the dread of + approaching the dangerous shoals on our own coast, many of them + far off the land, such as the Leman, and Ower, Smith's Knowl, the + Ridge, and others further in shore. Great fear of these shoals is + felt by all hands, and no doubt the man at the helm would be + cautioned not to bring the ship to the westward of her course, + and he would therefore be apt to err on the other + side—currents also may <a name="Page_160" id= + "Page_160"></a>have carried her to the eastward. I am tempted to + offer this opinion from having experienced a similar danger. In + the year of the Battle of Copenhagen, I was in the Lynx sloop of + war on her return from the Baltic, and when we supposed ourselves + in mid-channel, between Yarmouth and the Texel, about two + o'clock, in the middle watch, we touched the ground in broken + water; happily the weather was moderate, and, by hauling to the + westward we soon got into deep water again. The following + morning, about ten o'clock, we spoke a lugger, and were informed + that we were seven or eight leagues from the coast of Holland. + The distance ran from the time we struck, told us that we must + have been on the Haacks. A happy escape!</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> + <i>Naval Chronicle</i>, vol. xxxvii. p. 183.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_PALLAS_AND_THE_NYMPH" id= + "THE_PALLAS_AND_THE_NYMPH"></a>THE PALLAS AND THE NYMPH.</h2> + + <p>In the month of December, 1810, the Pallas, a 32-gun frigate, + commanded by Captain Paris Monke, was returning, in company with + the Nymph, Captain Edward Sneyd Clay, from a month's cruise on + the coast of Norway, and was steering for Leith, with a prize in + tow. She had not got far to the southward, when, on Tuesday + morning, the 18th, between nine and ten o'clock, land was + discovered, but the weather was so thick, it could not be clearly + defined. The pilot, however, gave it as his opinion that they + were north of the Red-head. Towards the middle of the day they + fell in with some fishing-boats, and Captain Monke having + requested one of the fishermen to come on board the frigate, he + learnt from this man that the ship was at that time off Stonehive + and the Tod Head. At four o'clock, P.M., the usual <a name= + "Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>order to pipe to supper was given; + the wind was blowing from the north-west, and the vessel going at + the rate of four knots an hour. Supper being over, the drum beat + to quarters, and the captain, having received the usual reports, + ordered the watch to be called. At six o'clock, in compliance + with the wish of the pilot, the course was altered from + south-west to south-south-west. For the last quarter of an hour + the ship had been increasing her rate of sailing from five and a + half to six knots an hour; the top-gallant scudding sails were + therefore taken in, and the royal and top-gallant stay sails + hauled down, as also the jib and the spanker. Soon after this the + pilot, pointing towards the coast, said to the captain, 'There's + Lunan Bay;' and shortly afterwards he said, 'There's the Red + Head;' but it was too dark, then, to see the land, much less + could the outline of the coast be distinguished. The captain + inquired if they should not soon see the Bell Rock Light, and he + was answered in the affirmative. He then ordered the officer of + the watch to hail the forecastle, and direct the men to keep a + vigilant look-out for the Bell Rock Light.</p> + + <p>Ere many minutes had elapsed after the order was given, a + light was perceived before the starboard beam, which the pilot + declared to be a signal hoisted on the pier at Arbroath to show + that there was water enough for vessels to enter the harbour. The + captain then went below to consult the book of sailing + directions, and when he returned upon deck, he said to the pilot, + 'If that light be on Arbroath pier, as you suppose, we ought most + certainly to be in sight of the light on the Bell Rock.' The + pilot replied, 'We shall soon see it;' and Captain Monke repeated + to the officer of the watch his order to keep a sharp look + out.</p> + + <p>As the light on the Bell Rock did not appear, the captain + became exceedingly anxious; the more so, as he <a name="Page_162" + id="Page_162"></a>was convinced, by reckoning the distances from + the Tod Head to the Red Head, and from the Red Head to the Bell + Rock, and comparing their sum with the run from four o'clock, + that the ship had run as many miles to the southward as would + bring her up to the Bell Rock. To ascertain exactly the position + of the ship, he desired the master to work off the run by the log + up to eight o'clock, P.M., and in a short time the master + reported that by his calculation the light which they saw was no + other than the floating light of the Bell Rock, and that they had + now only to bear up and shape a course for the Isle of May.</p> + + <p>The captain had been upon deck for more than five hours, and + was so much fatigued that he went down to the gun-room to get + some refreshment, at a little after ten o'clock, leaving positive + orders with the officer of the watch and the master to be most + attentive to the ship's course; and he was so anxious for her + safety, that he had scarcely sat down in the gun-room before he + sent for the pilot-book of sailing directions, that he might + ascertain more exactly the position of the Bell Rock, and the + course and distance from thence to the Isle of May. In a few + minutes, the officer of the watch went down to report that the + May light was in sight, and Captain Monke was in the act of going + upon deck, when the vessel struck the ground. He instantly rushed + upon deck, and inquired of the master where he supposed the ship + had grounded. The reply was a startling one:—'I am afraid,' + said he, 'that we are on the Bell Rock, and not a soul will be + saved, unless we can forge her over it.' How they could possibly + be upon the Bell Rock, when the master had himself so confidently + declared they were running from it for some hours, appeared a + mystery: but this was no time for arguing the matter. Captain + Monke saw the danger both to the ship and all on board: <a name= + "Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>he ordered the drum to beat to + quarters, and the men were soon on deck and each at his post + Having assured himself that the rudder was not damaged, the + captain ordered the foretack to be hauled on board, and the yards + to be braced with the larboard brace, which was done without loss + of time. The lead was cast, to ascertain the depth of water, + which the quarter-master reported to be twelve feet. The ship, + which at first had taken the ground easily, now began to strike + with great violence; and when they found that she did not forge + ahead, the yards were braced aback, but to no better purpose, for + she remained hard and fast as before.</p> + + <p>Land was now seen to leeward, and the master changed his + opinion, and imagined that the frigate had struck on the Isle of + May; but the pilot thought they were on shore in St. Andrew's + Bay, and blamed the master for having hauled too soon. As the + tide was falling, there was little hope of getting the ship + afloat, although this was so far fortunate, that it afforded a + better chance of escape for the crew.</p> + + <p>Orders were given to man the pumps, and the people obeyed with + alacrity, and worked by turns throughout the night with the + utmost vigour. The ship seemed to come up easier for a time, and + the carpenter reported twelve feet water in the hold. When the + moon rose, the position of the frigate with regard to the land + was discovered; and as the tide ebbed, her larboard bow appeared + to be but a short distance from the nearest rocks. From the time + of the ship's striking, guns had been fired as signals of + distress, to arouse the attention of the inhabitants of the + coast, and these signals were soon answered by lights displayed + along the shore, and large fires kindled on the beach. The glare + of the torches moving to and fro on the shore denoted the + inclination of the people to render assistance to the <a name= + "Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>unfortunate vessel. Voices were + heard hailing the ship, but it was impossible to distinguish the + words. The boatswain and carpenter, and some others, declared + that the men said, 'You are in St. Andrew's Bay—come on + shore,' Upon this, the boatswain and gunner volunteered to land + with two men in a small prize skiff, for the purpose of + reconnoitring the beach. This proposition was immediately + rejected by the captain, who assembled the principal officers on + the forecastle and declared to them his determination not to + suffer a single boat to be lowered during the night—but + that they should all stick to the ship until daylight, as the + only chance of preserving their lives.</p> + + <p>Happily the captain's orders were obeyed, though doubtless + many would feel tempted to risk a landing. The Pallas became more + and more uneasy—her rudder was carried away, and the sea + broke completely over her. The men were each served with a dram, + and were still kept at the pumps until three o'clock A.M., when + the main beam broke and the others began to give way in + succession. In order to lighten the vessel, the mainmast was cut + away. At first, this did not appear to have the desired + effect—but in all probability it would have fallen of + itself and have done injury to the people; it now hung over the + side, and promised to serve as a raft in case of necessity. The + foremast was then cut away, and the mizenmast was doomed to + follow—but the axe and tomahawk, which had been carried + forward, were lost, or washed away. The ship by this time had + fallen upon her beam ends, and the sea was making breaches over + her, so that every individual had enough to do to keep himself + from being washed overboard.</p> + + <p>About four o'clock in the morning, the spirits of the crew + were revived by seeing a boat appear between the wreck and a + large fire that had been kept burning imme<a name="Page_165" id= + "Page_165"></a>diately opposite. This was a welcome sight, and it + was hailed by three loud and hearty cheers from the Pallas.</p> + + <p>Many of the men by this time were suffering much from cold, + hunger, and fatigue, and those who were able, got into the + weather chains for safety and shelter. Daylight discovered to + them the real position of the ship; the light which had been + supposed to be on the Isle of May was that of a lime-kiln on the + main land, and as the Bass and North Berwick Law were plainly + visible, it was evident from their bearings that the frigate was + on shore near to Dunbar. She was now a total wreck—the + bottom had separated to some extent amidships from her upper + works; a considerable portion of her floor timber was lying about + ten yards to windward of the rest of the hull, and the iron + ballast within this frame of timber was thus open to view. It was + now time for every man to provide as far as possible for his own + safety. A Portuguese sailor, an excellent swimmer, was the first + to quit the wreck and swim on shore; several men attempted to + follow his example, but five of them perished. The life-boat from + Dunbar, which had been launched with great difficulty on account + of the heavy surf beating on the rocks, reached the ship at ten + o'clock in the morning of the 19th, and she took off a boat-load + from the wreck and landed them in safety.</p> + + <p>This success encouraged the people to try to employ the boats + of the Pallas, but they were all found to be stove, or otherwise + rendered useless, with the exception of a sixteen-oared cutter. + The cutter was launched without material injury, and fortunately + reached the land with as many as she could carry. The life-boat + again neared the ship, and made a second successful landing with + a number of officers and men; and a third time she touched the + wreck, and was again crowded with people, but unfortunately the + rope which she carried as a <a name="Page_166" id= + "Page_166"></a>hauling line was too short to reach between the + ship and the shore, and this time she had scarcely put off from + the quarter before she filled and upset. By this accident, six of + the crew of the Pallas were drowned, and one of the bravest + fellows belonging to the life-boat The other thirteen men who + manned the boat, and several people from the wreck, were saved + with great difficulty; a small fishing-boat, which had been + opportunely launched through the surf, picked them up. Amongst + others so rescued from a watery grave were Captain Monke, and Mr. + Walker, the first lieutenant. The crew of the fishing-boat + persevered with great courage and good judgment in their efforts + to save the rest of the crew. They procured a small tow-line, + which being held by one end on the beach, they made fast to the + mizen chains of the ship. The boat was then hauled to and fro + until, in eight or ten trips, she had cleared the wreck of all + the people; and, with the exception of Mr. Tomlinson, the + boatswain, and ten or twelve others who perished, the whole of + the ship's company were saved.</p> + + <p>The kindness and hospitality exercised by the inhabitants of + Dunbar and the surrounding country were beyond all praise. The + sufferers, many of whom were insensible when carried on shore, + and unconscious of the manner in which their lives had been + preserved, were lodged, fed, and clothed. Captain Monke, who was + much bruised, was carried by Captain Maitland to the house of his + father, Lord Lauderdale, at Dunbar. The first lieutenant, Mr. + Walker, who was picked up apparently lifeless, was conveyed to + Broxmouth, the seat of the Duchess of Roxburgh, where he was, + under Providence, indebted for his restoration to the unremitting + attentions of the duchess and her husband, Mr. Manners.</p> + + <p>The humblest of the crew were equally well cared for. <a name= + "Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>The duchess went from room to room, + ministering to the wants of the sufferers, and seeing that every + comfort was provided for them.</p> + + <p>It is gratifying to record that a handsome pecuniary reward + was given by government to the fishermen and other inhabitants of + Dunbar who so nobly risked their lives for the sake of their + fellow-countrymen; and the widow of the man who was lost in the + life-boat had a pension of £25 per annum settled upon + her.</p> + + <p>'I am persuaded,' writes Captain Monke, in his narrative, + 'that this court will participate in my feelings, and would think + me most forgetful, if I did not here publicly express my grateful + sense I shall ever retain of the humane and liberal conduct of + the Duchess of Roxburgh and Mr. Manners, who in their hospitable + mansion at Broxmouth administered every sort of comfort and + medical relief to the far greater part of the suffering officers + and people of the Pallas, many of whose lives were thereby + preserved to their country. In justice to my own feelings, I + cannot close my narrative without declaring to this honourable + court that no men under similar circumstances could behave better + than did the crew of the Pallas. So far from being dismayed by + their perilous situation, they manifested equal firmness and + subordination; and, in fact, from the first moment of the ship + striking the ground, to the time when necessity compelled every + individual to consult his own safety, they obeyed all the orders + with as much alacrity as cheerfulness, and (what is more) without + either noise or confusion. Hence, sir, I consider myself + justified in asserting that, notwithstanding the number + victualled on board at the time was reduced to one hundred and + sixty, if any human exertion could, in the first instance, have + got the Pallas afloat, she would not have been irrecoverably lost + to the service. I must also beg leave to <a name="Page_168" id= + "Page_168"></a>add, that the officers set every example; and that + from Mr. Walker, the first-lieutenant, I derived, throughout this + trying scene, the most effectual support and assistance.'</p> + + <p>The Nymph, which we have mentioned as being in company with + the Pallas, got on shore the same night, on a rock called the + Devil's Ark, near Skethard, misled by some irregularity in the + lights on the Bell Rock and Isle of May.</p> + + <p>The crew of the Nymph were all saved, but the fine frigate was + lost.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="ST_GEORGE_AND_DEFENCE" id= + "ST_GEORGE_AND_DEFENCE"></a>ST. GEORGE AND DEFENCE.</h2> + + <p>Among the many services in which the fleets of Great Britain + were engaged during the last war, none was more rife with perils + and hardships than that on which the Baltic Fleet was employed. + During the long winter nights the crews were continually exposed + to intense cold, and the ships were often enveloped in such + impenetrable fogs, that sometimes even the pilots were deceived + as to their true position, and those lamentable consequences + ensued of which the loss of the Minotaur was an example, (see + page 154), her officers conceiving they were on the coast of + England, when they were actually stranded on the opposite + shore.</p> + + <p>We will briefly mention two instances, which may give the + reader some idea of the severity of the climate in the Northern + Seas.</p> + + <p>On the 23rd of December, 1808, the Fama (which had sailed from + Carlscrona the previous day, in consort with some other + men-of-war, and a convoy of merchantmen,) struck upon the Island + of Bornholm, in the midst <a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>of + such dense darkness, and so blinding a fall of snow, that it was + impossible to discern any of the surrounding objects. The moment + the ship struck, Lieutenant Topping, her commander, sprung from + his berth and rushed upon deck, without giving himself time to + put on his clothes. In his anxiety for the safety of his ship, + and of those who were on board, he continued to give his orders, + without any other protection from the piercing blast and driving + snow than a blanket, which one of his men had thrown over his + shoulders; '<i>in fifteen minutes from the time the vessel first + struck, he fell upon the deck a corpse</i>.' One man and a woman + shared the same fate, the rest of the crew survived the night, + and were next morning saved by the Danes.</p> + + <p>The circumstances attending the loss of the Pandora were still + more horrible. She struck on the Scaw Reef, a shoal on the coast + of Jutland, on the night of the 13th of February, 1811, and in + three hours her rudder was carried away, and the hold nearly + filled with water. The wind was bitterly cold, and, as the men + were unable to get below, they were in danger of being either + washed overboard, or frozen to death, before morning. In this + dreadful state they remained until daybreak, when it was + discovered that several of them had perished from the inclemency + of the weather. The survivors contrived to cut a hole in the side + of the deck which was above water, through which they crept + below, one by one, to seek protection from the cold. During the + day, some boats attempted to put out to their assistance, but the + sea ran so high that it was impossible to approach the wreck. The + unhappy crew, disappointed in their hopes of relief, endeavoured + to launch the boats; but these were so encased in ice, that they + resembled large blocks of marble, and it was impossible to move + them. In the course of the night the wind and sea abated, and the + <a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>Danes succeeded in rescuing + the people of the Pandora from their perilous situation, but not + before twenty-nine had perished from the intense cold.</p> + + <p>The month of November, 1811, was most disastrous to the Baltic + Fleet. The British ships of war had already suffered so severely + from attempting the dangerous navigation of the Northern Seas too + late in the year, that the commander-in-chief on the station + received orders on no account to delay the departure of the last + homeward-bound convoy beyond the 1st of November. In obedience to + these instructions, Rear-Admiral Reynolds sailed with a convoy + from Hano on that day, having hoisted his broad pendant on board + the St. George, of 98 guns, Captain Daniel Oliver Guion; but + owing to severe gales he was compelled to put back on three + several occasions, and the weather did not permit him finally to + leave the anchorage until the 12th of the month. On the 15th the + St George and convoy arrived off the Island of Zealand, where + they anchored to wait for a favourable wind, having met with very + rough weather in their passage from Hano, and several of the + convoy having foundered, without its being possible for the + others to render them the least assistance. In the course of the + night of the 15th the wind increased to a hurricane, and all + hands on board the St. George were summoned to give the ship + cable. Before this could be accomplished the sea poured through + the hawse-holes, carried everything away, and rendered it + impossible for many of the men to stand to their duty. They were + still in the act of veering away the cable, when a large merchant + vessel, which had been seen looming through the darkness, drifted + down upon them, its hull coming violently in collision with the + bows of the St. George, and severing her cables;—one + piercing shriek followed,—the merchantman gave a lurch, and + the next instant was engulfed in the raging billows.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>However appalling the + sight of this fearful tragedy might have been to the crew of the + St. George, their own danger was too imminent to allow them much + time for reflection, for on heaving the lead they found only + fourteen fathoms, though they had anchored in twenty. The best + bower anchor was at once let go, as the ship appeared to be fast + drifting towards the shore; but such was the force of the wind + and sea, that its massive ring broke off as if it had been only a + piece of wire. Upon this it was resolved to wear her off the + land, and the jib and foretopmast stay-sail were loosed, but + before they could be set the sails were wrenched from the + bolt-ropes, and borne away by the blast. The lead being cast + again, eight fathoms were reported; the sheet anchor was let go, + in hopes that it would hold, but, like the other anchor, it made + no impression on the ship, and broke short off. As a last + resource, the men began to cut away the masts, when, just as they + fell, a heavy sea lifted the vessel and hurled her with violence + upon a sand bank, where she remained fast, the masts having by + good fortune fallen clear of her sides.</p> + + <p>There was but little hope now of saving the ship, yet the crew + behaved with the most admirable steadiness, and obeyed with + cheerful alacrity when they were ordered to man the pumps. + Towards daybreak the rudder was torn from its fastenings, and it + was only the discovery that the water did not gain on the ship + that sustained the drooping spirits of the seamen, exhausted as + they were with their arduous exertions and long exposure to the + biting cold and constant fall of sleet and snow. At half-past six + the long-wished-for dawn appeared, when, to their dismay, they + found themselves on a sand bank, four miles from the shore. As + the wind and sea gradually abated, the rest of the squadron + attempted to render them assistance, but did not venture <a name= + "Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>to approach too close to the shoal. + The St. George continued to strike heavily until twelve that + night, when her head swung round to the land, and, contrary to + all expectations, the water was found to have risen three feet + since eight o'clock in the evening. By ten the next morning + (Sunday, the 17th of November) she was clear of all danger, and + having fitted up jury-masts, with a rudder supplied from the + Cressy, she arrived in safety at Gottenburg, about the 2nd of + December.</p> + + <p>Having partially repaired damages, Admiral Reynolds weighed + anchor on the 17th December, and proceeded, in consort with the + Defence and Cressy, to convoy a homeward-bound fleet of + merchantmen.</p> + + <p>On the 23rd, another north-westerly gale was encountered, on + the coast of Jutland. At midnight, signals were made to wear, but + owing to the disabled state of the St. George, this was found + impossible. In the hope of bringing her head round to the wind, + an anchor was let go, but the hawser, catching under her keel, + tore away the temporary rudder, and snapped itself with the + strain, and again the ship fell off. The captain gave orders to + strike the lower yards and topmasts, and to lighten the vessel. + Between five and six in the morning of the 24th, the report of a + gun was heard from the Defence, which was supposed to have got on + shore about two miles and a half off. A short time after, the St. + George struck, and drifted towards the shore, and from this + moment all hope of saving the ship vanished.</p> + + <p>Upon examining the well, the carpenter reported ten feet water + in the hold; and this rose so rapidly, that in the space of half + an hour it reached the lower deck, driving the people to the main + deck. Admiral Reynolds and the captain used every effort to + encourage the men to remain steady to their duty, as the only + chance of preserving their lives. At ten o'clock, the sea swept + the <a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a>main deck, so that all + hands were obliged to seek refuge on the poop. All the boats, + except the yawl, had either been stove or washed overboard. As an + instance of the obedience and discipline of the crew of the St. + George, three or four men came forward, and asked permission to + attempt to reach the shore in the yawl: this request was at first + granted, but as they were about to lower her into the sea, it was + considered impossible that the boat could live, and the men were + directed to return to their posts. Without a murmur, they + instantly obeyed; and as if Providence had rewarded this implicit + obedience and reliance upon their officers, two of these men were + of the few that were saved.</p> + + <p>It is impossible to describe the suffering of the helpless + crew. Their numbers, originally about seven hundred and fifty, + had been terribly thinned by the severity of the weather, and the + surging of the waves, which every instant burst over them. At + eight o'clock in the evening of the 24th, fourteen men took the + boat and attempted to pull from the wreck, but they had not gone + many yards when she upset, and her crew perished. The mizenmast + still stood, and orders were given for its being cut away, but as + no axes could be found, the men were obliged to use their knives + to cut the lanyards of the rigging; at this moment, a sea struck + the mast, carrying away the poop, and the men who were upon it. + As the poop was swept away from the wreck, it bore not only the + living but the dead. The latter far outnumbered the former, and + it became necessary for the general preservation to cast + overboard the bodies of their dead comrades. But their strength, + already weakened by previous suffering, was unequal to the + performance of this painful duty; and while thus employed, a sea + swept over the poop, scattering the men upon the foaming billows. + Five regained it, but were again washed off, and again succeeded + in <a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>reaching their former + position. Of these, two died, and the other three were washed on + shore.</p> + + <p>The scene on board was one of the most harrowing description. + Mingled together were the living, the dying, and the dead. The + bodies were piled up by the survivors in rows one above another, + as a shelter from the violence of the waves, which broke + incessantly over them.</p> + + <p>In the fourth row lay the admiral and his friend Captain + Guion; whilst the groans of the dying, mingling with the roar of + the tempest, unnerved the hearts of those who had hitherto shown + an unappalled front to the perils surrounding them.</p> + + <p>There still remained about two hundred men, who were employed + in constructing a raft, as the last chance of saving their lives. + After considerable labour, this was effected, by lashing together + a topsail yard and a cross-jack yard, the only spars that + remained.</p> + + <p>Upon this, ten men left the wreck, but the timbers being + improperly secured, they broke adrift, and the first sea that + came washed five men off; the others gained the shore, one of + whom died.</p> + + <p>According to all accounts, even the few who survived would + have perished, had it not been for the humane conduct of the + Danes who came to their assistance; these, at the risk of their + own lives, succeeded in rescuing from the raft the seven + exhausted sufferers who survived, out of the crew of seven + hundred and fifty men.</p> + + <p>The St. George, as has been already mentioned, was in company + with both the Cressy and Defence. Captain Pater, who commanded + the former, seeing the impossibility of rendering any assistance + to the St. George, and the imminent risk to his own ship if he + remained longer on the starboard tack, wore, and escaped the + danger.</p> + + <p>The master of the Defence reported to Captain Atkins that the + St. George had gone on shore, and that the <a name="Page_175" id= + "Page_175"></a>Cressy had veered and was standing to the + southward,—at the same time pointing out the great danger + the ship was in, and recommending that he should follow the + example of the Cressy. The captain inquired whether the admiral + had made the signal to part company; upon being answered in the + negative, he replied, 'I will never desert my admiral in the hour + of danger and distress.'</p> + + <p>At about six o'clock A.M., the hands were turned up to wear + ship, but before this could be accomplished she struck, the sea + made a breach over her, and washed several men overboard.</p> + + <p>The captain gave orders to fire minute guns, and cut away the + masts. Five or six guns only had been fired, before they broke + adrift, so that it was impossible to fire any more; but + providentially these had been heard by the look-out men on shore, + to whose assistance may be attributed the preservation of the few + lives that were saved.</p> + + <p>The waves swept over the vessel, forcing numbers of the crew + down the hatchways, the guns and other heavy articles had broken + loose, killing some, breaking the arms and legs of others, whose + agonizing cries served only to add to the horrors of a scene + scarcely within the power of description.</p> + + <p>The captain at this time stood on the poop, holding on only by + a howitzer that was lashed before the mizenmast, the officers and + crew clinging to other parts of the wreck. The boats were all + stove, except the pinnace, in which about twenty men had + collected, when a sea, breaking over the wreck, washed her + overboard, capsized her, and all perished.</p> + + <p>Another sea struck the Defence with such excessive violence as + to lift a spare anchor from its berth, throw it up on end, + killing in its fall upon the forecastle about thirty men. The + booms were washed away, and with <a name="Page_176" id= + "Page_176"></a>them nearly one hundred men, who were clinging to + the different spars.</p> + + <p>The following account of the escape of one of her crew is so + interesting, that it has been thought better to leave it as + nearly as possible in his own words, than to alter it for the + sake of brevity:—</p> + + <p>'I got on one side of the booms that were floating among the + rest of the wreck. At that time every man, except two, John Platt + and Ralph Teasel, two of the men who were saved, were washed off. + Myself and several more were at the same time swept off the + mizen-top. I then made the best of my way from one spar to + another, until I got on one side of the booms. At this time about + forty men regained their position upon the booms, when another + sea washed all off except four. I got on the booms a second time, + and spoke to John Brown, and told him I thought we were + approaching the shore. There were then about twenty men on them, + but when we reached the shore there were only six left.</p> + + <p>'Two Danes on the beach came to our assistance; my foot got + jammed in amongst the small spars, and my comrades, seeing that I + was unable to get off the raft, were coming to my help, when the + Danes made signs to them to be quiet. One Dane made three + attempts before he succeeded in reaching the raft, and the third + time he was nearly exhausted; he managed to get hold of my foot, + and wrenched it out, and carried me on shore. I was then taken up + to a shed to wait for some carts which were coming for us, most + of us being unable to walk. In about ten minutes a number of + gentlemen arrived on horseback, and some carts came down upon the + beach. We were then placed in them, and driven to a small village + called Shelton. On the road the man who drove the cart spoke to a + woman, and asked her if she had any liquor. She replied by + drawing a bottle <a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a>from her + pocket, and made each of us take a dram, which I believe was in a + great measure the saving of our lives.</p> + + <p>'We soon arrived at the houses in the village, where we were + stripped and put to bed, and treated by the inhabitants with the + greatest hospitality and kindness. When I awoke, I found another + seaman had been placed in the same bed with me; he had come on + shore some time after myself upon a piece of wreck. He said, just + as he reached the shore the poop and forecastle were capsized, + and not a man to be seen, except a few upon pieces of wreck. In + the evening, a gentleman who spoke English came to our bedside, + and told us that an officer had been brought up to the house. He + also told us that there was another ship on shore to the + southward of us, which appeared to be a three-decker, lying with + her stern on shore. We knew directly it could be no other than + the St. George.</p> + + <p>'He inquired if we were able to get up, and go and look at the + body of the officer, and see if we knew him. We answered yes, + and, with the assistance of the people, went into the barn, and + recognised our captain. We then returned to bed again, being too + exhausted to stand. The gentleman told us that medical assistance + could not be procured that night, but that we should have every + nourishment the house could afford. He then took his leave, + promising that he would return in the morning, when we might be + better able to speak to him.</p> + + <p>'He accordingly came in the morning, and inquired what force + our ship was.</p> + + <p>'We told him a 74-gun ship, with a company of 600 men. Upon + our inquiring if any more of our shipmates had reached the shore, + he answered no; and we returned most hearty thanks to the + Almighty for our deliverance!</p> + + <p>'On Sunday, the 29th, we put our captain into a coffin, and + buried him in Shelton Church-yard, with two seamen alongside of + him.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>'It was some time, + through the bitterness of the cold and the bruises we had + received, before we were able to walk about. As soon as we had + gained sufficient strength, we went down to the beach, where we + saw, scattered for about two miles along the beach, the wreck of + the Defence, but not a corpse was to be seen. We supposed they + had drifted away to the southward and westward, a strong current + setting that way. This opinion was in a great measure confirmed + by seeing our officers' things sold, and other articles belonging + to the ship, six miles to the southward of where we were cast + away, when we went to join the few who were saved from the St. + George. On the 13th January, our captain was taken up again, and + carried to Rinkum Church, and placed in a vault with the honours + of war.'</p> + + <p>Such was the unhappy fate of the St. George and Defence; only + six men from the latter ship being saved, out of a crew of 600. + Two days afterwards, when the gale had abated, a Danish boat, + with two of the English sailors, went on board the St. George to + bring away the corpses of the admiral and others, but they found + the decks had been entirely swept away. Nothing could exceed the + hospitality and kindness with which the Danes treated the few who + were thrown upon their shore. Nor was the Danish government + backward in generosity. The dead were buried with military + honours, and the survivors were sent to England without exchange. + The following letter from Major General Tellequist, given in his + own language, sufficiently shows the deep commiseration felt by + the Danish government, as well as by himself, for the lamentable + catastrophe which befel the St. George and Defence.</p> + + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>'Randus, the 21st of January, 1812.</p> + + <p>'Sir,—Though the grievous misfortune which has + happened his great Britannic Majesty's ships of war <a name= + "Page_179" id="Page_179"></a> + on the Danish coast perhaps already may be known to your + Excellency; nevertheless, whereas the opposite case may be + possible, I will not omit hereby to make you acquainted with + the sorrowful accident, assuring you that I am very + compassionating.</p> + + <p>'The 24th of last month, in the night, the English ships of + the line, St. George and Defence, are splitted upon the western + coast of Jutland, and the violent waves made it impossible to + bring the wretched crews any assistance. From both ships are + saved but thirteen persons, who are cast on shore by the sea + with goods of wreck. Some of them are sick, and at present + under care. A part of the dead bodies are driven to land, and + interred with as much ceremony as the circumstances would + admit.</p> + + <p>'All possible pains have been taken to find out the bodies + of the officers, in order to show them military honours, by the + obsequies upon the churchyard.</p> + + <p>'Two bodies of officers were found, and buried with military + honours. Among these was the body of Captain Atkins, commanding + the Defence, which is deposited in a church till I receive the + further ordaining from my most gracious sovereign.</p> + + <p>'I complain much that the body of Admiral Reynolds has not + yet been found, for all the pains which are taken on this + purpose.</p> + + <p>'Agreeably to the charitable sensibility of the Danish + nation, the inhabitants have been very grieved to see the + English warriors in such a distress without being able to + assist them; and I am very sorry, Sir, that I cannot give your + Excellency of this accident an account less sorrowful.</p> + + <p>'With great esteem, I remain, Sir,</p> + + <p>'&c. &c, &c.,</p> + + <p>'TELLEQUIST.</p> + + <p>'To Governor Maurice.'</p> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a>The body of Rear Admiral + Reynolds was found a few days after the date of the above letter, + and deposited with military honours near that of Captain Atkins, + in Rinkum Church.</p> + + <p>The surviving officers and men of the St. George were tried by + a court-martial at Sheerness, and were acquitted of all blame + with reference to the loss of that vessel.</p> + + <p>With respect to the loss of the Defence, the court was of + opinion that she was lost by getting on shore on the western + coast of Jutland, in company with his Majesty's late ship St. + George, in consequence of the noble and heroic determination of + the captain to stay to the last by his admiral, at a moment of + extreme danger and distress, conduct which, in the opinion of the + court, will reflect immortal honour on the memory of Captain + Atkins.</p> + + <p>Rear Admiral Reynolds was an officer of considerable + experience, and had distinguished himself on several occasions + previous to his melancholy fate on board the St. George.</p> + + <p>In the year 1797, he commanded the Amazon, a 36-gun frigate, + and was cruizing the 13th of January off Ushant, in company with + the Indefatigable, Captain Sir Edward Pellew, when a large ship + was descried, steering under easy sail for France. This was a + little after twelve o'clock at noon; chase was immediately given, + and at four in the afternoon, the stranger was discovered to be a + French two-decker, the Droits de l'Homme, of 74 guns.</p> + + <p>She had on board, exclusive of her crew of 700 men, about 1050 + troops, which, with 50 English prisoners, made 1800 souls.</p> + + <p>At a little past five o'clock, the Indefatigable closed with + the enemy and began the action; this had lasted about an hour, + when the Indefatigable unavoidably shot ahead, on which the + Amazon took her place and nobly <a name="Page_181" id= + "Page_181"></a>continued the battle. The Indefatigable, having in + the meantime repaired her rigging, again joined in the attack, + the British ships placing themselves one on each quarter of their + opponent. A continued fire was kept up for upwards of five hours, + when they found it absolutely necessary to sheer off, in order to + secure their masts. During the action the sea is described as + having run so high, that the men on the main decks of the + frigates were up to their middles in water. As soon as the masts + were secured, the attack was again resumed, and notwithstanding + the crews of both ships were almost exhausted with their + exertions, it was prolonged for five hours more, when, late in + the night, the fire ceased on both sides. The Amazon had now + nearly three feet of water in the hold, and was in other respects + most severely damaged. The enemy had suffered still more; her + foremast was shot away, and the main and mizen-masts left + tottering, the decks being strewed with the dead and dying.</p> + + <p>At about four o'clock in the morning, an officer on board the + Indefatigable reported breakers ahead, and the loss of all three + vessels appeared almost inevitable.</p> + + <p>The Indefatigable was then close under the starboard quarter + of the Droits de L'Homme, and the Amazon as near to her on the + larboard bow. The Indefatigable was fortunate enough to avoid the + danger by being able to make sail to the southward, and she + escaped.</p> + + <p>When daylight broke, a terrible spectacle was presented. The + Droits de L'Homme had drifted towards the land—broadside + on—a tremendous surf beating over her. The position of the + Amazon was as precarious, notwithstanding every effort was made + by her officers and crew to work her off shore, all proved + unavailing, and she struck the ground. The ship's company, with + the exception of six men, gained the shore, which proved to be + Audierne Bay, where they were all made prisoners.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>The melancholy fate of + the Droits de L'Homme is described in James's <i>Naval + History</i>. Already 900 souls had perished, when the fourth + night came with renewed horrors,—'weak, distracted, and + wanting everything,' says one of the prisoners, a British + officer, in his narrative, 'we envied the fate of those whose + lifeless corpses no longer needed sustenance. The sense of hunger + was already lost, but a parching thirst consumed our vitals.'.... + 'Almost lost to a sense of humanity, we no longer looked with + pity on those who were the speedy forerunners of our own fate, + and a consultation took place, to sacrifice some one to be food + to the remainder. The die was going to be cast, when the welcome + sight of a man-of-war brig renewed our hopes. A cutter speedily + followed, and both anchored at a short distance from the wreck. + They then sent their boats to us, and by means of large rafts, + about 150, out of nearly 400 who attempted it, were saved by the + brig that evening; 380 were left to 'endure another night's + misery,—when, dreadful to relate, about one half were found + dead next morning!'</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="HERO" id="HERO"></a>HERO.</h2> + + <p>We have next to relate the still more tragical fate of the + Hero, of 74 guns. This vessel was lost on the Northern Haaks, + under nearly the same circumstances as the Minotaur in the + preceding year, but with more fatal results, as every soul on + board perished.</p> + + <p>The following particulars are derived from the accounts taken + from the evidence of Captain Fanshawe, of the Grasshopper, and + from the journals of the day.</p> + + <p>The Grasshopper sailed from Wingo Sound on the <a name= + "Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>18th of December, 1811, in company + with the Hero, Egeria, and Prince William, and a convoy of about + 120 merchantmen. The weather, at the time they commenced their + voyage, was stormy and tempestuous. The Egeria and Prince William + parted company on the 20th, and on the 23rd the Grasshopper was + left in company with the Hero, and about eighteen + merchantmen.</p> + + <p>At about half-past eleven o'clock, Captain Newman, of the + Hero, made signal to the Grasshopper to come within hail; + conceiving that they were on the Silver Pitts, he directed the + course to be altered to the south-west, which was accordingly + done. They continued their course until ten o'clock at night, + when the signal was made to alter it two points to port.</p> + + <p>The Grasshopper was at this time going at the rate of nine + knots an hour; four of the convoy had been kept in view up to + this period, but were soon lost sight of in the heavy squall of + snow and sleet. At half-past three o'clock all hands were turned + up, when the ship being in broken water, she struck with great + violence, and suddenly fell into three fathoms water. The best + bower was let go, and she was brought to an anchor. In a few + minutes the ship struck again, and continued to do so as long as + she remained in that position.</p> + + <p>The crew of the Grasshopper had now their attention called to + the situation of the Hero. It was first supposed that she was at + anchor, although she fired several guns, and burnt blue lights, + which in about half-an-hour ceased. At daylight it was discovered + that both the ships were inside the Northern Haaks, about five or + six miles from the Texel Island. About a mile from the + Grasshopper was the Hero—a complete wreck—lying on + her starboard broadside. The ship's company were all crowded + together upon the poop and forecastle; the sea making clean + breaches over her. An attempt was made by the crew <a name= + "Page_184" id="Page_184"></a>of the Grasshopper to reach the + Hero, but the surf ran so high that it prevented all + communication, and they were under the imperious necessity of + seeing their comrades perish, without the slightest possibility + of being able to render them assistance.</p> + + <p>The Hero had hoisted a flag of truce, and fired a gun: in a + short time these signals of distress were answered, by several + vessels putting out from the Texel to her relief; but owing to + the flood-tide, and the strong gale of wind then blowing, the + boats were unable to get nearer than three miles.</p> + + <p>Notwithstanding that those on board the Grasshopper were + themselves in a most precarious position, from the repeated + shocks the ship had sustained by striking against the ground, + their attention was completely diverted from themselves, in their + anxiety for the fate of the Hero. The waves burst with relentless + fury over the doomed vessel, every moment snatching a victim from + the now almost deserted decks.</p> + + <p>As the night was approaching, and the weather still continued + boisterous, Captain Fanshawe, having taken the opinion of the + officers, judged that there was no other alternative for saving + the lives of his crew than by surrendering to the enemy. At four + o'clock the cable was cut, and they made sail for the Helder + Point, where they surrendered to the Dutch Vice-Admiral, De + Wintner.</p> + + <p>The Hero went to pieces during the night: in the morning not a + vestige of her was to be seen. Every exertion was made by the + Dutch squadron to save the crew, but the weather was so stormy, + that all their efforts proved abortive, and thus every soul on + board perished.</p> + + <p>In the year 1798, Captain Newman distinguished himself by a + most gallant action which he fought off the coast of Ireland. He + was then in command of the <a name="Page_185" id= + "Page_185"></a>Mermaid, 32-gun frigate, and was cruising in + consort with the Revolutionnaire, of 38 guns, Captain Twysden, + and the Kangaroo, gun-brig, commanded by Captain Brace. On the + 15th October, when near Black Cod Bay, two very large French + frigates were seen and pursued, but they were lost sight of + during the night. The next morning, however, the Mermaid and + Kangaroo made out one of the Frenchmen, and the Kangaroo came up + with her the same afternoon, but was speedily disabled by the + heavy fire of her opponent, and compelled to drop astern. The + Mermaid kept on in chase, and engaged the French vessel, which + proved to be the Loire, 46-gun frigate, on the morning of the + 17th October. Early in the action the French attempted to board, + but were frustrated by the skilful handling of the Mermaid, which + enabled her to close within pistol-shot of the Loire, when the + latter's foretopmast was soon shot away, and the fire from her + great guns nearly silenced, though a continuous storm of musketry + was still kept up from her decks. Upon attempting to rake her + opponent, the Mermaid's mizenmast unfortunately went by the + board, so that she fell off, and the maintop-mast almost + instantly followed. By this time the rigging of the English + frigate was completely cut to pieces, and her boats destroyed; + she was also making a great deal of water, having received + several shots between wind and water. In this crippled condition, + Captain Newman had no other alternative but to discontinue the + action. This was done without any attempt on the part of the + Loire to renew the engagement, the French being no doubt only too + glad to get rid of her spirited antagonist, though she was only + half the size of their own vessel.</p> + + <p>On the following day the Loire fell in with the Anson and + Kangaroo, and surrendered to the British flag. Subsequently + Captain Newman was appointed to the <a name="Page_186" id= + "Page_186"></a>Loire, having the proud satisfaction of commanding + the vessel in whose capture he had so gallantly assisted.</p> + + <p>In 1808, our officer received the command of the unfortunate + Hero, which ship, in 1810, formed part of the squadron under Sir + James Saumarez, employed for the protection of commerce in the + North Sea. Here he continued in the unpleasant duty of convoying + merchant vessels backwards and forwards from Dar's Head, the + south entrance of the Great Belt, to Sproe Island. On the 25th of + September, Captain Newman, in company with the Mars, 74, arrived + off Yarmouth, having in charge between five and six hundred + merchantmen, the largest convoy that had ever sailed from the + Baltic. He again returned to his former station in March, 1811, + where he remained until the latter end of the year, when his ship + was selected, with others, to convoy the homeward-bound fleet. On + this occasion, he appears to have had sad misgivings as to the + prudence of sending ships home at so late a period of the year, + through the dangerous navigation of the northern seas. On the day + previous to the sailing of the squadron from Wingo Sound, he + observed, 'I cannot help thinking that we have been detained too + long, and it is well if some of us do not share the fate of the + Minotaur.'<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id= + "FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class= + "fnanchor">[14]</a> His words were but too prophetic; and, ere + long, he and two thousand of our brave defenders perished on a + foreign strand.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> + <i>Naval Chronicle.</i></p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_DAEDALUS" id="THE_DAEDALUS"></a><a name= + "Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>THE DÆDALUS.</h2> + + <p>His Majesty's ship Dædalus, of 38 guns, Captain Murray + Maxwell, sailed from Spithead on the 27th of January, 1813, in + charge of an East Indian convoy, and made the island of Ceylon, + near the Pointe de Galle, on the 1st of July. She passed Dondra + Head at sunset, and then steered east by north during the night, + in order to pass well outside the Basses. In the morning, the + ship's head was pointed to the north, to get near land, a good + look-out being kept both from the deck and mast-head for rocks + and breakers. The atmosphere was so clear that a ripple might + have been seen upon the water for miles around. Nothing appeared + to indicate danger; the vessel was supposed to be seven or eight + miles off the land, and the master was pointing out to Captain + Maxwell her position upon the chart, when they felt her take the + ground abaft; but so very easily, that many people on board were + not aware that she had touched. Signals were immediately made to + warn the convoy of their danger, but before the signals could be + answered, the Dædalus swung off into deep water. All sail + was set, and strong hopes were entertained that she was not + materially injured; but her frame was too slight to sustain any + shock whatever without damage, the lower part of the stern-post + had given way, occasioning a leak of such magnitude, that + although the pumps were instantly manned; and worked with + unceasing energy, the water could not be kept under. A signal was + made for the convoy to bring to, and to send all their carpenters + on board the Dædalus, which was immediately done, but the + combined efforts of the whole were unavailing to reduce the leak. + The rudder worked <a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>so much + that it was found necessary to unship it from the broken part of + the stern-post, and bring it alongside; and in order to relieve + the ship from the pressure aft, the guns and other heavy things + were carried forward; this, however, was of so little avail, that + the guns and anchors were soon thrown overboard. They then + prepared a sail with oakum and tar, and got it over the stern, in + order, by passing it under the keel, to stop the leak. For a time + this seemed to have the desired effect, and hopes were + entertained that they might be able to carry the ship to + Trincomalee; but these hopes were of short duration. In spite of + the indefatigable exertions of every officer and man on board, + the water gained upon them till it rose two feet above the + orlop-deck. The men had now been working without intermission for + eight hours, and their strength and spirits began to fail, when, + notwithstanding all their efforts, they saw the water rising to + the level of the lower deck.</p> + + <p>Captain Maxwell now knew that there was not a chance of saving + his ship, and he felt the painful necessity of leaving her as + soon as possible, in order to preserve the lives of his men, + whilst there was yet time. He ordered the boys, idlers, and two + divisions of seamen and marines to get into the boats which were + alongside, while the remaining men were employed at the pumps to + keep the ship afloat, The good order and discipline which + prevailed during this scene are beyond all praise. 'The men + behaved,' to use the words of the captain, 'as if they were + moving from one ship to another in any of the king's ports.'</p> + + <p>Such conduct is highly creditable, not only to the ship's + company, but likewise to the captain and officers, in whom the + crew must have reposed most perfect confidence, or such real good + order could not have been maintained at such a time.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a>The ship was settling + fast, when the boats returned to carry away the remainder of the + officers and men, they left the pumps and embarked in the boats, + taking with them the hammocks and clothes belonging to the ship's + company. The last man who stood upon the deck of the sinking ship + was her captain. When all others had gone, he too with a heavy + heart stepped into the boat which bore him from her side; sadly + and sorrowfully he fixed his gaze upon the wreck of 'his home on + the waters.' In a few minutes the ship gave a lurch, and, falling + on her beam ends, remained in that position for the space of a + minute, then she righted, showing only her quarter-deck ports + above water, and then gently and majestically sunk into the bosom + of the deep blue sea.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_PERSIAN" id="THE_PERSIAN"></a>THE PERSIAN.</h2> + + <p>The Persian, an 18-gun brig, commanded by Captain Charles + Bertram, was lost on the Silver Keys, St. Domingo, in the West + Indies, on the 26th of June, 1813. It appears from Captain + Bertram's statement, that the Keys were laid down on the chart + too far to the southward, or that the ship was carried in that + direction by a strong current not mentioned in any of the charts. + The Persian struck about five o'clock P.M., by running stem on, + upon one of the rocks; she was at the time going at the rate of + three or four knots an hour. Everything was done to back her off; + the water was started, most of the guns thrown overboard, the + boats were got out, and the anchors cut from the bows. These + measures for the moment seemed to have the desired effect; but in + paying off, she struck on another rock, and from this it was + <a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>impossible to move her. + Again the same means were resorted to; the remainder of the guns, + spars, &c, were thrown overboard, but to no purpose. The + pumps had been kept in active play from the first moment of + alarm, but the water gained on them so fast, there was little + hope of the vessel keeping afloat till daylight. The Captain, + therefore, resolved to prepare for the worst, and he directed a + large raft to be made for the safety of some of the ship's + company. About seven o'clock, two hours after she first struck, + Captain Bertram perceived that she was gradually sinking; he + therefore ordered as many of the ship's company as the boats + would hold, to get into the two cutters and the jolly-boat; the + cutters were placed under the command of Mr. Norris, the second + lieutenant, and Mr. Nicholls, the master; and the jolly-boat + under the superintendence of the gunner. These boats were ordered + to remain near the ship, in case anything should occur to render + it necessary for the people to return on board.</p> + + <p>About half-past nine P.M., Lieutenant Price and the rest of + the ship's company, excepting two or three who remained on board + with the captain, took their places upon the raft, which was + veered by a hawser to leeward of the brig, and directed to remain + in that position until the morning. At two o'clock in the morning + Captain Bertram, convinced that there was no hope of saving his + ship, got into his gig with the men who had stayed with him, and + he had scarcely left the side of the Persian ere she slipped off + the rock, fell over on the larboard side, and sunk into about + seven fathoms water, the tops of the masts only being visible + above the waves.</p> + + <p>At daylight, Captain Bertram, with the other boats, bore up + for the raft, which had broken from the hawser during the night + and drifted to some distance. They found her and her crew in a + very deplorable state,—the <a name="Page_191" id= + "Page_191"></a>lashings had been cut through by the rocks, and + many of the timbers were broken, so that they scarcely held + together, and the men had had great difficulty in keeping her + from being dashed to pieces against the rocks, and in preserving + themselves from being carried away by the surf which washed over + them continually.</p> + + <p>Here was a great difficulty to be overcome; the raft was + evidently so insecure that it could not be depended upon for an + hour, and the only means of saving the men was by distributing + them amongst the boats, which were already so over-crowded, that + it would be imminently perilous to add to their freight. However, + Captain Bertram did not hesitate to brave the danger, but set the + example by first taking four men from the raft into his own gig, + and directing the other boats to receive the rest amongst them in + their relative proportions. His commands were instantly and + cheerfully obeyed, but to carry them into effect the boats' crews + were obliged to throw overboard the few articles of clothing they + had saved, and the greater part of the provisions, in order to + enable the boats to bear the additional weight.</p> + + <p>It was now between five and six o'clock in the morning; the + wind was blowing fresh from the east; the nearest part of St. + Domingo was, as far as they could judge, about twenty-five + leagues distant, to reach which they supposed they must go + through the Mona passage, the most dangerous in the West + Indies.</p> + + <p>One of the cutters had forty-five men on board, the other + forty-two, the jolly-boat twenty-two, and the gig fourteen; in + all, a hundred and twenty-three persons. The wind increased as + the day advanced, and became so violent that it seemed almost by + a miracle that the boats were enabled to resist the fury of the + storm. In the afternoon the danger increased, and the men were + obliged to heave overboard the remainder of their bread <a name= + "Page_192" id="Page_192"></a>and water, and never for an instant + could they relax in their efforts to keep the boats free from + water. God in His mercy preserved those who had shown such trust + in Him; for we can scarcely suppose that such noble acts of + humanity, courage, and self-sacrifice as were evinced by these + men could arise from other than the highest and holiest + principles.</p> + + <p>Before the evening closed in, they caught a glimpse of the + land, but too distant for them to make out what part of the coast + it was. The boats were hove to for the night, and a dreary night + it was to these poor men. They were without food, almost without + clothing, weak from want of nourishment, and exhausted by + fatigue; and in this miserable state they awaited the break of + day, the rain falling in torrents, and the sea breaking over the + boats.</p> + + <p>On the morning of the 28th, they again made sail, and landed + the same evening in a small cove of a bay between Vieux Cap + François and Cap Cabron. Here, to their bitter + disappointment, they could get nothing to eat—not even a + spring of fresh water could be found,—and all the + nourishment they had that night was a few limpets, and the rain + water that had remained in the holes of the rocks,—sorry + fare for men who had been exposed to the inclemency of the + weather for two days and two nights, in open boats, without + food.</p> + + <p>However, it was a great thing to be on shore; for many of the + people had suffered severely from being so closely stowed in the + bottom of the boats, and their limbs had been terribly cramped. + They now wisely endeavoured to make themselves as comfortable as + circumstances allowed, by lighting a fire to keep off the + insects, and to dry their clothes, and then they composed + themselves to sleep, which they much needed. The next morning, + being somewhat refreshed, they started across the bay to a place + called Margante, which they reached <a name="Page_193" id= + "Page_193"></a>about eight o'clock. Here they found the people + well disposed towards them, and they were able to purchase some + beef and plantains, and plenty of good water, of which they all + gladly partook. The inhabitants informed them that it was + probable they might find a vessel at Port Plata that could take + them to St. Thomas's, that being the nearest port where they were + likely to fall in with any of His Majesty's ships. On the 30th of + June, they departed from Margante, taking with them a pilot, to + guide them to Port Plata. In order to ease the boats, Captain + Bertram and part of the ship's company walked along the shore. + Towards evening, the people had gone upwards of twenty miles, and + were so exhausted, they were obliged to put into a small bay + called Scott's Bay (B. Ecossaise), where they came on shore and + erected a tent, with the sails of the boats and a few logs of + mahogany. With the help of some turtle, the whole of the ship's + company were supplied with food; and they remained on shore till + the next morning, when the boats were again launched, and all the + party embarked in them, as there was no way along the beech. They + arrived safely at Port Plata at eleven o'clock that night, and + were received with great kindness and humanity. Three houses were + provided for the men and one for the officers, and everything was + done that could alleviate their sufferings. Unfortunately there + was no vessel at Port Plata large enough to convey them to St. + Thomas's. With some difficulty, a boat was procured, in which + Lieutenant Price was despatched to Turk's Island, with a letter + to the naval officer there, describing the situation of the crew + of the Persian, and requesting that assistance might be afforded + to Lieutenant Price to enable him to hire a vessel to take the + crew to St. Thomas's.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Price made a successful voyage, and returned to + Port Plata on the 10th of July, with the <a name="Page_194" id= + "Page_194"></a>government schooner Swift, and a hired sloop. + Three days were spent in fitting out these vessels with the + necessary stores, and on the evening of the 13th, the ship's + company, to the number of 112, embarked in them, and arrived at + St. Thomas's on the 22nd. The crew was by this time in a very + sickly state; the crowded state of the ships had engendered a + complaint of which the surgeon died an hour after they cast + anchor; and there is little doubt that had they been forty-eight + hours longer on their passage, many others would have fallen + victims to the same disease. At St. Thomas's, the sufferers + received the care and attention they required, and were sent home + to England.</p> + + <p>We cannot conclude this account without quoting the following + passage from the narrative of Captain Bertram:—'I most + justly attribute the preservation of the ship's company to very + great coolness and persevering exertions of both officers and + men, in keeping the boats free from the water they shipped, and + their great attention in steering before the sea. I am happy to + say that every man behaved with a regularity that is seldom found + on similar occasions: in fact, when the little clothing the + people had saved, and the remaining bread and water, were from + necessity ordered to be thrown overboard, there was not a + murmur,—they vied with each other who should obey the order + first.'</p> + + <p>In the year 1808, Captain Bertram, then a lieutenant, was + appointed to the Emerald, a 36-gun frigate, commanded by Captain + the Honourable Frederick Maitland. On the 13th of March, they + were off the harbour of Vivero, when a large French schooner was + discovered at anchor, under the protection of the batteries. + Captain Maitland determined to attempt to capture or destroy her, + and accordingly he stood in for the harbour at about five o'clock + in the evening. The first fort, which <a name="Page_195" id= + "Page_195"></a>mounted eight 24-pounders, opened on the ship, as + did also another fort about a mile higher up, as soon as the + frigate came within range. As it was impossible to place the ship + in a position to act upon both batteries, Captain Maitland + ordered Lieutenant Bertram, with a party of marines and seamen, + to storm the outer fort, whilst he took the ship as near the + inner fort as the water would allow. Mr. Bertram succeeded in + driving the enemy from the battery, and spiking the guns; he then + made the best of his way by the shore to take possession of the + schooner, which had been run upon the rocks. He was joined by Mr. + Baird, a midshipman, who had been sent with a party for the same + purpose. On the road they were met by a part of the schooner's + crew, consisting of about sixty men. These were speedily assailed + by the two young officers and their men, and put to flight. + Lieutenant Bertram then advanced towards the schooner, which + proved to be L'Apropos, of twelve 8-pounder carronades, and he + persevered for several hours in his attempts to get her afloat, + under a galling fire of musketry from the shore. All his efforts, + however, were of no avail, as she had gone on shore at high + water; it therefore became necessary to set her on fire, which + was done; and the lieutenant returned with his party to the + Emerald.</p> + + <p>In this gallant exploit, nine men belonging to the Emerald + were killed, and Lieutenant Bertram and several others + wounded.</p> + + <p>Captain Bertram, has lately accepted the rank of Retired + Rear-Admiral.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_PENELOPE" id="THE_PENELOPE"></a><a name= + "Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>THE PENELOPE.</h2> + + <p>We have now to relate the painful statement of a wreck, which + was not only one of the most disastrous, but the most disgraceful + in its consequences, of any that we have had to describe.</p> + + <p>Unfortunately, the loss of the ship is not the darkest side of + the picture; and the insubordination of the crew of the Penelope + in the hour of danger was as fatal to themselves as it was rare + in its occurrence.</p> + + <p>The Penelope, troop-ship, Commander James Galloway, sailed + from Spithead for Canada on the 31st of March, 1815, and had a + favourable passage to the Banks of Newfoundland. Here she fell in + with large masses of ice, fogs, and strong south-east winds, so + that the captain considered it unsafe to run in for the land + until the weather cleared up. On the 24th of April, they made the + Island of Mequilon, and at the same time encountered a very heavy + gale from the north-west. On the following day they were + surrounded with ice, and were frozen up for nearly twelve hours. + When the ice gave way, all sail was set, and the ship entered the + Gulf of St. Lawrence, and for the next few days she continued her + course in a north-easterly direction, and passed between the + Islands of Brion and Magdalen. The frost during this time was so + severe, that the furled sails were frozen into a solid body.</p> + + <p>On the 29th, they met with large quantities of field ice, + which gave the sea the appearance of one entire sheet of ice, but + it was not strong enough to stop the ship's way. In the afternoon + of that day, the land about Cape Rozier, on the coast of Lower + Canada, was visible.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a>On the 30th, the weather + was more moderate, though cloudy; at noon they steered an + eastward course, until the ship broke off about three points, + when at sunset they tacked, and stood in for the land, which was + set by the first lieutenant and the master, at three or four + leagues distance.</p> + + <p>At eight o'clock, they sounded in seventy-one fathoms; the + vessel broke off to the west by north, and the captain ordered + the master to go round the ship, and caution the men forward to + keep a good look out,—at the same time desiring him on no + account to leave the deck. The captain then sent for the + first-lieutenant into his cabin, and was in the act of pointing + out to him the supposed situation of the vessel on the chart; the + line was at the same moment passing forward for another cast of + the lead, when the ship took the ground.</p> + + <p>'I cannot describe my feelings,' writes Captain Galloway, 'at + that moment; for having, for a long time, been almost deprived of + my eyesight by night, and also afflicted with rheumatic pains and + other complaints, I was unable to judge correctly of the extent + of our danger.' The helm was immediately put down, and the sails + thrown aback. One boat was then hoisted out to sound, and found + two and a half fathoms forward, and about three and a half + fathoms aft, having six fathoms a little on the starboard + quarter.</p> + + <p>All the boats were immediately lowered, and the stream-anchor + and cable, with part of the messenger bent on to it, stowed in + the pinnace, which, from the strength of the current, was with + great difficulty towed to leeward by the other boats, and dropped + into five and a-half fathoms water.</p> + + <p>On heaving round, the anchor came home, which it continued to + do until more than half of the cable was run in, when it held + fast, but without altering the posi<a name="Page_198" id= + "Page_198"></a>tion of the vessel. The captain then gave orders + to heave overboard the guns, and cut away the anchors from the + bows; but all these attempts to lighten the vessel were of no + avail. The wind, which had been moderate when she first struck, + had increased to a gale, and the ship beat with such violence + upon the rocks, that it appeared impossible that she could hold + together many hours.</p> + + <p>In this condition they were obliged to remain until daylight, + exposed to a cold north-east wind, and a pitiless storm of sleet + and snow. The officers did all in their power to sustain the + courage of the men, but unfortunately in many instances without + success. Already symptoms of insubordination had exhibited + themselves, several had skulked below to their hammocks, where + they remained in defiance of every command and entreaty of their + officers.</p> + + <p>The topmasts were got over side to shore the ship up, but the + motion was so violent that the lashings gave way. At daylight, as + the weather did not moderate, and there was no prospect of saving + the ship, orders were given to get up the provisions. This, + however, had been delayed until it was too late; the water had + risen over the orlop deck, and in a short time gained the lower + deck. All that was saved was thirty bags of biscuits, and these + so damaged by the salt water, that they were totally unfit for + use.</p> + + <p>The masts were about this time cut away, in order to ease the + ship as much as possible; they fell towards the shore about a + cable's length from the beach. The master was sent in the cutter + to try to fasten a rope to the shore, but the surf ran so high + that the boat was stove, and the crew with difficulty gained the + beach.</p> + + <p>In this condition, with very little prospect of saving the + lives of the crew, the captain, anxious for the <a name= + "Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>preservation of the public dispatches, + entrusted them to the purser, who, with Captain Moray + (aide-de-camp to Lieut. General Sir George Murray), in charge of + the military dispatches, embarked in the life-boat, to which a + small line was attached. They had, however, no better success + than the other boat, for as soon as they reached the surf, the + boat capsized, and the two officers swam to the shore with the + dispatches tied round their necks.</p> + + <p>Another cutter was then sent off in hopes that she would be + more successful, but she filled almost immediately; and the rope + which was fastened to her was obliged to be abandoned.</p> + + <p>By this time it was impossible to stand upon the deck, the sea + made a fair breach over the ship, and the water having rushed + into the cabin, the few bags of bread that had been stowed there + for protection were destroyed.</p> + + <p>The captain being unable from ill health to make any great + exertion to save his life, was lowered into the pinnace, into + which were already crowded as many men as she could hold, and + they took another rope on board, to make a last attempt to form a + communication with the shore. The boat had scarcely left the side + of the ship before a sea struck and upset her. The captain, + supported by two men, made his way through the surf with great + difficulty and got on shore, followed by the rest of the boat's + crew, who, some by swimming and others by help of oars and spars, + saved themselves from destruction. The gig was now the only boat + left on board; she was lowered from the stern, and the first and + second lieutenants, with eighteen men, jumped into her. They were + all fortunate enough to reach the shore, and some of the men + gallantly returned to the vessel, and succeeded in landing about + twenty others. Again, the gig repaired to the wreck, and took off + some more of <a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>the crew, but + this time she was unfortunately upset in the surf, though no + lives were lost.</p> + + <p>When the men left on the wreck saw themselves thus deprived of + the last chance of escape, they raised the most piteous cries for + assistance, although they knew that their comrades had no means + of affording it. It has been said that 'man is a bundle of + inconsistencies,' and here was a proof of the assertion. These + were in all probability the very men who had betaken themselves + to their hammocks a short time before, and had refused to assist + in providing for their own safety; they had disobeyed orders, and + despised discipline, and now we find them imploring others for + that deliverance which they had neglected to provide for + themselves. Most of them had been drinking the spirits, and were + so stupified that they were incapable of taking advantage of the + floating spars and planks to which they might have clung, and so + gained the land.</p> + + <p>By drunkenness the bed of the ocean has been rendered a foul + and gloomy charnel house, where the bones of thousands of our + fellow-men await the summons of the Archangel's trumpets, when + 'the sea shall give up her dead.' The reckless seamen, though + unprepared for another world, hurry themselves into the presence + of their Judge, to meet the drunkard's doom.</p> + + <p>It has been related that upon one occasion, when the shipwreck + of a large packet seemed inevitable, the sailors grew tired of + working at the pumps, and shouted 'to the spirit-room!' They saw + death staring them in the face, and to drown their terror for the + moment, they desired to die drunk. A post-captain in the navy, + who was on board the packet, knowing what would be the result if + they got at the spirits, took his stand at the door of the + spirit-room, with a pistol in each hand, and declared in the most + solemn manner, that he would shoot the first man who attempted to + enter. The men seeing them<a name="Page_201" id= + "Page_201"></a>selves defeated, returned to the pumps, and by the + blessing of God, the vessel was brought in safe with all her + crew.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href= + "#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> + + <p>Unfortunate as was the situation of the helpless creatures on + the wreck of the Penelope, it was only a few degrees more + wretched than that of the officers and men on the shore. They had + been cast at the base of a steep mountain, bruised and benumbed + by the cold; their clothes were actually freezing on their backs, + and they were without provisions of any kind. Their first care + was to search for wood and kindle fires, which they at last + succeeded in doing, and then they dried their clothes—but + before they could derive any benefit from the fire, the intensity + of cold had caused many of them extreme suffering; they were + frost-bitten in the hands and feet, and several lost their toes. + Some of the people were employed in constructing a tent with + branches of trees and blankets, others were searching for + provisions and securing such articles as were washed on shore + from the ship. In the evening, they found about sixty pieces of + pork,—and with this and some melted snow they satisfied the + cravings of hunger and thirst. Later in the evening several casks + of wine, which had been stowed in the ward-room, were washed on + shore; but this, which might have proved a blessing to all, was + seized by a party of the men,—who broke open the casks and + drank to such an excess that they fell asleep, and were found + almost frozen to death. During the whole of the day the unhappy + men upon the wreck had never ceased supplicating their more + fortunate comrades to go to their assistance, but this was + impossible; no human effort could save them. As night drew on, + their cries were redoubled, and were still heard far above the + <a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a>howling and roaring of the + tempest, when darkness had hidden the ill-fated vessel from view. + About twelve o'clock three fearful crashes were followed by a + still more fearful sound—the last agonized shriek of many + perishing creatures.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>And then all was hushed,<br /></span> <span>Save the + wild and remorseless dash<br /></span> <span>Of billows. + BYRON.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>At daylight, the remains of the Penelope were again visible, + but in three separate pieces; all that were left on board had + perished, save one man, who was washed on shore nearly + lifeless.</p> + + <p>The sufferings of these poor wretches must have been awful in + the extreme, for their agonies of mind appear to have surpassed + those of the body, and to have prolonged their lives by + preventing them falling into the torpor which precedes death from + cold. So severe was the frost, that the wreck had the appearance + of huge masses of ice; and on shore nothing but the very large + fires that were kept burning could have preserved the existence + of the rest of the crew.</p> + + <p>Upon the ship breaking up, the spirits floated on shore, when + there ensued such a scene of tumult and insubordination as, + happily for the honour of the service, seldom occurs in the + British navy. The men broke open the casks, and before the + officers were aware of it, scarcely a man was to be seen sober. + This brought with it its own punishment; many had drank to such a + degree that they fell lifeless in the snow. The officers then + caused the remainder of the rum to be stove, excepting a certain + quantity placed under their own care; but when discipline is once + broken, it is not easily restored. The next day, forty-eight men + deserted, after plundering several of their shipmates, and + breaking open every trunk that was washed up. These paid the + <a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a>penalty of their crimes, for + many of them were found dead in the woods by the Canadians.</p> + + <p>We cannot do better than take up the account which is thus + given by one of the surviving officers:—</p> + + <p>'With the remaining part of the crew the boats were hauled up, + which we began to repair the best way we could. Sails were made + from a lower and topmast studding-sail, which were fortunately + washed ashore; a cask of flour was also found, a part of which + was made into dough, and preparations were made to proceed to + Quebec.</p> + + <p>'On the third day, a Canadian boat was passing, when the + captain ordered her to be detained to proceed to that port. With + the assistance of the cooking utensils found in the Canadian + boat, all the pork that could be found was cooked and served out + to the different boats, which was a very short allowance for two + days.</p> + + <p>'On the sixth day of our misery, the weather moderated, the + boats were launched, and all hands embarked; sixty-eight persons + in all, including two women. The wind was favourable, but light; + with rowing and sailing, we got to Great Fox River that night, at + which place we were hospitably entertained with potatoes and salt + at a Canadian hut. Next morning we sailed for Gasper Bay, and + reached Douglas Town in the evening.</p> + + <p>'The captain and officers were accommodated at Mr. Johnston's, + and the crew lodged at the different huts around the place. After + three days' rest, we walked nine miles over the ice to where the + transports lay; leaving the sick at Douglas Town. The captain + hoisted his pendant on board the Ann, transport, and put a + lieutenant in each of the others, and an equal number of men. + When the ice broke up, which was seven days after we got on + board, we dropped down to Douglas <a name="Page_204" id= + "Page_204"></a>Town, and embarked the sick, one of whom died, and + two deserted. The next morning we sailed for Quebec, where we + arrived on the 28th, many of us not having a change of clothes of + any description.'</p> + + <p>In concluding the above narrative of the loss of this vessel, + we will quote the language of Captain Galloway, who thus + deprecates, in strong terms, the disgraceful conduct of the + majority of the crew of the Penelope:—'I feel it my duty,' + he says, 'to state to you the infamous conduct of the whole of + the crew, with a very few exceptions. From the time that the ship + struck, their behaviour was not in the character of British + seamen in general; they had neither principle nor humanity; some, + in consequence, have suffered severely, and several died from + drunkenness.'</p> + + <p>Captain Galloway died in 1846.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> + <i>Parliamentary Report</i>, 255.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_ALCESTE" id="THE_ALCESTE"></a>THE ALCESTE.</h2> + + <p>At the close of 1815, the Court of Directors of the East India + Company having represented to the British Government the + impediments thrown in the way of our trade with China, by the + impositions practised by the local authorities at Canton, it was + determined to send an embassy to the court of Pekin.</p> + + <p>Lord Amherst was selected to undertake the mission, and Mr. + Henry Ellis was appointed secretary to the embassy.</p> + + <p>The Alceste, a frigate of 46 guns, under the command of + Captain, afterwards Sir Murray Maxwell, was fitted up for the + reception of the ambassador and his suite.</p> + + <p>On the 9th of February, 1816, the expedition sailed <a name= + "Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>from Spithead, and arrived in the + China seas about the middle of July following. It is not in our + province to give any account of the proceedings of the embassy, + which have already been so ably described, and are well + known.</p> + + <p>His excellency, having accomplished the object of his mission, + took his departure from China on the 9th of January, 1817, + arrived at Manilla on the 3rd of February, and finally sailed + from thence in the Alceste, on the 9th of the same month.</p> + + <p>Captain Maxwell directed the ship's course to be steered + towards the Straits of Gaspar, in preference to those of Banca, + as affording, at that period of the monsoon, the most convenient + and speedy egress from the China seas; and though this passage is + not so often taken as that of Banca, the Gaspar Straits appeared + by the plans and surveys laid down in the Admiralty charts, as + well as in those of the East India Company, to be, not only + wider, but to have a much greater depth of water, and to offer + fewer difficulties to navigation.</p> + + <p>Early on the morning of the 18th of February, they made the + Island of Gaspar, and in a short time, Pulo Leat, or Middle + Island, was descried from the mast-head. The weather was + remarkably fine and clear,—a mild breeze blowing from the + north-west, and the surface of the water gently agitated by the + current, which perpetually sets through the straits, either to + the south-east or south-west, according to the monsoon.</p> + + <p>The sea, which is usually so clear in these climates, had been + greatly discoloured that morning by a quantity of fish spawn, a + circumstance of not unfrequent occurrence in those seas; and the + navigation being thus rendered more dangerous, unusual + precautions were taken for ensuring the safety of the ship. A man + was stationed at the foretopmast head, and others at the <a name= + "Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>fore-yardarms. Captain Maxwell, with + the master and other officers, was upon deck, 'steering, under + all these guarded circumstances,' (writes an eye-witness,) 'the + soundings corresponding so exactly with the charts, and following + the express line prescribed by all concurring directions, to + clear every danger,—and it was the last danger of this sort + between us and England,—when the ship, about half-past + seven in the morning, struck with a horrid crash on a reef of + sunken rocks, and remained immoveable.' 'What my feelings were,' + says Captain Maxwell, 'at this momentary transition from a state + of perfect security to all the horrors of a shipwreck, I will not + venture to depict; but I must acknowledge, it required whatever + mental energy I possessed to control them, and to enable me to + give with coolness and firmness the necessary orders preparatory + to abandoning the ship,—which a very short period of hard + working at all the pumps showed the impracticability of + saving.'</p> + + <p>The carpenter very soon reported the water above the tanks in + the main hold, and in a few minutes more, over the orlop + deck.</p> + + <p>The quarter boats had been instantly lowered to sound, and + reported deep water all round the reef, ten fathoms immediately + under the stern, and seventeen about a quarter of a cable further + off,—so that it was but too evident that the preservation + of the crew depended solely upon the vessel's remaining fast + where she was.</p> + + <p>The first care of Captain Maxwell was for the safety of Lord + Amherst and his suite; the boats were quickly hoisted out, and + before half-past eight, he had the melancholy satisfaction of + seeing the ambassador and all his attendants safely embarked in + them.</p> + + <p>For the better protection of the embassy, an officer was sent + in the barge, with a guard of marines, to conduct them to Pulo + Leat, between three and four miles <a name="Page_207" id= + "Page_207"></a>distant, and from which it was hoped that plenty + of water and abundance of tropical fruits might be procured.</p> + + <p>Meanwhile the officers and men exerted themselves most + indefatigably to save some of the provisions,—a task by no + means easy of accomplishment, as the holds and everything in them + were submerged in water. Towards the afternoon, the boats + returned from the shore, and the men reported that they had had + great difficulty in landing his excellency, from the mangrove + trees growing out to a considerable distance in the water; and it + was not until they had pulled three or four miles from the place + where they first attempted to land that they were enabled to + reach terra firma. They also stated that neither food nor water + could be discovered on the island. Unpromising as appearances + were, there was no alternative but to seek shelter on the + inhospitable shore. Accordingly, every preparation was made, and + by eight o'clock P.M., the people were all landed, excepting one + division, who remained on board the wreck, with the captain, + first lieutenant, and some other officers.</p> + + <p>About midnight, the wind had greatly increased, and the ship + became so uneasy from her heeling to windward, that fears were + entertained for the safety of those on board. To prevent her + falling further over, the topmasts were cut away, and as the wind + became more moderate towards daylight, the ship remained + stationary, and all apprehensions were removed. The boats did not + return to the wreck till between six and seven o'clock in the + morning, and they brought no better tidings as to the + capabilities of the island to furnish food and other necessaries + for the subsistence of so many human beings.</p> + + <p>A raft had been constructed during the previous day, upon + which the small quantity of provisions they had been able to + collect, together with some of the bag<a name="Page_208" id= + "Page_208"></a>gage of the embassy, and clothes and bedding of + the officers and men, had been transported to the shore.</p> + + <p>In the course of the forenoon, Captain Maxwell thought it + right to confer with Lord Amherst as to his further movements; he + accordingly quitted the wreck, and went on shore. He left the + vessel in charge of Mr. Hick, the first lieutenant, with orders + that every effort should be made to get at the provisions and the + water, and that a boat should remain by the wreck for the safety + of the men in case of any emergency. Captain Maxwell reached the + shore about half-past eleven A.M., and we may imagine the + bitterness of his distress on finding the ambassador, surrounded + by his suite, and the officers and men of the Alceste, in the + midst of a pestilential saltwater marsh.</p> + + <p>The scene is well described by Mr. McLeod. 'The spot in which + our party were situated was sufficiently romantic, but seemed, at + the same time, the abode of ruin and of havoc. Few of its + inhabitants (and among the rest the ambassador) had now more than + a shirt or a pair of trousers on. The wreck of books, or, as it + was not unaptly termed, 'a literary manure,' was spread about in + all directions; whilst parliamentary robes, court dresses, and + mandarin habits, intermixed with check shirts and tarry jackets, + were hung around in wild confusion on every tree.'</p> + + <p>The situation in which Captain Maxwell was placed was, indeed, + a most trying one, and such he felt it to be, for, from the + lowest seaman to the ambassador himself, every one looked to him + for relief and direction in his perilous position. Captain + Maxwell was fully competent to meet the emergency; and, said he, + 'I had the consolation left me, to feel with confidence that all + would follow my advice, and abide by my decision, whatever it + might be.'</p> + + <p><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>His first care was for + the safety of Lord Amherst; and in a short conference with his + excellency and Mr. Ellis, the second commissioner, it was + arranged that the embassy should proceed to Batavia in the barge + and cutter, with a guard of marines to defend the boats from any + attack of the pirates. Mr. Ellis promised that if they arrived + safely at Batavia, he would himself return, in the first vessel + that should put off, to the assistance of those who remained on + the island.</p> + + <p>A small quantity of provisions, and nine gallons of water, was + all that could be spared from their very scanty store; but at + sunset every heart was exhilarated by hope and sympathetic + courage, on seeing the ambassador strip, and wade off to the + boats, with as much cheerfulness as if he had stepped into them + under a salute. At seven o'clock, the barge, under the charge of + Lieutenant Hoppner, and the cutter, commanded by Mr. Mayne, the + master, containing in all forty-seven persons, took their + departure for Batavia, accompanied by the anxious thoughts and + good wishes of their fellow-sufferers, who were left to encounter + new dangers.</p> + + <p>Captain Maxwell's first order was to direct a party to dig in + search of water. The men had begun to suffer greatly from thirst, + as for the last two days they had had scarcely a pint of water + each—one small cask only having been saved from the ship. + The next step was to remove their encampment to higher ground, + where they could breathe a purer air, and be in greater safety in + case of attack.</p> + + <p>In a short time the island presented a scene of bustle and + activity strangely at variance with the dreary solitude it had + exhibited two days before; and the once silent woods resounded + with the voices of men, and the strokes of the axe and the + hammer. One party was employed in cutting a path to the summit of + the hill, <a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a>another in + removing thither their small stock of provisions. A few men were + on board the wreck, endeavouring to save every article that might + prove of general use.</p> + + <p>About midnight, the men who had been employed for so many + hours on a most fatiguing and harassing duty, and exposed to the + burning rays of a vertical sun, began to suffer most painfully + from increased thirst, and it was at that moment when they were + almost bereft of hope that they experienced one of the many + merciful interpositions of Providence by which the Almighty + displays His tender care for His creatures: a plentiful shower of + rain fell, which the people caught by spreading out their table + cloths and clothes; and then, by wringing them, a degree of + moisture was imparted to their parched lips, and their hearts + were revived, and prepared to hear the joyful news, which was + communicated by the diggers soon after midnight, that they had + found water in the well, and a small bottle of this most dearly + prized treasure was handed to the captain. So great was the + excitement of the people on receiving the announcement, that it + became necessary to plant sentries, in order to prevent their + rushing to the well and impeding the work of the diggers.</p> + + <p>On the morning of the 20th, the captain called all hands + together, and pointed out to them the critical nature of their + position, and the absolute necessity of their uniting as one man + to overcome the difficulties by which they were surrounded. He + reminded them that they were still amenable to the regulations of + naval discipline, and assured them that discipline would be + enforced with even greater rigour, if necessary, than on board + ship; and that in serving out the provisions the strictest + impartiality should be observed, and all should share alike until + the arrival of assistance from Lord Amherst.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>During this day, the well + afforded a pint of water to each man; the water is said to have + tasted like milk and water, and when a little rum was added to + it, the men persuaded themselves it resembled milk-punch, and it + became a favourite beverage with them.</p> + + <p>The people were employed during the 20th much in the same + manner as on the previous day, but very few things could be + obtained from the ship, every article of value being under + water.</p> + + <p>On Friday, the 21st, the party stationed on board the wreck + observed a number of proahs full of Malays, apparently well + armed, coming towards them. Being without a single weapon of + defence, they could only jump into their boats without loss of + time, and push for the land. The pirates followed closely in + pursuit but retreated when they saw two boats put out from the + shore to the assistance of their comrades. The Malays then + returned to the ship and took possession of her. In an instant + all was activity and excitement in the little camp.</p> + + <p>'Under all the depressing circumstances attending shipwreck,' + writes Mr. McLeod, 'of hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and menaced + by a ruthless foe, it was glorious to see the British spirit + stanch and unsubdued. The order was given for every man to arm + himself in the best manner he could, and it was obeyed with the + utmost promptitude and alacrity. Rude pike staves were formed by + cutting down young trees; small swords, dirks, knives, chisels, + and even large spike nails sharpened, were firmly fixed to the + ends of these poles, and those who could find nothing better + hardened the end of the wood in the fire, and bringing it to a + sharp point, formed a tolerable weapon. There were, perhaps, a + dozen cutlasses; the marines had about thirty muskets and + bayonets; but we could muster no more than seventy-five ball + cartridges among the whole party.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>'We had fortunately + preserved some loose powder, drawn from the upper deck guns after + the ship had struck (for the magazines were under water in five + minutes,) and the marines, by hammering their buttons round, and + by rolling up pieces of broken bottles in cartridges, did their + best to supply themselves with a sort of shot that would have + some effect at close quarters, and strict orders were given not + to throw away a single discharge until sure of their aim.</p> + + <p>'Mr. Cheffy, the carpenter, and his crew, under the direction + of the captain, were busied in forming a sort of abattis by + felling trees, and enclosing in a circular shape the ground we + occupied; and by interweaving loose branches with the stakes + driven in among these, a breast-work was constructed, which + afforded us some cover, and must naturally impede the progress of + any enemy unsupplied with artillery.'</p> + + <p>The Malays had taken possession of some rocks, at no great + distance from where the crew of the Alceste were encamped, and + here they deposited the plunder they had taken from the wreck. It + now became necessary for Captain Maxwell to prepare against an + attack. With a very small stock of provisions, which, even if + husbanded with the greatest care, could last only a few days, he + had to contend, with a handful of men, many of them unarmed, + against a host of savages, perhaps the most merciless and inhuman + that are to be found in any part of the world.</p> + + <p>In the evening a general muster was called, and a rude and + motley group presented itself to the eye of the commander. But + rough as was the exterior, he well knew that there was that + within which would bid defiance to danger and outrage so long as + life should last.</p> + + <p>So stanch and resolute was the spirit diffused through all the + little band, that Mr. McLeod says,—'Even the <a name= + "Page_213" id="Page_213"></a>boys had managed to make fast + table-forks on the end of sticks for their defence. One of them, + who had been severely bruised by the falling of the masts, and + was slung in his hammock between two trees, had been observed + carefully fixing, with two sticks and a rope yarn, the blade of + an old razor. On being asked what he meant to do with it, he + replied, 'You know I cannot stand, but if any of these fellows + come within reach of my hammock, I'll mark them.'</p> + + <p>The officers and men were divided into companies, and every + precaution adopted to secure the slender garrison from being + taken by surprise. The boats were hauled closer up to the + landing-place, and put under the charge of an officer and + guard.</p> + + <p>On Saturday morning, the 22nd, every effort was made to induce + the Malays to come to an amicable conference, but without + success. Mr. Hay, the second lieutenant, was, therefore, ordered + to proceed to the ship, with the barge, cutter, and gig, (armed + in the best manner possible under the circumstances,) and to gain + possession of her by fair means or by force. No sooner did the + pirates see the boats put out towards the wreck, than they left + the vessel, though not before they had set fire to her, thus + performing an act which was of great service to the crew of the + Alceste; for by burning her upperworks and decks, everything + buoyant could float up from below and be more easily laid hold + of. The ship continued to burn during the night, and the flames, + as they darted from her sides, shed a ruddy glare upon the wild + scenery around, and breaking through the shade of the thick and + lofty trees rested upon a landscape worthy of the pencil of + Salvator Rosa.</p> + + <p>Upon the summit of a hill, and under the spreading branches of + the majestic trees, was a rude encampment, formed by the erection + of a few wigwams; whilst here <a name="Page_214" id= + "Page_214"></a>and there, collected together in groups and + reclining in different attitudes, were parties of men armed with + pikes or cutlasses, in their ragged, unwashed, and unshorn + appearance, resembling rather a gang of banditti, than the crew + of a British ship of war.</p> + + <p>It was with the most painful feelings that both officers and + men witnessed the gradual destruction of the gallant ship, which + had been their home for so many months.</p> + + <p>No one but a sailor can understand the devotion with which a + brother sailor regards his ship, and we cannot better describe it + than in the words of Captain Basil Hall:—</p> + + <p>'We do truly make the ship our home, and we have no other + thoughts of professional duty or of happiness, but what are + connected with the vessel in which we swim; we take a pride in + her very looks, as we might in those of a daughter; and bring up + her crew to honourable deeds, as we should wish to instruct our + sons. The rate of sailing of each ship in a fleet is a subject of + never-ending discussion amongst all classes of officers, + midshipmen, and crews, every one of whom considers his own + individual honour involved in all the ship does or is capable of + doing.</p> + + <p>'This is true almost universally, but it is most striking, no + doubt, in our first ship, which like our first love, is supposed + to drink up from our opening feelings the richest drops of + sentiment, never to be outdone, or even equalled by future + attachments.</p> + + <p>'I owe, indeed, much good companionship, and many sincere + obligations to other vessels; yet I am sure that if I live to be + Lord High Admiral, the old Leander must still be nearest and + dearest to my nautical heart. I remember every corner about her, + every beam, every cabin, every gun.'</p> + + <p>The same feeling, no doubt, existed in the breast of <a name= + "Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>every man and boy who now stood + watching, with painful interest, the fate of the old ship; all + had been too actively employed from the time the vessel first + struck to think of anything save of providing means for their own + preservation; but now, in the dead hour of night, thrown upon a + strange shore, and surrounded by enemies, the thought, perhaps, + that they might never again see their native land or their + beloved kindred, might steal over their hearts, and fill them + with sad forebodings. By degrees the fire became less and less + vivid; for an instant, at times, a brighter flame illuminated the + sky, throwing up a shower of golden sparks—then all was + darkness,—a darkness which was felt by all; for it told + that nought remained of their old home, save a smouldering + hull,—that thus was severed, perhaps, the last link between + them and England.</p> + + <p>During the night that followed this sad scene, an incident + occurred which, though it occasioned considerable alarm at the + time, became a source of amusement afterwards.</p> + + <p>A sentry, startled by the approach of a very suspicious + looking personage, who was making towards him, levelled his + musket and fired. In an instant the whole camp was alive with + excitement, supposing that they were attacked by the savages, + when; behold, the enemy turned out to be a large baboon, one of a + race that abounded in the island. These creatures became very + troublesome; they were most audacious thieves, and even carried + away several ducks which had been saved from the wreck; till at + last the poor birds were so frightened that they left their + little enclosure and voluntarily sought for safety and protection + amongst the people.</p> + + <p>From the morning of Sunday, the 23rd, till Wednesday, the + 26th, the men were busied in saving whatever they could from the + hull of the Alceste, and they <a name="Page_216" id= + "Page_216"></a>were fortunate enough to obtain several casks of + flour, a few cases of wine, and a cask of beer, besides between + fifty and sixty boarding-pikes, and eighteen muskets, all of + which proved most acceptable.</p> + + <p>A second well had been sunk, which supplied clearer water, and + in great abundance, so that they possessed one of the chief + necessaries of life in plenty.</p> + + <p>Everything now wore a more favourable aspect. The Malays had + retired behind a little island (called Palo Chalacca, or + Misfortune's Isle), about two miles distant; and although they + were expected to return speedily with a reinforcement, the crew + of the Alceste were better prepared for them. The gunner had been + actively employed in forming musket cartridges; and, by melting + down some pewter basons and jugs, with a small quantity of lead + obtained from the wreck, balls had been cast, in clay moulds, + which not a little increased their confidence and feeling of + security.</p> + + <p>Under the able command of Captain Maxwell, the greatest + regularity and order prevailed amongst the people. Every man + appeared happy and contented with his lot; for each man, from the + highest to the lowest, encouraged his neighbour by his own good + conduct, whilst he in turn received encouragement from the + example of those above him. The provisions were served out with + the strictest impartiality. 'The mode adopted by Captain + Maxwell,' (writes Mr. M'Leod,) 'to make things go as far as + possible, was to chop up the allowance for the day into small + pieces, whether fowls, salt beef, pork, or flour, mixing the + whole hotch-potch, boiling them together, and serving out a + measure to each publicly and openly, and without any distinction. + By these means no nourishment was lost: it could be more equally + divided than by any other way; and although necessarily a scanty, + it was by no means an unsavoury mess.'</p> + + <p><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>Early on Wednesday + morning, Lieutenant Hay, who had charge of the boats, observed + two pirate proahs nearing the island, as if to reconnoitre; he + immediately made a dash at them, with the barge, cutter, and gig. + The barge closed with the Malays first, and a desperate conflict + ensued. There was only one musket in the boat, which Mr. Hay used + to some purpose, for he killed two of the savages with his own + hand. In the meantime, the other two boats had come up to the + assistance of their comrades. One more pirate was shot dead, and + another knocked down with the butt-end of a musket; yet the rest + continued to fight with savage ferocity, until, seeing that + resistance was fruitless, they jumped into the sea and drowned + themselves, choosing to perish rather than yield. During the + engagement, an officer who was on the beach, observed a canoe, + which had been cut away from one of the proahs, drifting not many + yards from the spot where he stood; and as he thought the prize + worth securing, he entered the water, and swam towards it. He had + nearly attained his object, when those who watched him from the + shore perceived an enormous shark hovering about. They were + almost petrified with horror; anxious to make their friend aware + of his danger, yet not daring to call out to warn him, lest a + sudden perception of the perils of his situation, and of the + proximity of his formidable enemy, should unnerve him, and thus + deprive him of the slight chance of escape that remained. + Breathless and silent then they stood, and marked the movements + of the shark with trembling anxiety. He seemed to be so sure of + his prey, that he was in no haste to seize it, but swam leisurely + about, crossing and recrossing betwixt the doomed victim and the + shore, as if gloating himself, and sharpening his appetite by + gazing on the anticipated feast. The officer, too, seemed to be + luxuriating in the refreshing coolness <a name="Page_218" id= + "Page_218"></a>of the water, calmly approaching the canoe, + happily unconscious of his danger; but the shark followed him + closely: his life depended upon a swimmer's stroke, or the whim + of a moment. The anxiety of the spectators became agony; but that + moment was decisive—the swimmer struck out once + more—the canoe was gained, and he was saved.</p> + + <p>Then, and then only, did he become aware of the horrible fate + that had threatened him, and of the merciful interposition of + Providence in his behalf.</p> + + <p>In the course of this day fourteen proahs and smaller boats + were observed standing towards the island, from the Banca side, + and every heart bounded with joy in the full anticipation that it + was a party sent by Lord Amherst from Batavia, to their relief. + Their joy, however, did not last long, for they soon found that + the boats had come only to gather a kind of sea-weed much + esteemed by Chinese epicures, who use it, as they do birds' + nests, in their soup.</p> + + <p>Consultations were held that night as to the policy of + negotiating with these people, so as to induce them, by promises + of reward, to convey part of the crew of the Alceste to + Java—the four remaining boats would then be sufficient for + the transport of the rest.</p> + + <p>But the morning dawn put all such plans to flight, and + revealed the true character of the Malays. No sooner did they + perceive the wreck, than they started off to her and plundered + the hull of everything they could carry away. No assistance was + to be expected from these rapacious thieves; and as the time had + elapsed which was required to bring succour from Batavia, + measures were taken to repair the launch and to construct a raft + to enable the people to leave the island before their provisions + should be completely exhausted.</p> + + <p>Matters now began to assume a more formidable <a name= + "Page_219" id="Page_219"></a>aspect, for on Saturday, the 1st of + March, the Malay force was increased by the arrival of several + proahs, who joined in breaking up the remains of the wreck.</p> + + <p>At daybreak on Sunday, the 2nd, the camp was alarmed, and all + were called to arms by the yells of the savages, who, firing + their partereroes, and beating their gongs, advanced with about + twenty of their heaviest vessels towards the landing-place, and + anchored within a cable's length of the shore.</p> + + <p>After a short deliberation, a boat full of men armed with + creeses approached the shore, and was met by a canoe containing + an officer and party with a letter from Captain Maxwell, + addressed to the chief authority at Minto, stating the situation + of the Alceste's crew, and praying that assistance might be sent + to them.</p> + + <p>The officer placed this letter in the hands of the Malays, + repeatedly pronounced the word Minto, and showed them a dollar, + to intimate that they would be well rewarded if they returned + with an answer. They appeared to understand the mission, and to + be willing to execute it; but, as may be supposed, the service + was never performed.</p> + + <p>Meantime the Malay forces continued to increase; no less than + fifty proahs and boats of different sizes were collected, and, on + a moderate computation, they had 500 men on board. Their + mischievous intentions were too evident; they drew closer and + closer to the shore, prevented the escape of any of the ship's + boats, and even had recourse to stratagem in order to gain + possession of the much-desired booty. One party declared that all + the Malays except themselves were hostile, and urged that they + might be allowed to go to the camp to guard the crew of the + Alceste. This kind offer was of course refused. 'We can trust to + ourselves,' was the reply. The plot began to thicken; the odds + seemed fearfully <a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a>against the + heroic little band, who, badly armed, and worse provisioned, had + to make good their position against a multitude of + foes—matchless amongst savages in cunning and cruelty. But + in proportion to the imminence of the danger rose the courage of + our countrymen.</p> + + <p>Mr. M'Leod relates that, in the evening, when Captain Maxwell + had assembled, as usual, the men under arms, for the purpose of + inspecting them, he addressed them in these words: 'My lads, you + must all have observed this day, as well as myself, the great + increase of the enemy's force (for enemies we must now consider + them), and the threatening position they have assumed. I have, on + various grounds, strong reason to believe they will attack us + this night. I do not wish to conceal our real state, because I + think there is not a man here who is afraid to face any sort of + danger. We are now strongly fenced in, and our position in all + respects is so good, that armed as we are, we ought to make a + formidable defence even against regular troops; what, then, would + be thought of us, if we allowed ourselves to be surprised by a + set of naked savages with their spears and their creeses?</p> + + <p>'It is true they have swivels in their boats, but they cannot + act here; I have not observed that they have any matchlocks or + muskets; but if they have, so have we!</p> + + <p>'I do not wish to deceive you as to the means of resistance in + our power. When we were first thrown together on shore we were + almost defenceless. Seventy-five ball-cartridges only could be + mustered; we have now sixteen hundred. They cannot, I believe, + send up more than five hundred men, but, with two hundred such as + now stand around me, I do not fear a thousand—nay, fifteen + hundred of them! I have the fullest confidence that we shall beat + them. The pikemen standing firm, <a name="Page_221" id= + "Page_221"></a>we can give them such a volley of musketry as they + will be little prepared for, and when we find they are thrown + into confusion, we'll sally out among them, chase them into the + water, and ten to one but we secure their vessels. Let every man, + therefore, be on the alert with his arms in his hands; and should + these barbarians this night attempt our hill, I trust we shall + convince them that they are dealing with Britons!'</p> + + <p>This short but spirited appeal had its full effect upon the + hearts to whom it was addressed. It was answered by three wild + hurras, which were taken up by the piquets and outposts, and + resounded through the woods. The British cheer struck the savages + with terror; they no doubt thought it preceded an attack, and + they were observed making signals with lights to some of their + tribe behind the islet.</p> + + <p>The night passed undisturbed, and daylight discovered the + pirates in the same position, their force increased by ten + proahs, making their number at least six hundred men. The + situation of Captain Maxwell and his party became hourly more + critical; the provisions could not last long—something must + be done—some plan must be decided on. They had but little + choice; they must either make a dash at the pirates, and seize + their boats, with the certainty of being all butchered should + they not succeed,—and the odds were fearfully against + them,—or they must maintain their present position, in the + hope that aid might be sent from Java, in time to save them from + a scarcely less horrible fate—the lingering death of + famine.</p> + + <p>Under these depressing circumstances, the spirits of the men + never for a moment seemed to flag. True 'hearts of oak,' their + courage increased with their difficulties, and the prevailing + desire amongst them was, to rush upon the enemy and get + possession of their boats, or perish in the attempt.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>But for this day, at + least, they were ordered to remain passive; perhaps in coming to + this decision, the wise and brave commander of the party may have + remembered another captain who was 'in a great strait,' and who + said, 'Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, for His + mercies are great, and let me not fall into the hand of man,' The + decision, then, was to wait; and the hours rolled on till + afternoon, when an officer ascended one of the loftiest trees, + and thence he thought he descried a sail at a great distance. The + joyful news seemed too good to be true.</p> + + <p>A signal-man was sent up with a telescope, to sweep the + horizon. The eager and intense anxiety that pervaded the little + band, until he could report his observations, may be better + imagined than described. At last, he announced that the object + was indeed a brig, or a ship, standing towards the island under + all sail. The joy was unbounded and overpowering. Men felt as if + awaking from some horrible dream; and, doubtless, many an honest + heart was uplifted in thankfulness to the Almighty, for the mercy + vouchsafed in delivering them from what had appeared, a few + minutes before, to be certain destruction.</p> + + <p>There remains little more to be told; the vessel proved to be + the Ternate, which Lord Amherst had sent to their assistance. The + pirates took to flight as soon as they discovered the ship, but + not before they had received a volley from the Alceste's people, + unfortunately without effect.</p> + + <p>It was not till Friday, the 7th of March, that all were + embarked on board the Ternate. They arrived safely at Batavia on + the 9th, and were most kindly received by Lord Amherst, who + converted his table into a general mess for the officers, as well + as the embassy; comfortable quarters were also provided for the + men; and in their <a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a>present + enjoyment they all soon forgot the hardships they had + suffered.</p> + + <p>In conclusion, we will quote the following passage from the + pen of Mr. M'Leod:—'It is a tribute due to Captain Maxwell + to state (and it is a tribute which all will most cheerfully pay) + that, by his judicious arrangements, we were preserved from all + the horrors of anarchy and confusion. His measures inspired + confidence and hope, while his personal example in the hour of + danger gave courage and animation to all around him.' Nor ought + we to omit the high and well deserved praise which Captain + Maxwell bestowed upon the ship's company in his examination + before the court martial.</p> + + <p>'I should be trespassing far too long upon the time of this + court,' said Captain Maxwell, 'were I to bring all before them + whose conduct merited applause; but I can with great veracity + assure the court, that from the captain to the smallest boy, all + were animated by the spirit of Britons; and, whatever the cause + was, I ought not to regret having been placed in a position to + witness all the noble traits of character this extraordinary + occasion called forth; and having seen all my companions in + distress fairly embarked, I felt in walking off to the boat that + my heart was lifted up with gratitude to a kind Providence that + had watched over us.'</p> + + <p><br /></p> + + <p>Captain Murray Maxwell commenced his naval career under the + auspices of Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, and obtained his first + commission as lieutenant in 1796, and was subsequently promoted + to the command of the Cyane, in December, 1802.</p> + + <p>In the following year he was appointed to the Centaur, and + received his post commission on the 4th of August, in the same + year. In 1804, Captain Maxwell distinguished himself at the + capture of Surinam, and for his <a name="Page_224" id= + "Page_224"></a>conduct on that occasion was highly mentioned in + the dispatches.</p> + + <p>This officer was constantly employed in the late war, and + distinguished himself on so many occasions, that we can only + briefly allude to one or two instances where his gallantry was + most conspicuous. In 1806, he was appointed to the Alceste, and + on the 4th of April, 1808, whilst that vessel, in company with + the Mercury, Captain James Alexander Gordon, and the Grasshopper, + 18-gun sloop, lay at anchor near Cadiz, a large convoy under the + protection of several gun-boats, was seen coming close in shore + from the northward.</p> + + <p>Captain Maxwell determined to attempt their capture, and + accordingly, the Alceste and Mercury attacked the gun-boats, + whilst the Grasshopper, stationed close to the batteries of Rota, + by a well directed fire, succeeded in driving the Spaniards from + their guns. The gun-boats being thrown into confusion, the + first-lieutenant of the Alceste, Mr. Allen Stewart, and + Lieutenant Watkin Owen Pell of the Mercury, volunteered to board + the enemy in the boats. They accordingly dashed in among the + convoy, boarded and brought out seven tartans from under the very + muzzles of the enemy's guns, though supported by several armed + boats sent from Cadiz to their assistance.</p> + + <p>Captain Maxwell was actively employed on the coast of Italy + until 1811, when we find him cruizing in the Adriatic, in company + with the Active, Captain James Alexander Gordon, and a 36-gun + frigate, the Unité, Captain Edward Henry Chamberlain. On + the morning of the 28th of November, the little squadron was + lying in Port St. George, Island of Lissa, when signals were made + that there were three suspicious sail south. The three frigates + immediately got under weigh, and on the morning of the 29th came + within sight of the strange vessels, which proved to be the + Pauline, a 40-gun frigate, <a name="Page_225" id= + "Page_225"></a>the Pomone, frigate, and 26-gun ship, Persanne. + The French commodore, finding the English force greater than he + expected, bore up to the north-west, and the Persanne separated, + and stood to the north-east. The Unité was then despatched + in chase of the Persanne, and the Alceste and Active continued in + pursuit of the French frigates.</p> + + <p>In the course of a couple of hours the Alceste commenced + action with the Pomone, but an unlucky shot soon afterwards + brought down the main-topmast of the Alceste, and she was + compelled to drop astern. The Active speedily ranged alongside of + the Pomone, and after a spirited conflict, the latter ship was + compelled to haul down her colours and surrender.</p> + + <p>The Pauline, in the meantime, tacked, and poured her fire into + the Alceste, no doubt anticipating an easy victory from her + disabled state; but in this she was disappointed, for the fire + was returned with such effect, that after a warm conflict of two + hours and twenty minutes, the commodore made off to the westward, + which, from the crippled state of the Alceste, Captain Maxwell + was unable to prevent. In this action the Alceste lost twenty + killed and wounded, the Active thirty-five, and Pomone fifty. The + gallant captain of the Active had the misfortune to lose his leg, + and his first lieutenant, William Bateman Dashwood, had his right + arm shot away: the command therefore fell upon the second + lieutenant, George Haye, who fought the action, until her + opponent surrendered.</p> + + <p>In 1813, Captain Maxwell had the misfortune to be wrecked in + the Dædalus, and in 1815 was again reappointed to the + Alceste. On his passage home, after the loss of that vessel, he + touched at St. Helena, and had an interview with Napoleon + Buonaparte, who, reminding him of the capture of the Pomone, said + 'Vous étiez très méchant. Eh bien! your + government <a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a>must not blame + you for the loss of the Alceste, for you have taken one of my + frigates.'<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id= + "FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class= + "fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + + <p>Captain Maxwell was nominated a C.B. in 1815, and received the + honour of knighthood in 1818.</p> + + <p>He died in June, 1831.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_DRAKE" id="THE_DRAKE"></a>THE DRAKE.</h2> + + <p>The Drake, a small schooner, under the command of Captain + Charles Baker, had been despatched by the commander-in-chief on + the Newfoundland station, upon special duty to Halifax.</p> + + <p>Having accomplished the object of her mission there, she set + sail again to return to St. John's, on the morning of Thursday, + the 20th of June, 1822. The weather was unusually fine, the wind + favourable, and everything promised a short and prosperous + voyage.</p> + + <p>Nothing occurred to retard the progress of the vessel until + Sunday morning, when the increasing thickness of the atmosphere + betokened the approach of one of those heavy fogs which so + frequently hover over the coast of Newfoundland.</p> + + <p>There are few things more perplexing to the mariner than to + find himself suddenly enveloped in one of these thick mists: it + is impenetrable gloom; night and day are both alike; the sails, + saturated with the watery vapour, hang heavily, and flap against + the masts with a sad foreboding sound, whilst every heart on + board feels more or less oppressed by the atmospheric influence, + <a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>and every countenance + expresses languor or discontent. But these discomforts are minor + evils compared with other attendants upon a Newfoundland fog. It + often happens that, in spite of every precaution on the part of + the men on the look-out, the bows of the vessel run across some + unfortunate fishing boat; and before a single voice can be raised + in warning, a sudden shock, a smothered cry, a gurgling of the + waves, tell the sad tale! One moment, and all is silent; the ship + pursues her course, and no trace is left of the little vessel and + her crew, for whom many days and nights will anxious love keep + watch; but those objects of a mother's tenderness and of a wife's + affection will never more gladden the eyes of the watchers, till + 'the sea shall give up her dead.'</p> + + <p>Would that such calamities were of less frequent occurrence. + There is one curious characteristic of these fogs, which in some + degree mitigates the evil of them: they sometimes do not extend + beyond a few miles, having the appearance of a huge wall of dense + cloud or mist. A vessel, after beating about for hours, will + suddenly emerge from almost total darkness, the clouds break + away, and all hearts are gladdened by finding themselves once + more beneath the rays of the glorious sun.</p> + + <p>Captain Basil Hall gives an amusing instance of such an + occurrence. The Cambrian 'had run in from sea towards the coast, + enveloped in one of these dense fogs. Of course they took it for + granted that the light-house and the adjacent land—Halifax + included—were likewise covered with an impenetrable cloud + of mist; but it so chanced, by what freak of Dame Nature I know + not, that the fog on that day was confined to the deep water, so + that we who were in the port could see it at the distance of + several miles from the coast, lying on the ocean like a huge + stratum of snow, with an abrupt face fronting the shore.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a>'The Cambrian, lost in + the midst of this fog-bank, supposing herself to be near land, + fired a gun. To this the light-house replied; and so the ship and + the light-house went on pelting away gun for gun during half the + day, without seeing one another.</p> + + <p>'The people at the light-house had no means of communicating + to the frigate, that if she would only stand on a little further, + she would disentangle herself from the cloud, in which, like + Jupiter Olympus of old, she was wasting her thunder. At last, the + captain, hopeless of its clearing up, gave orders to pipe to + dinner; but as the weather, in all respects except this + abominable haze, was quite fine, and the ship was still in deep + water, he directed her to be steered towards the shore, and the + lead kept constantly going. As one o'clock approached, he began + to feel uneasy, from the water shoaling, and the light-house guns + sounding closer and closer; but being unwilling to disturb the + men at their dinner, he resolved to stand on for the remaining + ten minutes of the hour. Lo and behold! however, they had not + sailed half a mile further before the flying gib-boom end emerged + from the wall of mist, then the bowsprit shot into daylight, and + lastly, the ship herself glided out of the cloud into the full + blaze of a bright and 'sunshine holiday.' All hands were + instantly turned up to make sail: and the men, as they flew on + deck, could scarcely believe their senses when they saw behind + them the fog-bank—right ahead the harbour's mouth, with the + bold cliffs of Cape Sambro on the left—and further still, + the ships at their moorings, with their ensigns and pendants + blowing out light and dry in the breeze.'</p> + + <p>But to return to our sad tale. Towards noon, the weather + cleared up for about a quarter of an hour, allowing just + sufficient time to get a good observation of the latitude, which, + according to Captain Baker's reckoning, <a name="Page_229" id= + "Page_229"></a>made their position to be about ninety-one miles + from Cape Race, and fifty-one from Cape St. Mary's.</p> + + <p>They continued to steer east till about six o'clock in the + evening, when the breeze rather freshening, and the ship having + run sixty miles since noon, she was hauled off to south-east.</p> + + <p>The fog was then so dense that the men could not see more than + twenty yards beyond the ship, but as Captain Baker's orders were + to use the utmost dispatch, he determined to make the best of his + way. Every precaution was taken, by using the lead, and by + keeping a vigilant look-out from every part of the ship. In this + manner they proceeded, carefully feeling the way, until about + half-past seven o'clock, when the look-out man shouted, 'Breakers + ahead! Hard a-starboard!' The ship was instantly hauled to the + wind, but not being able to clear the danger on that tack, every + effort was made to stay the vessel, but from the heavy sea, and + whilst in stays, her stern took the breakers, and she immediately + fell broadside on, the sea breaking completely over her.</p> + + <p>At the moment the ship struck, every man was on deck, and + there was such a universal feeling of confidence in the + commander, that notwithstanding their extreme peril, not the + slightest confusion ensued. Captain Baker's first order was to + cut away the masts, so as to lighten the vessel, and perhaps + afford means of saving some of the crew. The order was promptly + executed, but unhappily without producing the desired result, for + in a few moments the ship bilged, and the destruction of the + whole crew appeared to be inevitable.</p> + + <p>Captain Baker then ordered the cutter to be launched, but they + had scarcely got her over the gangway before she sank. It was a + time of terrible anxiety for both officers and men; for, from the + denseness of the fog, they could not form a conjecture as to + their actual <a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a>position, + whilst the crashing of the masts, the strain of the vessel upon + the rocks, and the roar of the waters, as they swept over the + decks, added to the horrors of the scene.</p> + + <p>Captain Baker was as calm and self-possessed as if nothing + unusual had occurred, whilst the eyes of the men were fixed upon + him, and they were ready to obey every command with the same + promptitude as when performing the usual routine of ship's + duty.</p> + + <p>Fortunately a small rock was discerned through the mist, and + as it seemed to be at no great distance, it presented a means of + escape from the most pressing danger. Without a moment's + hesitation, a man of the name of Lennard sprang forward, and + seizing a lead-line, jumped into the sea; but the current setting + directly against him to the northward, his efforts were + unavailing, and with difficulty he was dragged on board + again.</p> + + <p>It might be supposed that Lennard's failure would have damped + the spirits of the men, and deterred them from a second attempt. + But it seems to have had a contrary effect, and to have stirred + them up to renewed exertion. A consultation was held as to the + next steps to be taken. The only hope that remained was in the + gig, (the jolly-boat having been washed away,) when Turner, the + boatswain, as brave a fellow as ever breathed, volunteered to + make the attempt. He secured a rope round his body, and was then + lowered into the boat. The tackling was let go, the men gave a + cheer, and the boat, with its occupant, was borne away by the + current.</p> + + <p>With intense anxiety the men on the wreck watched the progress + of Turner, who had been carried in the boat to within a few feet + of the rock; then the watchers saw it balanced upon the crest of + a huge wave, and the next moment it was dashed to pieces upon the + rock; the boatswain, however, retained his presence of mind; he + <a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a>kept hold of the rope when + dashed out of the boat, and succeeded in scrambling up the + cliff.</p> + + <p>In the meantime, the waves were making heavy breaches over the + ship; the crew clung by the ropes on the forecastle; each + succeeding wave threatened them all with destruction; when a + tremendous sea lifted her quarter over the rock on which she had + at first struck, and carried her close to that on which the + boatswain stood. The forecastle, which up to this time had been + the only sheltered part of the ship, was now abandoned for the + poop; and as Captain Baker saw no chance of saving the vessel, he + determined to remove the people from her if possible.</p> + + <p>Calling around him his officers and men, he communicated to + them his intentions, and pointed out the best means of securing + their safety. He then ordered every man to make the best of his + way from the wreck to the rock. Now, for the first time, his + orders were not promptly obeyed; all the crew to a man refused to + leave the wreck unless Captain Baker would precede them. There + was a simultaneous burst of feeling that did honour alike to the + commander and the men. To the former, in that he had so gained + the affection and respect of his people; and to the latter, + inasmuch as they knew how to appreciate such an officer.</p> + + <p>Never was good discipline displayed in a more conspicuous + manner. No argument or entreaty could prevail on Captain Baker to + change his resolution. He again directed the men to quit the + vessel, calmly observing that his life was the least, and last + consideration. The men, upon hearing this reiterated command, + stepped severally from the poop to the rock with as much order as + if they had been leaving a ship under ordinary circumstances. + Unhappily, a few of them perished in the attempt; amongst these + was Lieutenant Stanley, who, being benumbed with cold, was unable + to get a firm <a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a>footing, and + was swept away by the current, his companions, with every + inclination, had not the power to save him; he struggled for a + few moments—was dashed with irresistible force against the + rocks, and the receding wave engulfed its victim.</p> + + <p>When he had seen every man clear of the wreck, and not till + then, did Captain Baker join his crew.</p> + + <p>As soon as they had time to look about them, the ship's + company perceived that they were on an isolated rock, separated + from the mainland by a few fathoms. The rock rose some feet above + the sea, but to their horror they perceived that it would be + covered at high-water. It seemed as if they were rescued from one + fearful catastrophe, only to perish by a more cruel and + protracted fate. They watched the waters rise inch by inch around + them, appalled by the feeling that those waters must sooner or + later close over them for ever, and that nothing could save them + except the outstretched arm of Him who could bid the waves be + stayed, and say to the stormy winds, be still. Every man is more + or less courageous under circumstances of danger, when it is + attended by excitement,—such as that of the battlefield. + There is a courage which springs from companionship in danger, + and a courage derived from the fear of shame; but the test of + true valour is a scene like that we have described. <i>There</i> + was no room for a display of the adventitious bravery which often + becomes in reality the thing it strives to appear. No man + <i>there</i> could reproach his neighbour if his cheek should + blanch and his lip quiver; all are alike appalled, but the + well-regulated mind rises superior to the rest. Such was the case + with Captain Baker. Although he could not conceal from himself + that their condition was almost hopeless, he continued with his + voice to encourage the timid, and by his arm to support the + weak.</p> + + <p>By degrees the fog had partially dispersed, and as the + <a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>dawn began to break, a + dreary prospect was displayed. The haggard countenances and + lacerated limbs of the men told the sufferings they had endured, + whilst the breakers, which they had only heard before, became + distinctly visible. Still the devoted crew, following the example + of their commander, uttered no complaint. They were ready to meet + death, yet they felt it hard to die without a struggle. The tide + was rising rapidly, and if anything was to be done, it must be + done instantly. The boatswain, who had never lost hold of the + rope, determined at all hazards to make another effort to save + his comrades, or to perish in the attempt.</p> + + <p>Having caused one end of the rope to be made fast round his + body, and committing himself to the protection of the Almighty, + he plunged into the sea, and struck out in the direction of the + opposite shore.</p> + + <p>It was an awful moment to those who were left behind; and in + breathless suspense they waited the result of the daring attempt. + All depended upon the strength of his arm. At one moment he was + seen rising on the crest of the wave, at the next he disappeared + in the trough of the sea; but in spite of the raging surf, and of + every other obstacle, he reached the shore, and an inspiring + cheer announced his safety to his comrades.</p> + + <p>As soon as he had recovered his breath and strength, he went + to the nearest point opposite the rock, and, watching his + opportunity, he cast one end of the line across to his + companions. Fortunately it reached the rock, and was gladly + seized, but it proved to be only long enough to allow of one man + holding it on the shore, and another on the rock, at arm's + length. It may be imagined with what joy this slender means of + deliverance was welcomed by all. The tide had made rapid + advances; the waves, as if impatient for their prey, threw the + white surf aloft, and dashed over the rock.</p> + + <p>Would that we could do justice to the noble courage <a name= + "Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>and conduct displayed by the crew of + the Drake. Instead of rushing to the rope, as many would have + done under similar circumstances, not a man moved until he was + commanded to do so by Captain Baker. Had the slightest hesitation + appeared on the part of the commander, or any want of presence of + mind in the men, a tumultuous rush would have ensued, the rope, + held as it was with difficulty by the outstretched hand, would + inevitably have been lost in the struggle, and then all would + have perished.</p> + + <p>But good order, good discipline, and good feeling triumphed + over every selfish fear and natural instinct of + self-preservation, and to the honour of British sailors be it + recorded, that each individual man of the crew, before he availed + himself of the means of rescue, urged his captain to provide for + his own safety first, by leading the way. But Captain Baker + turned a deaf ear to every persuasion, and gave but one answer to + all—'I will never leave the rock until every soul is + safe.'</p> + + <p>In vain the men redoubled their entreaties that he would go; + they were of no avail; the intrepid officer was steadfast in his + purpose. There was no time for further discussion or delay. One + by one the men slipped from the rock upon the rope, and by this + assistance forty-four out of fifty succeeded in gaining the + opposite shore. Unfortunately, amongst the six who remained, one + was a woman. This poor creature, completely prostrate from the + sufferings she had endured, lay stretched upon the cold rock + almost lifeless. To desert her was impossible; to convey her to + the shore seemed equally impossible. Each moment of delay was + fraught with destruction. A brave fellow, in the generosity of + despair, when his turn came to quit the rock, took the woman in + his arms, grasped the rope, and began the perilous transit. Alas! + he was not permitted to gain the desired shore. When he had made + about half the distance, the rope parted—<a name="Page_235" id= + "Page_235"></a>not being strong enough to sustain the additional + weight and strain, it broke; the seaman and his burden were seen + but for an instant, and then swallowed up in the foaming eddies. + With them perished the last means of preservation that remained + for Captain Baker and those who were with him on the rock. Their + communication with the mainland was cut off; the water rose, and + the surf increased every moment; all hope was gone, and for them + a few minutes more must end 'life's long voyage.'</p> + + <p>The men on shore tried every means in their power to save + them. They tied every handkerchief and available material + together to replace the lost rope, but their efforts were + fruitless; they could not get length enough to reach the rock. A + party was despatched in search of help. They found a farm-house; + and while they were in search of a rope, those who stayed to + watch the fate of their loved and respected commander and his + three companions, saw wave after wave rise higher and higher. At + one moment the sufferers disappeared in the foam and spray; the + bravest shuddered, and closed his eyes on the scene. Again, as + spell-bound, he looked; the wave had receded—they still + lived, and rose above the waters. Again and again it was thus; + but hope grew fainter and fainter. We can scarcely bring our + narrative to an end; tears moisten our page; but the painful + sequel must be told. The fatal billow came at last which bore + them from time into eternity—all was over. When the party + returned from their inland search, not a vestige of the rock, or + of those devoted men, was to be seen.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>And is he dead, whose glorious mind<br /></span> + <span class="i2">Lifts thine on high?<br /></span> <span>To + live in hearts we leave behind,<br /></span> <span class= + "i2">Is not to die. CAMPBELL.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>We feel how inadequate have been our efforts to depict the + self-devotion of Captain Baker, and the <a name="Page_236" id= + "Page_236"></a>courage and constancy of his crew. The following + letter, addressed to Lieutenant Booth, formerly an officer of the + Drake, will go farther than any panegyric we can offer, to + display the right feeling of the ship's company, and their just + appreciation of their brave and faithful commander.</p> + + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>'SIR,—Your being an old officer of ours in a former + ship, and being our first lieutenant in H.M. ship Drake, leads + us to beg that you will have the goodness to represent to our + Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the very high sense of + gratitude we, the surviving petty officers and crew of his + Majesty's late ship Drake, feel due to the memory of our late + much lamented, and most worthy commander, who, at the moment he + saw death staring him in the face on one side, and the + certainty of escape was pointed out to him on the other, most + stanchly and frequently refused to attempt procuring his own + safety, until every man and boy had been rescued from the + impending danger. Indeed, the manliness and fortitude displayed + by the late Captain Baker on the melancholy occasion of our + wreck was such as never before was heard of. It was not as that + of a moment, but his courage was tried for many hours, and his + last determination of not crossing from the rock, on which he + was every moment in danger of being washed away, was made with + more firmness, if possible, than the first. In fact, during the + whole business he proved himself to be a man whose name and + last conduct ought ever to be held in the highest estimation by + a crew who feel it their duty to ask from the Lords + Commissioners of the Admiralty that, which they otherwise have + not the means of obtaining, that is, a public and lasting + record of the lion-hearted, generous, and very unexampled way + in which our late noble commander sacrificed his life in the + evening of the 23rd of June.'</p> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a>The above letter was + signed by the surviving crew of the Drake.</p> + + <p>We need not add that their request was complied with; and a + monument erected to the memory of Captain Baker, in the chapel of + the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth.</p> + + <p>At the request of the author, a friend, to whom he related the + pathetic story of the captain of the Drake, composed the + following verses on his untimely and romantic fate:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span style="font-weight: bolder;">THE LOSS OF THE + DRAKE.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>1.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>There's a garden full of roses, there's a cottage by + the Dove;<br /></span> <span>And the trout stream flows and + frets beneath the hanging crags above;<br /></span> + <span>There's a seat beneath the tulip-tree, the sunbeams + never scorch:<br /></span> <span>There's jasmine on those + cottage walls, there's woodbine round the porch.<br /></span> + <span>A gallant seaman planted them—he perished long + ago;<br /></span> <span>He perished on the ocean-wave, but + not against the foe.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>2.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>He parted with his little ones beneath that + tulip-tree;<br /></span> <span>His boy was by his father's + side, his darling on his knee.<br /></span> <span>'Heaven + bless thee, little Emma; night and morning you must + pray<br /></span> <span>To Him on high, who'll shield thee, + love, when I am far away.<br /></span> <span>Nay, weep + not!—if He wills it, I shall soon be back from + sea;<br /></span> <span>Then how we'll laugh, and romp, and + dance around the tulip-tree!<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>3.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>'Heaven bless thee, too, my gallant boy! The God who + rules the main<br /></span> <span>Can only tell if you and I + shall ever meet again.<br /></span> <span>If I perish on the + ocean-wave, when I am dead and gone<br /></span> <span>You'll + be left with little Emma in a heartless world + alone:<br /></span> <span>Your home must be her home, my boy, + whenever you're a man;<br /></span> <span>You must love her, + you must guard her, as a brother only can.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>4.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>'There's no such thing as fear, my boy, to those who + trust on high;<br /></span> <span>But to part with all we + prize on earth brings moisture to the eye.<br /></span> + <span>There's a grave in Ilam Church-yard, there's a + rose-tree marks that grave;<br /></span> <span>'Tis thy + mother's: go and pray there when I'm sailing o'er the + wave.<br /></span> <span>Think, too, sometimes of thy father, + when thou kneel'st upon that sod,<br /></span> <span>How he + lived but for his children, for his country, and his + God.'<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>5.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Farewell, farewell, thou gallant ship! thy course will + soon be o'er;<br /></span> <span>There are mournful hearts on + board thee, there are breaking hearts on shore.<br /></span> + <span>The mother mourned her sailor boy, the maiden mourned + her love;<br /></span> <span>And one, on deck, was musing on + a cottage, near the Dove:<br /></span> <span>But his features + were unmoved, as if all feeling lay congealed;<br /></span> + <span>They little knew how soft a heart that manly form + concealed.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>6.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Beware, beware, thou gallant ship! there's many a rock + ahead,<br /></span> <span>And the mist is mantling round + thee, like a shroud around the dead.<br /></span> <span>The + listless crew lay idly grouped, and idly flapped the + sail,<br /></span> <span>And the sea-bird pierced the vapour + with a melancholy wail.<br /></span> <span>So hushed the + scene, they little deemed that danger was at + hand,<br /></span> <span>Till they heard the distant breakers + as they rolled upon the strand.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>7.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>The winds were roused, the mist cleared off, the mighty + tempest rose,<br /></span> <span>And cheeks were blanched + that never yet had paled before their foes:<br /></span> + <span>For the waves that heaved beneath them bore them + headlong to the rock,<br /></span> <span>And face to face + with death they stood, in terror of the shock.<br /></span> + <span>A crash was heard—the ocean yawned—then + foamed upon the deck,<br /></span> <span>And the gallant + Drake, dismasted, on the waters lay a wreck!<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a>8.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>On that rock they've found a refuge; but the waves that + dash its side<br /></span> <span>They know, must sweep them + from it at the flowing of the tide.<br /></span> <span>With + the giant crags before them, and the boiling surge + between,<br /></span> <span>There was one alone stood + dauntless midst the horrors of the scene.<br /></span> + <span>They watched the waters rising, each with aspect of + dismay;<br /></span> <span>They looked upon their fearless + chief, and terror passed away.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>9.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>There's a gallant seaman battling with the perils of + the main;<br /></span> <span>They saw the waves o'erwhelm him + thrice, but thrice he rose again.<br /></span> <span>He bears + a rope around him that may link them with the + beach:<br /></span> <span>One struggle more, thou valiant + man! the shore's within thy reach.<br /></span> <span>Now + blest be He who rules on high; though some may die + tonight,<br /></span> <span>There are more will live to brave + again the tempest and the fight.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>10.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>They gathered round their gallant chief, they urged him + to descend,<br /></span> <span>For they loved him as their + father, and he loved them as a friend.<br /></span> + <span>'Nay, go ye first, my faithful crew; to love is to + obey,—<br /></span> <span>'Gainst the cutlass or the + cannon would I gladly lead the way;<br /></span> <span>But I + stir not hence till all are safe, since danger's in the + rear;<br /></span> <span>While I live, I claim obedience; if + I die, I ask a tear.'<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>11.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>With a smile to cheer the timid, and a hand to help the + weak,<br /></span> <span>There was firmness in his accents, + there was hope upon his cheek.<br /></span> <span>A hundred + men are safe on shore, but one is left behind;<br /></span> + <span>There's a shriek is mingling wildly with the wailing of + the wind.<br /></span> <span>The rope has snapped! Almighty + God! the noble and the brave<br /></span> <span>Is left alone + to perish at the flowing of the wave.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>12.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>'Midst the foaming of the breakers and the howling of + the storm,<br /></span> <span>'Midst the crashing of the + timbers, stood a solitary form;<br /></span> <span>He thought + upon his distant home, then raised his look on + high,<br /></span> <span>And thought upon another + home—a home beyond the sky.<br /></span> <span>Sublimer + than the elements, his spirit was at rest,<br /></span> + <span>And calm as if his little one was nestling on his + breast.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a> <span>13.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>In agony they watched him, as each feature grew + elate,<br /></span> <span>As with folded arms and fearless + mien lie waited for his fate;<br /></span> <span>Now seen + above the breakers, and now hidden by the spray,<br /></span> + <span>As stealthily, yet surely, heaved the ocean to its + prey.<br /></span> <span>A fiercer wave rolled onward with + the wild gust in its wale,<br /></span> <span>And lifeless on + the billows lay the Captain of the Drake.<br /></span> + </div> + + <div class="stanza"> + <span>J. HENEAGE JESSE.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> + Marshall's <i>Naval Biography</i>.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="FURY" id="FURY"></a>FURY.</h2> + + <p>In the year 1824, notwithstanding the repeated failures which + had attended the expeditions to the Polar Seas, the British + government determined to make another attempt to discover a + passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; for this purpose + Captain, now Sir Edward Parry was appointed to the command of the + Hecla, and a second vessel was commissioned by Captain Hoppner, + who was directed to put himself under the orders of the + beforenamed officer.</p> + + <p>The vessels being fully equipped and furnished with provisions + and stores for two years, sailed from England on the 16th of May. + Their progress had been unexpectedly slow, from the quantity and + magnitude of the ice, which had kept the people constantly + employed in heaving, warping, or sawing through it, so that they + did not arrive at the entrance of Lancaster Sound until nearly + the middle of September.</p> + + <p>There was no doubt that the more than ordinary difficulties + which they encountered in crossing the barrier of ice in Baffin's + Bay was owing to a season of very unusual severity; indeed, + Captain Parry was of opinion, that but for Phillips's capstan, + the Hecla and Fury would have been obliged to winter in the + middle of Baffin's Bay.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a>The season was now too + far advanced to give any hopes of the ships being able to + penetrate to the westward, according to their instructions, + during the present year; Captain Parry determined, therefore, to + push on as far as the present season would permit, and devote the + whole of the next summer to the fulfilment of the object of the + expedition.</p> + + <p>It is not our intention to enter into a detailed description + of the many difficulties which they met in their passage; it is + enough to say that their toils were incessant, and nothing but + the most unwearied vigilance and perseverance could have + prevented the ships being materially damaged by the enormous + pressure of the ice.</p> + + <p>Both officers and men were constantly employed, one time in + getting out the boats to tow or cut through the ice, at another, + at what is termed 'sallying,' or causing the ship to roll, by the + men running in a body from side to side, so as to relieve her + from the adhesion and friction of the young ice. It sometimes + happened, also, that their labour was in vain; for during the + night a westerly wind would spring up, and that, combined with a + strong current, would drive the vessels several leagues to + eastward, thus compelling them to recommence their work over + again.</p> + + <p>On the 27th of September they found themselves in a tolerably + open sea, and assisted by a fine working breeze they reached Port + Bowen, in Regent's Inlet. Here Captain Parry determined to make + his winter harbour, being convinced that it would be safer to + remain there, than run the risk of any further attempt at + navigation during the present year.</p> + + <p>'To those who read,' writes Sir Edward Parry, 'as well as + those who describe, the account of a winter passed in these + regions can no longer be expected to afford the interest of + novelty it once possessed; more especially in <a name="Page_242" + id="Page_242"></a>a station already delineated with tolerable + geographical precision on our maps, and thus, as it were, brought + near to our firesides at home.'</p> + + <p>Here it may be perhaps asked, why tell a thrice-told + tale?—why go over ground that has been so often trod + before? The answer is, we are not only writing for the + information of the general reader, but also for the seaman, in + the hope that these examples may afford encouragement to him, if + ever thrown under similar circumstances to those which befel the + crews of the Hecla and Fury.</p> + + <p>In a short time, the ships became embedded in ice, and in this + remote part of the globe were they destined to remain, in all + probability, for nine months, during the greater part of which + they would not see the light of the sun.</p> + + <p>To the seaman, whose happiness is dependent upon a life of + excitement and adventure, such a change must be almost + insupportable. As far as the eye could reach, nothing was to be + seen but trackless wilds of snow; an awful stillness reigned + around; even the indigenous animals had for a time fled; and out + of his ship, which is the world to him, not a living creature + breathed in this dreary desert. In order to procure occupation + and amusement for the men, it was necessary to hit upon some + expedient to keep their spirits from flagging. This was found, by + a proposal from Captain Hoppner, that they should attempt a + masquerade, in which both officers and men should join. The happy + thought was at once seized upon, the ship's tailor was placed in + requisition, admirably dressed characters were enacted, and mirth + and merriment rang through the decks of the Hecla. These + réunions took place once a month, alternately on board + each ship, and not one instance is related of anything occurring + which could interfere with the regular discipline of the ship, or + at all weaken the respect of the men towards their superiors. But + an occupation which <a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a>was of + benefit as much to the mind as to the body, was found in the + establishment of a school on board each of the ships. These were + superintended by Mr. Hooper, in the Hecla, and Mr. Mogg, in the + Fury. The men gladly seized this opportunity of instruction which + was afforded them, and in many a long winter evening the lower + deck was made a scene of rational employment, which was not only + a lasting benefit to themselves, but assisted materially in + passing away the time, which otherwise would have hung heavily on + their hands.</p> + + <p>We cannot refrain here from offering a few observations upon + the good results of education to the seaman.</p> + + <p>In the beginning of the present century, and even in a much + later date, the majority of our seamen could neither read nor + write; in the present day it is quite the reverse. We may affirm, + without exaggeration, that two-thirds of them are more or less + educated. Experience has taught those placed at the head of naval + affairs the advantages arising from the improvement of the minds + of the seamen of our navy; every ship has now a seaman + schoolmaster, and a well selected library; and there is no doubt + that the moral effect thus produced, adds in no small degree to + the preservation of that discipline which is so necessary for the + comfort and welfare of a ship's company.</p> + + <p>In corroboration of the above, we cannot do better than quote + the words of Sir Edward Parry:—'And I do not speak lightly + when I express my thorough persuasion that to the moral effect + thus produced upon the minds of the men were owing to a very high + degree the constant yet sober cheerfulness, the uninterrupted + good order, and even in some measure the extraordinary state of + health which prevailed among us during winter.'</p> + + <p>With the amusement before mentioned, varied now and then, as + the days grew longer, by the excitement of <a name="Page_244" id= + "Page_244"></a>killing a bear, entrapping foxes, or shooting + grouse, the men continued to pass the winter months. To the + officers, higher and more intellectual enjoyments were afforded + by making observations, studying astronomy, and witnessing the + brilliant appearance of the Aurora Borealis.</p> + + <p>About the end of March, or beginning of April, 1825, thin + flakes of snow, lying upon painted wood or metal, exposed to the + sun's direct rays, began to melt. These signs of returning spring + were hailed as indications of their approaching deliverance from + their winter quarters. Towards the middle of June, information + was brought that the sea was clear of ice about twenty miles from + Port Bowen. On the 12th of July, the ice began to break away, + leaving the ship about one mile and a quarter from the open sea. + All hands were set to work to saw through this barrier, the men + being employed from seven in the morning, till seven in the + evening. On the 19th, after the most incessant labour, which was + performed with the greatest cheerfulness and alacrity, Captain + Parry had the satisfaction of seeing the two vessels once more + floating in their proper element.</p> + + <p>After a winter of unusual severity, but of unprecedented good + health, they sailed out of Port Bowen on the 20th of July, the + expedition being in every respect in the most perfect condition, + and the season remarkably forward and fine. Pushing over to the + west coast of Prince Regent's Inlet, which it was Captain Parry's + intention to coast northward and then westward, till they could + strike off to the continental shore, the prospect seemed as + favourable as could possibly be expected. The season continued + unusually warm, and channels of open water always occurred along + the shore with particular winds. The ice was entirely detached + from the shores, very much broken up, and lighter than they had + yet navigated.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a>Proceeding as usual, + taking advantage of every opening, and sheltering the ships on + shore when the ice closed, the Fury, on the 1st of August, was + unfortunately pressed by the ice in such a manner, while she also + took the ground, that her main keel, stern-post, and cutwater + were immediately broken, and four pumps were necessary to keep + her free.</p> + + <p>It was now evidently impossible to proceed without heaving the + Fury down to repair, her officers and men being in a few days + almost exhausted with excessive fatigue; the men's hands having + become so sore from the constant friction of the ropes, that they + could hardly handle them any longer without the use of + mittens.</p> + + <p>The shore being a straight and exposed one, the principal + difficulty consisted in securing the ship from the inroads of the + ice during the operation. There was little hopes of discovering a + harbour for this purpose, and the only alternative was to + endeavour to make one. This was done by passing lower cables + round grounded masses of ice, and setting them up to anchors + buried on the beach, so as to form a basin for the reception of + the ships.</p> + + <p>We have now arrived at the period when the labour of heaving + down the Fury commenced; and, for the better information of the + reader, we will at once lay before him the account of the future + proceedings, as related by Sir Edward Parry.<a name= + "FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href= + "#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> + + <p>'The ice remaining quite close, on the 6th every individual in + both ships, with the exception of those at the pumps, was + employed in landing provisions from the Fury, together with the + spars, boats, and everything from <a name="Page_246" id= + "Page_246"></a>off her upper deck. The ice coming in in the + afternoon with a degree of pressure which usually attended a + northerly wind on this coast, twisted the Fury's rudder so + forcibly against a mass of ice lying under her stern, that it was + for some hours in great danger of being damaged, and was, indeed, + only saved by the efforts of Captain Hoppner and his officers, + who, without breaking off the men from their other occupations, + themselves worked at the ice-saw.</p> + + <p>'On the following day, the ice remaining as before, the work + was continued without intermission, and a great quantity of + things landed. The two carpenters, Messrs. Pulfer and Fiddis, + took the Fury's boats in hand themselves, their men being + required as part of our physical strength in clearing the ship. + The armourer was also set to work on the beach in forging bolts + for the martingales of the outriggers. In short, every living + creature among us was somehow or other employed, not even + excepting our dogs, which were set to drag up the stores on the + beach, so that our little dockyard soon exhibited the most + animated scene imaginable. The quickest method of landing casks, + and other things not too weighty, was that adopted by Captain + Hoppner, and consisted of a hawser secured to the ship's mainmast + head, and set up as tight as possible to the anchor on the + beach,—the casks being hooked to a block traversing on this + as a jack stay, were made to run down with great velocity. By + this means, more than two were got on shore for every one handed + by the boats; the latter, however, being constantly employed in + addition. The Fury was thus so much lightened in the course of + the day, that two pumps were now nearly sufficient to keep her + free, and this number continued requisite until she was hove + down. Her spirit room was now entirely clear, and on examination + the water was found to be rushing <a name="Page_247" id= + "Page_247"></a>in through two or three holes that happened to be + in the ceiling, and which were immediately plugged up. Indeed it + was now very evident that nothing but the lightness of the Fury's + diagonal ceiling had so long kept her afloat, and that any ship + not thus fortified within could not possibly have been kept free + by the pumps.</p> + + <p>'At night, just as the people were going to rest, the ice + began to move to the southward, and soon after came in towards + the shore, again endangering the Fury's rudder, and pressing her + over on her side to so alarming a degree, as to warn us that it + would not be safe to lighten her much more in her present + insecure situation.</p> + + <p>'One of our bergs also shifted its position by this pressure, + so as to weaken our confidence in the pier heads of our intended + basin; and a long 'tongue' of one of them, forcing itself under + the Hecla's fore-foot, while the drift-ice was also pressing her + forcibly from astern, she once more sewed three or four feet + forward at low water, and continued to do so, notwithstanding + repeated endeavours to haul her off, for four successive tides, + the ice remaining so close, and so much doubled under the ship, + as to render it impossible to move her a single inch.</p> + + <p>'Notwithstanding the state of the ice, however, we did not + remain idle on the 8th, all hands being employed in unrigging the + Fury, and landing all her spars, sails, booms, boats, and other + top weight.</p> + + <p>'The ice still continuing very close on the 9th, all hands + were employed in attempting, by saws and axes, to clear the + Hecla, which still grounded on the tongue of ice every tide. + After four hours' labour, they succeeded in making four or five + feet of room astern, when the ship suddenly slided down off the + tongue with considerable force, and became once more afloat. We + then got on shore the Hecla's cables and hawsers for the + accommodation of the Fury's men in our tiers during the heaving + <a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a>down; struck our topmasts, + which would be required as shores and outriggers; and, in short, + continued to occupy every individual in some preparation or + other.</p> + + <p>'These being entirely completed at an early hour in the + afternoon, we ventured to go on with the landing of the coals and + provisions from the Fury, preferring to run the risk which would + thus be incurred, to the loss of even a few hours in the + accomplishment of our present object. As it very opportunely + happened, however, the external ice slackened to the distance of + about a hundred yards outside of us, on the morning of the 10th, + enabling us by a most tedious and laborious operation, to clear + the ice out of our basin piece by piece. The difficulty of this + apparently simple process consisted in the heavy pressure having + repeatedly doubled one mass under another, a position in which it + requires great power to move them, and also by the corners + locking in with the sides of the bergs.</p> + + <p>'Our next business was to tighten the cables sufficiently by + means of purchases, and to finish the floating of them in the + manner and for the purpose before described. After this had been + completed, the ships had only a few feet in length, and nothing + in breadth to spare, but we had now great hopes of going on with + our work with increased confidence and security. The Fury, which + was placed inside, had something less than eighteen feet at low + water; the Hecla lay in four fathoms, the bottom being strewed + with large and small fragments of limestone.</p> + + <p>'While thus employed in securing the ships, the smoothness of + the water enabled us to see, in some degree, the nature of the + Fury's damage; and it may be conceived how much pain it + occasioned us, plainly to discover that both the stern-post and + fore-foot were broken and turned up on one side with the + pressure. <a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a>We could also + perceive, as far as we were able to see along the main-keel, that + it was much torn, and we had therefore reason to conclude that + the damage would altogether prove very serious. We also + discovered that several feet of the Hecla's false keel were torn + away abreast of the fore chains, in consequence of her grounding + forward so frequently.</p> + + <p>'The ships being now as well secured as our means permitted + from the immediate danger of ice, the clearing of the Fury went + on with increased confidence, though greater alacrity was + impossible, for nothing could exceed the spirit and zealous + activity of every individual, and as things had turned out, the + ice had not obliged us to wait a moment except at the actual + times of its pressure. Being favoured with fine weather, we + continued our work very quickly, so that on the 12th every cask + was landed, and also the powder; and the spare sails and clothing + put on board the Hecla.</p> + + <p>'On the 13th, we found that a mass of heavy ice which had been + aground with the Fury, had now floated alongside of her at high + water, still further contracting her already narrow basin, and + leaving the ship no room for turning round. At the next high + water, therefore, we got a purchase on it, and hove it out of the + way, so that at night it drifted off altogether.</p> + + <p>'The coals and preserved meats were the principal things now + remaining on board the Fury, and these we continued landing by + every method we could devise as the most expeditious. The tide + rose so considerably at night, new moon occurring within an hour + of high water, that we were much afraid of our bergs floating; + they remained firm, however, even though the ice came in with so + much force as to break one of our hand-masts, a fir spar of + twelve inches in diameter. As the high tides, and the lightening + of the Fury, now gave us suf<a name="Page_250" id= + "Page_250"></a>ficient depth of water for unshipping the rudders, + we did so, and laid them upon the small berg astern of us, for + fear of their being damaged by any pressure of the ice.</p> + + <p>'Early on the morning of the 14th, the ice slackening a little + in our neighbourhood, we took advantage of it, though the people + were much fagged, to tighten the cables, which had stretched and + yielded considerably by the late pressure. It was well that we + did so, for in the course of this day we were several times + interrupted in our work by the ice coming with a tremendous + strain on the north cables, the wind blowing strong from the + N.N.W., and the whole 'pack' outside of us setting rapidly to the + southward. Indeed, notwithstanding the recent tightening and + re-adjustment of the cables, the bight was pressed in so much, as + to force the Fury against the berg astern of her, twice in the + course of the day. Mr. Waller, who was in the hold the second + time that this occurred, reported that the coals about the + keelson were moved by it, imparting the sensation of part of the + ship's bottom falling down; and one of the men at work there was + so strongly impressed with that belief, that he thought it high + time to make a spring for the hatchway. From this circumstance, + it seemed more probable that the main keel had received some + serious damage near the middle of the ship.</p> + + <p>'From this trial of the efficacy of our means of security, it + was plain that the Fury could not possibly be hove down under + circumstances of such frequent and imminent risk. I therefore + directed a fourth anchor, with two additional cables, to be + disposed, with the hope of breaking some of the force of the ice, + by its offering a more oblique resistance than the other, and + thus by degrees turning the direction of the pressure from the + ships. We had scarcely completed this new defence, when the + largest floe we had <a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a>seen + since leaving Port Bowen came sweeping along the shore, having a + motion to the southward of not less than a mile and a half an + hour, threatened to overturn it, and would certainly have + dislodged it from its situation but from the cable recently + attached to it.</p> + + <p>'A second similar occurrence took place with a smaller mass of + ice about midnight, and near the top of an unusually high spring + tide, which seemed ready to float away every security from us. + For three hours about the time of this high water, our situation + was a most critical one, for had the bergs, or, indeed, any one + of them, been carried away or broken, both ships must inevitably + have been driven on shore by the very next mass of ice that + should come in. Happily, however, they did not suffer any further + material disturbance, and the main body keeping at a short + distance from the land until the tide had fallen, the bergs + seemed to be once more firmly resting on the ground. The only + mischief, therefore, occasioned by this disturbance was the + slackening of our cables by the alteration in the position of the + several grounded masses, and the consequent necessity of + employing more time, which nothing but absolute necessity could + induce us to bestow, in adjusting and tightening the whole of + them afresh.</p> + + <p>'The wind veering to the W.N.W. on the morning of the 15th, + and still continuing to blow strong, the ice was forced three or + four miles off the land in the course of a few hours, leaving us + a quiet day for continuing our work, but exciting no very + pleasant sensations, when we considered what progress we might + have been making had we been at liberty to pursue our object.</p> + + <p>'The land was indeed so clear of ice to the southward, that + Dr. Neill, who walked a considerable distance in that direction, + could see nothing but an open channel in shore to the utmost + extent of his view. We took <a name="Page_252" id= + "Page_252"></a>advantage of this open water to send the launch + for the Fury's ironwork, left at the former station; for though + the few men thus employed could very ill be spared, we were + obliged to arrange everything with reference to the ultimate + saving of time; and it would have occupied both ships' companies + more than a whole day to carry the things round by land.</p> + + <p>'The Fury being completely cleared at an early hour on the + 16th, we were all busily employed in 'winding' the ship, and in + preparing the outriggers, shores, purchases, and additional + rigging. Though we purposely selected the time of high water for + turning the ship round, we had scarcely a foot of space for doing + it, and indeed, as it was, her fore-foot touched the ground; and + loosened the broken part of the wood so much as to enable us to + pull it up with ropes, when we found the fragments to consist of + the whole of the gripe, and most of the 'cutwater.' The strong + breeze continuing, and the sea rising as the open water increased + in extent, our bergs were sadly washed and wasted; every hour + producing a sensible and serious diminution in their bulk. As, + however, the main body of ice still kept off, we were in hopes, + now that our preparations were so near completed, we should have + been enabled in a few hours to see the extent of the damage, and + repair it sufficiently to allow us to proceed.</p> + + <p>'In the evening we received the Fury's crew on board the + Hecla, every arrangement and regulation having been previously + made for their personal comfort, and for the preservation of + cleanliness, ventilation, and dry warmth throughout the ship. The + officers of the Fury, by their own choice, pitched a tent on + shore for messing and sleeping in, as our accommodation for two + sets of officers was necessarily confined. On the 17th, when + every preparation was completed, the cables were found <a name= + "Page_253" id="Page_253"></a>again so slack, by the wasting of + the bergs, in consequence of the continued sea, and possibly also + in part by the masses being moved somewhat in shore, that we were + obliged to occupy several hours in putting them to rights, as we + should soon require all our strength at the purchases. One berg + also had, at the last low water, fallen over on its side, in + consequence of its substance being undermined by the sea, and the + cable surrounding it was thus forced so low under water as no + longer to afford protection from the ice should it again come in. + In tightening the cables, we found it to have the effect of + bringing the bergs in towards the shore, still further + contracting our narrow basin; but anything was better than + suffering them to go adrift.</p> + + <p>'This work being finished at ten P.M., the people were allowed + three hours' rest only, it being necessary to heave the ship down + at, or near, high water, as there was not sufficient depth to + allow her to take her distance at any other time of tide. Every + preparation being made, at three A.M., on the 18th, we began to + heave her down on the larboard side; but when the purchases were + nearly a-block, we found that the strops under the Hecla's + bottom, as well as some of the Fury's shore-fasts, had stretched + or yielded so much, that they could bring the keel out of water + within three or four feet. We immediately eased her up again, and + re-adjusted everything as requisite, hauling her further in shore + than before by keeping a considerable keel upon her, so as to + make less depth of water necessary; and we were then in the act + of once more heaving her down, when a snow storm came on, and + blew with such violence off the land, as to raise a considerable + sea. The ships had now so much motion as to strain the gear very + much, and even to make the lower mast of the Fury bend in spite + of the shores. We were, therefore, most unwillingly compelled + <a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a>to desist until the sea + should go down, keeping everything ready to recommence the + instant we could possibly do so with safety. The officers and men + were now literally so harassed and fatigued as to be scarcely + capable of further exertion without some rest; and on this and + one or two other occasions, I noticed more than a single instance + of stupor amounting to a certain degree of failure in intellect, + rendering the individual so affected quite unable at first to + comprehend the meaning of an order, though still as willing as + ever to obey it. It was, therefore, perhaps, a fortunate + necessity which produced the intermission of labour which the + strength of every individual seemed to require.</p> + + <p>'The gale rather increasing than otherwise, during the whole + day and night of the 18th, had, on the following morning, when + the wind and sea still continued unabated, so destroyed the bergs + on which our sole dependence was placed, that they no longer + remained aground at low water; the cables had again become slack + about them, and the basin we had taken so much pains in forming + had now lost all its defences, at least during a portion of every + tide. It will be plain, too, if I have succeeded in giving a + distinct description of our situation, that independently of the + security of the ships, there was now nothing left to seaward by + which the Hecla could be held out in that direction while heaving + the Fury down, so that our preparations in this way were no + longer available.</p> + + <p>'After a night of most anxious consideration and consultation + with Captain Hoppner, who was now my mess-mate in the Hecla, it + appeared but too plain that, should the ice again come in, + neither ship could any longer be secured from driving on shore. + It was therefore determined instantly to prepare the Hecla for + sea, making her thoroughly effective in every respect; so that we + <a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a>might at least push her out + into comparative safety among the ice, when it closed again, + taking every person on board her; securing the Fury in the best + manner we could, and returning to her the instant we were able to + do so, to endeavour to get her out, and to carry her to some + place of security for heaving down. If, after the Hecla was + ready, time should still be allowed us, it was proposed + immediately to put into the Fury all that was requisite, or at + least as much as she could safely carry, and towing her out into + the ice, to try the effect of 'foldering' the leaks, by sails + under those parts of her keel which we knew to be damaged, until + some more effectual means could be resorted to.</p> + + <p>'Having communicated to the assembled officers and ships' + companies my views and intentions, and moreover given them to + understand that I hoped to see the Hecla's top-gallant yards + across before we slept, we commenced our work, and such was the + hearty good-will and indefatigable energy with which it was + carried on, that by midnight the whole was accomplished, and a + bower-anchor and cable carried out in the offing, for the double + purpose of hauling out the Hecla when requisite, and as some + security to the Fury if we were obliged to leave her. The people + were once more quite exhausted by these exertions, especially + those belonging to the Fury, who had never thoroughly recovered + their first fatigues. The ice being barely in sight, we were + enabled to enjoy seven hours of undisturbed rest; but the wind + becoming light, and afterwards shifting to the N.N.E., we had + reason to expect the ice would soon close the shore, and were, + therefore, most anxious to continue our work.</p> + + <p>'On the 20th, therefore, the re-loading of the Fury commenced + with recruited strength and spirits, such articles being in the + first place selected for putting on board as were essentially + requisite for her re-equipment; <a name="Page_256" id= + "Page_256"></a>for it was my full determination, could we succeed + in completing this, not to wait even for rigging a topmast, or + getting a lower yard up, in the event of the ice coming in, but + to tow her out among the ice, and there put everything + sufficiently to rights for carrying her to someplace of security. + At the same time, the end of the sea-cable was taken on board the + Fury, by way of offering some resistance to the ice, which was + now more plainly seen, though still about five miles distant. A + few hands were also spared, consisting chiefly of two or three + convalescents and some of the officers, to thrum a sail for + putting under the Fury's keel; for we were very anxious to + relieve the men at the pumps, which constantly required the + labour of eight to twelve hands to keep her free. In the course + of the day several heavy masses of ice came drifting by with a + breeze from the north-east, which is here about two points upon + the land, and made a considerable swell. One mass came in contact + with our bergs, which, though only held by the cables, brought it + up in time to prevent mischief. By a long and hard day's labour, + the people not going to rest till two o'clock on the morning of + the 21st, we got about fifty tons weight of coals and provisions + on board the Fury, which, in case of necessity, we considered + sufficient to give her stability.</p> + + <p>'While we were thus employed, the ice, though evidently + inclined to come in, did not approach us much; and it may be + conceived with what anxiety we longed to be allowed one more + day's labour, on which the ultimate saving of the ship might + almost be considered as depending. Having hauled the ships out a + little from the shore, and prepared the Hecla for casting by a + spring at a moment's notice, all the people except those at the + pumps were sent to rest, which, however, they had not enjoyed for + two hours, when, at four A.M. <a name="Page_257" id= + "Page_257"></a>on the 21st, another heavy mass coming violently + in contact with the bergs and cables, threatened to sweep away + every remaining security. Our situation, with this additional + strain,—the mass which had disturbed us fixing itself upon + the weather-cable, and an increasing wind and swell setting + considerably on the shore,—became more and more precarious; + and indeed, under circumstances as critical as can well be + imagined, nothing but the urgency and importance of the object we + had in view—that of saving the Fury, if she was to be + saved—could have prevented my making sail, and keeping the + Hecla under way till matters mended. More hawsers were run out, + however, and enabled us still to hold out: and after six hours of + disturbed rest, all hands were again set to work to get the + Fury's anchors, cables, rudder, and spars on board, these things + being absolutely necessary for her equipment, should we be able + to get her out. At two P.M. the crews were called on board to + dinner, which they had not finished, when several not very large + masses of ice drove along the shore near us at a quick rate, and + two or three successively coming in violent contact either with + the Hecla or the bergs to which she was attached, convinced me + that very little additional pressure would tear everything away, + and drive both ships on shore. I saw that the moment had arrived + when the Hecla could no longer be kept in her present situation + with the smallest chance of safety, and therefore immediately got + under sail, despatching Captain Hoppner, with every individual, + except a few for working the ship, to continue getting the things + on board the Fury, while the Hecla stood off and on. It was a + quarter-past three P.M. when we cast off, the wind then blowing + fresh from the north-east, or about two points on the land, which + caused some surf on the beach. Captain Hoppner had scarcely been + an hour on board <a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a>the Fury, + and was busily engaged in getting the anchors and cables on + board, when we observed some large pieces of not very heavy ice + closing in with the land near her; and at twenty minutes after + the Hecla had cast off, I was informed, by signal, that the Fury + was on shore. Making a tack in shore, but not being able, even + under a press of canvass, to get very near her, owing to a strong + southerly current which prevailed within a mile or two of the + land, I perceived that she had been apparently driven up the + beach by two or three of the grounded masses forcing her onwards + before them, and these, as well as the ship, seemed now so firmly + aground, as entirely to block her in on the seaward side. We also + observed that the bergs outside of her had been torn away, and + set adrift by the ice. As the navigating of the Hecla with only + ten men on board required constant attention and care, I could + not at this time with propriety leave the ship to go on board the + Fury. This, however, I the less regretted, as Captain Hoppner was + thoroughly acquainted with all my views and intentions, and I + felt confident that, under his direction, nothing would be left + undone to endeavour to save the ship. I, therefore, directed him + by telegraph, 'if he thought nothing could be done at present, to + return on board with all hands until the wind changed;' for this + alone, as far as I could see the state of the Fury, seemed to + offer the smallest chance of clearing the shore, so as to enable + us to proceed with our work, or to attempt hauling the ship off + the ground.</p> + + <p>'About seven P.M., Captain Hoppner returned to the Hecla, + accompanied by all hands, except an officer with a party at the + pumps, reporting to me that the Fury had been forced aground by + the ice pressing on the masses lying near her, and bringing home, + if not breaking, the seaward anchor, so that the ship was soon + found <a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a>to have swerved from + two to three feet fore and aft. The several masses of ice had, + moreover, so disposed themselves, as almost to surround her on + every side where there was sufficient depth of water for hauling + her off. With the ship thus situated, and masses of heavy ice + constantly coming in, it was Captain Hoppner's decided opinion, + as well as that of Lieutenants Austin and Ross, that to have laid + out another anchor to seaward would have only been to expose it + to the same danger as there was reason to suppose had been + incurred with the other, without the most distant hope of doing + any service, especially as the ship had been driven on shore by a + most unfortunate coincidence, just as the tide was beginning to + fall. Indeed, in the present state of the Fury, nothing short of + chopping and sawing up a part of the ice under her stern could by + any possibility have effected her release, even if she had been + already afloat. Under such circumstances, hopeless as, for the + time, every seaman will allow them to have been, Captain Hoppner + judiciously determined to return for the present, as directed by + my telegraphic communication; but being anxious to keep the ship + free from water as long as possible, he left an officer and a + small party of men to continue working at the pumps, so long as a + communication could be kept up between the Hecla and the shore. + Every moment, however, decreased the practicability of doing + this; and finding, soon after Captain Hoppner's return, that the + current swept the Hecla a long way to the southward while + hoisting up the boats, and that more ice was drifting in towards + the shore, I was under the painful necessity of recalling the + party at the pumps, rather than incur the risk, now an inevitable + one, of parting company with them altogether. Accordingly Mr. + Bird, with the last of the people, came on board at eight o'clock + in the evening, having left eighteen inches <a name="Page_260" + id="Page_260"></a>water in the well, and four pumps being + requisite to keep her free. In three hours after Mr. Bird's + return, more than half a mile of closely packed ice intervened + between the Fury and the open water in which we were beating, and + before the morning this barrier had increased to four or five + miles in breadth.</p> + + <p>'We carried a press of canvas all night, with a fresh breeze + from the north, to enable us to keep abreast of the Fury, which, + on account of the strong southerly current, we could only do by + beating at some distance from the land. The breadth of the ice + inshore continued increasing during the day, but we could see no + end to the water in which we were beating, either to the + southward or eastward. Advantage was taken of the little leisure + now allowed us to let the people mend and wash their clothes, + which they had scarcely had a moment to do for the last three + weeks. We also completed the thrumming of a second sail for + putting under the Fury's keel, whenever we should be enabled to + haul her off the shore. It fell quite calm in the evening, when + the breadth of the ice inshore had increased to six or seven + miles. We did not, during the day, perceive any current setting + to the southward, but in the course of the night we were drifted + four or five leagues to the south-westward, in which situation we + had a distinct view of a large extent of land, which had before + been seen for the first time by some of our gentlemen, who walked + from where the Fury lay. This land trends very much to the + westward, a little beyond the Fury Point, the name by which I + have distinguished that headland, near which we had attempted to + heave the Fury down, and which is very near the southern part of + the coast seen in the year 1819. It then sweeps round into a + large bay, formed by a long, low beach, several miles in extent, + afterwards joining higher land, and running in a south-easterly + direction to <a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a>a point which + terminated our view of it in that quarter, and which bore from us + S. 58° W., distant six or seven leagues. This headland I + named Cape Garry, after my worthy friend, Nicholas Garry, Esq., + one of the most active members of the Hudson's Bay Company, and a + gentleman most warmly interested in everything connected with + northern discovery. The whole of the bays which I named after my + much esteemed friend, Francis Cresswell, Esq., as well as the + land to the southward, was free from ice for several miles; and + to the southward and eastward scarcely any was to be seen, while + a dark water-sky indicated a perfectly navigable sea in that + direction; but between us and the Fury there was a compact body + of ice eight or nine miles in breadth. Had we now been at liberty + to take advantage of the favourable prospect before us, I have + little doubt we could, without much difficulty, have made + considerable progress.</p> + + <p>'A southerly breeze enabling us to regain our northing, we ran + along the margin of the ice, but were led so much to the eastward + by it, that we could approach the ship no nearer than before + during the whole day. She appeared to us, at this distance, to + have a much greater heel than when the people left her, which + made us still more anxious to get near her. A south-west wind + gave us hopes of the ice setting off from the land, but it + produced no good effect during the whole of the 24th. We + therefore beat again to the southward, to see if we could manage + to get in with the land anywhere about the shores of the bay; but + this was now impracticable, the ice being once more closely + packed there. We could only wait, therefore, in patience for some + alteration in our favour. The latitude at noon was 72° 34' + 57", making our distance from the Fury twelve miles, which by the + following morning had increased to at least five leagues, the ice + continuing to pack between us and the shore. <a name="Page_262" + id="Page_262"></a>The wind, however, now gradually drew round to + the westward, giving us hopes of a change, and we continued to + ply about the margin of the ice in constant readiness for taking + advantage of any opening that might occur. It favoured us so much + by streaming off in the course of the day, that by seven P.M. we + had nearly reached a channel of clear water which kept open for + seven or eight miles from the land. Being impatient to obtain a + sight of the Fury, and the wind becoming light, Captain Hoppner + and myself left the Hecla in two boats, and reached the ship at + half-past nine, or about three-quarters of an hour before high + water, being the most favourable time of tide for arriving to + examine her condition.</p> + + <p>'We found her heeling so much outward, that her main-channels + were within a foot of the water; and the large floe-piece which + was still alongside of her, seemed alone to support her below + water, and to prevent her falling over still more considerably. + The ship had been forced much farther up the beach than before, + and she had now in her bilge above nine feet of water, which + reached higher than the lower-deck beams. On looking down the + stern-post, which, seen against the light-coloured ground, and in + shoal water, was now very distinctly visible, we found that she + had pushed the stones at the bottom up before her, and that the + broken keel, stern-post, and dead wood had, by the recent + pressure, been more damaged and turned up than before. She + appeared principally to hang upon the ground abreast the gangway, + where, at high water, the depth was eleven feet alongside her + keel; forward and aft, from thirteen to sixteen feet; so that at + low tide, allowing the usual fall of five or six feet, she would + be lying in a depth of from five to ten feet only. The first + hour's inspection of the Fury's condition too plainly assured me, + that, exposed as she was, and forcibly pressed up upon an open + and <a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a>stony beach; her holds + full of water, and the damage of her hull, to all appearance and + in all probability, more considerable than before, without any + adequate means of hauling her off to the seaward, or securing her + from the incursions of the ice, every endeavour of ours to get + her off, or <i>if</i> got off, to float her to any known place of + safety, would at once be utterly hopeless in itself, and + productive of extreme risk of our remaining ship.</p> + + <p>'Being anxious, however, in a case of so much importance, to + avail myself of the judgment and experience of others, I directed + Captain Hoppner, in conjunction with Lieutenants Austin and + Sherer, and Mr. Pulfer, carpenter, being the officers who + accompanied me to the Fury, to hold a survey upon her, and to + report their opinions to me. And to prevent the possibility of + the officers receiving any bias from my own opinion, the order + was given to them the moment we arrived on board the Fury.</p> + + <p>'Captain Hoppner and the other officers, after spending + several hours in attentively examining every part of the ship, + both within and without, and maturely weighing all the + circumstances of her situation, gave it as their opinion that it + would be quite impracticable to make her sea-worthy, even if she + could be hauled off, which would first require the water to be + got out of the ship, and the holds to be once more entirely + cleared. Mr. Pulfer, the carpenter of the Fury, considered that + it would occupy five days to clear the ship of water; that if she + were got off, all the pumps would not be sufficient to keep her + free, in consequence of the additional damage she seemed to have + sustained: and that, if even hove down, twenty days' work, with + the means we possessed, would be required for making her + sea-worthy. Captain Hoppner and the other officers were therefore + of opinion, that an absolute necessity existed for abandoning + <a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a>the Fury. My own opinion + being thus confirmed as to the utter hopelessness of saving her, + and feeling more strongly than ever the responsibility which + attached to me of preserving the Hecla unhurt, it was with + extreme pain and regret that I made the signal for the Fury's + officers and men to be sent for their clothes, most of which had + been put on shore with the stores.</p> + + <p>'The Hecla's bower-anchor, which had been placed on the beach, + was sent on board as soon as the people came on shore; but her + remaining cable was too much entangled with the grounded ice to + be disengaged without great loss of time. Having allowed the + officers and men an hour for packing up their clothes, and what + else belonging to them the water in the ship had not covered, the + Fury's boats were hauled up on the beach, and at two A.M. I left + her, and was followed by Captain Hoppner, Lieutenant Austin, and + the last of the people in half an hour after.</p> + + <p>'The whole of the Fury's stores were, of necessity, left + either on board her or on shore; every spare corner that we could + find in the Hecla being now absolutely required for the + accommodation of our double complement of officers and men, whose + cleanliness and health could only be maintained by keeping the + decks as clear and well ventilated as our limited space would + permit. The spot where the Fury was left is in latitude 72° + 42' 30"; the longitude by chronometers is 91° 50' 05"; the + dip of the magnetic needle, 88° 19' 22"; and the variation + 129° 25' westerly.'</p> + + <p>There now remains little more to be told—the accident + that befel the Fury, the lateness of the season, and the crowded + state of the Hecla, deprived Sir Edward Parry of all hopes of + being able that season of accomplishing the object for which the + expedition had been despatched.</p> + + <p>Under all these untoward circumstances, he determined <a name= + "Page_265" id="Page_265"></a>to return to England, and on the 2nd + of September the crew of the Fury were taken on board the Hecla, + the boats hoisted up, the anchor stowed, and the ship's head put + to the north-eastward.</p> + + <p>After a prosperous voyage, the whole of the Hecla and Fury's + crews, with but two exceptions, returned in safety to their + native country, arriving at Sheerness on the 20th of October, in + as good health as when they quitted England eighteen months + before.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant, now Captain Austin has, since these pages were + written, been appointed to the command of an expedition in search + of Sir John Franklin and his brave companions.</p> + + <p>Captain Sir Edward Parry at present holds the appointment of + Superintendent of the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, and Haslar + Hospital, Portsmouth.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The + loss of the Fury is taken from Sir Edward Parry's <i>Voyage + to the North Pole</i>, published by Mr. Murray, who has + kindly allowed it to be inserted in this work.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_MAGPIE" id="THE_MAGPIE"></a>THE MAGPIE.</h2> + + <p>It is a common and no less apposite remark that truth is + stranger than fiction, and the longer we live, the more are we + convinced of the force of the above axiom.</p> + + <p>The story which we are about to relate is one of the most + remarkable incidents in a sailor's life, and, as a tale of + horror, cannot be exceeded even in the pages of romance.</p> + + <p>In the year 1826, the Magpie, a small schooner under the + command of Lieutenant Edward Smith, had been despatched in search + of a piratical vessel, which had committed serious depredations + on the western shores of the Island of Cuba.</p> + + <p>In the prosecution of this object, she was cruizing <a name= + "Page_266" id="Page_266"></a>on the 27th of August, off the + Colorados Roads, at the western extremity of the Island. The day + had been extremely sultry, and towards the evening the schooner + lay becalmed, awaiting the springing up of the land breeze, a + blessing which only those can appreciate who have enjoyed its + refreshing coolness after passing many hours beneath the burning + rays of a tropical sun.</p> + + <p>About eight o'clock a slight breeze sprung up from the + westward, and the vessel was standing under reefed mainsail, + whole foresail, and topsail, and jib. Towards nine, the wind + shifted to the southward, and a small dark cloud was observed + hovering over the land. This ominous appearance, as is well + known, is often the precursor of a coming squall, and seems as if + sent as a warning by Providence.</p> + + <p>The lurid vapour did not escape the practised eye of the mate + of the watch, who immediately reported the circumstance to Mr. + Smith. All hands were turned up, and in a few minutes the + schooner was placed in readiness to encounter the threatened + danger.</p> + + <p>In the meantime, the cloud had gradually increased in size and + density. The slight breeze had died away, and a boding stillness + reigned around. Suddenly a rushing, roaring sound was heard, the + surface of the water, which a moment before was almost without a + ripple, was now covered with one white sheet of foam, the + schooner was taken aback; in vain her commander gave the order to + cut away the masts—it was too late, and in less than three + minutes from the first burst of the squall, the devoted vessel + sunk to rise no more.</p> + + <p>At this fearful juncture, a vivid flash of lightning darted + from the heavens, displaying for a moment, the pale faces of the + crew struggling in the water; the wind ceased as suddenly as it + had begun, and the ocean, as if <a name="Page_267" id= + "Page_267"></a>unconscious of the fearful tragedy that had so + lately been enacted upon its surface, subsided into its former + repose.</p> + + <p>At the moment of the vessel going down, a gunner's mate, of + the name of Meldrum, struck out and succeeded in reaching a pair + of oars that were floating in the water,—to these he clung, + and having divested himself of a part of his clothing, he awaited + in dreadful anxiety the fate of his companions.</p> + + <p>Not a sound met his ear, in vain his anxious gaze endeavoured + to pierce the gloom, but the darkness was too intense. Minutes + appeared like hours, and still the awful silence remained + unbroken; he felt, and the thought was agony, that out of the + twenty-four human beings who had so lately trod the deck of the + schooner, he alone was left. This terrible suspense became almost + beyond the power of endurance, and he already began to envy the + fate of his companions, when he heard a voice at no great + distance inquiring if there was any one near. He answered in the + affirmative, and pushing out in the direction from whence the + sound proceeded, he reached a boat, to which seven persons were + clinging; amongst whom was Lieutenant Smith, the commander of the + sloop.</p> + + <p>So far this was a subject of congratulation; he was no longer + alone; but yet the chances of his ultimate preservation were as + distant as ever.</p> + + <p>The boat, which had been placed on the booms of the schooner, + had fortunately escaped clear of the sinking vessel, and if the + men had waited patiently, was large enough to have saved them + all; but the suddenness of the calamity had deprived them of both + thought and prudence. Several men had attempted to climb in on + one side,—the consequence was, the boat heeled over, became + half filled with water, and then turned keel upper<a name= + "Page_268" id="Page_268"></a>most; and when Meldrum reached her, + he found some stretched across the keel and others hanging on by + the sides.</p> + + <p>Matters could not last long in this way, and Mr. Smith, seeing + the impossibility of any of the party being saved, if they + continued in their present position, endeavoured to bring them to + reason, by pointing out the absurdity of their conduct. To the + honour of the men, they listened with the same respect to their + commander, as if they had been on board the schooner; those on + the keel immediately relinquished their hold, and succeeded, with + the assistance of their comrades, in righting the boat. Two of + their number got into her and commenced baling with their hats, + whilst the others remained in the water, supporting themselves by + the gunwales.</p> + + <p>Order being restored, their spirits began to revive, and they + entertained hopes of escaping from their present peril; but this + was of short duration, and the sufferings which they had as yet + endured, were nothing in comparison with what they had now to + undergo.</p> + + <p>The two men had scarcely commenced baling, when the cry was + heard of—'A shark! a shark!' No words can describe the + consternation which ensued: it is well known the horror sailors + have of these voracious animals, who seem apprised by instinct + when their prey is at hand. All order was at an end, the boat + again capsized, and the men were left struggling in the waters. + The general safety was neglected, and it was every man for + himself; no sooner had one got hold of the boat, than he was + pushed away by another, and in this fruitless contest more than + one life was nearly sacrificed.</p> + + <p>Even in this terrible hour, their commander remained cool and + collected; his voice was still raised in words of encouragement, + and as the dreaded enemy did not make <a name="Page_269" id= + "Page_269"></a>its appearance, he again succeeded in persuading + them to renew their efforts to clear the boat. The night had + passed away—it was about ten o'clock on the morning of the + 28th; the baling had progressed without interruption; a little + more exertion, and the boat would have been cleared, when again + was heard the cry of—'The sharks! the sharks!' But this was + no false alarm; the boat a second time capsized, and the unhappy + men were literally cast amongst a shoal of these terrible + monsters.</p> + + <p>The men, for a few minutes, remained uninjured, but not + untouched; for the sharks actually rubbed against their victims, + and, to use the exact words of one of the survivors, 'frequently + passed over the boat and between us, whilst resting on the + gunwale,' This, however, did not last long; a shriek soon told + the fate of one of the men; a shark had seized him by the leg, + dying the water with his blood; another shriek followed, and + another man disappeared.</p> + + <p>But these facts are almost too horrible to dwell upon; human + nature revolts from so terrible a picture; we will therefore + hurry over this part of our tale.</p> + + <p>Smith had witnessed the sufferings of his followers with the + deepest distress; and although aware that in all probability he + must soon share the same fate, he never for a moment appeared to + think of himself. There were but six men left, and these he + endeavoured to sustain by his example, cheering them on to + further exertions. They had once more recommenced their labours + to clear out the boat, when one of his legs was seized by a + shark. Even whilst suffering the most horrible torture, he + restrained the expression of his feelings, for fear of increasing + the alarm of the men. But the powers of his endurance were doomed + to be tried to the utmost; another limb was scrunched from his + body, and uttering a deep groan, he was about to let go his hold, + when he <a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a>was seized by two of + his men, and placed in the stern sheets.</p> + + <p>Yet when his whole frame was convulsed with agony, the + energies of his mind remained as strong as ever, his own pain was + disregarded, he thought only of the preservation of his crew. + Calling to his side a lad of the name of Wilson, who appeared to + be the strongest of the remaining few, he exhorted him, in the + event of his surviving, to inform the admiral that he was going + to Cape Ontario in search of the pirate when the unfortunate + accident occurred; 'Tell him,' he continued, 'that my men have + done their duty, and that no blame is attached to them. I have + but one favour to ask, and that is, that he will promote Meldrum + to be a gunner.'</p> + + <p>He then shook each man by the hand, and bade them farewell. By + degrees his strength began to fail, and at last became so + exhausted, that he was unable to speak. He remained in this state + until the sunset, when another panic seized the men, from a + reappearance of the sharks. The boat gave a lurch, and the + gallant commander found an end to his sufferings in a watery + grave.</p> + + <p>Thus perished an officer, who, if it had pleased Providence to + preserve, would, in all probability, have been one of the + brightest ornaments of the service. His character combined the + three great qualities which are essential for an officer and a + seaman—courage, coolness, and decision: opportunity only + was wanting to display these parts. If he had succeeded in + capturing the pirate, promotion would without doubt have + followed, and a bright and honourable career have been open to + him. But the ways of Providence are inscrutable; it was ordained + that he should undergo sufferings from which the bravest would + have shrunk with horror. Had he fallen in battle, his name would + have been recorded in <a name="Page_271" id= + "Page_271"></a>history. We hope that our feeble efforts to rescue + the memory of this brave seaman from sinking into oblivion will + not have been in vain, and that his name may find an honourable + place with others who have died in the performance of their + duty.</p> + + <p>The death of their commander was sensibly felt by all, for + they had long known his kindness and courage, and when his body + sank below the waves, their hopes sank also. Mr. Maclean, a mate, + and now the commanding officer, took upon himself to direct the + efforts of his comrades, and did all that lay in his power to + revive their spirits; he assured them that if they once succeeded + in righting the boat, that there was every chance of falling in + with some vessel. But twenty hours of constant fatigue, hunger, + and thirst had made fearful ravages upon the strength of the men. + Night was again approaching, and Maclean could not conceal from + himself, that when darkness came on, the chances of their being + seen by any vessel passing near were further removed than ever. + The sharks had for a time taken their departure, but they might + return at any moment; for having once tasted blood, they were not + likely to be debarred from making another attack. Two more of the + men, either worn out from fatigue, or anxious to escape from + further suffering, threw themselves from their support, and were + drowned.</p> + + <p>The burning sun again set beneath the horizon, but as yet no + sail had been seen upon the waters. Again the land-breeze passed + over the ocean, but it brought no refreshing coolness; it only + reminded them of the weary hours that had elapsed since it was so + anxiously expected, though its results were then far different + from what they had hoped.</p> + + <p>There were but four men left—Maclean, Meldrum, (the + gunner's mate,) Wilson, and another man. These had, by their + united efforts, almost managed to clear the <a name="Page_272" + id="Page_272"></a>boat of water, when, about three o'clock in the + morning, the two latter became delirious, sprung overboard, and + were either seized by the sharks or drowned. It will be + remembered, that it was Wilson who was selected by poor Smith to + convey his last message to the admiral.</p> + + <p>The two survivors for a time forgot their own sufferings in + the horrible scene which they had just witnessed; but this did + not last long; their thoughts soon returned to the necessity of + preserving their own lives. They once more resumed their labours, + and, though nearly exhausted, did not desist until the boat was + almost dry. They then lay down to rest, in comparative security, + and, let us hope, with their hearts filled with gratitude for the + mercies which had already been vouchsafed to them, and + remembering those words of our beautiful Liturgy: 'That it may + please Thee to succour, help, and comfort all that are in danger, + necessity, or tribulation.'</p> + + <p>It is said that sometimes the criminal, the night before his + execution, forgets the fate that awaits him in a deep and + refreshing slumber. These two men, in spite of the horrors they + had undergone, fell into a sound sleep, from which they did not + awake until the sun was high in the heavens; when the horrors of + their situation broke upon them, rendered doubly painful by the + temporary oblivion of the last few hours.</p> + + <p>The sun darted its scorching rays upon the two solitary + beings, who had planted themselves, one in the bows, and the + other in the stern of the boat, with neither oars, mast, sail, + nor provisions of any kind. In vain they strained their gaze in + every direction; nothing was to be seen but a boundless expanse + of waters. Their eyes met, but it needed no words to tell the + hopeless despair which was gnawing at their hearts. No longer was + the loss of their companions regarded with horror; <a name= + "Page_273" id="Page_273"></a>they envied the fate which had + spared them the torture which they themselves were doomed to + suffer:—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>Famine, despair, cold, thirst, and heat had + done<br /></span> <span>Their work on them by turns. + BYRON.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>Death at that moment would have been welcome.</p> + + <p>Hour after hour passed away, but still the boat remained + motionless on the waters. Neither spoke; their hearts were too + full for utterance: in rapid succession, every thought and action + of their lives passed across their minds; home, kindred, friends, + all would be remembered, only again to be banished by the pangs + of hunger and thirst.</p> + + <p>Towards eight o'clock in the morning, the energies of Maclean + and his companion had almost sunk under the accumulated load of + suffering; it was more in despair than with any expectation of + success, that they once again cast their eyes around. But this + time it was not in vain; a white speck was seen in the distance: + both exclaimed, 'A sail! a sail!' and the extravagance of joy was + now equal to their former despair. Still the vessel was several + miles distant, and unless those on board kept a vigilant + look-out, it was more than probable that they would escape + observation.</p> + + <p>Of all the ills to which the human frame is liable, the agony + of suspense is the most intolerable. Hope and fear rose + alternately in their breasts; at one moment, the ship appeared to + be nearing, at another, she seemed further off than ever. The + vessel sped slowly on its course, but to their excited minds the + time seemed interminable. First the white canvas was seen, then + the dark hull became visible; but as yet no signs gave token that + those on board were aware of their proximity.</p> + + <p>The brig, for such she now appeared, could not have been above + half a mile distant, when she suddenly altered <a name="Page_274" + id="Page_274"></a>her course. In vain they both hailed at once, + and waved their jackets as a signal, but no notice was taken; + then, indeed, every hope was dispelled, and the bitterness of + despair returned with redoubled force.</p> + + <p>At this juncture, Meldrum resolved, at all hazards, to attempt + to swim to the vessel. If he remained in the boat, certain death + would be the fate of himself and his companion: on the other + hand, he might perish in the sea, but if he reached the brig, + both would be saved. Without a moment's hesitation, he + communicated his design to Maclean, and then, committing himself + to the pretection of the Almighty, sprang overboard.</p> + + <p>The idea of solitude is so repugnant to human nature, that + even death would be preferable. It can be therefore easily + imagined that it was with feelings almost amounting to agony that + Maclean saw himself separated from his last friend. His first + impulse was to follow his companion, but better judgment + prevailed, and he determined to await the result. Never for a + single instant did his eyes turn from the bold swimmer: they + followed his every stroke. At one time, he thought he had sunk; + at another, the ripple of a wave appeared to his distorted + imagination like the fin of a shark. Anxiety for the fate of his + companion kept his mind on the stretch until distance rendered + the object no longer visible. 'Then, indeed, did he feel that he + was alone.'</p> + + <p>Meldrum was naturally a good swimmer, and every nerve was + strained in this last struggle for life; buoyed up by hope, he + had accomplished about two-thirds of his weary task when his + strength began to fail, his dying eyes turned towards the brig, + and with one last effort he raised his voice. He was heard: a + boat was lowered from the brig, and he was taken on board. The + perilous situation of his comrade was made known; and thus by his + <a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a>gallant exertions were + preserved the lives of the two survivors, of the ill-fated + Magpie.</p> + + <p>This tale might almost be discredited, but the facts from + which it was taken bear the signature of the officers composing + the court-martial who sat upon the two remaining men. Mr. Maclean + is at the present moment alive, and is now serving as a + lieutenant in the coast-guard. Meldrum was promoted for his + gallantry to the rank of gunner, and died two years ago.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_THETIS" id="THE_THETIS"></a>THE THETIS.</h2> + + <p>His Majesty's ship, Thetis, Captain Samuel Burgess, sailed + from Rio Janeiro on the evening of the 4th of December, 1830, + having a large amount of treasure on board. The weather was so + thick, that as they worked out of the harbour, the islands at its + entrance were not visible; but as the evening was tolerably fine, + with the exception of the fog, Captain Burgess determined to + persevere in his course. The following morning the fog dispersed, + but it was soon succeeded by such heavy rain, that the obscurity + was nearly as great as before. The ship continued her course with + the wind upon the starboard tack, until half-past one in the + afternoon, when, from the reckoning, they supposed Cape Frio to + be about thirty-eight miles distant, lying north 36° east. + From the hour of their departure from Rio Janeiro, till the time + of which we speak, neither sun, moon, nor stars had been visible. + On account of the cross sea, which appeared to impede the + progress of the vessel, and the lightness of the wind, her course + was kept east by north until two o'clock, when it was changed + <a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a>to E.N.E. At four o'clock + P.M. it was calculated that they had run about nineteen miles, + and that they must be nearly abreast of Cape Frio, and about + twenty-four miles distant from it. The weather clearing up at + that time, they discovered a large ship, with all sail set, + standing in shore, and no land being visible, they concluded that + they were still further from land than they had reckoned, and + therefore they changed their course again to N.E. by E. At five + o'clock the people were mustered at quarters, and then a looming + of land was seen to the N.N.W., which, according to their + calculation, was the direction Cape Frio would bear; and there + being no land near it that could have the same appearance, the + reckoning was considered correct, and a prudent proportion of + sail was made, regard being had to the state of the weather, and + the course they were steering. Between six and seven o'clock P.M. + the rain again began to fall; the fog returned, and became + gradually so thick, that it was impossible to see the length of + the ship.</p> + + <p>At eight P.M. the watch was mustered, and the men placed at + their stations to keep a vigilant look-out, while the officer of + the watch went forward himself to see that the sails were well + trimmed, and that every one was on the alert. At half-past eight, + when the captain had retired to his cabin, and was waiting for + the usual evening report from the master, a midshipman entered + with the startling intelligence that land had been seen close + ahead, the ship at the time going at the rate of eight or nine + miles an hour.</p> + + <p>Captain Burgess was on deck in a moment; he ordered the helm + to be put 'hard a-port,' and was told it had been done. The next + instant the jib-booms and bowsprit were heard to crash; the + captain hastened to the gangway, and was just in time to see the + foremast go. Scarcely had he called to the men to stand clear, + when <a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a>all the three masts + fell aft, one after the other, covering the deck with masts, + yards, sails, and rigging, and in their fall killing some and + dreadfully mangling others. Within a few feet of the ship rose a + stupendous black rock, against which the surf was raging + violently. The rock was so perpendicular, that both the fore and + main yardarms were (before they fell) scraping against the + granite cliff. The hull, however, did not appear to come in + contact with the rock; but, as if answering the helm, her head + turned off shore, and as she swung round, the larboard quarter + boat was completely smashed between the ship's side and the rock. + Nothing could exceed the alarm that prevailed on board for a few + minutes after the sudden crash. The decks were covered with spars + and rigging, lying pell-mell upon the bodies of those who had + been injured by their fall. The man at the helm had been killed + at his post, and the wheel itself was shivered to atoms; whilst + the darkness of the night, and the roar of the breakers against + the cliff, added to the horrors of a catastrophe of which the + suddenness alone was sufficient to paralyse the energies of the + men.</p> + + <p>Captain Burgess saw that everything depended upon promptitude + and decision: he quickly rallied his people, and order was soon + restored: he then gave directions that the well should be + sounded, and that the men should stand by the small bower + anchor.</p> + + <p>A sentinel was placed to guard the spirit-room, and two small + sails were run up the fore and main-masts, the stumps of which + were from twelve to fifteen feet above the deck, and the helm was + put to starboard. The winches were next manned, and guns, + rockets, and blue lights let off in rapid succession.</p> + + <p>The well was reported dry; orders were given for the small + bower anchor to be let go, but it was found covered with the + wreck of the bowsprit, and it was necessary to <a name="Page_278" + id="Page_278"></a>cut away the best bower in order to keep the + ship off shore; and for the same purpose every spar that could be + obtained was made use of to bear her off the rocky cliffs, but in + vain, for from the depth of the water, the anchor did not reach + the bottom, and the stern tailed upon a shelving rock in spite of + all their efforts. The men were next ordered to clear away the + boats and get them ready—but they were found totally + destroyed. Those on the quarters had been smashed by the rocks, + and those on the booms and stern by the falling of the masts. + During the whole of this anxious period, the conduct of the men + was most exemplary. Aware that all depended upon individual + exertion, each one appeared to emulate the example set by his + officers, and worked with hearty good will; not a single instance + of anything like bad conduct occurred.</p> + + <p>Their condition was most disheartening; the boats were no + longer available; the water was gaining on the vessel; and the + rockets and blue lights, as they darted into the air, served but + to show them the rugged face of the high rocks, which appeared to + afford no footing by which the summit could be gained, even if + they should be so fortunate as to reach them at all.</p> + + <p>Whilst all on board were weighing these chances of destruction + or of safety, the vessel's head had gone round off, and a few + succeeding heavy surfs threw her again with her starboard quarter + upon the rock, and whilst she was in this position, there + appeared a possibility of getting some of the people on shore. + Captain Burgess, therefore, ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to do + everything in his power to facilitate such a proceeding, and + shortly afterwards that officer, Mr. Mends, midshipman, and about + seventy others, effected a landing by jumping either from the + broken end of the mainyard, which was lying across the ship, or + from the hammock <a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a>netting + abaft the mizenmast; several others who attempted to land in the + same way were less fortunate; some were crushed to death, and + some drawn back by the recoil of the surf and drowned.</p> + + <p>From the time the ship first struck, the current had been + carrying her along the cliffs at the rate of at least a quarter + of a mile an hour; it now carried her off the rock, and she + drifted along shore, a helpless wreck, at the mercy of the winds + and waves. The captain saw that nothing more could be done for + the vessel, and therefore he directed all his energies to the + preservation of the crew. The marine who had been appointed to + guard the spirit-room still remained at his post, and never left + it till commanded to do so by his superior officer, even after + the water had burst open the hatch. We mention this as an + instance of the effect of good discipline in times of the + greatest peril.</p> + + <p>The vessel, or rather the wreck, was now carried towards a + small cove, into which she happily drifted; she struck heavily + against the rocks, then gave some tremendous yauls, and gradually + sunk until nothing was left above water but the bows, the broken + bowsprit, and the wreck of the masts as they laid on the + booms.</p> + + <p>All on board deemed that the crisis of their fate had + arrived,—and they prepared for the final struggle between + life and death. There were some moments of awful suspense, for + every lurch the ill-fated vessel gave, was expected to be the + last; but when she seemed to sink no deeper, there came the hope + that her keel had touched the bottom, and that they should not + all he engulfed in a watery grave.</p> + + <p>Before she sunk, the frigate's bows had gone so close into the + rocks as to enable some sixty or seventy people to jump on shore; + and a hawser was got out and fixed to a rock, by which several + others were saved; but by a <a name="Page_280" id= + "Page_280"></a>tremendous surge, the piece of rock to which the + hawser was fastened was broken away, and for a time all + communication with the land was suspended. They tried every means + that could be devised to convey a rope from the ship to the land, + but for a long time without success, until Mr. Geach, the + boatswain, swung himself on the stump of the bowsprit, and by + making fast two belaying pins to the end of a line, he succeeded + in throwing it on shore. To this a stronger cable was bent, and + it was dragged through the surf by the people on the rocks, who + then kept it taut.</p> + + <p>Although a few words only are required to describe the mode by + which a communication was established between the ship and the + shore, yet it had been a work of toil, time, and danger. The + boatswain had more than once nearly lost his life by being washed + away by the waves as they swept over the wreck; the captain, who + directed his proceedings, was standing up to his middle in water, + upon one foot only, frequently losing his hold, and with great + difficulty regaining his position.</p> + + <p>The boatswain, when the preparations were completed, suggested + that, in order to test the strength of the cable, a boy should be + the first to make a trial of it; accordingly, a young lad was + firmly secured to a sort of cradle or bowling knot, and drawn on + shore in safety. The success of the attempt was announced by a + loud cheer from the strand, and the captain then took upon + himself to direct the landing of the rest of the crew by the same + means. He stationed himself on the knight head, so as to prevent + a general rush being made; he then called each man separately, + and one by one they slung themselves upon the rope and were swung + on shore. Nothing could exceed the good conduct displayed by the + whole of the ship's company, every order was promptly obeyed, and + the utmost patience and firmness exhibited by every + individual.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a>When the greater part of + the people had quitted the wreck, there still remained several + who could not be induced even by the earnest and repeated + entreaties of their commander to leave their <i>dry</i> position + on the yards. The strength of the captain and boatswain was + almost exhausted, and as they could not persuade any more of the + men to avail themselves of the proffered means of safety, they + were obliged, though very reluctantly, to leave them on the + wreck, and they themselves joined the crew on the rocks.</p> + + <p>In the course of an hour or two, however, the party who had + stayed by the wreck, took courage and ventured upon the rope; but + as the stump of the bowsprit, which was over the larboard + cathead, rendered it extremely hazardous to come forward, they + did not all get on shore till daylight. In the morning, Captain + Burgess's first care was to muster his men, and a melancholy + spectacle presented itself. Sixteen were missing, and of those + who were gathered around him, many had been dreadfully bruised + and lacerated in their efforts to reach the shore. Amongst those + who perished was a fine spirited lad, the son of Captain Bingham, + late commander of the Thetis. But a few months before, Captain + Bingham himself had been drowned in the Guayaquil: thus father + and son lay far from their native land, beneath the western + flood.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span>The warlike of the isles,<br /></span> <span>The men of + field and wave,<br /></span> <span>Are not the rocks their + funeral piles,<br /></span> <span>The seas and shores their + grave?<br /></span> <span>Go, stranger! track the + deep—<br /></span> <span>Free, free, the white sail + spread;<br /></span> <span>Wind may not rove, nor billows + sweep,<br /></span> <span>Where rest not England's + dead.<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>The crew of the Thetis had now time to look around them, and + to consider what was next to be done. The <a name="Page_282" id= + "Page_282"></a>prospect was a sad one. Before them, and almost + hidden by the white foam, lay the once noble frigate, now a + complete wreck; the cove into which she had drifted was bound by + lofty and precipitous crags, arising abruptly from the sea, and + varying in height from 80 to 194 feet. The men and officers were + perched in groups on points of the rocks; few of them had + clothing enough to cover them, and scarcely any had shoes. There + seemed to be no means of ascending the precipice; but to do so + must be their first object; and anxiously they sought for some + part which might offer a surer footing, and a less perilous and + perpendicular ascent. At last they succeeded in casting a rope + round one of the projecting crags, and by help of this some of + the strongest of the party climbed the giddy height, and then + assisted in hauling up their weaker comrades.</p> + + <p>To give some idea of the difficulties which they had to + surmount, and their almost miraculous escape, we subjoin the + following description of the place from the pen of Captain + Dickenson:—</p> + + <p>'The coast is formed of rugged and almost perpendicular rocks, + varying from 80 to 194 feet in height, a peak rising at each + point, and another in nearly the centre of the north-eastern + side.</p> + + <p>'On viewing this terrific place, with the knowledge that at + the time of the shipwreck the wind was from the southward, I was + struck with astonishment, and it appeared quite a mystery that so + great a number of lives could have been saved; and indeed it will + never cease to be so, for that part on which the crew landed is + so difficult of access, that (even in fine weather) after being + placed by a boat on a rock at the base, it required considerable + strength and agility, with the assistance of a man-rope, to climb + the precipitous face of the cliff, and I am certain that in the + hour of extreme peril, when <a name="Page_283" id= + "Page_283"></a>excess of exertion was called forth, there must + have been a most extraordinary display of it by a few for the + benefit of the whole.'</p> + + <p>When the party were all safely landed on the top of the rocks, + they perceived that they were on an island without inhabitants, + and affording no shelter, except a few huts, that had been + erected for the convenience of the natives curing fish. + Fortunately these huts contained a considerable quantity of salt + fish and farina. This was placed in charge of the purser, and + immediately distributed amongst the ship's company, who stood in + great need of refreshment. As soon as the men were sufficiently + recovered from their fatigues, they were despatched in parties in + all directions, to discover means of communicating with the + mainland, from which the island was a few miles distant. Most of + them soon returned with the tidings that no means of transport + could be procured. This was a very disheartening announcement; + but its effects were quickly dispelled by the appearance of a + canoe coming into the little cove where the huts were + situated.</p> + + <p>The seamen made signals to the men in the canoe, inviting them + to approach, which they did; and when they came up, they + communicated the welcome intelligence, that round a point to the + left, on the mainland, there was a village which afforded all + kinds of accommodation.</p> + + <p>Captain Burgess then ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to go in a + canoe, with two or three of his men, to this village, and there + to make arrangements for proceeding to the commander-in-chief at + Rio Janeiro, and to send off as many canoes as he could procure + to convey the ship's company to the mainland.</p> + + <p>In a short time several canoes arrived at the island, and Mr. + Drake, the purser of the Thetis, was amongst <a name="Page_284" + id="Page_284"></a>the first sent off to the village, with + directions to despatch a sufficient quantity of provisions for + the people on the rock; but after making two or three trips + between the parties, Mr. Wilson, the master's assistant, returned + in one of the canoes to say, that the natives refused to come + again without being paid. In this dilemma, Captain Burgess went + across himself, and by dint of persuasion and promises of + payment, he at last induced some of the natives to go to the + assistance of his people; and in the course of a few hours as + many were conveyed to the village as was deemed prudent. It was + necessary to leave some men to look after the wreck; and to this + duty Lieutenant Otway, Mr. Mends, midshipman, the gunner, + carpenter, four marines, and thirty-three seamen, were appointed: + they therefore remained on the island; and before night Captain + Burgess had the satisfaction of seeing all the rest of his crew, + if not very comfortably lodged, at least safe and under shelter. + In the evening, Lieutenant Hamilton set out overland to Rio + Janeiro to apprise the commander-in-chief of the loss of the + Thetis, and the distressing situation of her men.</p> + + <p>The following morning the people had great difficulty in + hiring canoes, and only one could be obtained, in which + Lieutenant West and the boatswain went off to the wreck, where + they were for several days actively employed. None of the men + were allowed to be idle, for they had full occupation in carrying + wood and water, which were only to be found at a great + distance.</p> + + <p>The behaviour of the local authorities was disgraceful in the + extreme; although fully aware of the destitute condition of the + Englishmen who had been cast upon their shores, they denied them + the most trifling assistance, and turned a deaf ear to every + entreaty and remonstrance.</p> + + <p>Money! money! was the constant cry. In vain <a name="Page_285" + id="Page_285"></a>Captain Burgess assured them that the little he + had saved was almost expended; but that as soon as assistance + should arrive from his countrymen, every article should be paid + for. All his arguments and promises were thrown away upon the + natives, whose rapacity knew no bounds; they would give nothing + without payment, and their charges were exorbitant.</p> + + <p>Captain Burgess was so exasperated at one of these natives, + who had agreed to let the crew have a small bullock, but, upon + finding there was no money to pay for it, had driven it away, + that he thought it almost justifiable to desire his men to help + themselves. There was, however, one bright exception to this + universal hard-heartedness. A sergeant, named Antonio das Santos, + who commanded a small fort of three guns, seeing the + unwillingness of the natives to render any aid to the strangers, + came forward and asked if anything was wanted that he could + supply. Captain Burgess replied, that both his officers and men + stood in great need of food, and that a loan of money for present + use would be very acceptable. The sergeant immediately placed in + the captain's hands forty milreas in copper, and most generously + put at his disposal everything he possessed. The example of this + noble-hearted fellow had no effect on the conduct of the rest; + their great object seemed to be to make as much gain as possible + by the misfortunes of their fellow-creatures, and they went so + far as to plunder the wreck, breaking open the chests, and taking + possession of their contents whenever an opportunity + occurred.</p> + + <p>In order to attract the notice of vessels passing near, two + flag-staffs had been erected upon the heights, with the ensign + downwards; but day after day passed on, and no friendly sail + appeared. The cupidity of the natives was insatiable, and + provisions became more and more <a name="Page_286" id= + "Page_286"></a>scarce. It was not until the 15th of December, ten + days after the loss of the Thetis, that a vessel was seen in the + offing. She proved to be the Algerine, which arrived most + opportunely, when they were almost reduced to extremity, and + brought them the articles of which they were in greatest + need.</p> + + <p>The next day, just after the Algerine had entered the harbour + of Cape Frio, Admiral Baker arrived with a necessary supply of + money. He had attempted the sea-passage from Rio Janeiro, for + three days, in his barge, but had been obliged to put back on + account of the current, and had then performed the journey of + seventy miles overland in forty-eight hours. From the admiral, + Captain Burgess had the satisfaction of hearing that the Druid, + Clio, Adelaide, and a French brig of war might be hourly + expected.</p> + + <p>These all arrived in due course, and took on board the + officers and men of the late Thetis, who were safely landed at + Rio Janeiro on the 24th of December.</p> + + <p>In conclusion, we cannot refrain from noticing the firmness + and presence of mind evinced by Captain Burgess under the most + appalling circumstances. After having adopted every available + means for saving the ship without effect, he superintended for + many hours the disembarkation of the crew, and during all that + tedious process he was standing in a heavy surf up to the middle + in water; nor could he be persuaded to quit the wreck until not + one more of his officers or men would consent to go before him. + Respecting the conduct of the officers and men, we cannot do + better than lay before our readers Captain Burgess's own estimate + of its merits.</p> + + <p>'I owe,' he says, 'to the whole of my officers and men (and + which most sincerely and unreservedly I render,) the meed of + praise due to the conduct of every one, without exception. It was + their prompt obedience to <a name="Page_287" id= + "Page_287"></a>all my orders, and the firmness, fortitude, and + alacrity which they perseveringly as well as patiently displayed + amidst their great perils, sufferings, and privations, through + the whole of this trying scene, that contributed, under + Providence, to the saving of so many of their lives.</p> + + <p>'Their subsequent orderly and excellent conduct on shore as + much bespeaks my approbation; and, in truth, the general + character of their conduct throughout has induced an esteem in me + which it is impossible can ever cease but with my life.'<a name= + "FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href= + "#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + + <p>Captain Samuel Burgess entered the navy in 1790, and served on + board the Impregnable at the victory of the 1st of June, 1794. He + was almost constantly employed from that time until the year + 1804, when he was appointed a lieutenant on board the Prince, of + 98 guns, in which ship he was present at the battle of + Trafalgar.</p> + + <p>He next served on board the Dreadnought, 98, and subsequently + was appointed to the command of the Pincher, a 12-gun brig, + employed in the North Sea and Baltic. Whilst in command of this + vessel, Lieutenant Burgess distinguished himself on many + occasions, particularly in assisting Lord George Stuart in + reducing the batteries of Cuxhaven and Bremerleke. His next + appointment was to the Vixen gun-brig; and although he might well + have expected promotion for his services, he remained lieutenant + until the year 1816, when he was appointed to the Queen + Charlotte, in which ship he <a name="Page_288" id= + "Page_288"></a>served as flag-lieutenant to Lord Exmouth at the + bombardment of Algiers. Upon the arrival of the dispatches in + England, Lieutenant Burgess was promoted to the rank of + commander. He received his post rank on the 27th November, 1830, + when he took the command of the Thetis. A more lengthened + statement of the services of this officer will be found in + O'Byrne's <i>Naval Biography</i>, to which work we are indebted + for the above sketch.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> The + greater part of the treasure lost with the Thetis (806,000 + dollars) has subsequently been recovered. An interesting + description of the means used for raising it will be found in + a volume published by Captain Dickenson.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_FIREFLY" id="THE_FIREFLY"></a>THE FIREFLY.</h2> + + <p>The Firefly, a small schooner, with a crew of about fifty men, + was proceeding on her voyage from Belize to Jamaica, on the 27th + of February, 1835. The wind had been moderate during the day, and + as they were steering a course laid down in the chart, no danger + was anticipated.</p> + + <p>Between nine and ten o'clock at night, the greater part of the + crew, with the exception of those whose duty it was to be upon + deck, had retired below, when the seaman in charge of the watch + reported to the commander, Lieutenant Julius McDonnell, that it + was very dark ahead. He instantly went upon deck, when the sound + of surf breaking upon rocks was distinctly heard. The helm was + put down, under the hopes of staying the vessel, but as the wind + was light, and a heavy swell setting in at the time, she did not + come round, but getting stern-way, struck with a shock which made + every timber vibrate, and appeared to threaten instant + destruction to the vessel. All were in a moment upon deck; the + sweeps were got out on the larboard side, the best <a name= + "Page_289" id="Page_289"></a>bower anchor let go, and the boats + hoisted out, and ordered to sound, whilst the cutter was sent to + carry out the stream anchor. The cable was then held taut, but + snapped almost immediately: the best bower came home, and the + small bower was let go. In the meantime, the wind had shifted to + the northward, and was blowing in heavy squalls, and their small + bower anchor, which was their sole dependence, came home.</p> + + <p>Everything that could be done was put into practice to save + the vessel, but all in vain; and when daylight broke, her + commander saw that there was nothing now left him but to take + measures for preserving the lives of the crew.</p> + + <p>For this purpose, all the officers and men were set to work to + construct rafts, as the boats were not sufficient to contain the + whole of the crew. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, + one raft was completed, and the cutter and gig prepared to + receive the men. The vessel was all this time rapidly breaking + up; the bolts of her keelson and the stempost had started; the + deck was broken in, and there was but little hope of her holding + together many hours.</p> + + <p>One officer, Mr. Nopps, the master's assistant, had been + placed in the cutter, to prevent the men from taking away + anything save the clothes they had on. Eighteen were already in + the boat, including Captain West (an engineer officer) and his + son, and fifteen were mustered in the raft, which was lashed to + the larboard of the wreck, when from some accident the raft got + adrift, and was carried away by the current. This proved most + unfortunate, as the raft was their great resource; and all on + board of her would inevitably have perished, had not the cutter + pushed out to their assistance. A rope was fastened to the raft, + and they attempted to tow her back to the schooner; but as the + cutter had only <a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a>four oars, + and the wind set so strong to the southward, they were unable to + reach the schooner.</p> + + <p>Those who remained upon the wreck had only the gig left; and + as this could contain but a few, Lieutenant McDonnell thought it + advisable to direct an officer to take on board the sick, and + proceed for assistance to Belize, and if he fell in with the + cutter to send her back to the schooner. The gig accordingly + shoved off, but again returned, in consequence of an accident + having happened to the mast; this being remedied, she again + pulled away from the wreck and having fallen in with the cutter, + communicated the orders of Mr. McDonnell for her return. This, as + has before been shown, was impossible, and the gig having taken + on board Captain West and his son, parted from the cutter, with + the intention of proceeding to Belize.</p> + + <p>When Lieutenant McDonnell saw that the cutter did not return, + he directed and assisted the men who remained upon the wreck to + construct a second raft. This, after considerable labour, was + completed by the following morning: it was then launched + overboard, and made fast to the rocks within the reef. As the + wreck still held together, Mr. McDonnell considered it prudent to + remain by her as long as possible, in the hope that some + assistance might arrive from Belize: but in this he was + disappointed. In the meantime, another and stronger raft had been + formed from the after part of the quarter-deck, which had been + broken up by the sea; this also was launched, and brought forward + under the bows. The men almost hoped against hope, but yet no + assistance arrived. Fortunately, the weather was partially + moderate, but still the sufferings, from exposure to the weather, + and the deprivation of proper food, were severely felt; and + Lieutenant McDonnell determined, under all these circumstances, + to wait no longer, and on <a name="Page_291" id= + "Page_291"></a>the 4th of March everything was in readiness to + quit the wreck. A small barrel of bread was placed on the raft, + but this was immediately washed off into the sea. A beaker + one-third full of rum was then fastened more securely, and this + was the only thing that they could take with them.</p> + + <p>All having embarked, they started with the intention of + steering towards a cay which was in sight, but the current proved + too strong, and the raft was swept into deep water. The sail was + then set, and they steered in the direction of what was supposed + to be a wreck, or vessel, in the same situation as themselves; + but on nearing, it proved to be a sand-bore, on which people were + distinctly seen walking to and fro. They immediately conjectured + that these must be the crew of one of the boats, a supposition + which afterwards proved to be correct. Every effort was made to + gain the bank, but the current was too strong, and they found it + impossible to reach any part of the reef.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant McDonnell, who had been suffering some days from + ill health, was now so exhausted that he was obliged to be + supported upon the raft. He was, therefore, unable to give any + commands; and, after a short consultation, it was considered best + to stand out to sea, in the hopes of falling in with some vessel. + The night had set in, and they steered a course westward. On the + following morning a white bottom was seen, but immediately + afterwards the raft was again in deep water. All this time they + had nothing to eat; their sole subsistence being a small quantity + of rum, which was served out at stated intervals.</p> + + <p>The following morning, about eight o'clock, land was observed + right ahead, and they endeavoured to steer in that direction; but + their progress, from the heavy construction of the raft, was + necessarily very slow, and it <a name="Page_292" id= + "Page_292"></a>was not until sunset that they found themselves + about nine or ten miles from the shore. All the next night they + stood in the same direction; and about four or five o'clock in + the morning, as near as they could guess, they were cast by the + surf upon the beach. Utterly prostrate with the fatigues they had + undergone, they threw themselves upon the sand, and soon found in + sleep a brief forgetfulness of their past cares and troubles. + They did not awake for many horn's, when, upon looking around, + they discovered that the commander was absent. This, however, + gave them no uneasiness, as it was supposed that he had gone in + search of assistance. The first object was to proceed in quest of + water, of which they stood in most need. They had gone for more + than a mile without finding anything to moisten their lips, or + any signs of habitation, when one of the men discovered a + cocoa-nut tree: here was both food and drink, and with avidity + they seized upon the fruit, and found relief from their most + urgent wants.</p> + + <p>Amongst the party who were cast on shore were Mr. Malcolm, a + master's assistant, and Mr. Price, a merchant; these, with the + rest of the men, proceeding a little further into the woods, + became so fatigued that they were obliged to return to the place + where they were first cast, whilst their companions prosecuted + the search for Lieutenant McDonnell, whose continued absence had + given the greatest alarm.</p> + + <p>About one o'clock, some of the men returned, but brought no + tidings of the commander; they said that the rest of the men had + determined to walk round the cay, as they conjectured the place + on which they were cast was Ambegris Cay, and more especially as + Mr. Price, who had been long a resident at Honduras, had assured + them that to the south-east there was a plantation belonging to + one of his friends.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a>About two hours + afterwards the men returned, but neither their endeavours to find + a habitation nor any traces of Lieutenant McDonnell had been + successful. They said that it had been their intention to walk + round the cay, but from the appearance of the coast, they did not + think it was possible to do so that day. It was then proposed + that they should rest where they were during night, and renew + their search at an early hour next morning.</p> + + <p>Whilst they were sitting on the beach, one of the men thought + he saw Mr. McDonnell running in the surf, about half a mile + distant. Ritchie, the gunner's mate, immediately proceeded in the + direction where he was supposed to be, and found that unfortunate + officer in a state of delirium. He endeavoured to persuade him to + come down to where the rest of the men were assembled, but a few + incoherent words were his only reply. Ritchie was, therefore, + obliged to return to his comrades for assistance; and having + communicated the sad condition of their officer, they all + proceeded together to the spot where he was last seen, but found + no traces of the commander. Search was made in every direction, + but in vain; and as night was approaching, they were reluctantly + obliged to return to the place which they had fixed upon as their + rendezvous. In their way thither they gathered some more + cocoa-nuts, and having satisfied their hunger and thirst, lay + down to rest, under the canopy of heaven, and with no softer bed + than what the sandy beach afforded.</p> + + <p>The next morning the men again declared their intention of + walking in search of the plantation mentioned by Mr. Price. Mr. + Malcolm, who had become the senior officer in the absence of Mr. + McDonnell, advised them to remain where they were, and to build a + hut, and dig a well for water; he assured them that, as long as + there was <a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a>a plentiful supply + of cocoa-nuts, they could not starve, and that the chances were, + assistance would arrive. All was, however, to no purpose; they + would not listen to any argument, and even disregarded his + authority. It was as much as he could do to insist upon their + first going in search of their commander.</p> + + <p>After a long time employed for this purpose, they discovered + Mr. McDonnell asleep beneath a parmetta tree. Upon hearing + footsteps approaching, he awoke, but in such a feeble state that + he was unable to rise without assistance, and from the wildness + of his manner, there was too much reason to fear that his reason + had fled. They gave him some cocoa-nut milk, which he eagerly + drank, and this appeared to give him some relief. With difficulty + they made him comprehend that they intended to proceed to the + plantation for assistance, but he refused to join them, alleging + that a boat was coming for him. In a short time he appeared a + little more collected, and agreed to join the expedition. There + still remained a small supply of rum, and a portion of this being + poured into some empty cocoa-nuts, it was distributed equally + amongst the men, and they all commenced their journey, the men + about 200 yards ahead, and Mr. McDonnell, supported by Malcolm + and Mr. Price, brought up the rear.</p> + + <p>After proceeding in this way about two miles, Mr. McDonnell's + strength utterly failed, and he sank down upon the ground, + declaring that he could go no further; every entreaty was urged + to persuade him to make another effort, but both the powers of + the mind and body had deserted the unfortunate officer, and + Malcolm and his companion were at a loss to know what course to + pursue. After a brief consultation they determined to leave Mr. + McDonnell, and as soon as they reached the plantation, which Mr. + Price declared could not be far distant, return with + assistance.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a>They then once more + resumed their journey, the men proceeding ahead as before; in the + middle of the day they stopped to rest, and again resumed their + march until about an hour before sunset, when they arrived at two + cocoa-nut trees; and as these formed not only a place of shelter, + but also a means of procuring food, they determined to remain + there for the night. The men who had climbed up the trees, and + were gathering fruit, descried a pond, or creek, in the wood, + about half a mile distant. Mr. Price then observed, if that was + the case, they were on the mainland, and not on Ambegris Cay.</p> + + <p>They were now in a great dilemma, for they were uncertain + which way to proceed, and Mr. Malcolm endeavoured to persuade the + men to return to the beach, assuring them that it was quite + useless their proceeding any further, for they did not know where + they were going; but they turned a deaf ear to every argument, + declaring that they would walk as long as they were able. Mr. + Price, the merchant, agreed with the rest of the men, and urged + them to continue their journey, in the hopes that they might be + seen by some coasting boats going to Belize. This was Saturday + night; and after toiling all day, they had only walked ten miles + from where they had left Mr. McDonnell. The next morning Mr. + Malcolm again entreated the men to remain, but it was of no + avail, and they recommenced their march.</p> + + <p>The men continued to walk together until Tuesday evening, + subsisting upon cocoa-nuts, which they gathered on their way, + when Malcolm was obliged to be left behind, as he was unable to + walk any further. The next morning he was found by some natives, + and taken to Ambegris Cay, where the men had arrived the previous + evening.</p> + + <p>We must now return to the fate of the cutter, which <a name= + "Page_296" id="Page_296"></a>it will be remembered left the wreck + on the morning of the 28th of February, taking the raft in tow. + They endeavoured to return to the schooner, but the current + proving too strong, they were obliged to abandon the attempt, and + ran before the wind until they made a sand-bore, on the south end + of the reef, about an hour afterwards.</p> + + <p>They then cut the raft adrift, and landed the men that were in + the cutter, sending the boat back with two men to carry the rest + off the raft, as it was impossible to bring the raft to the + sand-bore. It was about seven o'clock in the evening when they + were all safely landed, the cutter being at this time in such a + condition, that she could not have floated, even in smooth water, + without baling.</p> + + <p>They then dragged the boat up the beach, where they remained + until daylight next morning, the 1st of March. Mr. Nopps, + master's-assistant, who was the commanding officer of the party, + determined to leave the majority of the men on the sand-bore, and + proceed to the wreck; he accordingly started with five men in the + cutter, in hopes of reaching the schooner, but as it blew + strongly from the northward, and the boat had no jib or mizen, + and the mainmast and sprit sprung, they found it impossible to + beat to windward. In this condition, as there was no appearance + of the wind abating, and nothing to eat except some salt pork, + and only two beakers of water, one of which had been drunk during + the night, Mr. Nopps considered it his duty to take the boat with + these five men, and run for the first place they could fetch, + hoping to reach Belize, which was nearly before the wind.</p> + + <p>For two days they scudded before the wind, without being able + to set any sail, and had passed at least forty miles to the + southward of Belize, before the wind abated; during this time + they suffered severely from want of <a name="Page_297" id= + "Page_297"></a>water, the last beaker having been finished, and + the salt pork increasing their thirst. It was not until twelve + o'clock on Tuesday, the 3rd of March, that they arrived in Belize + roads, and were taken on board the Fly.</p> + + <p>Here they received every attention that was necessary, and Mr. + Rogers, the master of the Fly, accompanied by Mr. Nopps, was + despatched in the Governor's schooner to the assistance of the + men who were left on the sand-bore, and of the others who were + still supposed to be upon the wreck.</p> + + <p>On the following Friday, the 6th of March, they reached the + sand-bore, and having taken off the men, proceeded to the wreck, + where they found only two men, from whom they learnt that + Lieutenant McDonnell, and the rest of the people, had quitted the + wreck two days previously. Pilot boats were then sent in search, + and another party explored the coast; and after visiting Long + Bay, without hearing any tidings, returned to Belize.</p> + + <p>In the course of two days, a boat arrived with the eight men + who had been with McDonnell, who reported that they had left that + officer, almost dead, in the wood.</p> + + <p>Mr. Nopps again departed in a pilot-boat in search of his + commander, but when he reached Ambegris Cay, the boat was unable + to beat up outside the breakers, and it came on to blow so + violently during the night, that they were prevented from + landing; the following day they were more successful, and Mr. + Nopps walked up the coast. For two days his search proved + useless, but on the third he had the pleasure of finding Mr. + McDonnell still alive, in a hut, under the care of some Indians. + After the lapse of two days, he was so far recovered as to be + taken on board the pilot-boat, and arrived next morning at Belize + Bay.</p> + + <p>It would have been happy if all connected with the <a name= + "Page_298" id="Page_298"></a>Firefly had been equally fortunate. + The gig, which had been sent from the wreck to Belize for + assistance, was found several days afterwards cast upon the + beach, broken in two, and all in her must have perished.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant McDonnell was promoted to the rank of commander in + 1846, and at present is unemployed.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_AVENGER" id="THE_AVENGER"></a>THE AVENGER.</h2> + + <p>The Avenger, a steam frigate, with an armament of 6 heavy guns + and 280 men, sailed from Gibraltar on the afternoon of the 17th + of December, 1847. As her commander, Captain Charles G.E. Napier, + was anxious to spare the coal, the steam was reduced to the least + possible degree, leaving sufficient to work the wheels up to the + rate of sailing. On Monday, the 20th, the steamer was running + with square yards, at the rate of eight or nine knots an hour, + steering about east by south, under double-reefed topsails and + reefed foresail. At eight o'clock in the evening the usual watch + was placed, with directions to keep a careful look-out. The night + was dark and squally, with a high sea running, and occasionally + loud peals of thunder were heard, accompanied with vivid flashes + of lightning.</p> + + <p>Most of the officers were collected in the gun-room, with the + exception of the captain, who had retired to his sleeping cabin. + He had directed his steward to request the attendance of the + master, and of Mr. Betts, the second master, who soon joined him + in the cabin, where they remained for a few minutes examining the + charts. The captain's steward relates, that the above officers + went <a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a>upon deck, when Captain + Napier desired him to take away the light, and to leave a small + lamp burning in the fore-cabin, which was always kept alight at + sea during the night. He accordingly did so, and returned to his + berth. In about half-an-hour afterwards he heard some one come + down from the quarter-deck, and go into the captain's cabin. In + about five minutes the captain went upon deck, where he remained + for a short time, and again returned to his cabin, but had + scarcely closed the door, before he was summoned upon deck by the + officer of the watch.</p> + + <p>The officers in the gun-room were upon the point of retiring + to their berths, when they were startled by a sudden jerk, which + they at first supposed to be a gun broken adrift, but the next + moment the ship gave a heavy lurch, as if filling, and her whole + frame appeared shaken, and every beam loosened. It would be in + vain to attempt to describe the dismay of the crew of the + ill-fated Avenger, when thus roused from a sense of comparative + security, to find themselves in an instant upon the verge of + destruction. Already the deck was crowded with people, most of + them only partially clothed, and the rest almost naked. On the + bridge between the paddle-boxes stood the captain and master; Mr. + Ayling, the master's assistant, the quarter-master, and two + seamen were at the wheel. In another minute the ship gave a heavy + lurch to starboard, and the sea poured over the forecastle. The + captain then gave the order, 'Out boats—lower away the + boats.' These were his last words, for he was immediately + afterwards washed overboard and drowned.</p> + + <p>Lieutenant Rooke, who never appears to have lost his presence + of mind, immediately went forward to assist in lowering the + boats, but under the firm impression that <a name="Page_300" id= + "Page_300"></a>the ship was fast sinking, and with little hope + that there was time enough to get out the boats, or even if + lowered, that they could live in such a heavy sea. He saw, + however, if anything was to be done, it must be done immediately; + he therefore went amongst the men endeavouring to persuade them + to lower the starboard cutter; Mr. Betts, the second master, at + the same time attempted to lower the port one. Every entreaty and + persuasion that Lieutenant Rooke could use was, however, of no + avail; the men seemed paralysed with the sudden panic and the + apparent helplessness of their situation. Instead of affording + assistance, they clustered together, exclaiming, 'Oh, my God, + Sir, we are lost—we are lost!' Mr. Rooke, finding that all + his arguments were of no avail, crossed the deck to the port side + for the purpose of helping Mr. Betts in lowering the port cutter. + In his way he met Larcom, the gunner, who had just come from + below, with his clothes under his arm, having been in bed when + the ship struck. Hastily acquainting him with his intention, they + made the best of their way to the cutter, where they were joined + by Dr. Steel, the surgeon, Mr. Ayling, master's-assistant, John + Owen, a stoker, James Morley, a boy, and W. Hills, captain's + steward. At this moment, Lieutenant Marryat made his appearance, + his manner calm and self-possessed; he was in the act of + addressing himself to one of the party, when the ship gave a + heavy lurch to starboard, and the gallant young officer lost his + footing, and was washed overboard.</p> + + <p>Whilst they were in the act of lowering the cutter, an + accident occurred, which was nearly proving fatal to all their + hopes of preservation.</p> + + <p>In lowering the boat, the foremost fall got jammed, and the + after one going freely, the boat had her stern in the water, and + her bows in the air; at this moment, Dr. <a name="Page_301" id= + "Page_301"></a>Steel threw in his cloak, which fortunately got + into the sleave-hole of the after fall, and stopped it.</p> + + <p>Just as the boat touched the water, and before the tackles + were unhooked, the ship struck again heavily, and began swinging + broadside to the sea, falling over to starboard at the same time, + which, from the cutter being the port one, made her crash with + great violence against the ship's side; however, by dint of great + exertion, the boat was got free from the tackles, and pulled + clear of the ship.</p> + + <p>The Avenger now lay broadside to the sea, with her head + towards Africa, falling at the same time to windward, with her + deck exposed; the foremast, mainmast, and mizen topmast falling + over the starboard side, and the funnel on the gangway, no doubt + killing many of the crew as it fell. As the boat left the ship's + side, some one attempted to burn a blue-light, but it went out + immediately. The sea was now occasionally seen to break over the + forecastle and quarter, and Mr. Rooke, in the hope of saving some + of the crew, gave orders to lie on their oars, and keep the + boat's bow to the ship, to be ready to pick up any of the + survivors in the event of the ship's falling to pieces. + Lieutenant Rooke and his little party<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id= + "FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class= + "fnanchor">[19]</a> remained by the ship for about an hour and a + half, the moon at intervals shining out brightly from behind the + heavy clouds, and discovering the Island of Galita, apparently at + about ten or twelve miles distant. The weather now became more + tempestuous; the rain poured in torrents; and all being almost + exhausted with pulling against a strong current, and being + gradually drawn <a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a>away from + the ship, Lieutenant Rooke considered it most advisable to run + under the lee of Galita, and there, if possible, remain on their + oars until there was daylight sufficient to land, and seek + assistance for the ship, in the event of the island being + inhabited.</p> + + <p>All being of the same opinion, the boat's head was turned + towards Galita, and they took a last look of the Avenger, which + appeared to be firmly fixed, and likely to hold together for some + time.</p> + + <p>The weather grew worse and worse; the boat, under a + close-reefed mizen on the bumpkin stepped as a foremast, was + steered with an oar by the second master. When they had arrived + within about two miles of the island, the wind shifted to a very + severe squall, accompanied with lightning, thunder, and a heavy + hail-storm. Mr. Larcom, the gunner, now took the place of the + second master in steering the boat, which was scarcely got round, + before the wind caught her with such violence, that it seemed + impossible the boat could live.</p> + + <p>The squall continued without intermission for two hours and a + half, when the moon again emerged from the clouds, and the Island + of Galita was discovered on the port quarter. Some in the boat + exclaimed, 'That is the island!' which, at the time, they + supposed to be long out of sight, as the boat appeared to be + going rapidly through the water; this naturally led to a + conjecture that a strong current set to the northward and + eastward. The wind still continued to veer about, and at one time + they thought that they must have passed the ship, but the night + was too dark to enable them to discern anything clearly many + yards beyond the boat.</p> + + <p>In this manner they passed the long hours of night, exposed to + cold, hunger, and exhaustion; and, as Lieutenant Rooke afterwards + observed, with the full expecta<a name="Page_303" id= + "Page_303"></a>tion that they would be unable to survive until + morning. The second master appeared to have lost all reason. Upon + being questioned as to whereabouts they were, or in what + direction it was necessary to steer, he seemed to be scarcely + aware that he was addressed. The doctor, the master's assistant, + and the boy Morley, were lying at the bottom of the boat during + the whole night, and the stoker, John Owen, was wrapped in his + jacket, and appeared, if possible, in a worse condition than the + second master. When asked to do anything, he only replied by + vacant answers, and before morning became an idiot. At last the + wished-for day broke, and the coast of Africa was discerned about + eight or nine miles distant. As Lieutenant Rooke considered that + the boat could not be kept above water much longer, he determined + upon attempting a landing, and accordingly he himself steered her + towards a small spot of sand, apparently clear of the rocks, and + slightly sheltered by a reef running out into the sea.</p> + + <p>This officer, from the time the boat quitted the Avenger, had, + notwithstanding his own personal sufferings, set a noble example + to his comrades, by exerting every effort to sustain their + drooping spirits. As he approached the shore, he exclaimed in a + cheerful voice, 'This is something like Don Juan's shipwreck; I + only hope we shall find a Haidee.' It must not be supposed that + this was said out of bravado, or because he was not perfectly + aware of the danger, but from the necessity of his duty, as their + commanding officer, to infuse a new spirit into his exhausted + crew, and to encourage them in the approaching struggle, which he + well knew would he 'life or death.' On hearing the above words, + poor Steel, the doctor, exclaimed, 'Rooke! Rooke! there are other + things to think of now.' The words were prophetic, for <a name= + "Page_304" id="Page_304"></a>before many minutes had elapsed, he + had ceased to exist. As they approached the shore, the sail was + shifted from the port side to the starboard, and the sheet which + had been held by Hills, the captain's steward, for ten hours, was + fastened to the thwarts.</p> + + <p>Mr. Rooke now again resigned his place as steerer to Larcom, + the gunner, and assisted the others in baling out the boat, which + had shipped a heavy sea on the quarter. The boat was steered + within about one hundred and fifty yards of the beach, when the + rollers caught her, first lifting her upright, and, as there was + not water enough to float her whole length, she filled and + capsized. Larcom, Lieutenant Rooke, Hills, the captain's steward, + and the boy Morley, succeeded in gaining the beach, but the rest + of their unfortunate comrades perished.</p> + + <p>We should here mention that this was the second occasion on + which the boy Morley narrowly escaped a watery grave.</p> + + <p>When the Avenger was at Lisbon, the boy fell overboard, and + would have perished, had it not been for Lieutenant Marryat, who, + at the risk of his own life, sprung into the sea, and rescued the + boy.</p> + + <p>In a few minutes a Bedouin Arab, who had been watching the + boat from some high ground, came toward them and conducted them + to his hut, where he supplied them with some milk; and having + lighted a fire, they were enabled to dry their clothes.</p> + + <p>They remained with their hospitable entertainer during that + day, and in the evening made a supper of maize-cake and sour + milk. In the meantime, Mr. Rooke had made the Arab understand + their situation, and their wish to get to Tunis; and after some + trouble and promise of reward, he agreed to conduct them next + morning to Biserta. The wearied men then threw <a name="Page_305" + id="Page_305"></a>themselves on the ground, where they passed the + night in company with dogs, cows, and goats, exposed to a violent + wind and pouring rain.</p> + + <p>Their subsequent proceedings are thus related by Lieutenant + Rooke:—</p> + + <p>'Wednesday, December 22nd.—At about 9 A.M. we started. + Our road lay at first over a ridge of high hills, from which we + saw nothing of the ship. We then crossed a sandy plain covered + with the cactus, which severely wounded my feet. Afterwards + passed through some wooded ravines, and over an extensive marsh + intersected with brooks. Towards the evening a horseman overtook + us, who seeing the tired condition of the steward, his feet + bleeding, and also suffering from a gash on his head, received + whilst landing, carried him for about four miles, and when his + road lay in a different direction, gave our guide his gun, and a + piece of silver for us.</p> + + <p>'The night being now dark, and all of us exhausted, we stopped + at a Bedouin encampment, and asked for shelter, which after some + time was granted. We had been walking about ten hours, and got + over more than thirty miles of broken ground, having stopped once + for a few minutes to pick the berries off some arbutus trees, + being our only food since breakfast till late that night. We were + wet, coverless, and all except myself shoeless.</p> + + <p>'They gave us some maize-cake and milk. Seeing horses, I made + them understand that they would be well paid if they let us have + them to take us on to Biserta that night, when they made signs + that the gates were locked, but that we should have them in the + morning.</p> + + <p>'Thursday, December 23rd.—At daylight we set out, but + none of us could walk from swollen feet. After a <a name= + "Page_306" id="Page_306"></a>ride of about fifteen miles, + sometimes fording streams, and at others nearly up to our horses' + knees in mud, we arrived about ten A.M., at Biserta, and went to + the house of our consular agent, an Italian, whom I immediately + asked to prepare a boat for Tunis.</p> + + <p>'The boats here were all too small to send to the wreck, and + for which the wind was foul, with a fresh breeze. About 1 P.M. I + started for Tunis, and arrived about 11 P.M. at the Goletta, + where I landed, and sent to our Vice-Consul, who after some + difficulty, owing to the port regulations, came to see me, and + tried to pass me through the gates, but did not succeed. He + promised to get two vessels ready, as unfortunately there were no + steamers here at the time of our arrival. In one I meant to have + sent Mr. Larcom to Galita, and the other I intended to take to + the wreck.</p> + + <p>'Friday, December 24th.—At daylight, when the gates + opened, I entered a carriage, and drove up to our consul-general, + who ordered his agent to forward my views in every way, sending + his son to hurry matters, whilst he communicated with the Bey, + who ordered his squadron to sea.</p> + + <p>'Whilst my boat was preparing (a Maltese speronara, with a + crew of twelve men, selected for their knowledge of the coast,) I + wrote two letters, one to Malta, and the other to Lisbon, stating + the loss of the ship. Not having slept for four nights, and being + thoroughly tired, would account for the vague statement I sent. I + then breakfasted, and started about two P.M., having put on board + such provisions as my hurried departure admitted of—tea, + coffee, biscuits, and spirits, in case I should be fortunate + enough to save anybody.</p> + + <p>'Saturday, December 25th, on my passage, and at daylight on + Sunday I was close to the spot where the <a name="Page_307" id= + "Page_307"></a>Avenger was wrecked, although there was no broken + or discoloured water to mark it. I cruised about till satisfied + she had either broken up or sunk. Whilst here I saw two steamers + (Lavoisier and Pasha) come up and cruise about Galita together: a + merchant ship, and a gun-boat of the Bey's, with which I + communicated, asking them to take me to Galita, which I wished to + examine personally, as also to speak the steamers, my own crew, + with whom I had great trouble, refusing to do so. They declined, + when I asked them to take half my crew out, and lend me two men, + to which request I also received a negative; so I returned to + Tunis, arriving at about 1 A.M. on the morning of Tuesday, + December 28th. Sir Thomas Reade took all to his house, and made + it a home for us. I went on board the French steamer Lavoisier, + to thank the captain for his assistance, and also waited on the + governor for the same purpose.'</p> + + <p>During the summer of the present year, the French government + directed Captain Bouchet Rivière to make a survey of the + Sorelle. In conclusion, therefore, we will give the following + extract from that officer's letter, as it throws some light upon + the circumstances which led to the loss of the + Avenger:—</p> + + <p>'The English frigate, Avenger, was lost on the two Sorelle; I + saw between the two heads of rocks, which are aptly named + 'Sisters,' her entire engine, two anchors, a shell gun, and some + loose parts of the wreck. I recovered and took on board some + pieces of iron from the bed of the engine, and a boarding + cutlass. The engine lies in a medium depth of ten metres + (thirty-three feet).</p> + + <p>'From information which has been given me by boats which saw + the Avenger at sea the day of her loss, and adding the + observations which I was enabled to make <a name="Page_308" id= + "Page_308"></a>on the spot itself, I have every reason to believe + that the event happened in the following manner:—</p> + + <p>'The Avenger had, during the day, run along the coast of + Algeria, but on the approach of night, being then north of Calle, + and the weather having suddenly become very bad, with a great + deal of wind from the north-west, the captain of the Avenger + altered her course immediately to the northward, in order not to + be caught in the middle of a dangerous channel. As soon as he + thought that the ship had passed the parallel of the Sorelle, he + resumed his course to the eastward, satisfied that he would pass + several miles to the northward of them. He had not calculated on + the currents which I have found at this dangerous spot, and + which, with a north-west wind, set to the south-eastward with a + rapidity of about 3 miles an hour. The track of the Avenger must + have been materially altered by this cause. When she steered + east, she was only in the latitude of the Sorelle, and was + shortly afterwards, on a very dark night, shattered against these + rocks. The first shock must have been dreadful. It took place on + the point south-east of the north-west rock; when she cleared + this rock, which is at this spot thirteen feet below the surface, + leaving a large white furrow, she ran a hundred and sixty feet + further, and struck on the south-east rock, which is only about + four feet (one metre twenty centimetres) below the surface. She + again marked the rock very distinctly. The sea, which is often + very rough on this spot, has left nothing remaining but the + massive part of the engine, where it can be perceived between the + two rocks, covered with thick weed.</p> + + <p>'The dangerous Sorelle are formed by two tables of rocks, + distant about a hundred and sixty feet from each other, and + separated by a channel of a medium depth of thirty-nine to + forty-nine feet (twelve to fifteen metres). <a name="Page_309" + id="Page_309"></a>These two tables of rocks extend from the + north-west to the south-east. The north-west one has a diameter + of 66 English feet (twenty metres), its highest point is to the + eastward, 16 feet under water (five metres). The southeastern has + a diameter of 197 feet (sixty metres), and its highest point is + only at a depth of 4 feet. This last point is situated, according + to my observations, which agree with the position laid down in + the chart of Admiral Berard, in 37° 24' of north latitude, + and 6° 16' 25" of east longitude from Paris, (or 8° 36' + 45" east of Greenwich); 17'.4 miles S. 65° 15' W. of the east + point of the Island of Galita, and 27'.3 miles N. 0° 30' E. + of Cape Roux.'</p> + + <p>The fate of the Avenger leads to many sad reflections. The + last of the wrecks described in this volume, one of yesterday, as + it were, was more disastrous than many others. It is painful to + contemplate the scene of dismay, when the ship struck, so unlike + the presence of mind and calm deportment which we have recorded + on similar occasions. But every allowance is to be made for the + panic which followed a catastrophe so sudden and so overwhelming. + The night was dark and tempestuous, the sea was running high, and + all the elements were in a state of uproar. The paralyzing effect + of this accumulation of horrors appears in the fact, that even + after the small party of eight had so far secured their + preservation as to be in possession of the cutter, and were + within sight of the Island of Galita, two of them were found to + be bereft of their reason.</p> + + <p>The first crash, and the rapid plunge of the ship into the + gulf that opened for her, and the loss of their captain among the + first that perished, left the crew without that guidance and + control to which seamen are in the habit of looking for + support.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a>But though we have to + regret the consternation that prevailed, there was no gross + neglect or misconduct to throw a darker shade over the last hours + of the Avenger. Captain Napier had been in consultation in his + cabin with the master and second-master, examining the charts, + and had also been on deck, giving directions to the officer of + the watch, but a short time before the first alarm. When the + panic was at its height, there was no act of dastardly + selfishness for personal preservation, to the disregard of the + safety of others. The officers are not accused of losing their + composure. Lieut. Marryat is stated to have been 'calm and + self-possessed;' and Mr. Rooke's strenuous efforts to lower the + cutter, and his manly resolution to remain by the ship, as long + as there was any chance of saving the lives of some of the + survivors, attest his devotion to his duty to the very last.</p> + + <p>The French officer, Captain Bouchier Rivière, who made + a survey of the Sorelle after the wreck, and who deliberately + considered all the circumstances, imputes no blame to the + officers of the Avenger, but generously accounts for the + misfortune by referring to the dangers of the spot, the force of + the currents, the wildness of the weather, and the darkness of + the night. 'The first shock,' says he, 'must have been + dreadful.'</p> + + <p>It would have been humiliating and afflicting, had this record + of the Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, in which there is so much to + admire, been closed with the details of a calamity in any way + disgraceful to the service. Truth has required that the words + '<i>dismay</i>' and '<i>panic</i>' should be used in the + foregoing relation; but the terrible suddenness of the event, the + instantaneous shock which broke up the Avenger in a moment, + without the preparatory warning of 'breakers ahead,' or the + previous notice of rocks or shoals in sight, will more than + account <a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a>for the helplessness + to which the crew were reduced. They had not time to brace up + their shattered nerves. The noble bearing of the two lieutenants, + Rooke and Marryat, cool as they were, and in full command of + their energies in the midst of crashing timbers and perishing + men, places the character of the British seaman in its title + light, and winds up our narrative with two more examples of naval + heroism.</p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href= + "#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> The + party in the boat consisted of Lieutenant Rooke; Mr. Betts, + second master; Mr. Ayling, master's assistant; Mr. Larcom, + gunner; Dr. Steel, the surgeon; Wm. Hills, captain's steward: + John Owen, stoker; and the boy Morley.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="LIST" id="LIST"></a><a name="Page_312" id= + "Page_312"></a>LIST OF THE SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY,<br /> + BETWEEN 1793 AND 1850.</h2> + +<div> + <table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%" + summary="List of Shipwrecks"> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%;">Where lost.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Advice, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">June 1, 1793</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Tyrell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">30</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Bokell Key, Honduras.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Amphitrite</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 20, 1794</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">Anthony Hunt</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">160</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sunken rock in the Mediterranean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Ardent</td> +<td valign="top">April, 1794</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">64</td> +<td valign="top">Robert M. Sutton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">500</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Blown up or burnt off Corsica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Amethyst</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 29, 1795</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">44</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Affleck</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">300</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Striking on rocks off Guernsey.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Arab, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">June 10, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Stephen Seymour</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">96</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">Capt.</td> +<td valign="top">Rocks off the Glenan Isles, near Brest.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Active</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 15, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Ed. Leveson Gower</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on shore at Anticosti River St. Lawrence.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Amphion</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 22, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Isaac Pellew</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">Grter. pt. of crew</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt by accident, and blown up in Hamoaze Harbour.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Albion</td> +<td valign="top">April 27, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">64</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Savage</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">491</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Striking on Middle Sand in the Swin.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Artois</td> +<td valign="top">July 31, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Sir Edmund Nagle</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on Ballien Rocks.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Amazon</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 14, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Robert C. Reynolds</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Engaged with the Droits des Hommes, and ran on shore in Audernie Bay, coast of France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Aigle</td> +<td valign="top">July 18, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Tyler</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">274</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Farina, coast of Spain.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Apollo</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 7, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Peter Halkett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on Haak Sand, coast of Holland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Amaranthe, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 25, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">George Hans Blake</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">22</td> +<td valign="top">Coast of Florida.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Augustus, G. Boat</td> +<td valign="top">July 7, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">James Scott</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Sound, on the Hoe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Assistance</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 29, 1802</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top">Richard Lee</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">345</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Between Dunkerque and Gravelines.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Avenger, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 5, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">F. Jackson Snell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">80</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on sand bank at the mouth of the River Jade, Heligoland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Apollo</td> +<td valign="top">April 2, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">J.W. Taylor Dixon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">62</td> +<td valign="top">Running on shore in Mondego Bay, Portugal.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Athenienne</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 20, 1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">64</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Raynsford</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">491</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">350</td> +<td valign="top">On the Esquerques, off Sicily.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Adder, Gun Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 9, 1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">Molyneux Shuldham</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Driven on shore on on coast of France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Ajax</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 14, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. Hy. Blackwood</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">600</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">250</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt by accident in the Dardanelles.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Atalanta, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 12, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">John Bowker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">110</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On La Grande Blanche, Island of Rhe, France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Anson</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 29, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">44</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Lydiard</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">330</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top">On sand-bank off Helstone, Falmouth.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Astræa</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 23, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Edmund Heywood</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef, Island of Anegada, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Alemene</td> +<td valign="top">Apr. 20, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">W. Henry Tremlett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">254</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a shoal at the mouth of the Loire.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Agamemnon</td> +<td valign="top">June 16, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">64</td> +<td valign="top">Jonas Rose</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">491</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Ran on shore in Maldonado Roads, Rio de la Plata.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Achates, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 7, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Pinto</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Englishman's Head, Guadaloupe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Amethyst</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 15, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Jacob Walton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">8</td> +<td valign="top">On Cony Cliffs, Plymouth Sound.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Avenger, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 8, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Urry Johnson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">80</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the narrows of St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Algerine, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">May 20, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Daniel Carpenter</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">70</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Galapagos Roads, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Atalante</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 10, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Frederick Hickey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In a fog on the Sisters' Rocks, Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Anacreon, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 28, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">John Davis</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Alceste</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 18, 1817</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Murray Maxwell (Sir)</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">315</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Island of Pulo Leat, China Seas.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Arab, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 12, 1823</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">William Holmes</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">100</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Near Belmullett, Westport.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Algerine</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 9, 1826</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Wemyss</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In a squall in the Mediterranean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Acorn, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Apr. 14, 1828</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Gordon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">115</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">On Halifax Station.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Avenger, Steam-ship</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 20, 1847</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">Edw. G.E. Napier</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">250</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">246</td> +<td valign="top">On the Sorelle Rocks, Mediterranean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Boyne</td> +<td valign="top">May 1, 1795</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">98</td> +<td valign="top">George Grey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">750</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">11</td> +<td valign="top">Accidentally burnt at Spithead.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bombay Castle</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 21, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Sotheby</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">590</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Tagus.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Berbice, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">John Tresahar</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">42</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off the coast of Dominique, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Braak, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 23, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">James Drew</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">35</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the Delaware.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Blanche</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 28, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">John Ayscough</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Scalp Gat, in the Texel.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Brazen, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 26, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">James Hanson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">116</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Near Brighton.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bonetta</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 13, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas New</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a shoal east of the Jardines, Cuba.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Babet</td> +<td valign="top">Unknown, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">Jemmett Mainwaring</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Barraconta, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 2, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Joel Orchard</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">48</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the south side of the Island of Cuba, (running on shore.)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Biter, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 10, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Geo. Thos. Wingate</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Calais.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bouncer, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Samuel Bassan</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Dieppe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Brave</td> +<td valign="top">April 2, 1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Edmund Boger</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in passage from Jamaica to England.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Boreas</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 5, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">George Scott</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">195</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">127</td> +<td valign="top">On the Hannois Rocks, Guernsey.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Blenheim</td> +<td valign="top">1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Sir Thomas Troubridge, <br />V.-Admiral, <br />Austin Bissell, Capt.</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">590</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, off the Island of Rodrigue, Indian Ocean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Blanche</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 4, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Sir T. Lavie</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">45</td> +<td valign="top">Off Ushant.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Busy, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Richard Keilley</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered on the Halifax Station, date unknown.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bolina</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 3, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Edward Claributt</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Driven on shore, Peran Porth.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bermuda, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">April 22, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">Wm. Henry Byam</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Little Bahama Bank.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bustler, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 26, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Richard Welsh</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On shore, Cape Grisnez, France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Banterer</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 29, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">22</td> +<td valign="top">Alexander Sheppard</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the river St. Lawrence.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bassora, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 13, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">James Violett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Carthagena.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Barbadoes</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 29, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Huskisson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">195</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Sable Island, Bermuda.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Belette, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 24, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">David Sloane</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">116</td> +<td valign="top">On rocks off Island of Lessoe, in the Kattegat.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bold, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 27, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">John Shekel</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">55</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">On Prince Edward's Island.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bermuda, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 24, 1816</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">John Pakenham</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">On Passage from Gulf of Mexico.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Briseis, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 5, 1816</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Geo. Domett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On reef off Point Pedras, Cuba.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Bermuda, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">March, 1821</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top"></td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Passage from Halifax to Bermuda.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Briseis, Packet</td> +<td valign="top">1838</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">John Downey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">33</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Falmouth to Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Buffalo, Store-ship</td> +<td valign="top">July 28, 1841</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">James Wood</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">In Mercury Bay, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Convert</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 8, 1794</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">John Lawford</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Grand Caymanes, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Ca Ira</td> +<td valign="top">Apr. 11, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">80</td> +<td valign="top">Chas. Dudley Pater</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt by accident, and blown up in St. Fiorenzo Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Courageux</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 10, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Capt. B. Hallowell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">640</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">410</td> +<td valign="top">Struck on rocks under Apes' Hill, coast of Barbary.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cormorant, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Gott</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt and blown up by accident, at Port-au-Prince, St. Domingo.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Curlew, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 31, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Jas. Ventris Field</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">90</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in North Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Charlotte, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 11, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Thukness</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off the Island of Cuba.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Crash, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 26, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top">Berkeley Mackworth</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Blown on shore on the Island of Vlieland, Holland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Colossus</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 9, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">George Murray</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">640</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off the Island of Scilly.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Contest, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 28, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Ides Short</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Driven on shore in the Helder.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cormorant, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 20, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">C. Boyle, (Hon.)</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a shoal near Rosetta, coast of Egypt.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Chance, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 9, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">George S. Stovin</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">116</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Charlotte, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 28, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Williams</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on reef of rocks near Ash, (Island of.)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Calypso</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">William Venour</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in a gale, coming from Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Circe</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 16, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">Chas. Fielding</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">195</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Leman and Ower, North Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Creole</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 2, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Austin Russell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in passage from Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cerbére, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 20, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Patey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Rocks near Berry Head.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Conflict, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 24, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Chas. Cutts Ormsby</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Newport, Isle of Wight.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Clinker, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">John Salmon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in a cruize off Havre.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cassandra,</td> +<td valign="top">May 13, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Geo. Le Blanc</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">35</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">11</td> +<td valign="top">By upsetting in a sudden squall off Bourdeaux.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Capelin, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">June 28, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">Josias Bray</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Sunken rock off entrance of Brest Harbor.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Crane, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 26, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">Joseph Tindale</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on a rock to the W. of the Hoe, Plymouth.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Crescent</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 5, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">John Temple</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">280</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">220</td> +<td valign="top">On the coast of Jutland, in a heavy gale.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Carrier, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 24, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">W. Milner</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sand-bank near Boulogne.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Carieux, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 25, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Geo. Moysey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">110</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Petit Terre, Island of Marigalante, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Contest</td> +<td valign="top">1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Gregory</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, as is supposed, in passage from America.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Claudia, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 20, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Anth. Bliss, W. Lord</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">42</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Norway.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cuckoo, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">April 4, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">Silas Hiscutt Paddon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">Haaks, off Texel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Conflict, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 9, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Joseph B. Batt</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the Bay of Biscay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Chichester</td> +<td valign="top">May, 2, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">William Kirby</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">88</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">In Madras Roads.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Centinel, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 10, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">W. Elletson King</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">45</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">North-east end of the Island of Rugen, Baltic.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Chubb, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 14, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Samuel Nisbett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered near Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Calibre, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 23, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">John Thomson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">100</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In crossing the bar of Port Royal, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Captain</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 22, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">In Ordinary</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">590</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt in Hamoaze, Plymouth.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Crane, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 30, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Stanley</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cuttle, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Exact date unknown, on the Halifax Station.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cygnet, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">1815</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Russel</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Date unknown, off the Courantine River.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Comus</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 4, 1816</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">22</td> +<td valign="top">J. John G. Bremer</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">175</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Cape Pine, Newfoundland</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Carron</td> +<td valign="top">July. 6, 1820</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Furneaux</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">135</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">19</td> +<td valign="top">Four miles to the north of the Black Pagoda, Poorie.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Confiance, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">April 21, 1822</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">W. T. Morgan</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">100</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Between Moyin Head and Three Castle Head, Crookhaven.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Columbine, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 25, 1824</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Chas. Abbott</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">100</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the harbor of Port Longue, Island of Sapienza</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cynthian, Pack.-brig</td> +<td valign="top">June 6, 1827</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">John White</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off the Island of Barbados.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Cambrian</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 31, 1828</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">48</td> +<td valign="top">G. W. Hamilton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">275</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Carabusa, Mediterranean, in attacking pirates</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Contest, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">April 14, 1828</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">Edw. Plaggenborg</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">On Halifax Station.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Calypso, Packet</td> +<td valign="top">1833</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">H. Peyton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">30</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In passage from Halifax to England.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Challenger</td> +<td valign="top">May 19, 1835</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">Michael Seymour</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">160</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">Coast of Moquilla, Conception, Chili.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Diomede</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 2, 1795</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">44</td> +<td valign="top">Matthew Smith</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">294</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Striking on a sunken rock off Trincomalee.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Deux Amis, Schoon.</td> +<td valign="top">May 23, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Mr. Samuel Wilson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Great Chine, Isle of Wight.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dromedary, Store-sh.</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 10, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">Bridges W. Taylor</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">120</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Parasol Rock, Island of Trinidad.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Diligence</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 8, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Charles H.B. Ross</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a shoal on the coast of Havannah.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Determinée</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 25, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">26</td> +<td valign="top">Alexander Becher</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">145</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">19</td> +<td valign="top">Striking on a sunken rock off the Island of Jersey.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Drake, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">July 12, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">William King</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a shoal off the Island of Nevis.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">De Ruyter</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 4, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Joseph Beckett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">250</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In a hurricane in Deep Bay, Antigua.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Doris</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 12, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Patrick Campbell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sunken rock in Quiberon Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dover, Mar. Barr.</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 20, 1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Burnt at Woolwich.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Delphinen</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 4, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Richard Harward</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">100</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the South-West part of Vieland, Holland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Delight, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 31, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Phillip C. Handfield</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">On the coast of Calabria.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Defender, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 14, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">John George Nops</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Folkestone.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dominica, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Welsh</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">65</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">62</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered near Tortola.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Diana, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">May 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Wm. Kempthorne</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">At the Island of Rodrigue, East Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dover</td> +<td valign="top">May 2, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Tucker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">300</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">In Madras Roads.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Defence</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">David Atkins</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">593</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">587</td> +<td valign="top">Off the coast of Jutland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dædalus</td> +<td valign="top">July 2, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Murray Maxwell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">315</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Island of Ceylon.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dart, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Allen</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dominica, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 15, 1815</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Richard Cranford</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Near Bermuda.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Drake, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">June 20, 1822</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Charles Baker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">Cmdr. & others</td> +<td valign="top">Off the coast of Newfoundland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Delight</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 23, 1824</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Hay</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In a hurricane at the Mauritius.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Dwarf</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 3, 1824</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Nicholas Gould</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Ran against the Pier in Kingstown Harbour.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Etrusco, Store-ship</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 23, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">26</td> +<td valign="top">George Reynolds</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">125</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Espion</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 17, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Jonas Rose</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Goodwin Sands.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Ethalion</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 25, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">John Clark Searle</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Saints.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Explosion, Bomb</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 10, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Elliot</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">57</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef near Sandy Island, Heligoland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Elizabeth, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">John Sedley</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">55</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, in West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Electra, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 23, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">George Trolloppe</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef at the entrance of Port Augusta, Sicily.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Ephira, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 26, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Everard</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Cochinos Rocks, in passage between Cadiz and Tarifa.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Encounter, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">July 11, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">S. H. Talbot</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Attempting to cut out some vessels, on the coast of Spain.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Emulous, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 2, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">W. Howe Mulcaster</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Ragged Island, Nova Scotia.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Exertion, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">July 8, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">James Murray</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Elbe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Elizabeth, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Jonathan W. Dyer</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">35</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Upsetting in chase of an American Privateer.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fleche</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 12, 1795</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Came</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Reef of Rocks off Fernelli Tower, Saint Fiorenzo's Bay, Mediterranean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fortune, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">June 15, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Valentine Collard</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Ran on shore near Toreiro, coast of Portugal.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fox</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 18, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">James Wooldridge</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In St. George's Sound, Gulf of Mexico.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fulminante, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 24, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Corbett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Drifted on Shore at La Cruelle, coast of Egypt.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Forte</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 28, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top">Lucius F. Hardyman</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">343</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sunken rock in the harbour of Jedda, Red Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fly,</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 1802</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Duval</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, coast of Newfoundland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fearless, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 19, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Richard Williams</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Driven on shore in Cawsand Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Firebrand, Fire-ship</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 13, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">William Maclean</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Off Dover.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fly, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 3, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Pownole Bastard Pellew</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Carysfort, Reef, Gulf of Florida.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Felix, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 23, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Clarke</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">57</td> +<td valign="top">In St. Andero Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Firefly</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 17, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Price</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All except Surg & 3 men.</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in a hurricane off the Spanish Main.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Flora</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 19, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Loftus Otway Bland</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">9</td> +<td valign="top">On the coast of Holland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Flying Fish, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 15, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">J. Glassford Gooding</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On reef to eastward of Point Salines, St. Domingo.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fama, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 23, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Chas. Topping</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">On Bornholm, Baltic.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Foxhound, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 31, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">James Mackenzie</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered on her return from Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fleche, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 24, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">George Hewson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Shaarhorn Sand, off Newark, Elbe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fleur de la Mer</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 29, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Alexander</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in lat. 15° 15´ long. 71° 2´.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Firm, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">June 28, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">John Little</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a bank off the coast of France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fancy, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Alexander Sinclair</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In the Baltic (foundered.)</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fly, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 28, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Higman</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Anholt Reef.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fearless</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 8, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Henry L. Richards</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Rocks off St. Sebastian.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Ferret, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 7,1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Fred. Alex. Halliday</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Newbiggin Point, Northumberland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fantôme, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 24, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Sykes</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On rocks near Prospect Harbour, Nova Scotia.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fury</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 1, 1825</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">H. P. Hoppner</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Regent's Inlet.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Firefly, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 27, 1835</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">5</td> +<td valign="top">Julius McDonnell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">A few</td> +<td valign="top">Reef near Belize.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Fairy</td> +<td valign="top">1841</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">William Hewett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">63</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the North Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Garnet</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 7, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">James Clark</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef off Cape François.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Garland</td> +<td valign="top">July 26, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">James Athol Wood</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">195</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Coast of Madagascar.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Grampus, Store-ship</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 19, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">John Hall</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Woolwich.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Galgo</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 9, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Forrest</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">25 saved</td> +<td valign="top">Upset in a squall, in lat. 21° long. 61° west.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Grappler, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 20, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Abel Wantn. Thomas</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Isle de Chausey, Jersey.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Garland</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 10, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">Frederick Cotterell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">135</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Caracol Reef, off St. Domingo.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Georgiana, G.-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 25, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Joshua Kneeskarn</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sand-bank near Harfleur.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Griper</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 18, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Morris</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Off Ostend.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Greyhound</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 11, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. W. Pakenham</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">On the coast of Lemonia.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Glommen, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Pickford</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">100</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Carlisle Bay, Barbados.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Guachapin, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">July 7, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Michael Jenkins</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Rat Island, Antigua.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Grouper, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 21, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">James Atkins</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Guadaloupe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Goshawk, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 21, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. W.J. Napier</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">To the eastward of the Mole Head, Barcelona.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hussar</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">James Colnett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">195</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In a gale of wind to the westward of the Island of Bass, France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Helena, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 3, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Jeremiah J. Symons</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">On the coast of Holland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hamadryad</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Elphinstone</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Blown on shore in Algier Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hermes</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">William Malso</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Place unknown.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hunter, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 27, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Tudor Tucker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">80</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked on Hog Island, off Virginia.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hound, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 26, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Wm. Jas. Turquand</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">235</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Shetland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Harwich</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 9, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Phillip Bartholomew</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In St. Aubin's Bay, Jersey.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hindostan, Store-sh</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 20, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">John Le Gros</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">140</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">3</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt in Bay of Rosas.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hussar</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 8, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Philip Wilkinson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Saintes in the Bay of Biscay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hawke, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">James Tippet</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">96</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Heureux</td> +<td valign="top">1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">John Morrison</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, in passage from West Indies to Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hirondelle, cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 23, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">Joseph Kidd</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">46</td> +<td valign="top">On shore the coast of Barbary.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Harrier, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas B. Ridge</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, in the East Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Hero</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">J. Newman Newman</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">590</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Off the coast of Jutland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Halcyon, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 19, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">J. Houlton Marshall</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On reef of rocks in Annatto Bay, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Holly, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 29, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">S. Sharpe Treacher</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">44</td> +<td valign="top">Off St. Sebastian.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Herring, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">John Murray</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Exact date unknown, in the Halifax station.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Illustrious</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 17, 1795</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas L. Frederick</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">600</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In a gale of wind on rocks near Avenga.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Jason</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 13, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Chas. Stirling</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Unknown rock near Brest.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Impregnable</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 19, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Jonathan Faulknor</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">190</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Striking on Chichester Shoals.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Invincible</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 16, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">John Rennie</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">590</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">464</td> +<td valign="top">Ranon Hammond's Knowl, near Yarmouth.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Iphigenia</td> +<td valign="top">June 20, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">Hayard Stackpool</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt by accident in Aboukir Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Jason</td> +<td valign="top">July 24, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. J. Murray</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a rock not laid down in the Charts, entrance of St. Malocs.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Julia</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 21, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">James Harley</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Castle Rocks at the entrance of Dartmouth Harbour.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Imogene, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 12, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Vaughan</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in passage from Leeward Islands.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Jupiter</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 10, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. E. Reg. Baker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">343</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Reef of rocks in Vigo Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Java</td> +<td valign="top">1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Georg Pigot</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered with Blenheim.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Inveterate, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 18, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">George Norton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">Off Etables, France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Jackall, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">May 29, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Stewart</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Calais.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Ignition, Fire-ship</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 19, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Phillip Griffin</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked off Dieppe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Jaspar, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 20, 1817</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Carew</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">72</td> +<td valign="top">Rocks under Mount Batten, entrance of Catwater.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Julia, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 2, 1817</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Jenkin Jones</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">55</td> +<td valign="top">Off Tristan d'Acunha, coast of Africa.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Jasper, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 11, 1828</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">L.C. Rooke</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Grounded in running for Harbour of St. Maura.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Jackdaw</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 11, 1835</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">Edw. Burnett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On reef off Old Providence.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Kangaroo, S.-vessel</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 18, 1828</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">Anthony de Mayne</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">45</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">South-east of Reef of Hogsties.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Leda</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 11, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">John Woodley</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">257</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered by upsetting in a heavy gale, lat. 38° 8´ long. 17° 40´</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Lively</td> +<td valign="top">April 12, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Jas. N. Morris</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">254</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Rosa Point, near Cadiz.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Lord Mulgrave</td> +<td valign="top">April 10, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">26</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Hawkins</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Arklow Bank, Irish Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Lutine</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 9, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Lancelot Skinner</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">240</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Off the Vlie Island, coast of Holland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Legère, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 2, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Cornelius Quinton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Jamba Bay, east of Carthageua, S. America.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Lowestoffe</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 10, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Robert. Plampin</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Island of Great Heneaga, W. Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Leveret, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 10, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Jas. L. O'Connor</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Albion Shoal, Galloper Rock.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Leda</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 31, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Honyman</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">At the entrance of Milford Harbour.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Lark, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 3, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Nicholas</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">3</td> +<td valign="top">In a sudden squall off Point Palenqua, Island of Domingo.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Lively</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 10, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">George M'Kinley</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Point of Salina, South-east of Bay of St. Paul's, Malta.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Laurel</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 31, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Samuel C. Rowley</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">300</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sunken rock in Teigneuse Passage, Quiberon Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Laurestinus</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 21, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">Thos. Graham</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">175</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">North end of the Island of Abaco, Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Leopard, Transport</td> +<td valign="top">June 28, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Edward Crofton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">Greater part saved</td> +<td valign="top">Near the Island of Anticosti, Gulf of St. Lawrence.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Lizard, Steam-vessel</td> +<td valign="top">July 24, 1843</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">3</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Postle</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Carthagena, by being run foul of by a French man-of-war.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Musquito, G.-boat</td> +<td valign="top">1795</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">—— McCarty</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked, date unknown, on the coast of France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Malabar</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 10, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">54</td> +<td valign="top">Thos. Parr</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">324</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered coming home from West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Medusa, Store-ship</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 22, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Alexander Becher</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">118</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Drifting on shore in Rosier Bay, Gibraltar.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Mastiff, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 5, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">James Watson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">Many</td> +<td valign="top">In Cockle Sands, Yarmouth Roads.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Marlborough</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 4, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Sotheby</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">590</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Bervadeux Shoal, near L'Orient, France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Martin, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">October, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. Matth. St. Clair</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in North Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Melenger</td> +<td valign="top">June 9, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. T. Bladen Capel</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Westernmost Triangle, G. of Mexico.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Minerve</td> +<td valign="top">July 2, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top">Jaheel Brenton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">294</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the western point of the Cones of Cherbourg.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Magnificent</td> +<td valign="top">March 25, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">Wm. Henry Jervis</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">500</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked near the Pierres Noires, Brest.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Morne Fortunée</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 5, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John L. Dale</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Crooked Island, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Mallard, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John William Miles</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Calais.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Martin, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Prouse</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Date unknown. In passage to Barbadoes.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Moueheron</td> +<td valign="top">1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">James Hawes</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked, date unknown, in the Mediterranean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Maria, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">John Henderson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, in West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Melbrook, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">March 25, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">James Leach</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Burlings.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Muros</td> +<td valign="top">March 24, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">Archibald Duff</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">At the entrance of the Harbour of Bahia Honda, Cuba.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Meleager</td> +<td valign="top">July 30, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Fred. Warren</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">On Barebush Cay, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Magnet, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 11, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">George Morris</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Baltic.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Morne Fortunée, Bg.</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 9, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">John Brown</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">65</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">41</td> +<td valign="top">Off Martinique.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Minotaur</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 22, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">John Barrett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">640</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">400</td> +<td valign="top">On the North Haaks, Texel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Monkey, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 25, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Fitzgerald</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Rocks at Bell Isle, France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Manilla</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 28, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">John Joyce</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">274</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">8 men</td> +<td valign="top">On Haaks, Texel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Magnet, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">F. Moore Maurice</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, near Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Magnet, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 4, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">G. I. Hawksworth</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">90</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Run on shore near Niagara.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Martin, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 8, 1817</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">—— Mitchell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Western coast of Ireland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Magpie, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 27, 1826</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">3</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Smith</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">35</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">33</td> +<td valign="top">Colorados Roads, Island of Cuba.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Myrtle</td> +<td valign="top">April 3, 1829</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">Samuel Sism</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">29</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Western head of Ragged Island, Nova Scotia.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Megoera</td> +<td valign="top">March 4, 1843</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">George Oldmixon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">On Bare Bush Cay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Mutine, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec, 21, 1848</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">J. Lewis Palmer</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">120</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">5</td> +<td valign="top">Reef near Palestrina, Adriatic.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Narcissus</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 3, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">24</td> +<td valign="top">Percy Fraser</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Sandy Key, near Nassua, New Providence.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nautilus</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 2, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Gunter</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Flamborough Head.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nassau</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 24, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">George Tripp</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">250</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">42</td> +<td valign="top">Haaks Sand, in the Helder.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nautilus, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 4, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Capt. Palmer</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">122</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">58</td> +<td valign="top">On Cerrigoto, a barren rock in the Levant.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Netley, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">July 10, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Burman</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">65</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">56</td> +<td valign="top">On the Leeward Island Station.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nymphe</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 18, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Sneyd Clay</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">254</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked off Dunbar.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nimble, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 6, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">John Reynolds</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Salo Beacon, coast of Sweden.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nimrod, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 14, 1827</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">—— Sparshott</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">115</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Driven on shore in Holyhead Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nightingale, Schoon.</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 17, 1829</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">George Wood</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">31</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On ground in the Shingles.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Nimble, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 4, 1834</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">5</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Bolton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On reef between Key Verde and Old Bahama Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Orestes</td> +<td valign="top">Unknown, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">William Haggett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In a hurricane in the Indian Ocean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Orestes, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">July 11, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Brown</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">80</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Splinter Sand, Dunkerque.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Orquino</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 7, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Charles Balderson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">Many</td> +<td valign="top">In a sudden squall off Pt. Antonio, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Orpheus</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 23, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Briggs</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">255</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on shore at the entrance of Port Royal Harbour.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Osprey, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">March 11, 1846</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">Fred. Patten</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">110</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">At False Hokianga.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pigmy, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 16, 1793</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">A. Pullibank</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">On the Motherbank.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Placentia, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 8, 1794</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">Alexander Sheppard</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Saddle Back, Marticot Island, N. America.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pylades, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 26, 1794</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Twysden</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">125</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Heraldswick Bay, Nest, Shetland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Port Royal</td> +<td valign="top">March 30, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Elias Man</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on shore near Cape St. Nicolas.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Providence, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 17, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">W.R. Broughton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">96</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef in the Pacific.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pandora</td> +<td valign="top">1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Samuel Mason</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In the North Sea. Date unknown.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pallas</td> +<td valign="top">April 4, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. Henry Curzon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">254</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Mount Batten Point, Plymouth Sound.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pique</td> +<td valign="top">June 30, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">David Milne</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">250</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on shore on the French coast, after action with the French frigate, La Seine.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Proserpine</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 1, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">James Wallis</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">195</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">On a sand-bank, near Newark Island, River Elbe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Proselyte</td> +<td valign="top">Sept, 2, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Whitly</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On shoal, Isle of St. Martin, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Porpoise</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 17, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Richard Fowler</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef of coral, in the Pacific.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pigmy, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 9, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">William Smith</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Sillet Rock, St. Aubyn Bay, Jersey.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pigeon</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Luckraft</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on sand-bank, off Texel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Papillon, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">William Woolsey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in Jamaica station, exact date unknown.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pert, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 16, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Donald Campbell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">70</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Driven on shore in a hurricane, Island of Mucarva, Spanish Main.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Prospero, Bomb</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 18, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">William King</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">67</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the North Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pigmy, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">March 2, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Geo. M. Higginson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Rochefort.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pickle, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">June 27, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Moses Cannadey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Chipiona Shoal, Cadiz.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Proselyte, Bomb</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 5, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">James Hy. Lyford</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">78</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Anholt Reef, Anholt Island.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Primrose, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 22, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">James Mein</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">120</td> +<td valign="top">On the Manacle Rocks, near Falmouth.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pelter, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">William Evelyn</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in passage from Halifax to Leeward Islands.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pigeon</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 15, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Richard Cox</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">Off Kingsgate Point, near Margate.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pallas</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 18, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">George Paris Monke</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">11</td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked off Dunbar.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pandora, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 13, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">John Ferguson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">29</td> +<td valign="top">On the Skaw Reef, Kategat.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pomone</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 14, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Barrie</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">84</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sunken rock in the Needles.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Porgey, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Name Unknown</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered, date unknown, in the West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Persian, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">June 26, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Bertram</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">On the Silver Keys, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Peacock, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Richard Coote</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Off the southern coast of the United States.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Penelope</td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">James Galloway</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">To the east of Magdalen River, Lower Canada.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Phoenix</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 20, 1816</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Charles John Austin</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Smyrna.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Partridge</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 27, 1825</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">G. Younge</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Stranded at the mouth of the Texel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Parthian, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 15, 1828</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Fred. Hotham</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">75</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Stranded 16 miles to the westward of Mayabout, Egypt.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Pincher,</td> +<td valign="top">March 6, 1838</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">5</td> +<td valign="top">F. Hope</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In a squall off the Owers.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Queen Charlotte</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 17, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">110</td> +<td valign="top">Andrew Todd</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">859</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">673</td> +<td valign="top">Burnt by accident off Leghorn.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Rose</td> +<td valign="top">June 28, 1794</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">Matthew H. Scott</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">200</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Rocky Point, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Reunion</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 7, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">W. Henry Baynton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">249</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">A few</td> +<td valign="top">In the Swim.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Resolution, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Unknown, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">W. Huggett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered at sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Raven, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 3, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">John W.T. Dixon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sand-bank, Cuxhaven, in the Elbe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Rover</td> +<td valign="top">June 23, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">George Irvine</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">80</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on shore on coast of Cape Breton.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Resistance</td> +<td valign="top">July 24, 1798</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">44</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Pakenham</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">294</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">290</td> +<td valign="top">Blown up in the Straits of Banca.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Repulse</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 10, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">64</td> +<td valign="top">James Alms</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">491</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">3</td> +<td valign="top">Saints, Coast of France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Railleur,</td> +<td valign="top">May 16, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">John Raynor</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Requiem, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 1, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">James Fowell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">59</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On rocks in Quiberon Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Resistance Wodehouse</td> +<td valign="top">May 31, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. P. Wodehouse</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on rocks near Cape St. Vincent.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Raven, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 5, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Spelman Swaine</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Ran on shore, near Mayara Bay, Sicily.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Romney</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 10, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. John Colville</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">343</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Haaks, near the Texel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Raven, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 30, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">William Layman</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Cadiz Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Redbridge, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 26, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">F. Blower Gibbs</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in Pedro Bay, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Redbreast, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 24, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">J. Bayley Harrison</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on shore at the Needles.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Rhodian, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 2, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">John George Boss</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Little Plumb Point, Port Royal, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Racer, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 10, 1814</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">H. F. G. Pogson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">178</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Gulf of Florida.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Racehorse</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 14, 1822</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Benjamin Suckling</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">125</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">5</td> +<td valign="top">Ran on Langness Point, Isle of Man.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Redwing</td> +<td valign="top">1827</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">D. C. Clavering</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">125</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Near Mataceney, coast of Africa (supposed).</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Recruit, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">1832</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">T. Hodges</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">52</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Supposed to be lost in a hurricane off Bermuda.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Rapid, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Apr. 12, 1838</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Hn. G. S. V. Kinnaird</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">Commr.</td> +<td valign="top">Off Cape Biso, Mediterranean.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Spitfire, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 1794</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">J. W. Rich</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">125</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered or upset off St. Domingo.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Scourge, Gun-boat</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 7, 1795</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">W. Stap</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">30</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Penconsand, coast of Friesland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Salisbury</td> +<td valign="top">May 10, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top">William Mitchell</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">343</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Isle of Ash, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">St. Pierre</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 12, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Christopher Paule</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Rocks off Point Negroe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Spider, Hired Lug</td> +<td valign="top">April 4, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">J. Oswald</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running foul of the Ramilies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Swift, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Unknown</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Hayward</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In the China seas (foundered), all perished, date unknown.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Sceptre</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 5, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">64</td> +<td valign="top">Valentine Edwards</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">491</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">438</td> +<td valign="top">In Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Stag</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 6, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Winthrop</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">271</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Vigo Bay.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Scout</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 25, 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Duncan</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Running on Shingles in British Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Sensible, Troop-Ship</td> +<td valign="top">March 3, 1802</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Sauce</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">155</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Stranded to southward of Moeltiva, Trincomalee.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Seine</td> +<td valign="top">July 23, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">David Milne</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">284</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Runing on sand-bank, off Schelling Island, Texel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Suffisante, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 25, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Gilbert Healthcote</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Spike Island, Cork Harbour.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Shannon</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 10, 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Edward L. Gower</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">264</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In a gale, under the batteries near Cape La Hogue.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Starling, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">George Skottowe</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Calais.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Severn</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 20, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Duke de Bouillon</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">224</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Gronville Bay, Jersey.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Sheerness</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 8, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">44</td> +<td valign="top">Lord G. Stuart</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">294</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">In a hurricane off Trincomalee.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Seagull</td> +<td valign="top">1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Burke</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Serpent, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">John Waller</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in Jamaica station.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Seaforth, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">George Steel</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered on the Leeward Island station.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Subtle</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 26, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">W. Dower</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef of rocks, near Somerset Island, Bermuda.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Speedwell, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 18, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">L. W. Robertson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered off Dieppe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Snipe, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Near Lowestoffe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Sparkler, Gun-brig</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 29, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Sam. Akid Dennis</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef, S. W. of the Island of Schelling, Holland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Sacorman</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 23, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Andrew Duncan</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in Baltic.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Solebay</td> +<td valign="top">July 11, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">E. H. Columbine</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Coast of Africa.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Scalark, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">June 18, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">4</td> +<td valign="top">James Proctor</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">In the North Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Satellite, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Willoughby Berkie</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In the Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Saldanha</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 4, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">36</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. W. Pakenham</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">274</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Off Loughswilly, Ireland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Shamrock, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 25, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">W. Parsons Croke</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">On Cape Sta-Maria.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">St. George</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 24, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">98</td> +<td valign="top">R. Carthew Reynolds, <br />R. Adm., <br />Daniel O. Guion, <br />Captain</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">738</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">731</td> +<td valign="top">Off the Coast of Jutland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Skylark, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 3, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">James Boxer</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">95</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Between Etaples, & Cape Grisnez, France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Southampton</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 27, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Sir James Lucas Yeo</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">215</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Sunken rock off Island of Conception, Jamaica.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Sarpedon, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 1, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Parker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Subtle, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 30, 1812</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Brown</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered off St. Bartholomew's, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Statira</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 27, 1815</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Spelman Swaine</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">315</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sunken rock off the S. E. Point of the Great Macque, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Sylph, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 17, 1815</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">George Dickens</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">115</td> +<td valign="top">On Southampton Bar, North America.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Success</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 29, 1829</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">61</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In Cockburn Sound.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Spey, Packet</td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">—— James</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">In passage to Havanna.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Skipjack, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">3</td> +<td valign="top">H. Wright</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">40</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Spitfire, St.-vessel</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 10, 1842</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">H. E. S. Winthrop</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">53</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Lighthouse Reef, British Honduras.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Skylark, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">April 25, 1845</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">2</td> +<td valign="top">Geo. Morris</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Ran on shore, Kemeridge, Isle of Wight.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Snake</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 29, 1817</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">T. Bourncaster Brown</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">130</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef, Coast of Africa, 5 miles from Mozambique.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Thetis</td> +<td valign="top"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">A. F. Cochrane</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Forty-four miles south of Cape Henry.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Trompeuse, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">July 15, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">J. Rowley Watson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">106</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Dudley Point, Kinsale.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Tartar</td> +<td valign="top">July 1, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">28</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. G. Elphinstone</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">195</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Coming out of Port Plate, St. Domingo.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Tribune</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 16, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Scory Barker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">244</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">238</td> +<td valign="top">Off Halifax, Nova Scotia.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Trompeuse, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">May 16, 1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Peter Robinson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">83</td> +<td valign="top">Supposed to have foundered in Channel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Tartarus</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 20, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Withers</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">67</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">On Margate Sands.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Tartar</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 18, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top">Joseph Baker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">254</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a sand in the Baltic.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Thistle, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 6, 1811</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">George McPherson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Near New York.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Tweed, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 5, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">William Mather</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">61</td> +<td valign="top">In Shoal Bay, Newfoundland.</td> +</tr> + <tr> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Name of Ship.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 10%; border-top-width: 3px;">Date.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Guns</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 20%; border-top-width: 3px;">Commanding<br />Officer's<br />Name.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">No.<br />of<br />men</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 5%; border-top-width: 3px;">Number<br />of<br />lost.</td> + <td valign="middle" class="c" style="width: 35%; border-top-width: 3px;">Where lost.</td> + </tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Tay</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 11, 1816</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">Samuel Roberts</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">135</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On the Isles Alacranes, Gulf of Mexico.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Telegraph, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 20, 1817</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Little</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Rocks under Mount Batten, entrance of Catwater.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Thetis</td> +<td valign="top">Dec. 5, 1830</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">46</td> +<td valign="top">Samuel Burgess</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">275</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Off Cape Frio.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Tribune</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 28, 1839</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">C. Hamlyn Williams</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">190</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Port of Tarragona.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Thunderbolt, St.-ves.</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 3, 1847</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">Alex. Boyle</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">148</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Cape Recife, Algoa Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Undaunted</td> +<td valign="top">Aug. 31, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">38</td> +<td valign="top">Robert Winthrop</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">286</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Morant Keys, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Vanceau, Cutter</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 21, 1796</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">John Gourly</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">60</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Running on sunken rock, Port Ferrajo, Elba.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Viper</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 2, 1797</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">H. Harding Parker</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Off the Shannon.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Urchin,</td> +<td valign="top">1800</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">T. Pearson Croasdale</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">120</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">116</td> +<td valign="top">In tow of the Hector, in Tetuan Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Utile,</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 1801</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Edward Jekyl Canes</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in a gale in passage from Gibraltar to Malta.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Venerable</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 24, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">74</td> +<td valign="top">John Hunter</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">590</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In Torbay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Volador, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Oct. 22, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Francis G. Dickens</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">1</td> +<td valign="top">Near Cape Arrekla, Spanish Man.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Unique, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">May 31, 1809</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Fellowes</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">65</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Burnt at Basse Terre, Guadaloupe.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Union, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">May 17, 1828</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">C. Madden</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">32</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef off the East End of Rose Island, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Victor</td> +<td valign="top">1843</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">Charles Otway</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">130</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">In a passage from Vera Cruz to Halifax.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Weazel, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 12, 1799</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Hon. Henry Grey</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">86</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">85</td> +<td valign="top">In Barnstaple Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Weazel, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 29, 1804</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">William Layman</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">70</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Cabreta Point, Gibraltar Bay.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Woodlark</td> +<td valign="top">Nov. 13, 1805</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">Thos. Innes</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Calais.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Wolfe, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 4, 1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">G.C. Mackenzie</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">121</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On Heneaga, one of the Bahama Islands.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Woodcock, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 13, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">I. C. Smith Collett</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">West of Villa Franca, Saint Michael's.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Wagtail, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 13, 1807</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">William Cullis</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">West of Villa Franca, Saint Michael's.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Widgeon, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">April 20, 1808</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">6</td> +<td valign="top">George Elliot</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">On a reef of rocks, near Banff.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Wildbear, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Feb. 15, 1810</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">10</td> +<td valign="top">Thomas Burton</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">76</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">12</td> +<td valign="top">On the Rundel Stone, Scilly Islands.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Woolwich</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 11, 1813</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">20</td> +<td valign="top">Thos. Ball Sullivan</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">135</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Off Barbuda, West Indies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Whiting, Schooner</td> +<td valign="top">Sept. 21, 1816</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">14</td> +<td valign="top">John Jackson</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">50</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Near Dunbar.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Wolf, Sloop</td> +<td valign="top">Mar. 10, 1830</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">18</td> +<td valign="top">Robt. Russell, Esq.</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">116</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">Off Isle of Wight (Brock).</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">York</td> +<td valign="top">Jan. 1803</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">64</td> +<td valign="top">Henry Mitford</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">491</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Foundered in the North Sea.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Zenobia</td> +<td valign="top">1806</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top">Name unknown</td> +<td valign="top" class="c"> </td> +<td valign="top" class="c">All</td> +<td valign="top">Wrecked, exact date unknown, on the Coast of Florida.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td valign="top">Zebra, Brig</td> +<td valign="top">1841</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">16</td> +<td valign="top">J. S. Shepperd</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">115</td> +<td valign="top" class="c">None</td> +<td valign="top">In the Levant.</td> +</tr> + </table> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY; BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 15301-h.txt or 15301-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/3/0/15301">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/3/0/15301</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/15301.txt b/15301.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8aad62 --- /dev/null +++ b/15301.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12343 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; +between 1793 and 1849, by William O. S. Gilly + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; between 1793 and 1849 + +Author: William O. S. Gilly + +Release Date: March 9, 2005 [eBook #15301] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE +ROYAL NAVY; BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven Gibbs and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY: BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849 + +Compiled Principally from Official Documents in the Admiralty + +by + +WILLIAM O. S. GILLY + +With a Preface by + +WILLIAM STEPHEN GILLY, D.D. +Vicar of Norham and Canon of Durham + +London: +John W. Parker, West Strand + +MDCCCL + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +ADVERTISEMENT + +PREFACE, BY THE REV. DR. GILLY + +THE WRECK OF THE + + BOYNE + AMPHION + TRIBUNE + RESISTANCE + PROSERPINE + SCEPTRE + QUEEN CHARLOTTE + INVINCIBLE + GRAPPLER + APOLLO + HINDOSTAN + ROMNEY + VENERABLE + SHEERNESS + ATHENIENNE + NAUTILUS + FLORA + AJAX + ANSON + BOREAS + HIRONDELLE + BANTERER + CRESCENT + MINOTAUR + PALLAS AND NYMPH + ST. GEORGE AND DEFENCE + HERO + DAEDALUS + PERSIAN + PENELOPE + ALCESTE + DRAKE + FURY + MAGPIE + THETIS + FIREFLY + AVENGER + +LIST OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY +BETWEEN 1793 & 1850 + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +Some time ago a friend suggested that a selection of the most +interesting naval shipwrecks might be made from the official documents +of the Admiralty, in illustration of the discipline and heroism +displayed by British seamen under the most trying circumstances of +danger: permission to search the records was accordingly asked, and +most kindly granted by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and +the present volume is the result. + +The Author is well aware that the task of preparing these materials +for publication might have fallen into better hands; and whilst he +gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the Lords Commissioners of +the Admiralty, for allowing him to have access to their Records, he +desires also to express his most cordial thanks for the assistance he +has received from those friends, who have kindly revised and improved +his pages as they passed through the press. Without such aid, his own +literary inexperience would have left the work more defective than it +is. He is especially indebted to some naval friends for correcting +his errors in the use of nautical terms and descriptions. + +A list of all the shipwrecks that have occurred in the Royal Navy +since the year 1793 has been appended to this volume, in the hope that +it may be useful as a table of reference. The ships are classed, +first, under the initial letter of their names; and secondly, they are +arranged in chronological order as regards the time of their wreck. + +W.O.S.G + + + + +PREFACE. + + +At the request of my son, the Author of this volume, I have undertaken +to write the Preface, and to say a few words on the very peculiar and +noble traits of character, which distinguish the British seaman on all +trying occasions, and especially in the terrible hour of shipwreck. + +Many circumstances have combined to make me take a warm interest in +all that concerns the navy. In early life, having passed several +months in a line-of-battle ship during the war with France, I was an +eye-witness of scenes and events, which called forth some of those +qualities that are illustrated in the following pages. For the +restoration of my health, in the year 1811, I was advised to try the +effects of sea air and a change of climate, and was glad to accept the +opportunity offered me, by the captain of an eighty-gun ship, to take +a cruise with him off the southern parts of the French coast. + +On one occasion, in a severe tempest in the Bay of Biscay, a flash of +lightning struck the ship and set her on fire. The calmness with which +orders were given and obeyed, and the rapidity with which the fire was +extinguished, without the least hurry or confusion, made a deep +impression on me. This was afterwards increased by the conduct of the +crew in a severe gale of wind, when it was necessary to navigate one +of the narrow channels, by which the squadron that blockaded Rochelle +and Rochfort was frequently endangered. The vessel had to pass between +two rocks, so near that a biscuit could have been thrown from the deck +on either. An old quarter-master was at the wheel; the captain stood +by to con and to direct his steering. At one fearful crisis, every +blast threatened to shiver a sail, or to carry away a spar, and a +single false movement of the helmsman, or the slightest want of +steadiness or of obedience on the part of any man on duty, would have +been fatal to the life of every one on board. + + As they drifted on their path + There was silence deep as death, + And the boldest held his breath + For a time. + +When the danger was over, the captain thanked the officers and men for +their conduct, and gave a snuff-box with five guineas in it to the +quarter-master, in admiration of his steady head and iron nerves. + +I mention these incidents in my early experience as a sort of apology +for a landsman's presumption, in venturing to write this Preface to a +series of nautical details. In after years, the death of a dear +brother, a lieutenant in the navy, who lost his life in a generous +attempt to save a vessel from shipwreck on the coast of Sussex, moved +me to a still deeper concern for those whose employment is 'in the +great waters.' + +My early observation of the hazards of a sailor's career, and my +brother's sudden call to his last account, in the awful perils of a +storm at sea, taught me to reflect with painful solemnity on the many +thousand instances, in which our naval protectors are summoned in a +moment, prepared or unprepared, to stand before the throne of the +Eternal. Often have I asked myself and others, Can nothing be done to +elevate the hopes, and to place the fortitude of these men on a firmer +foundation than that of mere animal courage, or the instinct of +discipline? The present is an opportunity of pleading for the sailor +which I should be sorry to lose, and of suggesting something, which +may establish his good conduct on a basis more durable, and more +certain, than even the well-known courage and discipline of a British +tar. + +I shall begin by noticing the extraordinary displays of +self-possession, self-devotion, and endurance, which shed lustre on +our naval service; and I will close my remarks with hints for the +improvement of these noble qualities. + +The intrepidity and mental resources of a brave man are more +discernible in the hour of patient suffering, than in that of daring +action: and the contents of this volume form a record of heroic doings +and endurances, which exhibits the British seaman as a true specimen +of the national character. Duty is his watchword, and the leading +principle by which he is governed. Nelson knew the spirits he had to +deal with, when he hoisted the memorable signal, 'England expects +every man to do his duty.' He was well aware that the men who could +patiently and calmly face the toil and danger of a blockading fleet, +day and night, on the stormy waves of the Bay of Biscay, or on the lee +shores of the Mediterranean, such as his fleet had had to encounter, +wanted no other stimulus, in the presence of the enemy, than that +which he so confidently applied. Napoleon found to his cost, on the +field of Waterloo, that the word _Glory_ had no longer any power to +launch his battalions successfully against troops, who had learnt in +the British school of duty and obedience to confront death, not only +in the impetuous battle-charge, but in the more trying season of long +endurance in the Lines of Torres Vedras. Men who can wait, and bear +and forbear, and remain steadily at their post under every provocation +to leave it, are invincible opponents. The cool determination which +resisted the onset, and withstood the furious rush of the French +Guards, was part and parcel of the same character which made heroes of +the comrades of Nelson. To obey implicitly, and to feel that no +quality is superior to that of obedience,--to wait for your +commander's word,--to keep order,--to preserve presence of mind,--to +consider yourself one of many, who are to follow the same rule, and to +act in unison with each other,--to regulate your movements according +to the demands of the common safety,--to consider your honour to be as +much at stake in submitting to a command to remain stationary and not +to stir, as to dash forward,--these are the peculiarities, which +constitute the substantial excellence of the national character; and +the shipwrecks of the Royal Navy illustrate this national character +even more than the battles of the Nile and of Trafalgar. The perils of +a shipwreck are so much beyond those of a battle, that the loss of +life, when the St. George, the Defence, and the Hero, were wrecked in +the North Seas, in 1811, was far greater than that on the part of the +English in any naval action of late years. In order to place the +qualities of obedience and endurance--so characteristic of the British +seaman--in the strongest light, and to show by contrast that the +possession of them is the greatest security in danger, whilst the want +of them ensures destruction, I commend the following statement to the +attention of all who shall read this volume. + +In the year 1816 two stately vessels were sailing on the ocean, in all +the pride of perfect equipment and of glorious enterprise. The one was +an English frigate, the Alceste, having on board our ambassador to +China; the other was a French frigate, the Medusa, taking out the +suite of a governor for one of the colonies of France on the coast of +Africa. The importance of the mission on which each ship was +despatched, and the value of the freight, would seem to assure us that +the Alceste and the Medusa were officered and manned by the best crews +that could be selected. Two nations, rivals in science and +civilization, who had lately been contending for the empire of the +world, and in the course of that contest had exhibited the most heroic +examples of promptitude and courage, were nautically represented, we +may suppose, by the elite who walked the decks of the Alceste and the +Medusa. If any calamity should happen to either, it could not be +attributed to a failure of that brilliant gallantry, which the English +and French had equally displayed on the most trying occasions. + +But a calamity of the most fearful nature did befal both, out of which +the Alceste's crew were delivered with life and honour untouched, when +that of the Medusa sank under a catastrophe, which has become a +proverb and a bye-word to mariners. Both ships were wrecked. For an +account of the good conduct, of the calm and resolute endurance, and +of the admirable discipline to which, under Providence, the +preservation of the crew of the Alceste is to be attributed, see pages +204-226 of this volume. A total relaxation of discipline, an absence +of all order, precaution, and presence of mind, and a contemptible +disregard of everything and of everybody but self, in the hour of +common danger, filled up the full measure of horrors poured out upon +the guilty crew of the Medusa. She struck on a sand-bank under +circumstances which admitted of the hope of saving all on board. The +shore was at no great distance, and the weather was not so boisterous +as to threaten the speedy destruction of the ship when the accident +first happened. + +There were six boats of different dimensions available to take off a +portion of the passengers and crew: there was time and there was +opportunity for the construction of a raft to receive the remainder. +But the scene of confusion began among officers and men at the crisis, +when an ordinary exercise of forethought and composure would have been +the preservation of all. Every man was left to shift for himself, and +every man did shift for himself, in that selfish or bewildered manner +which increased the general disaster. The captain was not among the +last, but among the first to scramble into a boat; and the boats +pushed off from the sides of the frigate, before they had taken in as +many as each was capable of holding. Reproaches, recrimination, and +scuffling took the place of order and of the word of command, both in +the ship and in the boats, when tranquillity and order were +indispensable for the common safety. + +When the raft had received the miserable remnant, one hundred and +fifty in number, for whom the boats had no room, or would make no +room, it was found, when it was too late to correct the evil, that +this last refuge of a despairing and disorderly multitude had been put +together with so little care and skill, and was so ill provided with +necessaries, that the planking was insecure; there was not space +enough for protection from the waves, and charts, instruments, spars, +sails, and stores were all deficient. A few casks of wine and some +biscuits, enough for a single meal only, were all the provision made +for their sustenance. The rush and scramble from the wreck had been +accomplished with so little attention to discipline, that the raft had +not a single naval officer to take charge of her. At first, the boats +took the raft in tow, but in a short time, though the sea was calm and +the coast was known to be within fifteen leagues, the boats cast off +the tow-lines: and in not one of the six was there a sufficient sense +of duty, or of humanity left, to induce the crew to remain by the +floating planks--the forlorn hope of one hundred and fifty of their +comrades and fellow-countrymen! Nay, it is related by the narrators of +the wreck of the Medusa, that the atrocious cry resounded from one +boat to another, '_Nous les abandonnons_!'--'we leave them to their +fate,'--until one by one all the tow-lines were cast off. During the +long interval of seventeen days, the raft struggled with the waves. A +small pocket compass was the only guide of the unhappy men, who lost +even this in one of the reckless quarrels, which ensued every hour +for a better place on the raft or a morsel of biscuit. On the first +night twelve men were jammed between the timbers, and died under the +agonies of crushed and mangled limbs. On the second night more were +drowned, and some were smothered by the pressure towards the centre of +the raft. Common suffering, instead of softening, hardened the hearts +of the survivors against each other. Some of them drank wine till they +were in a frenzy of intoxication, and attempted to cut the ropes which +kept the raft together. A general fight ensued, many were killed, and +many were cast into the sea during the struggle; and thus perished +from sixty to sixty-five. On the third day portions of the bodies of +the dead were devoured by some of the survivors. On the fourth night +another quarrel and another fight, with more bloodshed, broke out. On +the fifth morning, thirty only out of the one hundred and fifty were +alive. Two of these were flung to the waves for stealing wine: a boy +died, and twenty-seven remained, not to comfort and to assist each +other, but to hold a council of destruction, and to determine who +should be victims for the preservation of the rest. At this hideous +council twelve were pronounced too weak to outlive much more +suffering, and that they might not needlessly consume any part of the +remaining stock of provisions, such as it was, (flying fish mixed with +human flesh.) these twelve helpless wretches were deliberately thrown +into the sea. The _fifteen_, who thus provided for their own safety by +the sacrifice of their weaker comrades, were rescued on the +seventeenth day after the wreck by a brig, sent out in quest of the +wreck of the Medusa by the six boats, which reached the shore in +safety, and which might have been the means of saving all on the raft, +had not the crews been totally lost to every sentiment of generosity +and humanity, when they cast off the tow-lines. + +In fact, from the very first of the calamity which befel the Medusa, +discipline, presence of mind, and every generous feeling, were at an +end: and the abandonment of the ship and of the raft, the terrible +loss of Life, the cannibalism, the cruelty, the sufferings, and all +the disgraceful and inhuman proceedings, which have branded the modern +Medusa with a name of infamy worse than that of the Gorgon,--the +monster after which she was called,--originated in the want of that +order and prompt obedience, which the pages of this volume are +intended to record, to the honour of British seamen. + +In the history of no less than forty shipwrecks narrated in this +memorial of naval heroism,--of passive heroism, the most difficult to +be exercised of all sorts of heroism,--there are very few instances of +misconduct, and none resembling that on board the Medusa. + +This contrast is marked and stated, not in an invidious spirit towards +the French, but because there is no example on record, which furnishes +such a comparison between the safety which depends on cool and orderly +behaviour in the season of peril, and the terrible catastrophe which +is hastened and aggravated by want of firmness, and confusion. + +'It is impossible,' said a writer in the _Quarterly Review_, of +October, 1817, 'not to be struck with the extraordinary difference of +conduct in the officers and crew of the Medusa and the Alceste, +wrecked nearly about the same time. In the one case, all the people +were kept together in a perfect state of discipline and subordination, +and brought safely home from the opposite side of the globe; in the +other, every one seems to have been left to shift for himself, and the +greater part perished in the horrible way we have seen.'[1] + +I have brought the comparison between the two wrecks again under +notice to show, that as certainly as discipline and good order tend to +insure safety on perilous occasions, so, inevitably, do confusion and +want of discipline lead to destruction. In the one case, intrepidity +and obedience prompted expedients and resources: in the other case, +consternation was followed by despair, and despair aggravated the +catastrophe with tenfold horrors. + +It is not to be concealed, that occasional instances of +insubordination and pusillanimity have occurred in the British navy. +Some such appear in this narrative, and they invariably have produced +their own punishment, by leading always to disaster, and often to +death; and they serve as beacons to point out the fatal consequences +of misconduct, under circumstances either of drunkenness, +disobedience, panic, selfishness, or confusion. + +The selfish cowardice, noticed in page 94, on the part of the men in +charge of the jolly-boat of the Athenienne, and of some of the crew of +the launch of the Boreas, (see p. 136,) and the tumult, intoxication, +and desertion of the majority of the crew of the Penelope, which were +followed by the prolonged sufferings and painful deaths of the +culprits, (see pp. 200-204,) are but a few dark spots in the +shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, to set off by contrast the many bright +pages, which describe innumerable traits of character that do honour +to human nature. + +As a direction to some of these noble traits, every one of which will +make the reader warm to the name of a British sailor: and, if he be +one himself, will bring the blood from his heart to his face in a glow +of emulation and honest pride,--I ask him to turn for examples of +perfect discipline to pages 13, 23, 63, 70, 71, 75, 110, 173, 188, +194, 216, 223, 229, 231, 268, 269, 278, 279, 280. Here he will behold +the portraits of men on the brink of destruction, steady, 'as if they +were moving from one ship to another in any of the Queen's ports,' and +unmoved by images of death under the most appalling forms; and he will +say, 'Lo! these are triumphs of order and subordination, and examples +of such resolute defiance of the terrors of the last enemy, when +covered with the shadow of death, that no exploits in battle can +exhibit fortitude that will compare with them.' + +For instances of generous thought for others, of self-devotion and of +disregard of personal safety, I refer the reader to pages 58, 59, 67, +68, 69, 96, 128, 129, 169, 186, 190, 194, 231, 234, 269, 270. + +In the long list of heroes, which these references to examples of +indomitable courage and unhesitating self-devotion will unfold, it is +almost wrong to mark out one more than another for observation, and +yet the following stand so prominently forward in the front rank of +heroism, that it is impossible to refrain from noticing them. Captain +Lydiard sacrificed his life in his desperate endeavour to rescue a boy +from the wreck of the Anson, (pp. 128, 129.) Captain Temple, of the +Crescent, and more than two hundred of his crew, displayed a noble +disregard of themselves, when they permitted the jolly-boat, their own +last hope of escape, to take off as many as it would hold, and leave +them to perish. There was no rushing, no struggling, to get away from +the sinking ship, but with orderly care they helped the boat to push +off, bade her God speed, and calmly waited their fate, (p. 153.) The +resolution of Captain Bertram, of the Persian, to brave the danger of +taking some men off a raft into his over-crowded gig, was generously +followed by the crews of the other boats, who threw their clothing and +provisions overboard to make room for the additional weight, (p. 191.) + +I may refer also to the magnanimous contest between Captain Baker, of +the Drake, and his officers and men, each insisting on being the last +to make his way from the ship to a rock (p. 231), and which ended in +Captain Baker refusing to stir until he had seen every man clear of +the wreck. A second struggle for precedency in glorious self-devotion +took place, when the same commander declared, that all his crew should +pass from the rock to the mainland, by help of a line, before he +himself would consult his own safety, (p. 234.) The rope broke, and +the last means of communication between the rock and the shore was +severed, while the captain of the Drake and three of his companions +were waiting their turn to escape. They met their fate with intrepid +composure, (p. 235.) Lieutenant Smith, of the Magpie, offered another +memorable example, when his schooner was upset in a squall, and he +took to his boat with seven men. The boat capsized, and while the +struggling crew were endeavouring to right her, they were attacked by +sharks. The lieutenant himself had both his legs bitten off; but when +his body was convulsed with agony, his mind retained and exercised all +its energies, and his last words were expressive of dying +consideration for others. 'Tell the admiral, if you survive,' said he, +to a lad named Wilson, 'that my men have done their duty, and that no +blame is attached to them. I have but one favour to ask, and that is, +that he will promote Meldrum to be a gunner,' (p. 270.) And richly did +Meldrum deserve the distinction. When all in the boat had perished but +himself and another, a brig hove in sight, but did not seem to notice +the speck on the ocean. Meldrum sprang overboard, and swam towards the +ship, and was thus the means of saving his companion's life as well as +his own. + +In a volume like this, 'the dangers of the seas' come before the +reader in such rapid succession, that he has scarcely time to think of +the many other awful perils and sufferings, besides those of wind and +storm, which put the mariner's fortitude to the test. The narratives +in pages 2, 3, 9, 36, 69, 70, 113, 115, present to view the horrors of +a ship on fire. + +In pages 12, 169, 171, 196, 226, 242, we learn something of the +terrible consequences of being exposed to fogs and mist, ice and snow. +In page 27, we have a vivid picture of a combination of these terrors; +and in pages 217, 268, the most appalling of all the dangers a sailor +has to encounter is brought in view. + +We will hope that the rigours and perils of the blockade system, which +occasioned so fearful a loss of life at different periods of the late +war, but especially in the disastrous year 1811, are at end for ever. +From page 154 to 159, and from 168 to 186, the accounts of the loss of +life in the Baltic and North Seas alone occur in fearful succession; +and the magnanimity with which hundreds, nay, thousands of our bravest +officers and men met death on that most perilous of all services, has +rendered the names of British blockading ships memorable in the annals +of hardship, hardihood, and suffering. Many invaluable lives perished +from the inclemency of the weather; men were frozen to death at their +posts. It is recorded of one devoted officer, Lieutenant Topping, that +rushing on deck in anxiety for his ship, without giving himself time +to put on his clothes, 'in fifteen minutes he fell upon the deck a +corpse, stricken by the piercing blast and driving snow,' (p. 169.) + +In page 174, we read of the bodies of the dead, victims to the cold +and tempest, piled up by the survivors in rows one above another, on +the deck of the St. George, to serve as a shelter against the violence +of the waves and weather. 'In the fourth row lay the bodies of the +Admiral and his friend Captain Guion;' and out of a crew of 750, seven +only were saved. + +The Defence, the consort of the St. George, was cast away in the same +storm: out of her complement of 600, six was the small remnant of +survivors. This ship might probably have escaped, but her gallant +captain (Atkins) said, 'I will never desert my admiral in the hour of +danger and distress,' (p. 175.) + +An instance of obedience and discipline, worthy of particular mention, +occurred before the St. George went down. A few men asked leave to +attempt to reach the shore in the yawl. Permission was at first +granted, but afterwards withdrawn, and the men returned to their posts +without a murmur. 'As if Providence had rewarded their implicit +obedience and reliance upon their officers,' says the narrative (p. +173), 'two of these men were of the few (seven) that were saved.' + +The question now arises, to what are we to attribute the extraordinary +display of cool determination manifested by British seamen, in such +trials of nerve as are described in the following pages? The series of +shipwrecks extends from 1793 to 1847, a period of fifty-four years; +and tragic scenes are described, many of them far exceeding the +imaginary terrors of fiction, and all of them equal in horror to +anything that the Drama, Romance, or Poetry has attempted to +delineate. + +We rise from the perusal with scarcely any other impression upon our +minds than that of wonder and admiration, at the extraordinary +self-command exercised when death was staring every man in the face. +Doubtless there are some instances of misbehaviour, and of lack of +firmness: it could not be otherwise. 'When the stormy wind ariseth, +and they are carried up to the heaven and down again to the deep, +their soul melteth because of their trouble. They reel to and fro, and +stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.' But such +examples are so few in the British navy, that we have little on this +score wherewith to reproach our seamen. + +To what, then, are we to attribute the manly bearing of British +seamen, when the planks of their ship tremble under their feet, and +the waves are yawning to swallow them up! + +First.--To the early training which almost all our youth receive, in +one way or other. It begins at school. The first principles of +generosity, as of obedience and order, are taught in our schools: +whether in the national and parochial schools, or at Westminster, +Eton, and Harrow, and other schools of a higher order, where in his +very games the boy learns to exercise presence of mind, daring, and +self-command. In our streets and play-grounds, where the humblest or +the proudest are at their sports, the germ of the manly spirit is +discernible in emulous contention as to who shall bear and forbear, +remain at his post, give and take, with most patience and good-humour. + +Foreigners have allowed that there is nothing like an English school +to discipline a lad for the high places, or rough places, of +after-life; and that our mixed schools of every grade are the +seminaries, where one learns to lead, and another to follow, in the +path of honour and duty. + +Secondly.--To the habit which prevails so universally in this country, +of giving place to those to whom deference is due, and of looking up +to those, who are above us in station, with ungrudging respect and +confidence. This goes with the man into all the walks of life. Some +attribute it to the aristocratic feeling, which is said to be stronger +in England than elsewhere: but it maybe more justly traced to that +good sense, which is at work in all orders of our people, and which +understands when to obey and to hearken. In the seaman it displays +itself in a predisposition to regard his officer as one worthy of his +confidence, and whom it is his safety as well as duty to obey in the +hour of danger. And this confidence is justified by the almost +unfailing manner, in which the officer shows himself deserving of the +trust reposed in him, and takes the lead in the very front of danger, +and exhibits in moments of doubt and difficulty all the resources of a +cool and collected mind, at the very juncture when life and death +depend upon his composure. + +The leadership to which a British tar is accustomed, and which ever +responds to his own confiding spirit, is one of the primary causes of +his endurance and daring. His officer is the first to advance, the +foremost to encounter, the last to hesitate, and the most willing to +take more than his share of danger and of suffering; and this inspires +the men with an emulation to do likewise. + +Conduct such as that displayed by the captains and officers of the +Queen Charlotte (pp. 37 and 41), of the Hindostan (p. 71), of the +Athenienne (p. 96), of the Anson (p. 128), of the Daedalus (p. 189), +could not fail of producing a sort of instinctive effect upon a ship's +crew. Under the command of officers who never flinch from their duty, +who share their last biscuit with the lowest cabin-boy, and who will +not move from the vessel when it is sinking under them, until every +other man has taken his seat in the boat, or planted his foot on the +raft that is to carry him from the wreck, where can be the quailing +heart or the unready hand? + +Thirdly.--The blockading service has had much to do in training our +seamen for passive heroism and enduring fortitude. During the long war +with France, it was a service wherein all those qualities were called +into action, which are of most value in sudden emergencies. Vigilance, +promptitude, patience, and endurance, were tried to the utmost in the +course of those wintry months, and tempestuous seasons, when single +ships, squadrons, and fleets were cruising off the enemy's coast, and +every man on board was perpetually exposed to something that put his +temper or his nerves to the test. Then was the time to learn when to +keep a sharp look-out, to be on the alert in handling the gear of a +vessel, to respond to the word of command at the instant, to do things +at the right point of time, to hold life at a moment's purchase, and +to stare death in the face without flinching. It was a hard and +rigorous school; but if proficiency in readiness and fortitude was to +be attained anywhere, it was in the blockading service, and there the +heart of oak was tried, and the seaman was trained for the exercise of +that discipline, of which this Record of Naval Shipwrecks presents so +complete a picture. + +But we will hope that the principal cause, to which we may ascribe the +good conduct of our sailors in the trying hour, when there seems to be +a span only between life and death, is the religious feeling which +they bring with them to their ship from their homes, whether from the +cabin on the sea-shore, or the cottage on the hill-side. The scene +described in page 115, and the anecdote of the poor boy, in whose hand +was found an open Bible when his corpse was cast on shore, show the +power of religious feeling in the soul of the sailor. It may be a very +imperfect feeling, but the sailor has it; and even in its +imperfection it has a strong hold on his mind. From the first outbreak +of the Revolution; the French sailor entered the service of his +country as a volunteer or a conscript, embued with infidel notions: or +to say the least, with the religious indifference which had become so +common in France. Not so the English sailor. He was not one of the +fools to say in his heart. 'There is no God!' It is not easy to define +the nature of that awe which fills the mind of a religions mariner; +but most certainly those 'who see the works of the Lord and his +wonders in the deep,' face danger more steadily, under the solemn +belief that there is a ruling power to control the waters, and to say +to the winds, 'Peace! be still.' They are predisposed to 'cry unto the +Lord in their trouble,' and to implore Him to 'make the storm a calm, +so that the waves thereof may be still:' and this fear of God, which +is before their eyes, has its influence in making them willing to +adopt every expedient proposed to them by their officers for their +common safety. Under this higher impulse, the spirit of obedience +works in them more confidingly; and humbled before the Supreme Power, +they are prepared to yield submission to every intellect superior to +their own. Now if there be a feeling of this kind already at work for +good in the minds of our seamen, it is of the utmost importance to +strengthen it,[2] to give it a sure direction, and to make it run in +a deeper and a broader channel, by all the appliances of instruction +and education. + +To the credit of the official Boards, under whose administrative +authority provision is made for the religious and educational +improvement of men and boys in the Navy, very much has been done +lately to secure this great object. Within my own memory few seamen +could read, still fewer could write, but now the majority of them can +do both, and they respond largely to the instruction they receive, by +their intelligence and good conduct. There is no more imposing sight +than that of the crew of a man-of-war, when assembled for divine +service; and if the chaplain be a clergyman, who applies himself +zealously to his duties, he has a congregation before him, who show by +their attentive looks, that they are under the power of religious +impressions. Almost all ships commanded by post-captains have +chaplains and naval instructors, and where there is no chaplain, the +commanding officer is expected to read prayers on Sundays. In port +the crews of the Queen's ships have the opportunity of observing the +sacred day, either on board the flag-ship, the ordinary, or in the +dockyard chapel. I believe every ship in the navy is provided with a +library; and first, second, third, fourth, and fifth-rates have +schoolmasters. To men and boys desirous of entering the service, the +preference is given to those who can read and write; and an admirable +regulation has lately been adopted, which will contribute further to +advance our navy in the intellectual scale. Boys are entered as naval +apprentices, to the number of one hundred each, at Devonport, +Portsmouth, Sheerness, and Cork. They remain for one year on board the +flag-ship, under a systematic course of education, and are then +drafted into sea-going ships. The happy effects produced by mental +cultivation were felt in an especial degree, when the Discovery ships, +under Captain, now Sir Edward Parry, were blocked up with ice, and had +to pass so many dismal days and nights in the Polar Sea. A school was +established both in the Hecla and Fury, under able superintendence; +and men, whose time would have hung heavily during their icy +imprisonment, were kept in good humour and cheerfulness by the +intellectual occupations in which they were engaged. Captain Parry's +remarks in attestation of the moral effect produced by this means, and +on the uninterrupted good order which prevailed among his men, are +cited in page 243 of this work. + +It would add greatly to the intellectual and spiritual improvement of +our seamen, if a Chaplain-general were appointed to take the oversight +of the religious instruction, and an _Examiner_ to direct the secular +instruction, of the Navy. The former should exercise authority +similar to that of an archdeacon, and the functions of the latter +should resemble those of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. The +impulse given to parochial education by the latter is beyond all +calculation; and the difference of ecclesiastical discipline in a +diocese, where there are active archdeacons and where there are not, +is a matter of well ascertained fact. + +The duties of a chaplain-general[3] should be to visit the naval +posts, and to go on board the Queen's ships, (especially before they +are despatched on foreign service,) for the purpose of reporting and +advising. He should look out for and recommend competent +chaplains,--consult with admirals and captains on the best mode of +securing the regular performance of the sacred offices,--make inquiry +into the state of the ship-libraries, keep them well supplied with +religious books and tracts, and direct observation generally to the +spiritual wants of ships and ports. He would thus be of infinite use +in making religion an object of more and more thoughtfulness to those, +who take an interest in the comfort and good conduct of the Navy: two +things which always go together. + +If an Inspector of all the naval schools and schoolmasters were +appointed (Professor Mosely has now the inspection of the Dockyard +Schools,) he should consider it to be part of his office to look to +the libraries, and to recommend elementary books. His periodical +examinations would be likely to stir up the same spirit of emulation +on board ship, which has been the result in our towns and villages, +where the schools are visited by persons appointed by the Committee of +Privy Council on Education. I am satisfied with throwing out these +suggestions without dwelling further upon them, under the persuasion +that every practical hint of the kind will be well considered, and +acted upon (if it commend itself to their judgment,) by those who +preside over naval affairs, and who have at heart the mental +improvement of our seamen. + +I have another suggestion to make, which is meant not for those only, +who are officially interested in the condition of the navy, but for +all who love and value it. The merchant service, the fisheries, and +the coasting trade are the nurseries of the navy. Every shipmate and +every boatman on the sea and on the river ought, therefore, to come in +for a share of our sympathy, because he belongs to a class to which +the Queen's ships must look for a supply of men. But none are exposed +to more trials than they, and especially in the larger ports. Many of +them come home from a voyage of danger and deprivation, full of +excitement, and become victims of plunder and temptation; and the man +who last week was impressed, by the perils of the tempest, with the +terrors of the Lord, and was inclined to fear God and to serve him, is +waylaid by unfeeling wretches, who first entice him into scenes of +profligacy and blasphemy, and then cast him off, robbed of his money, +seared in his conscience, and in a miserable condition of soul and +body. Many benevolent efforts have been made to protect and fortify +some of those who are thus beset, and to reclaim such as are not +utterly lost; and associations have been formed for the purpose of +affording temporary relief and instruction to seamen, who might +otherwise become outcasts, and perish in want and ignorance. I allude +to such institutions as the 'Sailor's Home,' or 'Destitute Sailor's +Asylum,' in London, for the reception of seamen who have squandered or +have been despoiled of their earnings after their return from a +foreign voyage, or who are disabled for employment by illness, age, or +accident. There is also. 'The Floating Chapel,' opened to invite and +enable mariners to avail themselves of the opportunity of attending +Divine service, (under the Thames Church Missionary Society,) which +moves from one thickly populated sailors' locality to another. The +establishment of a district church and minister in a large sea-port +parish, like that of St. Mary's, Devonport, to relieve the necessities +of a district crowded with mariners, and rife with all the snares and +temptations which entrap a sailor, and endanger his bodily and +spiritual safety, is another undertaking worthy of notice. + +Institutions like these must depend principally on public and +voluntary support. There is much need for them in all our principal +sea-ports; for who require them more than the men who are perpetually +exposed to the double shipwreck of body and soul? The members of these +and similar institutions are instrumental in preserving some from +ruin--in restoring others to character and employment, to usefulness, +to self-estimation, and to religious feeling; and in making both our +merchant and naval service an example to the world of subordination +and patient endurance. + +The promoters of these institutions are not satisfied with providing a +remedy for the evil which exists, but they do much to prevent the ills +of irreligion and immorality, by supplying seamen with instructive and +devotional books, and by employing agents to go among them and to tell +them where the offices of religion are performed. The countenance +which admirals and captains, prelates and lords of the Admiralty, have +given to them, are the best warrant for their necessity and +usefulness. A short notice of 'The Swan' and its Tender, will not be +thought out of place in this volume. + +'The Swan' is a large cutter of about 140 tons. On her bows she bears +an inscription which describes her as 'The Thames Church.' She conveys +a clergyman and a floating sanctuary from one pool in the river to +another, to carry the Word of God to those who do not seek for it +themselves. Hers is a missionary voyage. She is freighted with Bibles +and Testaments and Prayer-books, and religious tracts. She runs +alongside colliers, outward-bound vessels, and emigrant ships +especially, that the services, the consolation, and the instruction of +the Church may be offered as a parting gift to those, who are taking a +last leave of their native shores, and are saying farewell to weeping +friends and kindred. + +There is also a Tender, called 'The Little Thames Church,' which sails +lower down the river, as occasion may require, fraught on the same +holy errand. One extract from the last Report of the 'Thames Church +Mission Society,' which is patronized by the Archbishop of Canterbury +and the Bishops of London and Winchester, will suffice to explain the +nature of her mission. + +'Sunday, February 24, Long Reach. Morning service. The congregation +was 128 seamen. Afternoon, Bible class, 62. Evening service, +132,--total 322. One of the captains observed that there was a great +change for the better, which he was rejoiced to see: 'For,' said he, +'about four years ago I attended a service, and found that I was the +only sailor that had come from the fleet; but this morning so crowded +was the church, that I had some difficulty in getting a seat.'' + +It is by means such as these, which as a Christian nation we are bound +to provide, that we might hope, not only to keep alive, but to improve +the noble spirit which distinguishes the British Navy. + +The discipline which now prevails would be established on the highest +principle of obedience and action. The endurance, which now bears +suffering with fortitude, would learn to submit to severer trials +under the sanction of a higher teaching, and patience would have her +perfect work. The courage and steadiness of a brave crew would receive +an accession of energy from the hope that is set before them. The +allegiance, which they owe to their Sovereign, would be strengthened +by a sense of the more sacred duty which they owe to Him, by whom +kings reign and rulers govern: and committing themselves habitually to +the protection of Providence, they would face deprivation, fatigue, +and danger with unshaken composure.--with a hand for any toil, and a +heart for any fate. + +WILLIAM STEPHEN GILLY. + +_Durham, Oct. 28, 1850._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] See also an elaborate article on the same subject in the +_Edinburgh Review_, September, 1818. No. 60. + +[2] In September, 1849, five colliers were wrecked off the Gunfleet +Sands. The crews were saved, and the following extract from the +_Ipswich Express_, copied into the _Times_ of the 12th of December, +contains a proof of the strong hold which religious awe has on the +minds of seamen:--'Yesterday (Monday) afternoon, the united crews, +amounting to about thirty men, had a free passage to Ipswich by the +River Queen. The scene on board was of the most extraordinary and +affecting description. The rough, weather-beaten seamen, who had gone +through the perils of that night with undaunted courage, were, in the +review of it, completely overwhelmed with gratitude to God for His +mercy in granting them deliverance. For the most part they were in the +fore cabin of the steamer, and at one time all would be on their knees +in devout prayer and thanksgiving to God, then a suitable hymn would +be read, and the voices of those who had been saved from the yawning +ocean would presently sound it forth in solemn thanks to God. From +port to port they were entirely occupied in these devotional +exercises, and the effect of them, and indeed the whole scene, upon +several hardy sons of ocean who were on board, will never be +forgotten.' + +[3] His duties would be similar to those described in the following +letter from a clergyman in one of the colonies, though more general in +their extent:--'My own duties are pretty much those you would suppose. +I visit the emigrant ships _immediately_ on their coming into port, +and am often on board before they drop anchor. I then inquire for the +members of the Church of England, and for such others as may require +the services of a Church of England clergyman; and having assembled +them together, inquire as to the occurrences on the voyage, whether +they have had schools, and a regular Sunday or daily service, whether +there are children to be baptized, and a thousand other matters of a +like nature, which it would be but tiring you to detail. We then +appoint an hour for holding a thanksgiving service for their +preservation from the perils of the sea, and their safe arrival in the +colony. This service consists in the proper service for the day, with +a short sermon suited to the occasion.' + + + + +THE BOYNE + + Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean--roll! + Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain; + Man marks the earth, with ruin--his control + Stops with the shore;--upon the watery plain + The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth remain + A shadow of man's ravage, save his own, + When, for a moment, like a drop of rain, + He sinks into thy depths with bubbling groan, + Without a grave, unknell'd, uncoffin'd, and unknown. + + BYRON'S _Childe Harold_. + + +In the Preface to this work it has been stated that it is not our +intention to give a detailed account of every wreck that has happened +in the Royal Navy from the year 1793, to the present time, but only of +a few of those which appear to be most interesting. We therefore pass +over the first two years, giving only a catalogue of the wrecks that +occurred during that time; because the calamities that befel the +British Navy in 1793 and 1794 were but slight in comparison with those +of a later date. The first loss that we have to record is that of the +BOYNE, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Peyton, and +commanded by Captain George Grey. This ship took fire as she lay at +anchor at Spithead, on the 1st of May, 1795. + +The origin of the fire has never been correctly ascertained; but it is +supposed that some of the lighted paper from the cartridges of the +marines, as they were exercising and firing on the windward side of +the poop, flew through the quarter gallery into the admiral's cabin, +and set fire to the papers or other inflammable materials that were +lying there. Be this as it may, the flames burst through the poop +before the fire was discovered, and, notwithstanding the united +efforts of both officers and men, they soon wrapt the vessel in a +blaze fore and aft. + +Upon the discovery of the fire, all the boats from the different ships +put out to the Boyne's assistance, and the crew, with the exception of +eleven, were saved. + +The Boyne's guns, being loaded, went off as they became heated, and +much injury would have been done to the shipping and those on board, +had not the Port-Admiral, Sir William Parker, made signals for the +vessels most in danger to get under weigh. As it was, two men were +killed, and one wounded on board the Queen Charlotte. + +About half-past one in the afternoon, the burning ship parted from her +cables, and blew up with a dreadful explosion. At the time of the +accident, Admiral Peyton and Captain Grey were attending a court +martial in Portsmouth Harbour. + + + + +THE AMPHION + + +The next catastrophe which we have to describe, was of a far more +appalling nature, and one which long threw a gloom over the +inhabitants of Plymouth and the neighbourhood. + +The AMPHION frigate had been obliged to put into Plymouth for repairs, +and, on the 22nd Sept., 1796, was lying alongside of a sheer-hulk +taking in her bowsprit, within a few yards of the dockyard jetty. The +ship, being on the eve of sailing, was crowded with more than an +hundred men, women, and children, above her usual complement. It was +about four o'clock in the afternoon that a violent shock, like an +earthquake, was felt at Stonehouse and Plymouth. The sky towards the +dock appeared red, as if from fire, and in a moment the streets were +crowded with the inhabitants, each asking his neighbour what had +occurred. When the confusion had somewhat abated, it was announced +that the Amphion had blown up, and then every one hastened to the +dock, where a most heartrending scene presented itself. Strewed in +all directions were pieces of broken timber, spars, and rigging, +whilst the deck of the hulk, to which the frigate had been lashed was +red with blood, and covered with mangled limbs and lifeless trunks, +all blackened with powder. The frigate had been originally manned from +Plymouth; and as the mutilated forms were collected together and +carried to the hospital, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters +flocked to the gates, in their anxiety to discover if their relatives +were numbered amongst the dying or the dead. + +From the suddenness of the catastrophe, no accurate account can of +course be given; but the following particulars were collected from the +survivors. + +The captain, Israel Pellew, was at dinner in his cabin, with Captain +Swaffield of the Overyssel, a Dutch 64, and the first lieutenant of +the Amphion, when in an instant they were all violently thrown against +the carlings of the upper deck. Captain Pellew had sufficient presence +of mind to rush to the cabin window before a second explosion +followed, by which he was blown into the water; he was soon, however, +picked up by a boat, and was found to have sustained but little +injury. + +The first lieutenant, who followed his example, escaped in a similar +manner. Unfortunately, Captain Swaffield perished, in all probability +having been stunned either by the first blow he received against the +carlings, or by coming in contact with some part of the hulk. His body +was found a month afterwards, with the skull fractured, apparently +crushed between the sides of the two vessels. + +At the moment of the explosion, the sentinel at the cabin door was +looking at his watch, when it was dashed from his hands and he was +stunned: he knew nothing more until he found himself safe on shore, +and comparatively unhurt. The escape of the boatswain was also very +remarkable; he was standing on the cathead, directing the men in +rigging out the jib-boom, when he felt himself suddenly carried off +his feet into the air: he then fell into the sea senseless; and on +recovering his consciousness, he found that he had got entangled +amongst the rigging, and that his arm was broken. He contrived to +extricate himself, though with some difficulty, and he was soon picked +up by a boat, without further injury. + +The preservation of a child was no less singular: in the terror of the +moment, the mother had grasped it in her arms, but, horrible to +relate, the lower part of her body was blown to pieces, whilst the +upper part remained unhurt, and it was discovered with the arms still +clasping the living child to the lifeless bosom. + + Till then we had not wept-- + But well our gushing hearts might say, + That there a _Mother_ slept! + For her pale arms a babe had prest + With such a wreathing grasp, + The fire had pass'd o'er that fond breast, + _Yet not undone the clasp_. + Deep in her bosom lay his head, + With half-shut violet eye-- + _He_ had known little of her dread, + Nought of her agony. + Oh! human love, whose yearning heart, + Through all things vainly true, + So stamps upon thy mortal part + Its passionate adieu: + Surely thou hast another lot, + There is some home for thee, + Where thou shalt rest, rememb'ring not + The moaning of the sea.--MRS. HEMANS. + +The exact complement of the Amphion was 215, but from the crowded +state of her decks at the time of the accident, it is supposed that +300, out of 310 or 312 persons, perished with the ship. + +The captain, two lieutenants, a boatswain, three or four seamen, a +marine, one woman, and the child were all that were saved. + +The cause of this unfortunate event was never clearly known; but it +was conjectured that the gunner might have let fall some powder near +the fore-magazine, which accidentally igniting, had communicated with +the magazine itself. The gunner had been suspected of stealing the +powder, and on that day he is said to have been intoxicated, and was +probably less careful than usual. He was amongst the numbers who +perished. + + + + +THE TRIBUNE + + +The loss of the TRIBUNE frigate, in November of the following year, is +too interesting to be omitted. + +At about eight o'clock on the morning of the 16th of November, 1797, +the harbour of Halifax was discovered, and as a strong wind blew from +the east-south-east, Captain Scory Barker proposed to the master to +lie to, until a pilot came on board. The master replied that there was +no necessity for such a measure, as the wind was favourable, and he +was perfectly well acquainted with the passage. The captain confiding +in this assurance, went below, and the master took charge of the ship. + +Towards noon they approached so near the Thrum Cape shoals, that the +master became alarmed and sent for Mr. Galvin, one of the master's +mates. The message was scarcely delivered, before the man in the +main-chains sung out, 'By the mark five.' In a few minutes after the +ship struck. + +Signals of distress were immediately made, and as speedily answered by +the military posts, and the ships in the harbour. + +Some boats put out from the harbour to the assistance of the Tribune, +and Mr. Rackum, boatswain of the Ordinary, succeeded in reaching her +in a boat from the dockyard, but all the other boats were forced to +put back,--the wind was blowing so hard directly against them. + +The ship continued to beat until eight o'clock, P.M., when all the +guns having been thrown overboard (except one, retained for signals), +and all means taken to lighten her, she began to heave, and in about +an hour after she swung off the shoal,--not, however, without having +lost her rudder. + +She was then found to have seven feet of water in the hold; the chain +pumps were instantly manned, and every exertion made to save the +vessel. At first these efforts seemed to be successful, but by ten +o'clock the gale had increased to a frightful violence, and the water +was gaining on them so fast that little hope remained. The ship was +driving rapidly towards the rocky coast, against which she must have +been dashed to pieces had she kept afloat a few minutes longer, but +she gave a lurch and went down, rose again for an instant, and with +another lurch sank, and all was over,--and there were nearly two +hundred and fifty human beings struggling with the waves. + +Of all the crew twelve only were saved. + +Mr. Galvin, the master's mate, was below, directing the working of the +pumps, when the ship went down; he was washed up the hatchway, and +thence into the sea; he then struck out for the shrouds, but was +seized by three of his drowning comrades. To extricate himself from +their grasp, he dived for a few seconds, which caused them to let go +their hold. He reached the shrouds, which were crowded with people, +and then climbed to the main-top. Ten men had taken refuge in the +foretop, and about a hundred persons altogether are supposed by Mr. +Galvin to have been clinging to the shrouds, tops, and other parts of +the rigging; but the long November night, the intense cold, and the +fierce gale, finished the work that the waves had left undone; and one +by one the poor creatures let go their hold, frozen or exhausted, and +dropped into the foaming sea. + +About forty persons were clinging to the mainmast when it fell over, +and all were lost, except Mr. Galvin and nine others, who had strength +enough left to enable them to gain the top, which rested on the +mainyard, being fortunately sustained by a part of the rigging. But of +the ten who regained the main-top, four only, including Mr. Galvin, +survived the night. Of the ten in the foretop, six perished, three +from exhaustion, and three were washed way. + +Here we cannot refrain from relating an instance of the coolness which +is so often characteristic of the British sailor. Amongst those who +survived in the foretop were two seamen, Robert Dunlap, and Daniel +Munroe; the latter disappeared in the night, and his companion +concluded that he had been washed away with the others. About two +hours, however, after he had been missed, Munroe, to the surprise of +Dunlap, thrust his head through the lubber's hole. Dunlap asked where +he had been. + +'Been.' said Munroe; 'I've been cruizing, d'ye see, in search of a +better berth.' + +After swimming about the wreck for a considerable time, he had +returned to the fore-shrouds, and crawling in at the cat-harpings, had +been sleeping there more than an hour. + +When the morning dawned, there were only eight men still alive on the +rigging, and no effort was made to rescue them until about eleven +o'clock, A.M., when a boy of thirteen years of age put out alone, in a +small skiff from Herring Cove, to their assistance, thus setting a +noble example of humanity and heroism to older and more experienced +men, who should have been leaders, and not followers, on such an +occasion. With great courage and skill, and at the peril of his life, +he reached the wreck, and backing his skiff close to the foretop, +carried off two of the people. Upon this occasion, also, a noble +instance of the magnanimity of the true British tar was displayed. + +Munroe and Dunlap, who, during the night, had preserved their strength +and spirits, and had done everything in their power to sustain their +less fortunate comrades, refused to quit the wreck until the other two +men, who were so exhausted as to be unable to make any effort for +their own safety, were taken on shore. They accordingly lifted them +into the skiff, and the gallant boy rowed them off in triumph to the +Cove, and deposited them in safety in the nearest cottage. + +He again put off in his skiff, but this time all his efforts were +unavailing, and he was obliged to return. His gallant example, +however, had the effect of inducing others to make the attempt, and +the six survivors were conveyed to the shore in large boats. + + + + +THE RESISTANCE + +Before concluding this chapter, we will briefly relate another +catastrophe, somewhat similar to that of the Amphion, but which +affords a still more remarkable instance of the preservation of four +individuals, from one of whom the following particulars were +ascertained:---- + +It appears that the RESISTANCE, of 44 guns, Captain Edward Pakenham, +had anchored in the Straits of Banca, on the 23rd of July, 1798. +Between three and four o'clock in the morning of the 24th, the ship +was struck by lightning: the electric fluid must have penetrated and +set fire to some part of the vessel near to the magazine, as she blew +up with a fearful violence a few moments after the flash. Thomas +Scott, a seaman, one of the few survivors, stated that he was lying +asleep on the starboard side of the quarter-deck, when being suddenly +awakened by a bright blaze, and the sensation of scorching heat, he +found his hair and clothes were on fire. A tremendous explosion +immediately followed, and he became insensible. He supposed that some +minutes must have elapsed before he recovered, when he found himself, +with many of his comrades, struggling in the waves amongst pieces of +the wreck. The Resistance had sunk, but the hammock netting was just +above water on the starboard side, and with much difficulty Scott and +the other survivors contrived to reach it. When they were able to look +around them, they found that twelve men alone remained of a crew of +above three hundred, including the marines. The calmness of the +weather enabled the unfortunate sufferers to construct a raft with the +pieces of timber that were floating about; but most of the men were so +much bruised and burnt as to be unable to assist in the work. The raft +was finished about one o'clock, P.M., but in a very rough and insecure +manner. Part of the mainsail attached to the mast of the jolly-boat +served them for a sail, and they committed themselves to the care of +Providence upon this frail raft, and made for the nearest shore, which +was the low land of Sumatra, about three leagues distant. + +About seven o'clock in the evening, a gale sprung up, the sea ran +high, and the lashings of the raft began to give way, the planks which +formed the platform were washed off, and in a short time the mast and +sail were also carried away. An anchor-stock which formed part of the +raft had separated, and was floating away; but although it was at some +distance, Scott proposed to swim for it, and encouraging three others +to follow his example, they all reached it in safety. In about an hour +afterwards they lost sight of their companions on the raft, and never +saw them more. The four men upon the anchor-stock gained the shore, +and they then fell into the hands of the Malays. + +Thomas Scott was twice sold as a slave, but was at length released, at +the request of Major Taylor, the governor of Malacca, who, hearing +that four British seamen were captives at Lingan, sent to the Sultan +to beg his assistance in procuring their liberty. Thomas Scott +returned with Major Taylor's messenger to Malacca, from whence he +sailed to England: the other three men had been previously released by +the Sultan's orders, and conveyed to Penang. + + + + +THE PROSERPINE. + + +On Monday, January the 28th, 1799, His Majesty's frigate Proserpine, +28 guns, commanded by Captain James Wallis, sailed from Yarmouth to +Cuxhaven. She had on board the Hon. Thomas Grenville, who was the +bearer of important despatches for the Court of Berlin. On Wednesday, +the 30th, the ship was off Heligoland, and there took in a pilot for +the Elbe. The day being fine, with a fair wind from the N.N.E., the +Proserpine's course was steered for the Red Buoy, where she anchored +for the night. It was then perceived that the two other buoys at the +entrance of the river had been removed: a consultation was therefore +held with the pilots, in the presence of Mr. Grenville, as to the +practicability of proceeding up the river in the absence of the buoys. +The Heligoland pilot, and the two belonging to the ship, were +unanimous in declaring that there was not the slightest difficulty or +danger in ascending the river; they professed the most perfect +knowledge of the passage, and assured Captain Wallis they had no fear +of carrying the vessel to Cuxhaven provided only he would proceed +between half ebb and half flood tide; for in that case they should be +able to see the sands and to recognise their marks. + +The next morning (31st), the Proserpine was got under weigh, and +proceeded up the river, having the Prince of Wales packet, which had +accompanied her from Yarmouth, standing on ahead. + +At four o'clock in the afternoon, when they were within four miles of +Cuxhaven, the weather became very thick, and some snow fell, so that +Captain Wallis was obliged to anchor. + +At nine o'clock, P.M., the wind changed to east by south, blowing a +violent gale, accompanied by a heavy fall of snow, which made it +impossible to see beyond a few feet from the ship; and what was still +worse, the tide and the wind brought such large masses of ice against +the ship, that, with all hands upon deck, it was with the greatest +difficulty they prevented the cables being cut, and were able to +preserve their station till daylight. + +By eight o'clock next morning, the flood tide had carried up most of +the ice, and left a passage clear below the ship, while all above it +was blocked tip. The Prince of Wales packet had gone on shore during +the night; and, warned by her fate, Captain Wallis determined to +retreat out of the Elbe. Mr. Grenville was very anxious to be put on +shore as speedily as possible, his mission being of much importance; +but the river was so completely blocked up above them, that there +seemed no possibility of effecting a landing at Cuxhaven: Captain +Wallis therefore got his ship under weigh, and stood out to sea, +intending to land Mr. Grenville on the nearest part of the coast of +Jutland, if it were practicable. + +The pilots were congratulating the captain on the frigate's getting +safely out of the river, and clear of the sands, and the people had +been allowed to go to breakfast, on the supposition that all danger +was past, when the vessel struck upon Scharborn Sand, with Newark +Island bearing south by east, at half-past nine o'clock, A.M. + +As it was blowing a very strong gale of wind, the Proserpine struck +with great force, though she carried no other canvass than her +foretopmast stay-sail. Upon sounding there was found to be only ten +feet of water under the fore part of her keel. + +The boats were immediately lowered to carry out an anchor, but the ice +was returning upon them so fast that this was found impossible, and +the boats were hoisted on board again. All hands were then employed to +shore the ship up, and make her heel towards the bank, to prevent her +falling into the stream, which would have been certain destruction. +Happily this object was effected; for as the tide ebbed, she lay +towards the bank. + +The next tide, however, brought down such huge masses of ice that the +shores were carried away--the copper was torn from the starboard +quarter, and the rudder cut in two, the lower part lying on the ice +under the counter. + +Notwithstanding all these disasters, Captain Wallis still hoped to get +the ship off at high water, and to effect this, they proceeded to +lighten her by throwing most of her guns and part of her stores +overboard, all of which were borne up on the ice. One party was +employed in hoisting out the provisions, another in starting the casks +of wine and spirits; and such were the good discipline and right +feeling of the men, that not one instance of intoxication occurred. + +At ten o'clock on Friday night, they abandoned all hope of saving the +vessel; it was then high water, yet the heavy gale from the south-east +so kept back the tide, that upon sounding, they found three feet less +water than there had been in the morning, when the ship first struck. + +The situation of the crew was dreadful. When the tide ebbed, they +expected every moment that the ship would be driven to pieces by the +ice. The cold was intense, and the darkness such that it was almost +impossible to distinguish one another upon deck; and the snow, falling +very thick, was driven against their faces by the wind, and froze upon +them as it fell. + +There was no possibility of keeping up warmth and circulation in their +bodies, for the frozen snow and ice made the deck so slippery they +could scarcely stand, much less walk about quickly, and all they could +do was, to try to screen themselves as much as possible from the +pitiless blast. Thus the night was spent in anxious fears for the +future, and dread of immediate destruction. But morning came at last, +though with little comfort to the sufferers, for the wind had +increased, the ice was up to the cabin windows, the stern-post was +found to be broken in two, and the ship otherwise seriously damaged. + +In this state they could not long remain. Mr. Grenville and some of +the officers proposed to Captain Wallis that the crew should make an +attempt to get over the ice to Newark Island, as the only means of +preserving their lives.[4] At first, Captain Wallis was inclined to +reject the proposal; he saw all the danger attending such an attempt; +and it appeared to him, that they could scarcely expect to succeed in +crossing the ice through a dense fog and heavy snow-storm, without any +knowledge of the way, without a guide, and exhausted as they were by +mental and bodily suffering, and benumbed with cold. + +On the other hand, he confessed that the plan presented a hope of +safety, and that it was their only hope. The ship's company were +unanimous in wishing to adopt it, and therefore Captain Wallis finally +consented. + +The people then set heartily to work to consider the difficulties of +the undertaking, and the best means of meeting them. It was determined +that they should be divided into four companies, each headed by an +officer; that the strongest of the men should carry planks, to be laid +down in the most dangerous places by way of assistance to the less +able and active of the party; and that others should hold a long line +of extended rope, to be instantly available in case of any one falling +between the blocks of ice. + +When all these measures were decided upon, and every man had provided +himself with what was most essential for his safety and sustenance, +they began their perilous journey at half-past one o'clock, P.M. By +three o'clock, every one had left the ship, except Captain Wallis, and +he then followed the party, accompanied by Lieutenant Ridley, of the +Marines. + +To describe the dangers and difficulties the crew of the Proserpine +had to encounter is almost impossible. The snow was still falling +heavily, driving against their faces, and adhering to their hair and +eyebrows, where in a few minutes it became solid pieces of ice. +Sometimes they had to clamber over huge blocks of ice, and at other +times were obliged to plunge through snow and water reaching to their +middle. + +As the wind blew from the direction in which they were proceeding, the +large flakes of snow were driven into their eyes, and prevented them +from seeing many yards in advance. This caused them to deviate from +their proper course, and to travel in a direction which, if continued, +would have carried them off the shoal and field of ice into the sea, +or at least have taken them so far from any place of shelter, as to +have left them to perish in the ice and snow during the night. + +This dreadful calamity was, however, prevented, by one of the party +having in his possession a pocket compass. Fortunately, bearings had +been taken previous to their leaving the wreck. The course they were +pursuing was examined, and to their surprise it was discovered that +they had been deviating widely from the direct line which they ought +to have pursued. This, however, enabled the party to correct the +march, and after a toilsome journey of six miles, they at length +reached Newark. + +In the course of their hazardous journey, a striking instance was +afforded of the inscrutable ways of Providence. Two females were on +board the Proserpine when she was stranded,--one a strong healthy +woman, accustomed to the hardships of a maritime life: the other +exactly the reverse, weak and delicate, had never been twelve hours on +board a ship until the evening previous to the frigate's sailing from +Yarmouth. Her husband had been lately impressed, and she had come on +board for the purpose of taking farewell. Owing to a sudden change of +the weather, and the urgency of the mission for which the Proserpine +had been despatched, she had been unable to quit the ship. The poor +creature was upon the eve of her confinement, and naturally being but +ill prepared to combat with the inconvenience of a ship at sea, in the +course of the day she was delivered of a dead child. The reader can +well imagine the sufferings endured by this helpless woman, with but +one of her own sex to tend her, in a vessel tossed about in the stormy +seas of the Northern Ocean. + +But this was little compared with what she had yet to undergo. Before +many hours the frigate stranded: the night was passed in torture of +mind and body, and then was she compelled, with others, to quit the +ship, and travel through masses of snow and ice, and to combat with +the bitter north wind, hail, and sleet. + +It may well be supposed that her strength, already weakened by the +sufferings she had undergone, was totally unprepared to bear up +against a trial from which the strongest of the crew might have +shrunk; but it turned out otherwise. The robust, healthy woman, with +her feeble companion, left the wreck together, the former bearing in +her arms an infant of nine months old. No doubt many a ready arm was +stretched forth to assist them in their perilsome journey. But man +could have done but little against the piercing winter's blast with +which they had to contend. Before they had proceeded half the +distance, the child was frozen in its mother's arms, and ere long the +mother herself sunk on the snow, fell into a state of stupor, and +died. Not so the delicate invalid; sustained by help from above, she +still pursued her way, and ere long gained with others the hospitable +shore. The inhabitants of the village received the strangers with +great kindness, and did everything in their power to alleviate their +sufferings. The ship's company were distributed amongst them for the +night, but the poverty of the place afforded them little more than +shelter. + +The next morning a general muster was made, and it was ascertained +that, of the whole company, twelve seamen, a woman, and her child, +only were missing; these had either been frozen to death, or had died +from the effects of cold, and the loss was small when compared with +the hardships they had suffered. Several men had their legs and +fingers frozen, but through proper medical treatment they all +recovered. + +The storm lasted without intermission till the night of the 5th, and +during that time the crew of the Proserpine were suffering much from +the want of necessary food, clothing, &c. Provisions were so scarce +that they were all put upon short allowance; and their scanty store +being nearly exhausted, it became absolutely necessary that part of +them should proceed to Cuxhaven. + +They learnt that at low water it was possible to get to Cuxhaven on +foot; and as some of the islanders offered their services as guides, +and the tide served, it was settled that the first lieutenant and half +the officers and men should start with the guides on the morning of +the 6th. + +Mr. Grenville being very anxious to proceed on his mission to Berlin, +determined to accompany the party, with the secretary to the embassy, +and some of the servants; and they accordingly all set off at eight +o'clock in the morning, the severity of the weather having somewhat +abated. + +Great as had been the difficulties they had encountered in their +passage from the Proserpine to Newark Island, the dangers of their +present expedition, over sand and ice, were nearly as formidable. At +one part of their journey they found themselves on the banks of a +river. The guides had assured them it was only a very narrow stream, +and would most probably be frozen over: it proved, however, to be a +river of considerable width; the ice was broken and floating upon it +in large masses; the tide, too, was rising, and altogether the passage +presented a formidable appearance. There was little time for +deliberation, so the word was given to push forward, and the next +moment they were up to their waists in the water, struggling against +the tide and the large flakes of ice, which swept against them with +such force that they had great difficulty in keeping their footing. + +But through the mercy of Providence they all reached the opposite bank +in safety, and before evening they arrived at Cuxhaven, without the +loss of a single man. Many of them were more or less frost-bitten, but +by rubbing the parts affected with snow, circulation was restored. + +We must now return to Captain Wallis and the officers and men who had +remained with him at Newark, in hopes of being able to save some of +the stores from the frigate. + +On Friday, the 8th, Mr. Anthony, the master, volunteered with a party +to endeavour to ascertain the state of the vessel, and if possible to +bring away some bread, of which they were in much need. + +They had great difficulty in reaching the ship, which they found lying +on her beam ends, with seven feet and a half of water in her hold, +having her quarter-deck separated six feet from her gangway, and +apparently only-kept together by the vast quantity of ice which +surrounded her. + +From this report, it was deemed unadvisable to make any more +expeditions to the ship; but on the 10th, the clearness of the day +induced Mr. Anthony, in company with the surgeon, a midshipman, the +boatswain, and two seamen, to go off a second time. + +Those who remained at Newark anxiously expected the return of the +party, but they came not. Evening advanced, the tide was flowing, and +at last it was too late for them to cross the sands and ice till the +next ebb. The watchers were obliged to content themselves with the +hope that Mr. Anthony and his party had found it safe and practicable +to remain on board the frigate till morning. But during the night a +violent storm arose, which increased the anxiety of Captain Wallis for +the safety of his people; and this anxiety became deep distress, when +in the morning he gazed wistfully towards the wreck, and saw nothing +but the foaming waters, and moving fields of ice. Not a vestige of the +frigate was visible. We cannot better describe Captain Wallis's +feelings on this occasion than by quoting his own words, when he +communicated the intelligence to Vice-Admiral Archibald Dickson. + +'They got on board,' says Captain Wallis, 'but unfortunately +neglected, until too late in the tide, to return, which left them no +alternative but that of remaining on board till next day. About ten +o'clock at night the wind came on at S.S.E., and blew a most violent +storm; the tide, though at the neap, rose to an uncommon height, the +ice got in motion, the velocity of which swept the wreck to +destruction, (for in the morning not a vestige of her was to be seen,) +and with it, I am miserably afraid, went the above unfortunate +officers and men,--and if so, their loss will be a great one to the +service, as, in their different departments, they were a great +acquisition to it. + +'The only hope I have is, that Providence which has so bountifully +assisted us in our recent dangers and difficulties, may be extended +towards them, so as to preserve their lives, by means of boat or +otherwise; but I am very sorry to say my hopes are founded on the +most distant degree of human probability. This melancholy accident +happening so unexpectedly, added to my other misfortunes, has given so +severe a shock to my health and spirits, as to prevent me hitherto +undertaking the journey to Cuxhaven, where the survivors of the ship's +company now are, except a few who are here with me, with whom I shall +set out as soon as we are able.' + +It is now necessary that we should follow the proceedings of Mr. +Anthony and his party. + +They reached the wreck at ten o'clock on Sunday morning; but, being +busily occupied in collecting what stores they could, they neglected +to watch the tide, and whilst they were thus employed, the time passed +over, and the waves rolling between them and their temporary home at +Newark; they were obliged to wait till the next day's ebb. During the +night, as we have stated, the wind changed to the S.S.E.: it blew a +violent gale, and the tide rose to such an unusual height, that it +floated the ship, and the ice that had stuck to her, without the men +on board being aware of it. The next morning, to their horror and +dismay, they found the vessel drifting out to the ocean. We can +scarcely imagine a situation more terrible than that in which these +unfortunate men were placed. They were in all six persons, four +officers and two seamen, and these few hands had to manage a frigate +of 28 guns, which was actually going to pieces, and it was impossible +to conjecture how long she might swim. She was merely buoyed up on the +sea by the fields of ice that surrounded her; and if the ice were to +break away, in all probability she would not hold together for an +hour. + +Mr. Anthony and his companions did not, however, give way to despair, +nor lose time in useless repining. They set to work immediately, to +avoid the danger as far as circumstances would permit. + +Their first care was to drop the lead between two of the masses of +ice, and they found that the ship was floating in eleven fathoms. They +then fired several guns, to give warning of their situation. By turns +they worked at the pumps, and, in order to lighten the vessel, threw +all the remaining guns, except four, overboard--a labour of no small +magnitude for six men to perform. + +Their next object was to get up the tackles for hoisting out the boat, +in case of their getting into clear water, or being obliged to quit +the wreck. + +There was one advantage in all this hard labour, to which most of them +were unaccustomed: it prevented their suffering so much as they +otherwise must have done from the extreme cold; and in one respect +they were better off than their comrades at Newark, for they had +plenty of provisions on board. So passed the first day on the wreck. + +The next morning, Tuesday, the 12th, at about eleven o'clock, land was +descried on their lee, on which they fired several guns, and hauled +the colours on the main-rigging, union downwards, as a signal of +distress. An hour afterwards the ship struck on a rock off the island +of Baltrum, about a mile and a-half distant from the shore. + +Mr. Anthony and his companions then tried to launch the cutter, but +they were obliged to give up the attempt, as the sea was not +sufficiently clear of ice; they therefore remained on board another +night. + +The next morning, however, they hoisted out the boat, and pulled +towards the shore; but they had not gone more than half way, when they +were surrounded by fields of ice, so that they were obliged to get +upon the ice, and drag the boat with them. + +About noon they had reached to within a cable's length of the shore, +and here they were compelled to leave the boat: they were all +completely exhausted, and found it impossible to drag her any +further. They themselves had to leap from one piece of ice to another, +often falling into the water; and it was at the imminent risk of their +lives that they at last gained the beach. + +They were tolerably well received by the inhabitants, who took them to +their houses, and allowed them to seek that repose which they so much +needed. + +The next day the islanders, unable to resist the temptation of +plunder, took to their boats, and made off to the ship, which they +ransacked, and carried off all the arms, stores, and provisions of +every kind. In vain Mr. Anthony protested against this base conduct: +it was as much as he could do to persuade them to spare some part of +the provisions for himself and his friends. + +The party were obliged to remain at Baltrum amongst their rapacious +hosts until Saturday, the 16th, when they deemed that the ice was +sufficiently cleared away to allow of their sailing for Cuxhaven; they +accordingly secured the cutter and took their departure. As there was +not the remotest chance of getting the Proserpine afloat again, they +abandoned her to the island plunderers. They reached Cuxhaven about +the 22nd, and there they found Lieutenant Wright and those who had +accompanied him from Newark. + +On the following day, Captain Wallis arrived, with the rest of the +ship's company, the sick and wounded. We can imagine the joy and +gratitude with which Captain Wallis received the announcement of the +safe arrival of Mr. Anthony and his friends, whom he had deplored as +lost. + +Thus were the crew of the Proserpine, with the exception of thirteen +persons, brought once more together after three weeks endurance of +innumerable hardships, and having been exposed to many perils. Never +was the Almighty hand of Providence more visibly displayed than in +the protection afforded to these gallant fellows; and never did men do +more to help themselves than they did, We cannot but admire the calm +courage they evinced throughout that long and dismal night when almost +certain destruction awaited them; as well as their obedience and +cheerful alacrity through their toilsome march from the wreck to +Newark, and again from Newark to Cuxhaven. Nor must we forget the +fortitude displayed by Mr. Anthony and his companions, when they were +a second time wrecked in the Proserpine. + +Throughout the history of their dangers and sufferings from cold and +hunger, and the other evils attending a shipwreck on such an +inhospitable shore and in such a climate, there is no mention of one +single instance of murmuring, discontent, or disobedience of orders. + +When the Elbe was again navigable and free from ice, the crew embarked +in different packets and sailed for England, where they all arrived +without further disasters. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] Newark Island is the highest point of one of those long ridges of +sand which abound on the south and southeastern coasts of the North +Sea, formed by the deposits of ages from the rivers that empty +themselves into the German Ocean, acted upon by the alternate ebb and +flow of the tide, till they assume a form and establish a position and +a name. Upon Newark Island is a village and light-house, situated a +few miles from Cuxhaven, and accessible at low water by the sand. The +sand ridge takes a north-westerly direction from Newark Island, and +extends about six miles further. It was on the extremity of the +northwestern bank that the Proserpine was wrecked. + + + + +THE SCEPTRE. + + +Early in the spring of 1799, a large convoy of transports and +merchantmen sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, with troops and stores +for the siege of Seringapatam. The Sceptre, 64 guns, commanded by +Captain Valentine Edwards, was appointed to the sole charge of the +convoy, and to take Sir David Baird and the whole of the 84th regiment +on board. The Sceptre may, perhaps, have been the only king's ship +then at the Cape; it is certain that she had been an unusual length of +time on that station, and had become so weak and leaky as to be hardly +sea-worthy, when she was dispatched on this important service. + +Happily, the insecure state of the vessel induced extreme watchfulness +on the part of both officers and men, and all went on well till she +had made about two-thirds of her way, when one night a brisk gale +sprung up, which increased in violence so rapidly, that the officers +of the watch felt some anxiety on account of the unusual strain upon +the ship. Captain Edwards ordered the well to be sounded, and the +result confirming his apprehensions, the pumps were manned in an +incredibly short time, every one on board being aroused to a sense of +danger. + +Lieutenant the Honourable Alexander Jones had been relieved from the +first watch, and had retired to his berth about an hour before without +any misgivings. He was suddenly awakened by the alarming cry that the +ship was sinking, and the call of 'all hands,' He sprang up, and in a +few moments joined the group of officers, naval and military, +assembled on the quarter-deck. Anxiety was depicted on every +countenance; for although the pumps were worked incessantly, the +soldiers taking their turn with the sailors, the water was still +gaining on them fast; and even whilst the men relieved each other, it +rose several inches. But when human efforts were unavailing, the hand +of Providence was stretched out to save. The wind fell as suddenly as +it had risen, and after many hours of hard labour, the water was got +under, and the vessel was considered comparatively safe. + +Had the Sceptre gone down that night, hundreds and hundreds of +England's best and bravest defenders must have sunk into a watery +grave, and in all probability the enemy's ships, which were hovering +upon the track of the convoy, would have got possession of the +transports and merchantmen; and even the success of our arms in India +might have been seriously affected. + +A few weeks after the gale we have mentioned, the Sceptre and her +convoy arrived safely at Bombay. She was there put into dock and +repaired, and was strengthened by having large timbers, technically +termed riders, bolted diagonally on either side, fore and aft. + +When again fit for sea, she returned to Table Bay, and anchored there +about the middle of October. + +On the 1st of November, the captain and officers gave a ball to the +inhabitants of Cape Town, and on that night the ship presented an +appearance of unusual gaiety; mirth and music resounded on all sides; +in place of the stern voice of command, the laugh, the jest, and the +soft tones of woman's voice were heard; whilst many a light footstep +glided over the decks of the old ship. + + The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men; + A thousand hearts beat happily; and when + Music arose with its voluptuous swell, + Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spake again, + And all went merry as a marriage bell. + + CHILDE HAROLD. + +The night was calm and beautiful, and as the guests left the ship, +little did they think of the fearful doom that was so soon to +overwhelm many of those whose hands they had clasped for the last +time. + +The weather continued perfectly calm till the evening of the 4th of +November, when some ominous looking clouds indicated an approaching +storm. + +In addition to the Sceptre there remained in the Bay the Jupiter of 50 +guns, the Oldenburg, a Danish 64 gun ship, and several other vessels. +On the morning of the 5th, a strong gale blew from the north-west, but +no danger was apprehended, and the ship, dressed in flags, and with +the royal standard hoisted, fired her salute at noon in commemoration +of the Gunpowder Treason. + +The gale had increased considerably by two o'clock, and as Table Bay +affords no shelter from a north-west wind, the captain took every +precaution to make all secure: the topmasts were struck, and the fore +and main-yards were lowered to ease the ship. But half-an-hour had not +elapsed before the violence of the storm was such, that the ship +parted from her best bower cable; the sheet anchor was immediately let +go, and the cable veered away to twenty-eight fathoms. The storm +gathered strength, and at half-past six the whole fury of the elements +seemed to be concentrated in one terrific blast. + +Orders were given to let go the anchor, with two of the forecastle +guns attached; but even this proved insufficient to hold the ship. + +One of the boats was then hoisted out, in order to communicate with +the Jupiter, and procure the end of a cable from her, but in a few +minutes the boat upset and was lost, with all her crew. For some hours +signal guns of distress had been fired, and the ensign had been +hoisted downwards, but no help could reach the vessel: in that +tempestuous sea no boat could live. Some of the officers who had gone +on shore the previous evening were standing on the beach, unable to +render any assistance to their comrades, and compelled to remain +inactive spectators of the harrowing scene, and to behold their brave +ship foundering at her anchors. + +About eight o'clock, loud above the howling of the tempest and the +booming of the minute gun, arose the wild cry of _fire_: and thick +smoke was discernible from the shore, issuing from the hatches. Now +were the opposing elements of air, fire, and water combined for the +destruction of the ill-fated ship. For an instant, all stood +paralysed; but it was only for an instant. Again the voices of the +officers were raised in command, and every man was ready at his post. + +The smoke came up from the hatches in such dense volumes, that all +attempts to go below to extinguish the fire were abortive. Each man +felt that his last hour was come,--there was not a shadow of hope that +their lives could be saved; it was but a choice of death by fire or +water: to quit the ship must be fatal; they had seen the boat and its +crew swallowed up by the yawning waves, when the tempest raged less +fiercely than now, and she was too far from the shore to afford even a +ray of hope that the strongest swimmer might gain the beach. On the +other hand, to remain on board was to encounter a still more terrible +death--a burning funeral pile amidst the waters. While they hesitated +in doubt and horror, one of their fears was relieved,--the heavy sea +that washed incessantly over the wreck extinguished the fire. The ship +continued to drive at the mercy of the waves till about ten o'clock, +when she stranded, broadside to the shore, heeling on her port side +towards the sea. + +The captain then ordered the main and mizen masts to be cut away, and +the foremast soon afterwards went by the board. At this juncture, a +man of the name of Connolly, a favourite with both officers and crew, +volunteered to jump overboard with a deep-sea line attached to his +body, in order to form a communication between the ship and the shore. +He made but a few strokes ere he was borne away by the eddy and +drowned. + +The ship being lightened by the falling of the masts, righted herself +and got clear off the ground: there appeared some slight chance of +preservation, and every heart was buoyed up with hope that she might +be thrown high enough upon the beach to enable the people on shore to +render them some assistance. + +She was driven nearer and nearer to the land--voices became more and +more audible, so as even to be recognised--in a few minutes more, +the perishing crew might be safe--when a heavy sea struck the ship, +the orlop deck gave way, and the port side fell in--many were swept +away,--those who had the power to do so, retreated to the starboard +side. + +A most heartrending scene must that have been! The people were so +benumbed with cold and exhaustion, and paralysed by fear, that many of +them could no longer cling to the ropes and spars for support, and +every wave that broke over the wreck, washed away its victims. + +Many in despair leaped overboard, and attempted to swim to shore, but +the eddy caused by the wreck was so strong, that they were carried +out to sea; and in spite of the attempts made by those on board to +rescue them, they all perished. Mr. Tucker, a midshipman, lost his +life in the endeavour to reach the bow of the ship. + +About half an hour later the poop was washed away, and carried towards +the shore. Seventy or eighty men who were upon it seemed likely to be +saved from the surrounding destruction. The people on the beach +crowded to the spot where they would probably be driven, that they +might render every possible assistance; but what was their horror to +see a tremendous wave strike the poop, capsize it, and turn it over +and over; whilst every one of those who clung to it perished! + +But the terrors of that awful night were not yet exhausted. The wreck, +to which the remaining officers and men were clinging, heeled towards +the shore; but when the gale increased and blew with redoubled force, +it heeled off again, rent fore and aft, and parted in two +places--before the main-chains, and abaft the fore-chains--and then +all disappeared from the eyes of the awe-stricken spectators on the +beach. + +High above the crash of timbers and the roaring of the blast, rose the +despairing cry of hundreds of human beings who perished in the waters, +and whose mutilated forms, with the fragments of the wreck, strewed +the beach for miles on the following morning. + +Thirty or forty seamen and marines still clung to the bow, the sea +breaking over them incessantly; they kept their hold, however, in the +fond hope that the signal gun remaining, might by its weight prevent +the bow from being capsized; but the timbers, unable to resist the +fury of the tempest, suddenly parted,--the gun reeled from side to +side, and the unhappy men shared the fate of their companions. It has +been said that during that awful time, whilst threatened with instant +death, many of these men were in a stupor, with their hands locked in +the chain plates. + +Among the incidents connected with the wreck, it is related that Mr. +Buddle, a midshipman, (one of the few who escaped,) was cast upon the +waves almost insensible. He had not strength to strike out for the +beach, and he therefore merely tried to keep himself above water. This +proved to be the means of saving his life, for he floated in a +direction parallel with the shore, and avoided the huge pieces of +wreck by which all his companions who made directly for land +(excepting three) were dashed to pieces. + +Mr. Buddle was nearly exhausted, when he caught hold of a small piece +of timber that was floating near him; a nail which projected from it +wounded him on the breast; he fainted, and did not recover his senses +until he found himself lying on the beach upon a heap of dead bodies. +He attempted in vain to rise; for though he felt no pain, his left leg +was broken, his knee cut almost half through, and his body much +bruised. In this state he was discovered, and carried by some persons +to a large fire until further assistance could be obtained, and he was +then conveyed to the hospital. + +One of the officers of the Sceptre, who is still alive, and who +happened to be on shore at the time this terrible catastrophe +occurred, declares, that nothing imagination could conceive ever +equalled the horrors of that night. When the first signals of distress +were made from the Sceptre, the whole population of Cape Town, with +the officers and soldiers of the garrison, crowded down to the beach, +in the vain hope of being able to afford some assistance. The night +was bitterly cold; the wind blew with terrific violence, and the sea, +lashed into fury, broke with a deafening roar upon the beach. As night +approached, and darkness hid the vessel from their sight, the +feelings of the agonized spectators became almost insupportable. The +booming of the guns alone told that the ship still lived among the +raging waters; whilst ever and anon a piercing shriek announced that +the work of death had begun. + +All along the beach large fires were lighted, as beacons to guide +those who might be cast upon the shore. At length the ship was driven +nearer, and again she became visible from the land. She appeared, says +an eye-witness (before mentioned), like a huge castle looming in the +distance. The hopes of the spectators revived as she heeled on towards +them, and they all stood ready to give assistance whenever it should +be available. At one moment, a fearful crash was heard--next, a +piercing shriek, and the flash of the torches waved in the air +displayed the struggling forms of the drowning seamen, tossed to and +fro upon the waves amongst masses of the wreck, which, in many +instances, killed those whom the waters would have spared. + +The only help that the people on shore could render to the unhappy +sufferers was, to watch the opportunity when the waves brought a body +near to the land, and then to rush into the water, holding one another +at arm's length, and to grasp the exhausted creature before he was +borne back by the receding wave. + +In this manner forty-seven men were saved, together with Mr. Shaw, a +master's mate, and two midshipmen, of the names of Spinks and Buddle, +before-mentioned. Six officers had fortunately been on shore at the +time; all the others, with the captain, were lost on the wreck, +together with about three hundred and ninety-one seamen and marines. + +The people of Cape Town and the troops were employed the whole night +in searching for the dead, amongst whom they discovered the son of +Captain Edwards, with one hand grasping an open Bible, which was +pressed to his bosom, the parting gift, perhaps, of a fond mother, who +had taught the boy to revere in life that sacred volume, from which he +parted not in death. + +Three waggon-loads of the dead were next morning taken to a place near +the hospital, and there buried. About one hundred bodies, shockingly +mangled, were buried in one pit on the beach. The remains of all the +officers (with the exception of Captain Edwards) were found, and were +interred the following Sunday with military honours. + +The reader may be interested by being informed of a few of the +providential escapes which were experienced by Lieutenant Jones (now +Rear-Admiral Jones), one of the few survivors of the catastrophe above +described. This officer had been midshipman of the Providence, +discovery-ship, commanded by Captain William Broughton, which vessel, +after many dangerous vicissitudes, was finally wrecked among the +Japanese islands. Mr. Jones having faced all the dangers consequent on +such a trying position, with difficulty escaped a watery grave, by +taking refuge, with the rest of the officers and crew, on board the +tender which accompanied this ill-fated ship. This great addition to +her small complement, and her want of accommodation, produced a +virulent disease amongst the crew, from which Sir. Jones did not +escape. On arrival at Macao, Mr. Jones was ordered a passage, with his +surviving shipmates and crew of the Providence, to England, in the +Swift, sloop of war, selected to convoy a large fleet of Indiamen. The +evening before their departure, it was found that the accommodation in +the Swift was not sufficient for the supernumeraries, and, +consequently, Mr. Jones and Lord George Stuart (also a midshipman of +the Providence) were, by order of Captain Broughton, distributed among +the merchant ships, the former to the Carnatic, the latter to the +Duke of Buccleugh. The Swift and her convoy sailed on the morrow. They +had not proceeded far, before a succession of violent typhoons +overtook them, which scattered and disabled the Indiamen, most of +which were obliged to return to India; but the Swift foundered: she +was seen for a short time struggling with the elements, and making +signals of distress--a moment more, and she disappeared for ever.' + +Mr. Jones, arriving at the Cape of Good Hope, was detained by Rear +Admiral Pringle, and employed to communicate with his flag-ship, the +Tremendous, then in a state of mutiny, the mutineers having put her +officers ashore. His courage on this occasion was much lauded, as it +was believed by all, and expected by himself, that he would have been +thrown overboard. Harmony was at length restored on board the +Tremendous, and six of the mutineers were executed. As a reward for +his services, Mr. Jones was appointed acting lieutenant of the +Sceptre: his preservation, and the part he acted on that occasion, +have already been described. + +When lieutenant of the Ajax, attached to the fleet under Sir J. +Borlase Warren, lying in Vigo Bay, he was sent with a boat's crew to +the assistance of the Tartarus, sloop of war, which ship was then +driving to leeward in a gale on a rocky shore. So inevitable appeared +her destruction, that the officers and crew had abandoned her, after +letting go an anchor, to retard her expected crash against the rocks. +At this critical moment, whilst held by only one strand of the cable, +Lieutenant Jones's boat (although nearly swamped by the frequent +shipping of seas) neared the ship; and this officer, watching an +opportunity, sprung on board with his intrepid crew, and, by almost +superhuman exertions, succeeded in hauling her ahead. She had just +reached the point of safety, when her officers and crew, who +witnessed her more favourable position, brought about by Lieutenant +Jones's courage and perseverance, returned on board, and Lieutenant +Jones and his gallant followers rejoined their ship amidst the cheers +of the fleet. For this service Lieutenant Jones was sent for by the +commander-in-chief, and thanked by him on the quarter-deck of his +flag-ship. + +As lieutenant of the Naiad, this officer had the misfortune to be +involved in a serious quarrel with his superior officer (Lieutenant +Dean), and on that person using very abusive, and unofficer-like +language, Lieutenant Jones struck him. A court martial being held, +Lieutenant Jones was sentenced to be hanged; but, in consideration of +the very provoking language used by Lieutenant Dean, and Lieutenant +Jones's previous irreproachable conduct, his Majesty George the Third +was graciously pleased to pardon him, and restore him to his former +position in the Navy, while Lieutenant Dean was dismissed the service. + + + + +THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE. + + +One of the greatest calamities that ever befel a ship belonging to the +British Navy was the destruction of the Queen Charlotte of 100 guns, +launched in 1790. She was the sister-ship to the Royal George, and was +destined to a no less tragical fate. Her first cruise was with the +fleet fitted out against Spain; Lord Howe, the commander-in-chief, +being on board of her; and she carried his flag on the 1st of June. + +She was afterwards sent to the Mediterranean, under the command of +Captain James Todd, and bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Lord Keith. +Before entering upon our narrative, we may be permitted to apologize +for any inaccuracy, or lack of incident, that may be apparent in the +following account, by stating that the official reports of the +disaster are so vague and imperfect, that it is almost impossible to +give the details of it as fully as we could wish; and so many years +have elapsed since the event, that we cannot obtain information from +private sources. + +On the 16th of March, 1800, Lord Keith, with Lieutenant Stewart, and +four other persons, having landed at Leghorn, directed Captain Todd to +proceed in the Queen Charlotte to reconnoitre the Island of Cabrera, +about thirty miles from Leghorn, then in possession of the French, and +which it was his lordship's intention to attack. + +At four o'clock on the morning of the 17th, the men who were washing +the decks stowed some hay close aft to the admiral's cabin, near a +match-tub, in which it was usual to keep a match burning, for the +purpose of firing signals. At six o'clock, when the men were in the +act of removing the hay, a portion of it was discovered to have +ignited. Not a moment was lost in giving the alarm, and those at hand +used every means in their power to extinguish the slumbering element; +but the fire had been smouldering for some time before it was +discovered. The water thrown upon it from the buckets was useless--the +flames bursting forth with such violence that they baffled the most +strenuous efforts to overcome them. Such was the posture of affairs +when the captain, officers, and men, alarmed by the cry of fire, +rushed from all parts of the ship to the scene of conflagration. It +would be no easy task to describe the feelings of a number of human +beings thus suddenly and awfully awakened to the perils of their +situation. For the moment, no doubt, fear predominated over every +other feeling, and a degree of confusion ensued. Nor can this be +regarded with astonishment, when we remember that of all the dangers +to which a sailor is familiarized in his hazardous profession, none is +so fraught with horror as a fire at sea. + +The battle has no terror for him: he rushes to the conflict excited by +the cheers of his comrades and the hopes of victory-- + + Though fore and aft the blood-stained deck, + Should lifeless trunks appear, + Or should the vessel float a wreck, + The sailor knows no fear. + +He glories in the stormy sea, and in 'the wild wind's roar:' they fill +him with a fierce delight, while with steady hand and steadfast heart +he obeys the voice of his commander; he trusts to his good ship, and +'laughs at the storm and the battle.' + +But how differently does he feel, when roused from his deep slumber by +the cry of fire. He rushes upon deck, but half awake, to meet an enemy +far more terrible than any he has yet encountered. He finds himself +enveloped in a suffocating smoke--here and there gleams a lurid +flame--the fire becomes gradually more vivid: it rises higher and +higher; grows brighter and brighter. In vain he looks for +help,--beneath, nothing meets his eye but the boundless waste of +waters, that can avail so little to quench those flames; above, the +pathless fields of air, that serve but to increase their fury. The +insidious enemy quietly but surely creeps onward, and the sailor knows +but too well, that if not speedily arrested, the flames must reach the +powder magazine, and then a few smouldering fragments strewed upon the +waters will alone remain of the gallant ship and her living freight. + +Such was the hideous form in which death presented itself to the minds +of the crew of the Queen Charlotte, who now anxiously turned their +eyes to their captain and officers, in the hope that, as on former +occasions, their example and assistance might enable them to avert the +threatened danger. Nor was their confidence misplaced. + +Captain Todd and his first lieutenant (Mr. Bainbridge) stood upon the +quarter-deck, displaying a calmness and self-possession of which the +effects were soon felt throughout the vessel, and restored order among +the ship's company. + +They went among the people, calming their fears, and encouraging them +to increased exertion, neither of them seeming for a moment to think +of his own safety in comparison with that of his companions in danger. + +All that man could do in such a case was done; but human foresight and +presence of mind were of no avail against the irresistible power of +that relentless enemy. + +The flames darted up the mainmast, reached the boats upon the boom, +and now wrapped in wreathing fires the whole of the quarter-deck, +from whence all had been driven save the captain and first lieutenant, +who still nobly kept their posts. + +Amongst those who more particularly distinguished themselves on this +occasion (where all did their duty) was Lieutenant the Hon. G.H.L. +Dundas. This officer was roused from his sleep by the sentinel +announcing to him that the ship was on fire. Springing from his cot, +he hastily put on some clothes and attempted to ascend the after +hatchway, but was driven back by the smoke. He then went to the main +hatchway, and had almost reached the top of the ladder, when he was so +overpowered, that he fell exhausted upon the middle deck. + +When he had in some degree recovered, he rushed to the fore hatchway +and thence to the forecastle, where he found the first lieutenant, +some petty officers, and the greater part of the ship's company. These +were endeavouring to haul up the mainsail which was in flames. The +carpenter, seeing Lieutenant Dundas, suggested that he might direct +some of the men to sluice the lower decks, and secure the hatchways, +to prevent the fire reaching that part of the ship. + +Mr. Dundas collected about seventy men, who volunteered to accompany +him, and descended to the lower decks. The ports were opened, the +cocks turned, and water thrown upon the decks. All the hammocks were +cleared away, and as many people as could be spared were employed in +heaving water upon the burning wood, rigging, and spars, which kept +falling down the hatchways. The gratings were fastened down and +covered over with wet blankets and hammocks. In this way the lower +deck was kept free from fire for some time, until at length it broke +out in both of the transom cabins, and burnt forward with great +rapidity. Mr. Dundas and his party did not leave that part of ship, +till several of the middle guns came through the deck. + +At nine o'clock, finding it impossible to remain longer below, he got +out of one of the starboard lower deck ports, and reached the +forecastle, followed by most of the officers and men who had been with +him. On the forecastle, about 250 men were drawing water, and throwing +it upon the fire as far aft as possible. + +For nearly four hours every exertion was made to subdue the flames. +Officers and men behaved with heroic courage and self-possession; but +in spite of their almost superhuman efforts, the flames rolled on, and +the destruction of the ship became inevitable. + + With fruitless toil the crew oppose the flame, + No art can now the spreading mischief tame. + +And many of that gallant company verified the poet's description: +almost maddened by the intense heat, they sprung overboard and +perished. + + Some, when the flames could be no more withstood, + By wild despair directed, 'midst the flood, + Themselves in haste from the tall vessel threw, + And from a dry to liquid ruin flew. + Sad choice of death, when those who shun the fire, + Must to as fierce an element retire. + +Lieut. Archibald Duff, who had been alarmed by the firing of guns, +attempted to get out of the ward-room door, but was driven back by the +smoke. He at last succeeded in scrambling out of the quarter gallery, +and reached the poop, from whence he jumped into the sea, and was +picked up by the launch, when in the act of casting off the tow-rope. +He had hardly left the ship when the mizenmast fell over the side, by +which great numbers were thrown into the water, and left struggling in +the waves; for, as the launch had only one oar, and neither sail nor +mast, she drifted much faster than the men could swim, and many, whom +those on board her would gladly have saved, perished within a few feet +of the boat. + +At length a ray of hope dawned upon the anxious survivors: vessels and +boats were seen coming towards them from Leghorn; and as they neared +the ship, every heart beat quicker, and every hand was nerved with +increased strength. But the boats' crews, alarmed by the explosion of +the guns, which were most of them shotted, refused to approach nearer, +and hove to. Seeing their hesitation, the crew of the Queen Charlotte +gave them three cheers to encourage them. The English cheers seemed to +have the desired effect, for again the boats pulled towards the +hapless vessel; but it was afterwards discovered that this renewed +activity was entirely owing to the persuasions of Lieut. Stewart and +other English officers who were in the boats. + +Lord Keith, who was watching with intense anxiety the destruction of +his noble ship, used every possible effort to induce the Tuscans to +put to sea; but his entreaties, backed as they were by the commands of +the governor and other authorities, had no influence save with a few +only, and even these, when they did venture to the rescue, were with +great difficulty prevailed upon to approach the vessel. A boat from an +American ship presented a striking contrast. She was manned by three +men only, who, in their generous ardour to save the lives of their +fellow-creatures, came alongside too incautiously, so that the +wretched sufferers from the burning deck leaped into the boat in such +numbers that she capsized, and every one of them perished. The fire +had now advanced so rapidly that it was impossible to bear the heat on +the forecastle, and most of the people got on to the bowsprit and +jib-boom. The latter, however, gave way under the pressure, and +numbers were precipitated into the water and drowned. + +The boats, headed by Lieutenant Stewart, approached about ten o'clock, +and the people continued dropping into them from the ship for some +time. Captain Todd and Mr. Bainbridge continued to the last to give +orders for the safety of those who remained alive. + +Lieutenant Duff gives the following account of the closing scene:-- + +'Lieutenant Stewart's ardour in the cause of humanity was only +equalled by his judgment in affording relief. When he reached the +Queen Charlotte, he dropped his tartane under the bows, where almost +all the remaining crew had taken refuge. Little more than an hour had +elapsed, after this assistance was given, before the ship blew up. All +that had been left unburnt immediately sunk down by the stern, but +when the ponderous contents of the hold had been washed away, she for +an instant recovered her buoyancy, and was suddenly seen to emerge +almost her whole length from the deep, and then, turning over, she +floated on the surface, with her burnished copper glistening in the +sun.' + +Such was the fate of the Queen Charlotte, which, excepting the Ville +de Paris, was the largest ship in the British navy. + +With the gallant vessel perished six hundred and seventy-three of her +men and officers; amongst whom were Captain Todd and Lieutenant +Bainbridge. These two officers, with heroic self-devotion, remained to +share the fate of their ship, occupied to the last in endeavouring to +save the lives of the men. + +Before Captain Todd fell a victim to the flames, he had the presence +of mind to write the particulars of the melancholy event, and to give +copies of his account to several of the sailors, charging them to +deliver it to the admiral if they should be so fortunate as to +escape.[5] + +The following daring exploit is related of Lieutenant Bainbridge in +James's _Naval History_. We transcribe it as affording a striking +example of the union of undaunted courage with endurance in the +character of a British sailor. + +"On the evening of the 21st of December, the British hired 10 gun +cutter, Lady Nelson, while off Carbareta Point, was surrounded and +engaged by two or three French privateers, and some gun vessels, in +sight of the 100 gun ship, Queen Charlotte, and the 36 gun frigate +Emerald, lying in Gibraltar Bay. Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, whose flag +was flying on board the former ship, immediately ordered the boats of +the two to row towards the combatants, in the hope that it might +encourage the Lady Nelson to resist, until she could approach near +enough to be covered by the guns of the ships. Before the boats could +get up, however, the Lady Nelson had been captured, and was in tow by +two of the privateers. + +"Notwithstanding this, Lieutenant Bainbridge, in the Queen Charlotte's +barge, with sixteen men, ran alongside, and boarded with the greatest +impetuosity; and after a sharp conflict, carried the Lady Nelson, +taking as prisoners seven French officers and twenty-seven men.--six +or seven others having been killed or knocked overboard in the +scuffle. Lieutenant Bainbridge was severely wounded in the head by the +stroke of a sabre, and slightly in other places." + +We have seen how, a few months afterwards, this brave officer +patiently anticipated death in a more terrible form on board the Queen +Charlotte. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] _Naval Chronicle_, vol. iii. p. 302. + + + + +THE INVINCIBLE. + + +The Invincible, of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Totty, +and commanded by Captain Rennie, sailed from Yarmouth on the morning +of the 16th of March, 1801, to join the fleet of Admiral Sir Hyde +Parker in the Baltic. + +The master and the pilot were both considered very skilful mariners of +those seas, and their orders were to navigate the ship into the North +Sea, and to put her in the way of joining the fleet to the northward, +as soon as she had cleared all the shoals. + +About half-past two o'clock, P.M., of the same day, the Invincible, +going at the rate of nine knots an hour, struck violently upon a +sand-bank, and before the sails could be furled, she was fast aground +in little more than three fathoms water. + +The pilot and master assured Captain Rennie that there was no danger, +and that the ship must have struck upon a lately formed knowl. In +order to lighten her as much as possible, the yards and topmasts were +struck, and some of the provisions thrown overboard, and then strong +hopes were entertained that she would float off the bank with the next +tide. + +During this time she lay tolerably quiet, and the water gained but +little upon the pumps. Every means was used to draw the attention of +vessels passing near--guns were fired, and signals hoisted; but they +remained unanswered until about five o'clock, P.M., when a cutter was +observed scudding towards Yarmouth Roads, as if to inform Admiral +Dickson of the situation of the Invincible. As the ship remained easy, +neither the officers nor men suspected that the danger was imminent, +and they performed their duty with the same regularity as if the ship +were proceeding under ordinary circumstances. + +All went on well until about half-past five, P.M., when the wind +freshened, and the vessel began to beat the ground with such violence, +that it was thought necessary to cut away the masts. The ship at this +time dropped from three and a half into seventeen fathoms. She was +then brought to with her bower anchor, and there appeared every +probability of her getting safely off till about nine o'clock, when +the flood-tide was making; she then lost her rudder, became +unmanageable, and was driven back upon the rock. + +Fortunately a fishing-smack had come near the Invincible a short time +before, and Admiral Totty learnt from her master that the ship had +struck upon Hammond's knowl; whereupon the admiral requested that the +smack might be anchored as near as possible, so as to be ready in case +of emergency. + +In the meantime, the ship continued to strike with increasing +violence, and the water gained considerably upon the pumps. At ten +o'clock, the wind rose, and again the ship swung off into deep water, +and the only prospect of saving her was by pumping and baling till +daylight. Both officers and men laboured incessantly at the pumps, but +all to no purpose, for unfortunately the Invincible was an old ship +(built in the year 1766), and the water gained fast upon them in spite +of all their efforts. Admiral Totty, seeing there was no hope of +saving the ship, ordered Captain Rennie to send all the boys, and the +least able of the crew and passengers, on board the smack, and to make +arrangements for the rest of the crew to leave the ship at daybreak, +or sooner, if possible. + +A boat was lowered, into which the admiral and his secretary +immediately descended, with as many others as she would carry, and +they reached the smack in safety. Two other boats were also lowered +and filled with people, but they were less fortunate than the +admiral's, for before they reached the smack, the tide being to +windward and against them, they were carried out to sea, and all on +board would inevitably have perished, if they had not been picked up +by a collier, which conveyed them in safety to Yarmouth. + +The fishing-smack, with the admiral on board, remained at anchor +during the night, without being able to afford the slightest +assistance to the crew of the Invincible. At daybreak, as soon as the +tide permitted, the cable of the smack was cut, and she stretched +under the stern of the ship, endeavouring by all possible means to get +alongside of her, but before that could be accomplished, the ill-fated +vessel began to sink. About sixty men jumped into the launch, but they +had only just time to clear the poop, when the gallant ship went down +with four hundred men. + + And first one universal shriek there rush'd, + Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash + Of echoing thunder, and then all was hush'd, + Save the wild wind and the remorseless dash + Of billows: but at intervals there gushed, + Accompanied with a convulsive splash, + A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry + Of some strong swimmer in his agony. + LORD BYRON. + +'The horror of the scene,' writes Admiral Totty, 'and the screams of +the unhappy sufferers, at the moment the ship went down, exceed all +power of description. Numbers who were struggling with the waves +attempted to lay hold of the launch, but the boat was already +overladen, and, for the safety of those who were in her, the drowning +wretches were beaten off, and, soon exhausted, they perished in the +waves.' + +Captain Rennie remained in his ship till she sank. He then attempted +to swim to the launch, and by great exertion got within reach of her +oars, when, too much exhausted to make any further effort, he was seen +to raise his hands as if in supplication to Heaven, then putting them +before his face, sank into his watery grave. All the other +commissioned officers, with the exception of Lieutenants Robert Tucker +and Charles Quart, perished. + +Captain Rennie had distinguished himself, when a lieutenant, at the +Helder; and Admiral Mitchell had mentioned him in such high terms of +commendation in his public despatches, that he was made a +post-captain. After remaining for some time unemployed, he was +appointed to the Invincible, and proud of his first command, full of +life and hope, he had just put to sea when this melancholy catastrophe +closed a career that held out such bright prospects for the future. + +We must not be supposed to have more feeling for an officer than for +the men before the mast. If we dwell with peculiar sorrow upon the +loss of a brave commander, like Captain Rennie, it is not that we are +indifferent to the fate of the four hundred gallant men who perished +with him; but there is something in human nature that compels even the +most generous spirit to speak more of the loss of a man in a +responsible station than others; and one reason for this may be, that +our hopes under God, for the safety of our fleets and our armies, rest +on our brave and efficient commanders. + +No one can read such records of British seamen, as appear in this +volume, without joining heart and soul in the sentiment expressed by +the poet:-- + + To them your dearest rights you owe; + In peace, then, would you starve them? + What say ye, Britain's sons? Oh, no! + Protect them and preserve them; + Shield them from poverty and pain; + 'Tis policy to do it: + Or when grim war shall come again, + Oh, Britons! ye may rue it. + +Lieutenant Robert Tucker, who was saved in the launch, accompanied +Rear-Admiral Totty to the Baltic and West Indies in the Zealous, 74. +He was subsequently promoted, and appointed to the Surinam in 1803. + +Whilst the Surinam was on the West India station, Captain Tucker +rendered good service to the French garrison at Jacquemel; and on +returning from thence, his ship sprung her foremast, and was in other +respects so much damaged, that he was obliged to put in at Curacoa. +Whilst refitting, he received private information that Great Britain +and Holland would ere long be declared enemies. He therefore made +every effort to hasten his departure, and get his ship ready for sea; +and he had warped her to the head of the harbour, when a prize +schooner which he had despatched to Commodore Hood returned from that +officer, with orders for his future guidance. The officer on board the +schooner incautiously permitted his vessel to touch at the government +wharf, when some of the crew, having the opportunity imprudently +afforded them, jumped on shore, and reported that the British had +already commenced hostilities. + +Upon this the Surinam was detained, and Captain Tucker was ordered on +shore, and informed that he must consider himself a prisoner of war. +At first he was not put under strict surveillance, and he therefore +employed the weary hours in taking plans of the forts and batteries of +the island. His occupation, however, was soon discovered, and highly +disapproved by the authorities, who immediately placed him in close +confinement in a room of the barracks. + +On the first night of his captivity two musket-balls were fired into +his room, one of which struck a table at which he had been seated a +few moments before. These murderous attempts were frequently repeated +during his imprisonment, and he must inevitably have been shot in his +bed, had he not taken the precaution of constantly moving its +position, and thus baffled the treacherous designs of his cowardly +assailants. + +A friendly warning was given to him, that where bullets failed, +_poison_ might succeed; and he was thenceforth obliged to watch most +narrowly, lest it should be administered in his food. In this wretched +state of suspense, he lingered for four months, when happily he and +his officers were released in exchange for nine Dutch clergymen. + +We regret that our pen should have to record such treachery as that we +have described. We ask, and others have asked, were these soldiers and +gaolers free men and Christians, or were they slaves and heathens? It +must, however, be remembered that politics ran very high at that time; +and in this particular instance, at the outbreak of a war, men's minds +were half frantic, and we must not judge of the character of a nation +by the isolated acts of a petty colonial government. + + + + +THE GRAPPLER. + + +CHAUSSEY, or Choye, is a group of islets lying off the coast of +Normandy, about twenty miles from Jersey, and nine from Granville. +They stretch north, east, and west, and cover a space of nearly twelve +miles. The principal of them is called the Maitre Isle, and is the +resort of a few French fishermen during the summer, but being only a +rock, and totally devoid of vegetation, its inhabitants are entirely +dependent on the neighbouring shores for all the necessaries of life, +excepting what their nets may produce. At the time of which we are +writing, the winter of 1803, this group of islets was in the hands of +the English, and was the scene of the wreck of the Grappler in that +year. + +On the 23rd December, 1803, Lieutenant Abel Thomas, commanding His +Majesty's brig Grappler, then stationed at Guernsey, was directed by +Admiral Sir James Saumarez to proceed, with some French prisoners on +board, to Granville, in Normandy, and there to set them at liberty; +after which he was to touch at the islands of Chaussey, on his return +to Guernsey, in order to supply twelve French prisoners who were on +the Maitre Isle with fifteen days' provisions. + +On the evening of the 23rd,--the same day that they sailed from +Guernsey,--the Grappler anchored off the north side of Chaussey, but a +heavy gale of wind which came on during the night rendered her +position so dangerous, that Lieutenant Thomas thought it advisable +either to return to Guernsey, or to run into one of the small harbours +formed among the rocks, which afford a safe shelter during the +severest gales, but are by no means easy of access, and are available +only to small vessels, and with the aid of an experienced pilot. Into +one of these natural harbours, Lieutenant Thomas, by the advice of his +pilot, determined to run the Grappler, and succeeded in anchoring her +in safety under the Maitre Isle. There they remained four or five +days, keeping a sharp look-out by day from the top of one of the +adjacent rocks, to guard against a surprise from the enemy's cruizers; +while for their better security at night, a guard-boat was stationed +at the entrance of the harbour. As the weather still continued too +boisterous to trust the brig with safety on a lee shore, her commander +determined to return to Guernsey, and offered his prisoners the +alternative of returning with him, or remaining with their countrymen +at Chaussey. As they all chose to remain, they were promptly landed, +and furnished with a boat and a week's supply of provisions, in +addition to what had already been left for the use of the inhabitants. +To enable his prisoners to land with greater security at Granville, +Lieutenant Thomas read aloud and sealed in their presence a letter, +addressed by Sir James Saumarez to the Commissary of Marine at that +port, containing an explanation of his reasons for liberating these +Frenchmen,--with his hopes that the French authorities would act in +the same manner towards any English who might fall into their +hands,--and entrusted it to one of them, with another letter from +himself, in which he stated how he had been prevented from conveying +them to Granville in his own vessel, and begged that any English +prisoners who chanced to be at that place might be sent to one of the +Channel Islands. The sequel will show in what manner this courtesy and +generosity were repaid by the French government. + +At six, A.M., December 30th, all was in readiness for the Grappler to +leave the harbour. The anchor was up, and the vessel was riding +between wind and tide, with a hawser made fast to the rocks. +Unfortunately, the hawser either broke or slipped while they were in +the act of close reefing the topsails, and the brig cast to port. She +drifted about three or four hundred yards, and struck at last on a +half-tide rock, from which all their efforts were unavailing to haul +her off again, and at low water she bilged, and parted in two abreast +the chess tree. + +Lieutenant Thomas, foreseeing the inevitable loss of the brig, had +ordered the master to proceed with the cutter and eight men to Jersey +for assistance; and he was directing the crew in their endeavours to +mount some guns upon a small rocky islet, to which they had already +carried the greater part of the provisions, small arms, and +ammunition, when the look-out man, who had been stationed on the +summit of the rock, reported that several small craft were steering +towards them. Upon receiving this intelligence, the commander and +pilot repaired to the high ground, and after carefully examining the +appearance of the vessels, agreed that they were merely fishing boats, +and considered that it would be imprudent to let them depart before +assistance had been procured from Jersey, as, in case there were no +ships of war at that place, these boats might possibly be hired to +carry the men and stores to Jersey. With this object in view, +Lieutenant Thomas pushed off in the jolly boat, accompanied by the +French fishermen's small boat which had come to the assistance of the +Grappler's crew. + +In order to approach the supposed fishing boats, it was necessary to +double a point of the Maitre Isle; and this they had no sooner +accomplished, than they came in sight of three chasse marees, which +had been concealed behind the point. On the sudden appearance of the +English boat, the men on board the chasse marees were thrown into some +confusion, and Lieutenant Thomas determined to attack them before +they had time to recover themselves. On communicating his intention to +his boat's crew, they dashed forwards at once with a loud cheer, but +had scarcely pulled a dozen strokes when a body of soldiers, who had +been concealed behind some rocks on the Maitre Isle, poured in so +severe a fire that Lieutenant Thomas, seeing the superiority of the +French in point of numbers, thought it prudent to retreat. No sooner +had he given orders to do so, than a shot struck him on the lower jaw +and passed through his tongue, rendering him incapable of further +exertion. A second volley of musketry riddled the boat, so that she +began to fill with water, and finding that they had no alternative but +to surrender, the English made a signal to that effect, which was +either unobserved, or purposely disregarded, as the firing did not +cease till the arrival of the officer in command of the French, when +the little party were all made prisoners. Upon Lieutenant Thomas being +carried on shore, he found that he had fallen into the hands of a +Capitaine de Frigate, who commanded a detachment of fourteen boats and +a hundred and sixty men. As soon as the captives were landed, a party +of the French troops proceeded to the wreck of the Grappler, and made +prisoners of the men who were on the adjacent rock, and after seizing +all the stores and provisions, they blew up the remains of the brig. + +When Lieutenant Thomas had partially recovered from the faintness and +insensibility caused by his wound, he handed his pocket-book to the +French officer. After reading the orders of Sir James Saumarez, which +it contained, this officer expressed much regret that Lieutenant +Thomas had been so seriously wounded, and alleged that the troops had +fired without his orders. Such was the apology of the French +commander, but it certainly does not tell well for the discipline of +his troops, nor is it easy to understand how so large a body of men +could be left without a commissioned officer even for a moment, much +less how they could have kept up a continued fire, which this seems to +have been. Perhaps, however, it is not fair to comment too severely +upon the conduct of the French on this occasion; the signal of +surrender might not have been observed, and as the English had +commenced the attack, the enemy may naturally have supposed that a +larger force was shortly advancing to the support of their comrades. +We should also bear in mind that the war had just broke out anew, +after a short cessation of hostilities, and that national animosity +was at its height. + +Thus far we may attempt to palliate the conduct of the French, but it +might naturally be supposed that upon learning from his papers the +errand of mercy upon which Lieutenant Thomas had been engaged, the +French officer would have done all in his power to alleviate the +sufferings of his prisoner, and have shown him every mark of courtesy +and attention. However this may be, no sooner were all arrangements +completed, than the prisoners were marched to the boats, and +Lieutenant Thomas was handed over to the care of two grenadiers, with +directions that every attention should be paid to him; but the +officer's back was scarcely turned, when these grenadiers, assisted by +some of their comrades, stripped poor Thomas of all his clothes, broke +open his trunk, which had been restored to him, and appropriated to +themselves every article of value that he possessed. Having secured +their plunder, they dragged their unfortunate victim to the beach, +regardless of his wound and sufferings, and after gagging him with a +pocket-handkerchief, threw him on the deck of one of their boats. + +The wind blowing fresh on their passage to Granville, which was three +leagues from Chaussey, the greater part of the soldiers were +prostrated by sea-sickness, whilst the seamen were in such a state of +intoxication, that had Lieutenant Thomas been able to rise, or to +communicate with his fellow-prisoners, he might easily have +overpowered the French, and gained possession of the vessel. If such +an idea flashed across his mind, it was but for a moment: he could +neither speak nor move, and lay for many hours exposed to the +insulting jeers of the French, and the inclemency of the weather. It +was late at night when they landed at Granville, but the naval and +military staff waited upon Mr. Thomas the next morning, and told him +that it was the intention of the authorities to send him back to +England, in consideration of his kindness to the French prisoners. The +expectation raised in the English officer's breast by these promises +were, to the disgrace of the French government of that day, never +realized. He was thrown into prison, and treated with the utmost +severity; in vain did he protest against this injustice--in vain did +he represent that he was engaged on no hostile expedition at the time +of his capture, which, moreover, was not through the fortune of war, +but through the violence of the elements. He was kept in close +confinement at Verdun for ten years, and when he was at last released, +liberty was scarcely a boon to him. The damp of his prison, and the +sufferings attendant on his wound, had impaired his eyesight, and +otherwise so injured his constitution, that he was no longer fit for +active service. He was, however, promoted to the rank of commander +immediately on his return to England: this rank he still holds, but +the best years of his life had been spent in captivity, and his hopes +of promotion were not realized till too late for the enjoyment of its +honours, or for the service of his country. + + + + +THE APOLLO. + + +The following account of the loss of the Apollo is taken almost +verbatim from the narrative of Mr. Lewis, clerk of the ship, an +eye-witness of the occurrence. His narrative is too graphic to be +suppressed:--'On Monday, the 26th of March, 1804, His Majesty's ship +Apollo sailed from the Cove of Cork in company with the Carysfort, and +sixty-nine sail of merchantmen under convoy, for the West Indies. On +the 27th, we were out of sight of land, with a fair wind blowing fresh +from the west-south-west. At eight o'clock on the evening of Sunday, +the 1st of April, the wind shifted from south-west to south-east. At +ten o'clock, we up mainsail and set mainstay-sail. At a quarter past +ten, the mainstay-sail split by the sheet giving way. All hands were +called upon deck. It blew strong and squally; we took in the +foretop-sail and set the foresail. At half-past eleven the +maintop-sail split; furled it and the mainsail. The ship was now under +her foresails, the wind blowing hard, with a heavy sea. + +'At about half-past three on Monday morning, April 2nd, the ship +struck the ground, to the astonishment of every one on board, and by +the last reckoning, we conjectured we were upon an unknown shoal. + +'The vessel struck very heavily several times, by which her bottom was +materially injured, and she made a great deal of water. The chain +pumps were rigged with the utmost despatch, and the men began to pump, +but in about ten minutes she beat and drove over the shoal, and on +endeavouring to steer her, they found her rudder was carried away. The +ship was then got before the wind, the pumps were kept going, but +from the quantity of water shipped, there was every probability of her +soon foundering, as she was filling and sinking very fast. + +'After running about five minutes, the ship struck the ground again +with such violent shocks, that we feared she would go to pieces +instantly; however, she kept striking and driving further on the +sands, the sea washing completely over her. Orders were given to cut +away the lanyards of the main and mizen rigging, when the masts fell +with a tremendous crash over the larboard-side: the foremast followed +immediately after. The ship then fell on her starboard-side, with the +gunwale under water. The violence with which she struck the ground and +the weight of the guns (those on the quarter-deck tearing away the +bulwarks) soon made the ship a perfect wreck abaft, and only four or +five guns could possibly be fired to alarm the convoy and give notice +of danger. + +'On her drifting a second time, most pitiful cries were heard +everywhere between decks; many of the men giving themselves up to +inevitable death. I was told that I might as well stay below, as there +was an equal likelihood of perishing if I got upon deck. I was, +however, determined to go--and attempted, in the first place, to enter +my cabin, but I was in danger of having my legs broken by the chests +floating about, and the bulkheads giving way. + +'I therefore desisted and endeavoured to get upon deck, which I +effected after being several times washed down the hatchway by the +immense body of water incessantly pouring down. As the ship still beat +the ground very heavily, it was necessary to cling fast to some part +of the wreck to save oneself from being washed away by the surges, or +hurled overboard by the concussions. The people held on by the +larboard bulwark of the quarter-deck and in the main chains. The good +captain stood naked upon the cabin skylight grating, making use of +every soothing expression that suggested itself--to encourage men in +such a perilous situation. Most of the officers and men were entirety +naked, not having had time to slip on even a pair of trousers. + +'Our horrible situation became every moment more dreadful, until at +daybreak, about half-past four o'clock, we discerned land at two +cables' distance, a long sandy beach reaching to Cape Mondego, three +leagues to the southward of us. On daylight clearing up, we could +perceive between twenty and thirty sail of the convoy ashore, both to +northward and southward, and several of them perfect wrecks. We were +now certain of being on the coast of Portugal, from seeing the cape +mentioned above,--though I am sorry to say no person in the ship had +the least idea of being so near the coast. It was blowing very hard, +and the sea was running mountains high, so that there was little hope +of being saved. About eight o'clock, the ship seemed likely to go to +pieces, and the after part lying lowest, Captain Dixon ordered every +one forward,--a command it was difficult to comply with, from the +motion of the mainmast working on the larboard gunwale, there being no +other way to get forward. Mr. Cook, the boatswain, had his thigh +broken in endeavouring to get a boat over the side. Of six boats not +one was saved, all being stoved, and washed overboard with the booms, &c. + +'Soon after the people got forward, the ship parted at the gangways. +The crew were now obliged to stow themselves in the fore-channels, and +from thence to the bowsprit end, to the number of 220,--for, out of +the 240 persons on board when the ship first struck, I suppose twenty +to have previously perished between decks and otherwise. Mr. Lawton, +the gunner, the first who attempted to swim ashore, was drowned; +afterwards, Lieutenant Witson, Mr. Runice, surgeon, Mr. McCabe, +surgeon's mate, Mr. Staudley, master's mate, and several men, were +also drowned (though they were excellent swimmers), by the sea +breaking over them in enormous surges. About thirty persons had the +good fortune to reach the shore upon planks and spars, amongst whom +were Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam, master's mate. On Monday night, +our situation was truly horrible; the old men and boys were dying from +hunger and fatigue; Messrs. Proby and Hayes, midshipmen, died also. +Captain Dixon remained all night upon the bowsprit. + +'Tuesday morning presented no better prospect of relief from the jaws +of death. The wind blew stronger, and the sea was much more turbulent. +About noon, our drooping spirits were somewhat revived by seeing +Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam hoisting out a boat from one of the +merchant ships to come to our assistance. They attempted several times +to launch her through the surf; but she was a very heavy boat, and the +sea on the beach acted so powerfully against them, they could not +effect their purpose, though they were assisted by nearly one hundred +of the merchant sailors and Portuguese peasants. This day, several men +went upon rafts made from pieces of the wreck; but not one reached the +shore: the wind having shifted, and the current setting _out_, they +were all driven to sea, and amongst them our captain and three +sailors. Anxious to save the remainder of the ship's company, and too +sanguine of getting safe on shore, he had ventured upon the spar, +saying, as he jumped into the sea, 'My lads, I'll save you all.' In a +few seconds, he lost his hold of the spar, which he could not regain: +he drifted to sea, and perished: and such was also the fate of the +three brave volunteers who shared his fortune. + +'The loss of our captain, who had hitherto animated the almost +lifeless crew, and the failure of Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam, in +their noble exertions to launch the boat, extinguished every gleam of +hope, and we looked forward to certain death on the ensuing night, not +only from cold, hunger, and fatigue, but from the expectation that the +remaining part of the wreck might go to pieces at any moment. Had not +the Apollo been a new and well-built ship, that small portion of her +could not have resisted the waves, and held so well together, when all +the after-part from the chess-tree was gone, the starboard bow under +water, and the forecastle deck nearly perpendicular. The weight of the +guns hanging to the larboard bulwark on the inside, and on the outside +the bower and spare anchors, which it was not prudent to cut away, as +they afforded a resting-place to a considerable number of men, added +to the danger. It had become impossible to remain any longer in the +head, or upon the bowsprit, the breakers washing continually over +those places, so that one hundred and fifty men were stowed in the +fore-channels and cat's-head, where alone it was possible to live. + +'The night drawing on, the wind increasing, with frequent showers of +rain, the sea washing over us, and the expectation becoming every +instant more certain, that the forecastle would give way and that we +must all perish together, afforded a spectacle truly deplorable, and +the bare recollection of which makes me shudder. The piercing cries of +the people, this dismal night, as the sea washed over them every two +minutes, were pitiful in the extreme. The water running from the head +down over the body kept us continually wet. On that fearful night +every man's strength was exerted for his own individual safety. From +crowding so close together in so narrow a compass, and having nothing +to moisten their mouths, several poor wretches were suffocated, like +those in the black hole,--with this only difference, that we were +confined by water instead of strong walls; and the least movement or +relaxation of our hold would have plunged us into eternity. + +'Some unfortunate men drank salt water, several endeavoured to quench +their raging thirst by a still more unnatural means; some chewed +leather, myself and many others thought we experienced great relief by +chewing lead, as it produced saliva. + +'In less than an hour after the ship had struck the ground, all the +provisions were under water, and the ship a wreck, so that we were +entirely without food. After a night of most intense suffering, +daylight enabled us to see Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam again +endeavouring to launch the boat. Several attempts were made without +success, and a number of men belonging to the merchant ships were much +bruised and injured in their efforts to assist. Alternate hopes and +fears possessed our wretched minds. + +'Fifteen men got safe on shore, this morning, on pieces of the wreck. +About three, P.M., of Wednesday, the 4th, we had the inexpressible +happiness of seeing the boat launched through the surf, by the +indefatigable exertions of the two officers, assisted by the masters +of the merchant ships, and a number of Portuguese peasants, who were +encouraged by Mr. Whitney, the British Consul from Figuera. + +'All the crew then remaining on the wreck were brought safe on shore, +praising God for this happy deliverance, from a shipwreck which never +yet had its parallel. + +'As soon as I slipt out of the boat, I found several persons whose +humanity prompted them to offer me refreshment, though imprudently, in +the form of spirits, which I avoided as much as possible. + +'Our weak state may be conceived when it is remembered that we had +tasted no nourishment from Sunday to Wednesday afternoon, and had been +exposed all that time to the fury, of the elements. After eating and +drinking a little, I found myself weaker than before, owing, I +imagine, to having been so long without food. Some men died soon after +getting on shore, from taking too large a quantity of spirits. The +whole of the crew were in a very weak and exhausted state, and the +greater part of them were also severely bruised and wounded.' + +Such is Mr. Lewis's account of the wreck of the Apollo, one of our +finest frigates, and the loss of sixty of her men. + +The cause of this catastrophe seems to have been an error in the +reckoning. At twelve o'clock on Sunday, the land was supposed to be +thirty or forty leagues distant, nor were they aware of their true +position when the vessel struck at three o'clock the following +morning, on what was supposed to be an unknown shoal. Never, perhaps, +in the annals of maritime disaster, was there a scene more rife with +horror than that upon which the daylight broke on the morning of the +2nd of April. + +The frigate, which but a few hours before had been careering on her +way with her gallant company full of life and energy, now lay a +hapless wreck--her timbers crashing beneath the fury of the waves. The +merchant vessels around were stranded in all directions, and the air +resounded with the despairing shrieks of those on board. The +destruction of the Apollo seemed inevitable; but in this hour of +trial, the captain was firm and resolute, sustaining by words and +example the courage of his crew; and when no other means of escape +presented themselves, he sacrificed his own life in the endeavour to +obtain rescue for those under his charge. + +The narrator of this sad tale, has touchingly described in no +exaggerated terms the sufferings of the wretched crowd who were +exposed for nearly three days and nights to the worst of physical and +mental evils--hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness--in their most +aggravated form, rendered still more painful by the almost utter +hopelessness of their condition, while they watched the repeated +failures of Lieutenant Harvey and Mr. Callam in their attempts to send +a boat to their relief. We need not therefore dwell on this subject +further than to observe that, under Providence, it was by the +undaunted courage and perseverance of those two officers that the +remainder of the crew of the Apollo were saved from destruction--for +no one else had been found bold enough to attempt their rescue, +although the Consul of Figuera had offered 100 guineas to any man that +would take a boat to the wreck. + +No less than forty merchantmen were wrecked at the same time. Several +sunk with all their crew, and the remainder lost from two to twelve +men each. Yet Mr. Lewis describes the situation of these ships as not +so dangerous as that of the frigate, because the merchantmen, drawing +less water, were driven closer in to shore, and the men were enabled +to land after the first morning. + +The Apollo's company received every mark of kindness and attention +when they got on shore, from the masters of the merchant vessels, who +had erected tents on the beach, and who shared with the sufferers +whatever provisions they had saved from the wrecks. + +Dead bodies floated on shore for many days after, and pieces of wreck +covered the beach, marking the scene of this sad calamity. +Fortunately, the Carysfort, with part of the convoy, escaped the fate +of her consort by wearing, and arrived safely at Barbadoes. The +surviving officers and crew of the Apollo marched to Figuera, a +distance of eighteen miles, from whence they were conveyed in a +schooner to Lisbon, and brought by the Orpheus frigate to Portsmouth. + +On their arrival in England, they were tried by a court martial; and +it is satisfactory to know that they were all fully acquitted. + +It is a principal object in this work to draw attention to the +advantages of firm and steady discipline in all cases of emergency. We +cannot, therefore, omit to show than when a spirit of insubordination +breaks out under circumstances of danger, how surely it is attended +with fatal results. + +In the course of the evidence adduced before the court of inquiry upon +the loss of the Apollo, it was proved that about twenty of her men had +broken into the spirit room; disorder, of course, ensued; and +Lieutenant Harvey gave it as his opinion, that, if these men had +remained sober, many lives might have been spared. There is so much +cause for regret in the whole catastrophe, that we will not harshly +impute blame to one party or another. We may see some palliation for +the misconduct of the men in the awful situation in which they were +placed--their fears, perhaps, made them forgetful alike of their duty +to their king, their country, and themselves; but it is cheering to +know that such cases are rare in the British Navy, and we are happy in +having very few such to record: they are alluded to only in the hope +that our seamen may learn from them to value that strict discipline +and order, which, in a moment of danger, is their greatest safeguard. + +Lieutenant, now Rear Admiral, Harvey subsequently served in the +Amethyst, Amaranthe, and Intrepid. His promotion to the rank of +commander took place in 1808, when he was appointed to the Cephalus, +in the Mediterranean, and there he captured four of the enemy's +privateers, and several merchant vessels. His post commission bears +date April 18, 1811, and he was employed off Corfu till the month of +December following. His last ship was the Implacable, which he paid +off in 1814. He obtained his flag as rear-admiral in December, 1847. +This officer now holds the appointment of Admiral Superintendent of +Malta Dockyard. + + + + +THE HINDOSTAN. + + +In the year 1804, the Government sent out the Hindostan, of 1100 tons, +laden with supplies for Lord Nelson, then commander-in-chief of the +Mediterranean fleet. This ship was commanded by Captain Le Gros, with +259 persons on board, including passengers, women, and children. + +She arrived at Gibraltar in the month of March, and sailed again from +thence in company with the Phoebe frigate, to join Lord Nelson off +Toulon, but she was separated from her consort during a heavy gale of +wind, in the Gulf of Lyons. + +On the 2nd of April, at about seven o'clock in the morning, the ship +being then thirteen leagues to the south-east of Cape St. Sebastian, a +thick smoke was observed to issue from the fore and main hatchways. + +Lieutenant Tailour, who was on the quarter-deck, heard the cry of +"fire," and saw the people rushing up the hatchway in the midst of +volumes of smoke, coming from the orlop deck. He instantly called for +the drummer and the mate of the watch, and desired the former to beat +to quarters, and the latter to inform Captain Le Gros of what had +occurred, whilst he himself would go below, and endeavour to ascertain +the cause and the place of the fire. + +Lieutenant Tailour then went down into the orlop gratings, and +penetrated some distance into each tier; the smoke was very thick in +both, particularly forward. He next went to the sail room, where there +was no appearance of either fire or smoke. He was then joined by +Lieutenant Banks and several other officers, and they proceeded +together to the hold. Here the smoke was very dense, and it affected +the throat like that from hot tar. The officers were satisfied, upon +inquiry, that there had not been either light or tar in the hold. They +then tried to re-enter the tiers, but were driven back by the +suffocating smoke. The absence of heat, however, convinced them that +the fire was not in that part of the ship. A cry was heard that the +fire was down forward,--but we will use Lieutenant Tailour's own words +to describe the scene. He says,-- + +'When I reached the fore-ladder, none being able to tell me where the +fire was, I went down to examine, when at the orlop, I put my head +over the spars which were stowed in the starboard side, then behind +the ladder in the larboard side; the smoke came thickest in the +starboard side from aft; feeling nothing like fire heat, I attempted +to go down to the cockpit, but ere I reached the third or fourth step +on the ladder, I felt myself overpowered, and called for help. Several +men had passed me upwards on my way down, none I believe were below +me. By the time I came up to the orlop ladder, some one came and +helped me; when I reached the lower deck, I fell, but not, as many +did that day, lifeless.' + +When Lieutenant Tailour recovered, he made strict inquiries, whether +any fire had been discovered in the cockpit or store-rooms, and being +assured that there had not, he ordered the lower deck to be scuttled. + +So energetic was this officer, that eight or ten minutes only had +elapsed since the first alarm had been given, before the hammocks were +all got on deck, and the ports opened, to give light and room below, +until the place of fire could be discovered, and better means obtained +for drawing water. Mr. Tailour did not recover from the suffocation so +fast as he expected, and was obliged to go upon deck for air. There he +found Captain Le Gros in consultation with the master, who, being of +opinion that the fire was on the larboard side, gave orders to wear +the ship, so as to allow the water which had been hove in to flow over +her. Mr. Tailour differed from them, and said he was convinced that +the fire was on the orlop starboard side. In a few minutes he again +went below and assisted in working the engine, and giving directions +for scuttling on the larboard side, where the smoke appeared most +dense. + +The engine, however, proved of little avail, for the smoke increased +to such a degree as to prevent the people working on the orlop deck; +the hatches were, therefore, laid over, the ports lowered, everything +covered up, and all means used to prevent the circulation of air. +Having taken these precautions, Lieutenant Tailour reported to Captain +Le Gros what had been done, and at the same time advised that the +boats should be got out without loss of time. The captain seems to +have objected to this, on the plea that if the boats were got out, the +people would all crowd into them, and abandon the ship without an +effort to save her. To this objection Mr. Tailour replied, that to +save human life must be their first consideration, and that every +moment's delay was fraught with peril and death. 'If we wait,' said +he, 'till the last moment, it may not be possible to save any; we can +get the marines under arms.' Captain Le Gros yielded the point; he +directed the sergeant of marines to get his men under arms, with +orders to load with ball, and to shoot without hesitation the first +man who should attempt to go into the boats without permission. All +hands were then turned up, and the command given to 'out boats.' + +The order was promptly executed, and as soon as the boats were out and +secure for towing, the ship's head was pointed to the north-west, with +the view of nearing the land, and in hopes that she might fall in with +the Juno. + +In the meantime, a party was employed in getting the booms overboard +for a raft, the fore and main gratings were laid up and covered over, +and Lieutenant Banks was sent down to get the powder out of the +magazine, and stow it away in the stern gallery. He could only +partially accomplish this; for the smoke increased upon them so much +that the men were obliged to desist. The powder they had got up was +thrown overboard, and water was poured down to drown that which +remained; but the task of filling the magazine was hopeless, and +therefore abandoned. Many of the men were drawn up apparently +lifeless, amongst whom were Lieutenant Banks and the gunner. +Lieutenant Tailour then went below to ascertain how matters were going +on; he found only the boatswain's mate in the cockpit, who was almost +stupified by the smoke. Mr. Tailour assisted him to reach the deck, +and then the gallant officer was preparing to return to the magazine, +taking a rope with him by way of precaution, when Lieutenant Banks, +with noble generosity, darted past him, also with a rope in his hand, +and descended on the dangerous service; but in a short time he was +drawn up in a state of insensibility. All hope of doing anything with +the magazine was then given up; but although the smoke was so powerful +below, it had not yet got possession of the after part of the lower +deck. + +It was therefore proposed, and the proposition was immediately acted +on, to cut scuttles through the starboard foremost cabin in the +ward-room, and one under it in the gun-room, into the magazine. This +was found more practicable than was at first supposed, as the cabins +kept out the smoke. When they were cutting these scuttles, the smoke +came up in such dense volumes through the after-hatchway, that it was +necessary to shut it closely up, and the scuttle in the after-part of +the captain's cabin was opened for a passage to the ward-room, and +they began to haul up the powder, and heave it overboard out of the +gallery windows. The ward-room doors, and every other passage for the +smoke were carefully closed, and thus it was kept tolerably well +under; yet many of the men employed in the duty were taken up to all +appearance dead. Amongst them we again find Lieutenant Banks, and Mr. +Pearce, the gunner. We cannot proceed without expressing the +admiration we feel for the heroism and self-devotion displayed by +officers and men. This is the third time we have seen Lieutenant Banks +risk his life in the performance of his duty, and it was not the last +of such efforts to save the vessel and the lives of his +fellow-sufferers. + +For the present, we will again adopt the language of Lieutenant +Tailour:--'About noon,' said he, 'I went aft upon the poop, where +many were collected, but the marines were drawn up on duty upon the +poop above. Francis Burke, the purser's steward, was lying dead on one +of the arm chests, said to have been suffocated by the smoke below. +Soon after this, my attention was drawn forward, where a vast body of +smoke issued from the hatchway, gallery doors, funnels, and scuttles, +which I soon saw were blown off; I rushed forward and got them secured +again, and in coming aft found the hatches had all been blown off; the +two foremost main-gratings had gone down the hatchway. The after one I +assisted to replace, also the tarpaulin, which was excessively hot, +and left the carpenter to get it secured on. I next thought of the +magazine, where I dreaded some accident. On my way aft, I met some +people again bringing Mr. Banks up in their arms. On reaching the +ward-room, I saw through the windows the stern ladders filled with +people; I broke a pane of glass, and ordered them on the poop, +threatening instant death to any one who dared disobey. On their +beginning to move up, I just took time to summons the men from the +magazine, and went up to the poop to see every one was once more under +the eye of the marines. This done, the smoke having in a great measure +subsided, the maintop-sail was filled, and top-gallant sails set.' + +About two o'clock in the afternoon, when they had been seven hours +contending with the fire and smoke, land was discerned through the +haze, on the weather-bow, and it was supposed to be above Cape Creux. + +Captain Le Gros, fearing the signals might fall into the enemy's +hands, hove them all overboard. The sight of land gave a turn to the +men's thoughts, and spurred them on to greater exertion. The fire +rapidly increased; but the efforts of the captain and his noble crew +increased with the danger. + +Again they attempted to clear the magazine; but the smoke again drove +the men from below, and rendered them powerless. Their courage was, +indeed, kept up by the sight of land, though still five leagues +distant; but there was still much to be done--many perils yet +surrounded them.--and it was awful to feel that fire and water were +contending for the mastery, and that they must be the victims of one +of these elements, unless by the mercy of God the progress of the +conflagration was stayed, and time allowed them to reach the distant +shore. The fire was increasing fearfully; so much so, that Lieutenant +Tailour describes the lower deck 'burning like the flame in an oven.' +All communication was cut off from the fore-part of the ship. The +flames flew up the fore and main hatchways as high as the lower yards, +but still the brave crew remained firm to their duty; and by keeping +tarpaulins over the hatchways, and pouring down water, they managed +for a time to keep the fire from taking serious hold abaft. + +But the crisis was fast approaching when human skill and human +fortitude could be of no avail. In defiance of all their exertions and +precautions, the devouring element pursued its course. Every moment it +was gaining aft; and had not officers and men been true to themselves +and to each other, they must all have perished. The mizenmast was on +fire in the captain's cabin, and the flames were bursting from all the +lee-ports. It was now a quarter past five o'clock, and they were +entering the Bay of Rosas. Could they venture to hold on their way, +and still remain in the ship? A moment's glance around him sufficed +for Captain Le Gros to decide the question. The now triumphant element +was no longer smouldering and creeping stealthily onwards amidst smoke +and darkness, but with a lurid glare, and a sullen roar, the flames +rolled on. The word was given to launch the raft; it was obeyed, and +in a few minutes more the vessel struck, about a mile from the beach, +between the Fort of Ampurius and the Church of St. Pierre. She was now +on fire both fore and aft. Self-preservation is the law of nature, it +is said; but there is a stronger law governing the actions of the +British seaman. Officers and men were of one mind. They all united in +putting first the women and children, then the sick and the +foreigners, into the launch. The two yawls and the jolly-boat took as +many as they could carry from the stern, and put them on board some +Spanish boats from La Escada, which had been sent to their assistance, +but which neither threats nor entreaties could avail to bring near to +the ship. + +The remainder of the people were then ordered on to the raft, and by +the time it was covered, the flames came aft so thick, that it was +necessary to send it off from the stern. All now had left the +ill-fated vessel, except the gallant Captain Le Gros, Lieutenant +Tailour, and the master. When they saw all the rest clear away, and +not till then, did they descend by the stern ladders into one of the +yauls and pulled towards the shore, which they had scarcely reached +when she blew up. + +The value of this ship was estimated at 100,000_l._, and the loss to +Lord Nelson must have been incalculable. Yet it is said that he was +much more distressed by the loss of the despatches, which were taken +by the enemy, about the same time, in the Swift cutter. + +In a letter to Lord St. Vincent, dated the 19th of April, Admiral +Nelson says, speaking of Captain Le Gros.--"If his account be correct +(he was then upon his trial), he had great merit for the order in +which the ship was kept. The fire must have originated from medicine +chests breaking, or from wet getting down, which caused the things to +heat. The preservation of the crew seems little short of a miracle. I +never read such a journal of exertions in my whole life."[6] + +The captain, officers, and ship's company were most honourably +acquitted by the sentence of court-martial. + +Brenton, in his _Naval History_, remarks, 'In support of the +reasonable conjectures of the Admiral (Lord Nelson), as to the origin +of the fire, we might adduce many instances of ships in the cotton +trade having been on fire in the hold during a great part of their +voyage from China, owing to the cargo having been wet when compressed +into the ship. Hemp has been known to ignite from the same cause; and +the dockyard of Brest was set on fire by this means in 1757. New +painted canvas or tarpaulin, laid by before it is completely dry, will +take fire; and two Russian frigates were nearly burnt by the +accidental combination of a small quantity of soot, of burnt fir wood, +hemp, and oil, tied up with some matting,' + +Mr. Thomas Banks, acting-lieutenant of the Hindostan, was recommended +to Lord Nelson for promotion, by the members of the court-martial, in +consequence of his conduct on this occasion; and he was advanced to +the rank of lieutenant on the 23rd of June, 1804. This gallant officer +died in 1811. Lieutenant George Tailour was appointed to the Tigre in +1808, and was promoted for his gallant conduct in cutting out a convoy +of transports which had taken refuge in this same Bay of Rosas, where, +five years before, he had equally distinguished himself, under even +more trying circumstances. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] Clark and McArthur, vol. ii. p. 361. + + + + +THE ROMNEY. + + +'In the month of November, 1804,' writes Brenton, in his _Naval +History_, 'the severity of blockading the Ports of the Texel was +practically experienced in the loss of the Romney, of fifty guns, +commanded by Captain the Hon. John Colville.' + +The Romney sailed from Yarmouth on the 18th of November, under orders +to join Rear-Admiral Russel, off the Texel; but on the 19th she went +aground on the south-west part of the sand-bank off the Haaks. Regular +soundings had been made during the run from Yarmouth; and a few +minutes before the ship struck, the pilots were confident they were on +the edge of the Broad Fourteens. They then sounded, and the pilots +proposed standing in under double-reefed topsails, and foretopmast +stay-sail, with the wind S.S.W., until they should be in ten or eleven +fathoms. To this Captain Colville objected, as from the unsettled +appearance of the weather, and the thickness of the fog, he deemed it +would be imprudent to approach the shore. They were accordingly in the +act of wearing, when they perceived, through the fog, a large ship +bearing east by north. They stood towards her to make her out more +plainly, and in four or five minutes they discovered that she was a +large merchant vessel on shore.[7] Upon this, the pilots were anxious +to haul off on the larboard tack; but before the ship could be brought +to the wind, she struck. The wind was increasing, the fog very great, +and a heavy sea rolling in. In spite of every exertion, the water +gained upon the vessel so fast, that all hope of saving her was soon +at an end; and had she been in deep water, she must have sunk +immediately. The pilots supposed that the Romney would be dry at low +water, the topmasts were therefore struck, and every preparation made +to shore her up. + +The captain having done all in his power to save his ship, next turned +his attention to the preservation of his officers and men, determined +to use every possible means for their safety. Minute guns were fired, +in the hope that they might attract the notice of some of our +cruisers, and procure assistance. + +At this time it blew a gale from the south-west, and the sea ran so +high, as to endanger the boats which were lowered in order to lighten +the ship. + +The two cutters were sent to a galliot and a schuyt, that were in +sight near the land, to ask for help, but they failed in obtaining it; +and one of them in returning to the Romney was upset in the breakers, +and a master's mate with her crew perished. Lieutenant Baker, who +commanded the other cutter, finding it impossible to reach the ship +again, bore up to the Texel, in hopes of being more successful in +obtaining assistance there than he had been with the schuyt. + +On board the ship, in the meantime, the minute guns were fired, and +officers and men looked anxiously for a responsive signal that would +tell them of approaching succour--but they waited in vain; no help was +at hand. The people were therefore set to work to make rafts, and +three were soon finished. Between two and three o'clock in the +afternoon the ship struck again, with such violence, that the rudder +broke away, and she seemed likely to go to pieces immediately. The +captain seized the first moment of the weather-tide slacking to order +the masts to be cut away, which was promptly done, and fortunately +without causing any injury in their fall. After this, the ship became +more easy, although the sea still made a clean breach over her. +Captain Colville saw that the slightest alteration in her position +would be attended with imminent danger, and he therefore ordered the +bower anchors to be let go--her head then swung to the wind, and this +enabled her to settle gradually on the sand, where she lay +comparatively easy. Darkness was fast gathering around, and the hearts +of the crew were becoming dreary and hopeless. + + Nor sail nor shore appeared in sight, + Nought but the heavy sea and coming night. + +When the tide flowed, no part of the ship below the quarter-deck was +accessible. To add to the misery of their situation, out of the four +bags of bread which had been put for safety into the cabin, one only +could be got upon deck, and that one was so soaked in salt water, that +the bread could scarcely be eaten. This, with two cheeses, and a few +gallons of wine, composed the whole of their stock of provisions, and +during the day they had had no leisure to take refreshment of any +kind. + +Such was the condition of the crew of the Romney, who passed that +awful night on the quarter-deck, the starboard side of which was under +water at high tide. The wind blew in violent gusts; sleet and rain +were falling, and the sea dashed over the vessel every instant. +Although the men were shivering with cold and hunger, not a murmur +escaped their lips, not a whisper of complaint; but they patiently +awaited the break of day. At length the morning dawned, and with it +hope dawned upon the hearts of those patient sufferers, for the wind +and the waves subsided, the clouds gradually dispersed, and the sun +shone forth with glorious and invigorating light and warmth. + +All eyes were turned to the offing, but still no assistance appeared. +Captain Colville then resolved to hoist the white flag on the stump of +the mizen mast, in hopes that it might be seen from the shore, and +that he might preserve the lives of his crew by surrendering to the +enemy. + +This step was necessary, as it was the only means of rescue that +remained to them. The barge had been swamped along side, soon after +the masts were cut away, and three of the crew had been drowned. The +launch, also, which was lying to leeward, had parted from her grapnel, +and had been obliged to bear up for the Texel. + +At 11 o'clock A.M., Captain Colville asked the carpenter if he thought +they could remain another night upon the wreck: the carpenter assured +him that he considered it almost impossible to do so, and that the +attempt would be attended with the greatest risk to all on board. The +ship had already parted amidships, the main beam and several others +being broken. + +Five rafts had been carefully instructed, each fitted with a mast and +sail; and at the earnest entreaty of the crew, Captain Colville, on +hearing the carpenter's report, allowed a part of the men to leave the +wreck on these rafts. + +About noon, as the fifth and last raft was about to leave the ship, +seven boats (one bearing a flag of truce) were seen coming towards +them from the shore. The captain ordered the people to throw the +quarter-deck guns, and all the arms and warlike stores overboard, +which they did. + +When the boats arrived alongside, an officer hailed the wreck, and +said that if Captain Colville was willing to secure the preservation +of his officers and crew, by surrendering as prisoners of war, the +whole company should be conducted in safety to the Helder. Captain +Colville felt himself obliged to submit to the imperious dictates of +necessity, and he accordingly accepted the proffered conditions, and +surrendered himself to the Dutch, with all the ship's company that +remained on the wreck. + +Before nightfall they were all landed. Only those who have been placed +in similar circumstances can judge of the feelings of men so rescued +from the awful contemplation of immediate and certain death. How happy +now did they feel in occupying a position, which two days before they +would have shrunk from with horror, and have shed their life's blood +to avoid. But 'there is no virtue like necessity,' + + All places that the eye of heaven visits, + Are to a wise man ports and happy havens. + RICHARD II. + +And the Romney's company were wise enough to rejoice, under the +circumstances of their hard case, in finding themselves safely landed +in an enemy's country as prisoners of war. + +Nine seamen had been drowned; thirteen others, who had left the wreck +upon a raft of timber, were afterwards picked up and taken on board +the Eagle; the others who had been saved by the boats and rafts joined +Captain Colville at the Helder. The following extracts from Captain +Colville's dispatches show the high estimation in which he held the +services of his officers and crew:--'That every possible exertion was +made to lessen the calamity, after having struck, I trust will appear +from the minutes.' ... 'Under the uneasiness of mind which the loss of +the ship I had the honour to command, naturally occasioned, I feel +some alleviation in reflecting upon the zealous, active, and orderly +conduct of my officers and crew in circumstances the most trying, and +under which they endured the severest hardships with cheerfulness, +and in perfect reliance on Divine Providence, whose interposition in +our behalf was strongly evident.' + +Nothing could exceed the kindness and consideration shown by the Dutch +admiral towards the crew of the Romney. Captain Colville, in a letter +addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, does ample justice to a +generous foe:-- + +'We have experienced,' he says, 'from the Dutch Admiral Kirkhurt, +every attention that our distressed situation made so necessary, and +which his disposition seems incapable of withholding, even from an +enemy. But the wants of my fellow-sufferers are great, for not an +article of clothing or anything else was saved by any one from the +general wreck. I hope the Dutch government will be disposed to +alleviate, in some degree, their wants,--in clothing, particularly. +And I have solicited the assistance of Rear-Admiral Russel in +obtaining these necessaries.' ... 'I have reason to believe we shall +be sent to Amsterdam, until exchanged.' + +Subsequently, the Dutch admiral, with noble generosity, sent Captain +Colville, with eight of his officers, to Rear-Admiral Russel. It is +always delightful to record such traits of magnanimity and kindness, +and we feel that British sailors can well afford to do honour to those +virtues in others, for which they have ever been so distinguished +themselves. + +Admiral Russel handsomely acknowledged his obligation to the Dutch +government in the following letter to Admiral Kirkhurt:-- + + H.B.M. Ship Eagle, Dec. 2, 1804. + + 'Sir--I have this moment received your flag of truce, conveying + to me the Honourable Captain Colville, late of his Majesty's + ship, the Romney, (wrecked upon your coast,) with eight of his + officers, whom you have first humanely saved from impending + destruction, and whom your government, with its ancient + magnanimity, has released and restored to their country and + their friends, on their _parole d'honneur_. They are all, Sir, + most sensibly affected with heartfelt gratitude to the Batavian + government for their emancipation from captivity; to Admiral + Kirkhurt for their preservation from the jaws of death, and to + all the Dutch officers and inhabitants of the Texel, for their + kindness and most humane attention. + + 'This, Sir, is nobly alleviating the rigours of war, as the + Christian heroes of your country and mine were wont to do in + these seas, before a considerable portion of European intellect + was corrupted by false philosophy. Captain Colville will + communicate to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of + the Admiralty, your proposal for an exchange of prisoners. + Accept my sincere thanks, and the assurance that I am, &c. &c. + + '(Signed) T.M. RUSSEL.' + +On the 31st of December, Captain Colville, the officers and ship's +company of H.M. (late) ship Romney were tried by a court-martial on +board the Africaine at Sheerness, for the loss of their ship off the +Tezel on the 19th of November. + +It appeared to the court, that the loss of the ship had been +occasioned by the thickness of the fog and the ignorance of the +pilots; that the utmost exertions had been used by the captain, +officers, and crew, to save the vessel after she struck, and to +prevent the ship's company becoming prisoners of war. The sentence of +the court was to this effect: that the captain, officers and crew were +fully acquitted of all blame, but that the pilots should forfeit all +their pay, and be rendered henceforth incapable of taking charge of +any of his Majesty's ships or vessels of war, and that they should be +imprisoned in the Marshalsea--one for the space of twelve, and the +other, of six months. + +In 1805, Captain Colville was appointed to the Sea Fencibles, at +Margate. In 1807, he obtained the command of L'Hercule, a 74-gun ship, +on the coast of Portugal, and subsequently commanded the Queen on the +North Sea Station. + +He succeeded to his title (Lord Colville) on the death of his father +in 1811, and was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral in 1819. On the +10th of November, 1821, he hoisted his flag on board the Semiramis, as +commander-in-chief on the Irish station. Lord Colville died an Admiral +of the White, in 1849. + +We are aware that the foregoing narrative may appear deficient in +novel and striking incidents, but we have introduced it for the sake +of exhibiting some of the best and noblest attributes of the +true-hearted sailor--courage, patience, and perfect obedience under +the most trying circumstances, and generous kindness towards an +unfortunate enemy. It is well to think of these things, and the more +we read of the details of naval life--its sufferings, dangers, and +trials, the more fully shall we be persuaded that _true_ courage is +ever generous and unselfish. In the words of the quaint old song-- + + Says the captain, says he, (I shall never forget it,) + 'If of courage you'd know, lads, the true from the sham, + Tis a furious lion in battle, so let it, + But, duty appeased, 'tis in mercy a lamb.' + + That my friend, Jack or Tom, I should rescue from danger, + Or lay down my life for each lad in the mess, + Is nothing at all,--'tis the poor wounded stranger, + And the poorer the more I shall succour distress: + In me let the foe feel the paw of the lion, + But, the battle once ended, the heart of a lamb. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] She proved to be an American, and she went to pieces during the +night. + + + + +VENERABLE. + + +On Saturday, the 24th of November, 1804, the fleet under the command +of Admiral the Hon. W. Cornwallis, lay at anchor in Torbay. As it was +late in the year, and the night dark and stormy, orders were given for +the fleet to put to sea. + +Unfortunately, in fishing the anchor of the Venerable, 74-gun ship, +the fish-hook gave way, and a man was precipitated into the sea. The +alarm was immediately given, and one of the cutters was ordered to be +lowered. Numbers of the crew rushed aft to carry the orders into +effect, but in the confusion, one of the falls was suddenly let go, +the boat fell by the run, filled, and a midshipman and two of the crew +were drowned. In a few minutes another boat was lowered, which +fortunately succeeded in picking up the man who first fell overboard. + +Owing to this delay, the Venerable fell off considerably towards +Brixham, and getting sternway, was unable to weather the Berry Head. +Every effort was made to stay her, but the ship refused; and, not +having room to wear, she drove on shore, at the north part of the bay, +on a spot called Roundem Head, near Paington. + +Orders were given to cut away the masts, in the hopes of their falling +between the ship and the shore. This was found impracticable, as the +ship, from her position on the declivity of the rock on which she +struck, heeled to such an extent, as to render the falling of the +masts in the desired direction quite impossible. + +Her commander, Captain John Hunter, however, with undaunted fortitude, +continued to animate the crew with hope, and encouraged them to acts +of further perseverance, with the same calmness and self-possession as +if he were simply conducting the ordinary duties of his ship. From +the moment the ship struck, not the least alteration took place in his +looks, words, or manner; and everything that the most able and +experienced seaman could suggest was done, but in vain. On signals of +distress being made, H.M. cutter Frisk, Lieutenant Nicholson, +immediately stood towards her, and hailing to know in what manner she +could be useful, was requested to anchor as near as possible to +receive the crew, with which her commander immediately complied, +assisted by the boats of the Goliath and Impetueux. + +All hope of saving the Venerable being now abandoned, the only object +that remained was to preserve the lives of the crew, who were told to +provide for their own safety on board the boats which had been sent to +their assistance, the captain and officers declaring their intention +of remaining on board till all the men had quitted the wreck. + +At this time the sea ran tremendously high, and the men lowered +themselves into the boats from the stern, this being the only +accessible part of the ship. Most anxious was the situation of the +officers and men who were left, during the absence of the boats. Many +gave up all hopes of rescue, for every time the boats approached the +ship, the attempt became more and more dangerous. The night still +continued dark and foggy, with driving sleet and violent gusts of +wind, which seemed to freshen every hour. In this forlorn and dismal +state, the officers continued on the outside of the ship (for she was +nearly on her beam ends), encouraging the men, and affording every +assistance for their escape on board the boats. + +The Venerable was now a complete wreck, beating against the rocks, and +was expected to go to pieces at every surge; yet all this time was +she so near the shore that those on board were able to converse with +the people, whom the report of the guns had brought in great numbers +to the rocks. With much difficulty, they at last contrived to fling a +line on shore, which, being secured there, some of the crew attempted +to land themselves by it. The surf, however, broke with such violence +between them and the shore, although they were scarcely twenty yards +distant, that the poor fellows who made the attempt were either +drowned or dashed to pieces. + +It was now past five o'clock on Sunday morning, the weather still +growing worse. The crew, with the exception of seventeen, had +succeeded in quitting the ship, and these nobly declared that they +would remain to share the fate of their officers. The situation of the +whole was indeed appalling, and sufficient to quail the boldest heart; +the sea breaking over them, the fore part of the ship under water, and +the rest expected momentarily to go to pieces. Under these +circumstances, the officers, feeling that they could be of no further +use on board, deemed it their duty to represent to the captain the +necessity of endeavouring to save their lives, they having one and all +resolved on sharing his fate. + +This point being arranged, the hopes of life began to revive; but a +further difficulty presented itself, which seemed to render their +safety more problematical than ever. This was, who was to lead the +way. The pause had well nigh been fatal to them all. At length a +junior lieutenant, long known on board, and celebrated for his +courage, agreed to lead the way, the rest solemnly promising to +follow. One after another they descended from the stern by a single +rope, wet, cold, and benumbed; and in this condition they gained the +boats, which were in perilous attendance below. About six o'clock +they reached the Impetueux, where they were treated with every +attention and kindness which their unfortunate position so loudly +called for. They quitted the ship in a most critical time, for in a +little more than an hour after they had left her, she parted +amidships--that part on which they had been standing for the last five +or six hours capsized and was buried in the surf. In sixteen hours +from the time she first struck, the whole vessel had disappeared, +under the action of a raging surf, lashed into fury by the violence of +the gale. + +The conduct of the people on shore was most inhuman; not the slightest +assistance was offered; not a single boat from Brixham or Torquay +having put out to their assistance during the whole of this dreadful +night. To add to this disgraceful conduct, the cowardly wretches were +observed, when daylight broke, plundering everything of value as it +floated ashore. + +The following is the tribute of praise which Captain Hunter so justly +pays to Captain Martin and the officers and crew of the Impetueux:-- + + "To Captain Martin, of the Impetueux, whose feelings as a man, + as well as his zeal as an officer, were on this distressing + occasion so conspicuous.--It is the desire of the officers and + crew of the Venerable in this place to express the high sense + they have of the obligations they are under to his personal + exertions, as well as those of the officers and boats' crews + whom he employed in this difficult and dangerous service,--for + it is to their exertions they owe the life they now enjoy." + +Captain Hunter also speaks of the conduct of his own ship's company in +the highest terms. Their steadiness throughout was most remarkable, +and to this, in a great measure, may be attributed the preservation of +their own lives. + +One solitary instance of neglect of duty occurred; and when we +consider the circumstances in which the men were placed, and the +temptations which never fail to present themselves on such occasions, +the highest praise is not only due to the crew, but also to the +captain and officers, who, by their previous conduct, had gained the +respect and confidence of those under them. It is in such moments of +severe trial that the character of a ship's company is put to the +test; and the good behaviour of the men who remained with their +officers proves that, in order to maintain a proper degree of +discipline, no undue severity need be practised. + +To a comparatively recent period, the captain of a man-of-war had the +power of inflicting corporal punishment to an unlimited extent. This +practice has of late years much diminished; owing, in a great measure, +to the increased good feeling of naval officers, as also to the +Admiralty discountenancing such strong measures, unless in most urgent +cases. A captain of a man-of-war has, notwithstanding, and very +properly so, an almost absolute power, and corporal punishment rests +with him alone; but the humane officer, like Captain Hunter, punishes +one man to save many others, and shares with the delinquent the pain +which, for the sake of example, he is obliged to inflict. The +discipline of a ship of course depends almost entirely upon the +conduct of the captain; to him the officers look for guidance and +example; and whilst they see that the men do their duty properly, they +also learn from him to treat them with due consideration, having their +happiness and comfort in view. As in the case of the Venerable, when +the hour of danger arrives, each cheerfully performs the duties +allotted to him, relying with confidence on those who, from their +clemency, combined with firmness, they have been accustomed to look up +to with respect. + +An additional interest belongs to the fate of this vessel, when we +bear in mind that her crew, whilst serving under Lord Duncan, in 1797, +remained untainted during the celebrated mutiny at the Nore.[8] She +also bore a conspicuous part in Lord Duncan's action with the Dutch +fleet, in October of the same year, engaging the Vryheid, the +flag-ship of the Dutch admiral. + +The account of this great battle, however, is too well recorded in the +page of history to need repetition. It is sufficient to add, that the +Vryheid, after a noble resistance, was ultimately obliged to strike, +under the destructive fire of the Venerable, Triumph, Ardent, and +Director. + + + + +THE SHEERNESS. + + +In the afternoon of the 7th of January, 1805, His Majesty's ship +Sheerness, of 44 guns, was lying at anchor in the Colombo Roads, +Ceylon. + +It was one of those days of extreme stillness which often precede the +frightful hurricanes that sweep the eastern seas. Not a breath of air +stirred, not a cloud was to be seen; the ship lay motionless on the +calm and glassy water. The ensign drooped in heavy folds from the +stern, and many of the crew lay stretched on the decks in listless +apathy, little anticipating the terrible convulsion of the elements +which was so soon to arouse them in fear. The monotony on board was +broken for a moment by the voice of the captain, Lord George Stuart, +who ordered his gig to be manned that he might go on shore with his +first lieutenant, Mr. Swan, and some other officers, whom he had +invited to dine with him under a tent. The bustle of their departure +from the ship was soon over, and again all was still. The captain and +officers had scarcely landed and seated themselves at table, when a +roaring sound was heard, at first distant, but becoming louder and +louder every moment, and before they could conjecture the cause, the +canvass of the tent was almost torn from its fastenings by the sudden +violence of the wind. + +Every one thought first of the Sheerness, and rushing from the tent a +scene presented itself to their gaze little calculated to diminish +their alarm for the ship. + +The sea, which a few minutes before had been smooth as a polished +mirror, now displayed a picture of terrific grandeur; the waves, +crested with foam, rolled and tossed over one another in wild +confusion, whilst the roaring of the winds, and the torrents of rain, +added to the awful sublimity of the scene. Lord George, though aware +of the imminent danger to which he exposed himself, determined at all +risks to get on board his ship. Without a moment's delay he collected +the crew of the gig, and pushed from the shore towards the +vessel--himself steering the boat, whilst Lieutenant Swan pulled the +bow oar. The wind had now increased to such a hurricane as is only +known in tropical climates, and the waves threatened every instant to +engulf the frail bark. As they advanced, the danger became more and +more urgent; the sea broke over them continually; nevertheless, they +persevered, and strained every nerve to effect their object. + +The stunning roar of the hurricane prevented any communication except +by signs, and several times the wind caught the oars with such force +that the men could scarcely retain their seats. In vain were all +their efforts:-- + + The winds arise, + The thunder rolls, the forky lightning flies; + In vain the master issues out commands, + In vain the trembling sailors ply their hands, + The tempest, unforeseen, prevents their care, + And from the first they labour in despair. + Dryden. + +The boat filled with water three times, and became so nearly +unmanageable, that they saw it would be impossible to gain the ship, +and they bore up to the west part of York Island, from whence they +waded to the shore, but so exhausted from the fatigue they had +undergone, that they could never have reached the land, had they not +been assisted by some workmen who were on the spot. + +When they arrived, they found Mr. Warner, a midshipman, had just +landed from the Sheerness, with a message to the effect that the ship +had parted an anchor, but that she was riding in safety with two +others. Mr. Warner had been sent in the launch, but in nearing the +shore, she had been upset, and two of her crew were drowned; there was +little hope, therefore, of any boat weathering the storm in an attempt +to reach the ship. + +Lord George, however, would not give up the attempt, and he expressed +so much anxiety to join his vessel, that it was proposed to go to the +weathermost part of the bay. Thither they accordingly struggled on +foot, with the utmost difficulty making head against the wind, and +suffering acutely from the sand driving into their eyes. In addition +to their personal sufferings, the spectacle around was one of such +desolation and horror as no man can witness without pain. The shore, +as far as the eye could reach, was covered with wrecks, and with the +bodies of the dying and the dead, while the roaring of the surf, and +the howling of the tempest, mingled with the piercing cries of those +on board the stranded vessels, who were yet struggling with their +fate, added to the awfulness of the scene. + +At half-past six in the evening, exhausted with fatigue and suffering, +they arrived at the head of the bay; but here they were again doomed +to disappointment, for they found no one to assist them in launching +the boat, although the crew of the launch had been directed to join +them for that purpose. + +The ship was still in sight, but they found it would be impossible to +reach her, and they therefore proceeded to the neighbouring town of +Ostenberg, where they directed a soldier whom they met, to hasten to +his commanding officer, and request that a party of soldiers with +torches should be ordered out ready to save the crew of the Sheerness, +in case of her driving on shore. + +Lord George and his companions then went to the master attendant's +house, where they passed the night; but although they were worn out in +mind and body, sleep never closed their eyes that night--they passed +it in listening to the reports of the signal guns from the Sheerness, +and in watching the rockets which from time to time illuminated the +darkness, telling of distress and danger which they could not +alleviate. + +When morning broke, they assembled all the workmen they could muster, +and manning a cutter with the crew of the launch, they went off to the +Sheerness, which had been driven on shore to the west of York Island. + +There a most distressing sight presented itself; two vessels had been +driven on shore, one of which was totally lost. The Sheerness had +parted her cables during the night, and for a time her situation was +exceedingly perilous, it was impossible to stand upon deck till the +main and mizen masts had been cut away. The water rose above the +orlop deck till it became level with the surface of the sea. + +Not a barrack-house or tree escaped the ravages of the storm; many +were levelled with the ground, others extensively damaged, and the +hospital was completely unroofed, which rendered the situation of the +sick most deplorable. One of the patients was killed by the falling +beams. Several Europeans fell a sacrifice to the storm, many of them +being exposed to the torrents of rain without any place of shelter +within reach. + +Lord George Stuart, the officers and crew of the Sheerness were +acquitted of all blame respecting the loss of that vessel, it being +the opinion of the court, that 'Every exertion was made for the +preservation of the ship by the captain, officers, and crew upon that +trying occasion; and that, owing to the violence of the hurricane, the +loss of the ship was inevitable; and every subsequent attempt to get +her afloat proved ineffectual, in consequence of the damage she had +sustained in grounding when driven on shore, from the impossibility of +keeping her free by means of the pumps.' + +Lord George Stuart entered the navy in the year 1793 as a midshipman +on board the Providence, in which ship he had the misfortune to be +wrecked in the year 1797. + +He received his post rank in 1804, and was almost constantly employed +from that time until 1809, when he assumed the command of a light +squadron at the mouth of the Elbe. + +Here he performed an important service in taking the town of +Gessendorf, situated on the banks of the Weser, and in driving from +the fortress a body of French troops who had made frequent predatory +and piratical excursions in the neighbourhood of Cuxhaven. + +A few days after the defeat of the French, the gallant Duke of +Brunswick also arrived on the opposite banks of the Weser, after +having almost succeeded in effecting his retreat through the heart of +Germany. By the previous dispersion of the enemy and the destruction +of the fortress, he succeeded in crossing the river and escaping his +pursuers, who would otherwise, in all probability, have captured or +destroyed the whole of his detachment. + +His Lordship was next appointed to the Horatio, a 38-gun frigate. +Whilst cruizing on the morning of the 7th December, 1813, off the +Island of Zealand, he received a letter from a gentleman who had been +in the British service, requesting his aid to drive the French from +Zierick-Zee, the capital of Schowen. He at once complied with this +request, and directed a detachment of seamen and marines to storm the +batteries as soon as the tide would answer for the boats to leave the +ship, which could not be done until nine P.M. In the meantime, a +deputation arrived on board from the principal citizens, bearing a +flag of truce from the French general, and requesting, that in order +to save the effusion of blood, and to prevent the disorders which +would in all probability arise, as the city was then in a state of +insurrection, terms of capitulation should be granted, by which the +French should be allowed to withdraw with their baggage to +Bergen-op-Zoom. To this, Lord George Stuart gave a peremptory refusal, +and summoned the French to surrender unconditionally. After a short +delay, the signal of surrender was made, and thus, by the promptitude +and decision displayed by the British officer, the French were +compelled to evacuate the Island of Schowen without bloodshed, and the +ancient magistrates of Zierick-Zee resumed their former functions. + +Lord George Stuart subsequently commanded the Newcastle, and was +employed in the last American war. In 1815, he received the Order of +the Companion of the Bath, and died as rear-admiral in 1841. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] Captain Hunter died in 1807. + + + + +ATHENIENNE. + + +The Athenienne, of 64 guns, commanded by Captain Robert Raynsford, +with a crew of 470 men, sailed from Gibraltar on the 16th of October, +1806, and at noon on the 20th, the Island of Sardinia was seen in the +distance. The ship continued under a press of sail with a fair wind, +and sped on her course towards Malta. At eight o'clock of the evening +of the 20th, the first watch had been stationed, and the officer on +duty had reported the ship's progress at nine knots an hour. The +labours of the day were over, and all, save the few whom duty or +inclination kept on deck, had gone below. Another hour passed away; +the majority of the crew had retired to their berths to seek repose +after the toils of the day, and to gain fresh strength for the +morrow--that morrow which many of them were destined never to behold. + +One there was on board the Athenienne, to whose care the safety of the +vessel and the lives of her crew had been entrusted, who appeared to +have misgivings as to the course she was steering. The captain was +seated in his cabin, looking over the chart with one of his officers, +when he exclaimed, 'If the Esquerques do exist, we are now on them,' +Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the ship struck. + +For the information of our readers, we must state that the Esquerques, +or Shirki, are a reef of sunken rocks lying about eighty miles west +from Sicily, and about forty-eight from Cape Bon, on the coast of +Africa. In 1806, the charts were not as accurate as they are in the +present day, and the reef was not laid down in all of them; the very +existence, indeed, of these rocks was positively denied by some +navigators, though it was as positively asserted by others. + +It would be vain to attempt to describe the scene that followed the +first shock, on the vessel's striking the rock. Upon the captain's +hastening on deck, he found the crew rushing up from their berths, +many of them in a state of nudity, and so stupified as to be utterly +incapable of making the least effort for their own preservation. Some +went below, and for the moment resigned themselves to despair, while +others rushed to the poop for safety. + +In a few minutes, the officers had gathered round their captain. It +needed no words to point out to them the imminence of their danger, +and the necessity of their setting an example of steadiness and +intrepidity to the men. They suffered no signs of dismay to appear in +their demeanour, but immediately proceeded to consider what were the +best steps to be taken to meet the impending danger. The calmness and +courage thus displayed by the captain and his officers could not fail +of having the desired effect upon the ship's company, who recovered +from their panic, and seeing the necessity for instant exertion, held +themselves in readiness to execute each order as it was issued. + +In order to prevent the ship falling on her broadside, the masts were +cut away; but she continued to beat so violently upon the rocks, that +in less than half-an-hour she filled with water up to the lower deck +ports, and then fell over to larboard on her beam ends. Captain +Raynsford, foreseeing the inevitable loss of his vessel, had ordered +the boats to be hoisted out, with the idea that they would be useful +in towing a raft, which he had caused to be constructed to leeward. +This raft would probably have been the means of preserving a great +many lives, had not the men in charge of the two jolly-boats pushed +off, and left their unhappy comrades to their fate. Unfortunately, +both the cutter and the barge, in hoisting out, were stove, and +immediately swamped, no less than thirty men perishing with them. +Several of the crew had been killed by the falling of the masts, and +others were severely injured. Two midshipmen were crushed to death +between the spanker boom and the bulwarks. + +Brenton has thus described the horrible scene on board:--'Nothing was +to be heard but the shrieks of the drowning and the wailings of +despair. The man who would courageously meet death at the cannon's +mouth, or at the point of the bayonet, is frequently unnerved in such +a scene as this, where there is no other enemy to contend with than +the inexorable waves, and no hope of safety or relief but what may be +afforded by a floating plank or mast. The tremendous shocks as the +ship rose with the sea, and fell again on the rocks, deprived the +people of the power of exertion; while at every crash portions of the +shattered hull, loosened and disjointed, were scattered in dreadful +havoc among the breakers. Imagination can scarcely picture to itself +anything more appalling than the frantic screams of the women and +children, the darkness of the night, the irresistible fury of the +waves, which, at every moment, snatched away a victim, while the +tolling of the bell, occasioned by the violent motion of the wreck, +added a funereal solemnity to the horrors of the scene.' + +The fate of the hapless crew seemed fast approaching to a termination. +When the vessel first struck, signal guns had been fired, in the hope +that some aid might be within reach, but none appeared; the guns were +soon rendered useless, and when the ship fell on her beam ends, the +wreck, with the exception of the poop, was entirely under water. Here +were collected all that remained of the ship's company, whose haggard +countenances and shivering forms were revealed to each other, from +time to time, by the glare of the blue lights, and by the fitful +moonbeams which streamed from beneath the dark clouds, and threw their +pale light upon the despairing group. + + The sea-breached vessel can no longer bear + The floods that o'er her burst in dread career; + The labouring hull already seems half filled + With water, through an hundred leeks distilled; + Thus drenched by every wave, her even deck, + Stripped and defenceless, floats a naked wreck. + FALCONER. + +Two boats only remained, one of which was useless, her side having +been knocked in by the falling of the masts; and the other, the +launch, was therefore the sole means of preservation left. She was +already filled with men, but it was found impossible to remove her +from her position on the booms; and even if she had floated, she could +not have contained above one-fourth of the crew. For about half an +hour she continued in the same position, (the men who were in her +expecting every moment that her bottom would be knocked out by the +waves dashing against the spars on which she rested,) when suddenly a +heavy sea lifted her off the bows clear of the ship. Three loud cheers +greeted her release, and the oars being ready, the men immediately +pulled from the wreck, with difficulty escaping the many dangers they +had to encounter from the floating spars and broken masts. + +These gallant fellows, however, would not desert their companions in +misfortune, and although their boat already contained more than a +hundred, they pulled towards the stern of the frigate; but so great +was the anxiety of the poor creatures upon the poop to jump into the +boat, that in self-defence they were obliged to keep at a certain +distance from the wreck, or the launch would have been instantly +swamped. They were therefore reduced to the terrible alternative, +either of leaving their comrades to perish, or of throwing away their +own lives. Nine of the men who had jumped overboard were picked up, +but to have attempted to save any more would have been to sacrifice +all. One of the officers left on board the wreck endeavoured by every +argument to persuade Captain Raynsford to save himself by swimming to +the launch, but all in vain. This intrepid man declared that he was +perfectly resigned to his fate, and was determined not to quit his +ship whilst a man remained on board. Finding that all entreaties were +useless, the officer himself jumped overboard from the stern gallery +into the sea, and swimming through the surf, gained the launch and was +taken on board. + +The general cry in the boat was, 'Pull off!' and at twelve o'clock, as +the moon sunk below the horizon, her crew took their last look of the +Athenienne. The situation of the launch was of itself imminently +perilous: she had neither sail, bread, nor water on board. Fortunately +there was a compass, and for a sail the officers made use of their +shirts and the frocks of the seamen. On the following morning they +fell in with a Danish brig, which relieved, in some degree, their +urgent necessities. Lieutenant John Little, a passenger in the +Athenienne, with a party of seamen, went on board the brig, for the +purpose of prevailing on her master to return with them to the wreck, +in hopes of rescuing any of the crew who might be still alive; but +this generous purpose was frustrated by violent and adverse winds. + +On the 21st, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the party reached +Maritimo, having been sixteen hours in the open boat, and the next +day they proceeded to Trepani, in Sicily. On the 24th, they arrived at +Palermo; the news of the sad event had already been conveyed thither +to Sir Sidney Smith, by a letter which had been written from Maritimo. +The Eagle, of 74 guns, was instantly ordered to the Esquerques, but +returned with the intelligence, that all who were left upon the wreck +had perished, with the exception of two men, who had been picked up on +a raft by some fishermen. They related that the poop had separated +about eleven o'clock on the morning after the launch left them, and +that they, together with ten others, clung to it, but all had either +been washed off or died except themselves. There were also two other +rafts, on one of which were three warrant officers, and on the other +Captain Raynsford and Lieutenants Swinburne and Salter; but it was +found impossible to disengage the rafts from the rigging to which they +were attached, and the unfortunate men all perished. + +The existence of the Esquerques, as we have already stated, had been +doubted, but from Captain Raynsford's exclamation, previous to the +ship striking, we may infer that he himself was not sceptical on the +subject. From whatever cause this fine frigate may have been lost, the +gallantry, at least, and self-devotion of her commander, from the time +the vessel first struck, will rescue his memory from reproach. + + There's a prayer and a tear o'er the lowliest grave; + But thousands lament o'er the fall of the brave; + And thou, whose rare valour and fate we bemoan,-- + In the sufferings of others forgetting thy own,-- + O'er thy dust, though no trophies nor columns we rear, + Though the storm was thy requiem, the wild wave thy bier; + Yet thy spirit still speaks from its home on the flood, + Still speaks to the gen'rous, the brave, and the good; + Still points to our children the path which you trod, + Who lived for your country, and died in your God. + + J.H.J. + +Three hundred and fifty of the crew perished, while one hundred and +forty-one men, with two women, were all who were saved. + + + + +THE NAUTILUS. + + +ONLY a few weeks after the loss of the Athenienne, and of so many of +her crew, a shipwreck occurred in another part of the Mediterranean, +attended by circumstances of most painful interest. + +His Majesty's sloop, Nautilus, commanded by Captain Palmer, left the +squadron of Sir Thomas Louis in the Hellespont, on the morning of the: +3rd of January, 1807, bearing dispatches of the utmost importance for +England. + +The wind blowing fresh from the north-east, the sloop continued her +course through the Archipelago without danger or mischance, until the +evening of the 4th, when she was off Anti Milo; the pilot then gave up +his charge, professing himself ignorant of the coast they were now +approaching. As the dispatches confided to Captain Palmer were of +great moment, he determined to run every hazard rather than retard +their delivery. He therefore sailed from Anti Milo at sunset, and +shaped his course to Cerigotto. At midnight, the wind had risen to a +gale; the night was dark and gloomy; torrents of rain were falling, +accompanied by loud and incessant peals of thunder, whilst vivid +flashes of lightning ever and anon illuminated for an instant the +murky sky, and left all in obscurity more dismal than before. + +At two o'clock A.M., the tempest and the darkness having increased, +the captain gave orders to close-reef topsails, and prepare for +bringing-to until daybreak. A little after three o'clock, a bright +flash of lightning discovered to them, the Island of Cerigotto right +ahead, and about a mile distant. The captain considered his course to +be now clear, and therefore directed all possible sail to be kept on +the vessel without endangering the masts, at the same time he +congratulated Lieutenant Nesbitt upon their escape from the threatened +dangers of the Archipelago. + +He then went below, and was engaged with the pilot in examining the +chart, when a cry was heard of 'Breakers ahead!' Lieutenant Nesbitt, +who was on deck, ordered the helm a-lee; it was scarcely done, when +the vessel struck. The shock was so violent, that the men below were +thrown out of their hammocks, and they had difficulty in getting upon +deck, for every sea lifted up the ship and then again dashed her upon +the rocks with such force that they could not keep their feet. All was +confusion and alarm. Every one felt his own utter helplessness. + +'Oh! my Lord,' writes Lieutenant Nesbitt to Lord Collingwood, 'it +draws tears from my eyes when I reflect on the complicated miseries of +the scene! Heaven, now our only resource, was piteously invoked; and +happy am I to say, our gallant crew left nothing untried which we +imagined could save us--all cheerfully obeying the orders of the +officers. An instant had hardly elapsed ere our main-deck was burst +in, and a few minutes after the lee bulwark was entirely overwhelmed. +A heavy sea broke entirely over us, and none could see the smallest +aperture through which hope might enter, and enliven the chill and +dreary prospect before us.' + +The only chance of escape for the crew was by the boats, and one only, +a small whale-boat, got clear of the ship in safety, the others were +all either stove or washed off the booms and dashed to pieces on the +rocks by the raging surf. The boat that escaped was manned by the +coxswain, George Smith, and nine others. When they got clear of the +wreck, they lay on their oars, and those who had clothing shared it +with others who were nearly naked. They then pulled towards the Island +of Pauri, seeing that it was impossible for them to render any +assistance to their wretched comrades, as the boat already carried as +many as she could possibly stow. + +After the departure of the whale-boat, the ship continued to strike +every two or three minutes, but as she was thrown higher on the rock, +the men perceived that a part of it was above water; and as they +expected the vessel to go to pieces at every shock, that lonely rock +offered a safer refuge from the waves than the frail timbers to which +they were clinging. The mercy of Providence soon provided them with +the means of exchanging their perilous situation for one of less +certain and instant danger. The mainmast fell over the side about +twenty minutes after the vessel struck, and the mizen and foremasts +followed. These all served as gangways by which the people passed +through the surf from the wreck to the platform of the coral reef, and +thus for the time were rescued from the certain death that awaited +them if they remained on board. + +The rock, which they reached with difficulty, was scarcely above +water; it was between three and four hundred yards long, and two +hundred wide; and upon this spot, in the midst of the deep, nearly a +hundred men were thrown together, without food, almost without +clothing, and with very little hope that they should ever escape from +the perils that surrounded them. They had only left the wreck in time +to hear her dashed to pieces against the rocks; her timbers quivering, +rending, and groaning, as they were riven asunder by the remorseless +waves. When day dawned upon the cheerless group, its light only +revealed new horrors: the sea on all sides was strewed with fragments +of the wreck; not a sail was visible on the waters, and many of their +comrades were seen clinging to spars and planks, tossed hither and +thither by the waves. The situation of the survivors was truly +distressing; they were at least twelve miles from the nearest island, +and their only chance of relief was in the possibility of a ship +passing near enough to see the signal which they hoisted on a long +pole fixed to the rocks. + +The day was bitterly cold, and with much difficulty the unfortunate +men contrived to kindle a fire, by means of a knife and flint that +were happily in the pocket of one of the sailors, and a small barrel +of damp powder that had been washed on to the rock. They next +constructed a tent with pieces of canvas, boards, and parts of the +wreck, and so they were enabled to dry the few clothes they had upon +them. And now they had to pass a long and dreary night, exposed to +hunger, cold, and wet; but they kept the fire burning, hoping that it +might be visible in the darkness, and be taken for a signal of +distress. And so it proved; for the coxswain and crew of the whale +boat, who were on the Island of Pauri, observed the fire in the middle +of the night, and the next morning the coxswain and pilot, with four +of the men, pulled to the rocks, in hopes that some of their comrades +might be still living. + +They were beyond measure astonished to find so many survivors from the +wreck, when they had scarcely dared to hope that any could have been +saved except themselves. They had no food or water in their boat; for +they had found nothing on the Island of Pauri (which was only a mile +in circumference) but a few sheep and goats, kept there by the +inhabitants of Cerigo, and a little rain-water that was preserved in +a hole of the rock. The coxswain attempted to persuade Captain Palmer +to come into the boat, but the intrepid officer refused. 'Never mind +me,' was his noble reply; 'save your unfortunate shipmates.' + +After some consultation, the Captain ordered the coxswain to take ten +of the people from the rock and make the best of his way to Cerigotto, +and return as soon as possible with assistance. + +Soon after the departure of the boat, the wind increased to a gale, +the waves dashed over the rock and extinguished the fire, and some of +the men were compelled to cling to the highest part of the rock, and +others to hold on by a rope fastened round a projecting point, in +order to save themselves from being washed away by the surf; and thus +a second night was passed, even more wretched than the first. Many of +the people became delirious from the fatigue, hunger, thirst, and +cold, which they had suffered, and several died during the night; +some, apparently, from the effect of the intense cold upon their +exhausted frames. Terrible was the scene which daylight presented: +indiscriminately crowded together on a small spot, were the living, +the dying, and the dead; and the wretched survivors unable to give any +help to those whose sufferings might shortly be their own. + +There was nothing to be done, but to wait in hope for the return of +the whale-boat, when, to the indescribable joy of all, a ship, with +all sail set, hove in sight: she was coming down before the wind, and +steering directly for the rock. + +This cheering sight infused vigour into the weakest and most +desponding. Signals of distress were instantly made, and at last they +were perceived by the vessel, which brought to, and then hoisted out +her boat. Great was the joy of all the famishing creatures on the +rock, to see their deliverance at hand; the strongest began to fasten +spars and planks together to form rafts, on which they might get to +the ship; the boat came within pistol-shot. She was full of men, who +rested on their oars for a few minutes, as if to examine the persons +whom they were approaching: the man at the helm waved his hat, and +then the boat's head was put round and they pulled back again to the +ship, and left the crew of the Nautilus to their fate. + +The transition from hope to despair was terrible,--all that day they +watched in vain for the return of their own boat from Cerigotto; but +hour after hour passed away, and they began, at length, to fear that +she had been lost in the gale of the preceding night. + +Death, in its most horrible forms, now stared them in the face; the +pangs of hunger and thirst were almost insupportable. There was-- + + Water, water everywhere, + Yet not a drop to drink.--COLERIDGE. + +Some, indeed, of the poor sufferers were desperate enough to allay +their raging thirst with salt water, in spite of the entreaties and +warnings of those who knew how terrible are its effects. In a few +hours those who had drunk it were seized with violent hysteria and +raving madness, which in many ended in death. + +Another night drew on, and they made their sad preparations for it by +huddling together as closely as they could, to keep alive the little +warmth that remained in their bodies, and covering themselves with the +few ragged garments that were left. Happily the weather was more +moderate, and they hoped to be able to get through the night; but worn +out as they were, the ravings of some of their companions banished +sleep from the eyes of the rest. In the middle of the night they were +unexpectedly hailed by the crew of the whale-boat. + +The first cry from the rock was--'water! water!' but water they had +none. They had found it impossible to procure anything but earthen +vessels, and these could not be carried through the surf. The +coxswain, however, informed them that next morning a large vessel +would come to their relief; and in this hope of a speedy deliverance +they were encouraged to further endurance. The morning broke at last, +but no boat appeared; then came a reaction, and the heart-sickness of +hope deferred. The scenes that occurred on that day were too dreadful +to relate--it was the fourth on which they had not tasted food. + + ......Savagely + They glared upon each other; + ............. + .... and you might have seen + The longings of the cannibal arise + (Although they spoke not) in their wolfish eyes.--BYRON. + +They must now either taste human flesh or perish--there was no +alternative. + +A young man who had died the previous night was selected to be food +for the rest.[9] Most of them had not power to masticate or to +swallow-- + + For every tongue, through utter drought, + Was withered at the root. + COLERIDGE (_Ancient Mariner_). + + +Before evening death had made fearful ravages, and had numbered +amongst its victims Captain Palmer and the first lieutenant. + +Another night came on; long and anxiously had they gazed upon the +horizon--in vain had they strained their blood-shot eyes to see some +vessel coming to their relief. The shades of night closed round them, +and sadly they awaited the dawn of another day, resolving that if they +lived to see it they would construct a raft and commit themselves to +the waves, rather than remain to die of hunger and thirst. +Accordingly, at daylight they began to put their plan into execution +by fastening some of the larger spars together, and in a few hours the +raft was completed. The eventful moment for launching it arrived, when +with bitter grief and disappointment they beheld the work of their +hands, which it had cost them so much labour to achieve, dashed to +pieces in a few seconds and scattered adrift upon the waves. Some of +the men, rendered desperate by seeing their last chance of escape thus +snatched from them, rushed into the sea, grasping at such parts of the +wreck as came within their reach; but they were all swept away by the +current, and their unhappy comrades saw them no more. + +In the afternoon, the coxswain arrived in the whale-boat, but he came +without bringing them any food or means of escape--for all his +entreaties had been unavailing to persuade the Greek fishermen to put +to sea whilst the gale continued. They had, however, promised to come +to the relief of the sufferers the next day if the weather should be +more favourable. + +This was the fifth day that these wretched men had passed without food +of any kind except the disgusting morsel they had attempted to +swallow. Many who were completely exhausted, stretched their weary +limbs on the hard rocks and expired, and before night the greater +part of the survivors were in a state of complete insensibility. + +On the sixth morning they were scarcely able to raise themselves from +the rock to look once more upon the sea, when one less feeble than the +rest exclaimed, 'the boats are coming.' And most welcome was the sight +of four fishing vessels, and the whale-boat steering towards them. +Such joy was theirs as can only be understood by those who have +experienced a similar deliverance from the jaws of death. The boats +reached the rocks; they contained a supply of water and food, which +were distributed in moderation among the perishing seamen, who, when +they were a little renovated, were taken on board the boats, and in a +few hours landed on Cerigotto. + +The poor but hospitable inhabitants of the island received the +strangers most kindly, and tended them with the utmost care. Out of +one hundred and twenty-two, sixty-four only survived. And when we +think of the complicated miseries they had so long endured, we may +wonder that so many were spared. + +After remaining eleven days at Cerigotto, the remnant of the crew of +the Nautilus went to Cerigo, and from thence they sailed to Malta. + +Lieutenant Nesbitt and the survivors were tried by a court-martial at +Cadiz for the loss of the Nautilus. + +The court gave it as their opinion, 'That the loss of that sloop was +occasioned by the captain's zeal to forward the public dispatches, +which induced him to run in a dark, tempestuous night for the passage +between the Island of Cerigotto and Candia; but that the sloop passed +between Cerigotto and Pauri, and was lost on a rock, on the south-west +part of that passage, which rock does not appear to be laid down in +Heather's Chart, by which the said sloop was navigated. + +'That no blame attaches to the conduct of Lieutenant Nesbitt, or such +of the surviving crew of the Nautilus, but that it appears that +Lieutenant Nesbitt and the officers and crew did use every exertion +that circumstances could admit.' + +Lieutenant Nesbitt died in 1824. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] 'I well remember,' says a naval surgeon, 'the above melancholy +event, and particularly from one of the survivors being drafted on +board the ship to which I belonged, (the Thunderer, then in the +Dardanelles.) The poor fellow became my patient; he complained of no +pain but that which arose from the horrible recollection of his having +tasted human flesh to preserve his life. This preyed so deeply on his +mind, that it rendered him incapable of performing any duty, and when +I saw him sinking under the heavy load, I felt it to be my duty to +order him to the hospital, that he might be invalided and sent home.' + + + + +THE FLORA. + + +Early in January, 1807, H.M. ship Flora, of 36 guns, under the command +of Captain Otway Bland, had been cruizing off the Texel, for the +purpose of reconnoitring the ships of the enemy. This object having +been effected, they shaped a course towards Harlingen, the captain +ordering the pilots not to run the slightest risk, but to give the +sands of the island sufficient berth, so as not to endanger the Flora; +and so often did he reiterate these instructions, that the pilots +appeared hurt that their nautical skill and knowledge of the track +should be doubted. However, to the astonishment of all on board, and +to the dismay of the pilots, the ship took the ground, and struck on +the Shelling Reef, about noon on the 18th of January. It was only just +past high water when she struck, and there was therefore no chance of +getting her off till the next tide. In the meantime all weight was +removed from aloft, and the topmasts were lowered over the side, to +shore her up. Towards evening the wind increased to a gale, and a +heavy swell came on, which prevented their getting out a bower anchor, +although a raft was made for the purpose; but the night became so +dark, and the sea so rough, they were obliged to relinquish the +attempt, and resolved to wait with patience for high water, lightening +the vessel as much as possible, by starting the water, and heaving +most of the shot and other heavy articles overboard. All hands took +their turn at the pumps, and worked vigorously; yet the water gained +rapidly upon the vessel: this was partly attributable to her having +struck amidships, and having a hole through her bottom, instead of her +side, to supply the cistern. At about nine o'clock P.M., she began to +heave, but as the tide made, the wind freshened, the sea rose, and she +brought home the stream anchor, backed by the kedge, and forged on the +sand. At half-past nine o'clock, a last effort was made to get her +off, by letting go a bower anchor with a spring abaft, which brought +her head round. They then made all sail and forced her over the reef. +The ship once more floated in deep water: but this object was not +attained without a most serious loss. The rudder had been carried +away, and with it the launch and the jolly-boat, so that only one +anchor and the worst boat were left for service. After those moments +of breathless anxiety, and after giving utterance to a short but +fervent expression of thankfulness that they had got clear of the +reef, the men, almost worn out as they were, by so many hours of +continued labour, again betook themselves to the pumps, in hopes of +keeping the water under until they could reach an English port. But in +spite of every exertion, in spite of continued bailing and pumping, +and though a thrumbed sail was under the ship's bottom, the water +gained to eight feet. As the danger increased, so did the vigour of +the men. All was order, energy, and steady obedience throughout. The +captain perceiving that it would be impossible to keep the vessel much +longer afloat, gave orders to wear ship, and run her on the enemy's +shore; nor could even this be done without much difficulty and danger, +as it was necessary to let go their last anchor. Most of the guns were +now thrown overboard, and everything done to lighten the ship; and +about half-past six A.M., on the 19th, her head was brought round, +and, steered by the sails and a cable veered astern, towards the +islands. The weather was becoming more gloomy and threatening, and +before ten o'clock A.M. the vessel was so terribly shaken, that it +became absolutely necessary to cut away the main and mizen masts, +leaving the foremast standing, with sail set, to force the ship on as +much as possible, and also to prevent her drifting off with the ebb, +or with a change of wind. Although the dangerous situation of the +Flora was clearly perceived by the people on shore, no boat put out to +her assistance, the authorities having forbidden them to render such +aid on pain of death. + +Captain Bland, during his cruize on these seas, had allowed the +fishing-boats of the enemy to range unmolested, and had given strict +orders that not a fish should be taken from them without payment; but +even these boats now came near the labouring ship and passed on, +leaving her and her crew to perish. About four o'clock in the +afternoon when she seemed to be sinking, she took the ground and there +remained, surrounded by breakers, the crew in vain firing guns, and +making other signals of distress, which were totally disregarded. All +hands that could be spared from the pumps had been employed in making +rafts, and these were now launched into the surf, and about one +hundred and thirty of the crew got upon them, and were fortunate +enough to gain the high land. + +Captain Bland, with a few officers and men, pushed off in the barge, +the only boat that was left, and after rowing for eighteen hours +without any sustenance, they reached the Island of Amoland, where they +were made prisoners. + +The rest of the crew, who had chosen to stay by the ship, remained on +board for four days and nights, and, excepting nine, who perished from +the severity of the weather, they all got safe on shore. The above is +a plain, unvarnished account, taken from the narrative of Captain +Bland: it is a true tale, and needs not the aid of romance to give it +interest. For more than twenty-four hours the crew suffered the +horrors of uncertainty; their vessel thrown upon a hostile shore, +whose inhabitants were forbidden on pain of death to assist them, +whilst of all their boats one only remained. Yet, even during this +time of trial and danger, discipline was not for a moment abandoned; +no man's heart appeared to fail him; each one performed his duty with +cheerfulness and alacrity; and nobly did they all earn the praise +bestowed on them by their commander. + +'I cannot help paying here,' said Captain Bland, 'the last tribute of +praise to my crew; they behaved with order, respect, and perfect +coolness to the last moment; nor would they quit the ship's side in +the barge, though at the risk of her being dashed to pieces, till I +took the place they had reserved for me.' + +The gallantry and seamanship displayed by Captain Otway Bland, when in +command of the Espoir, 14-gun brig, in his attack and subsequent +capture of a Genoese pirate, well deserve a place in these pages. + +On the 7th of August, 1798, the Espoir was sailing near Gibraltar in +charge of part of a convoy, when a large vessel, which appeared to be +a man-of-war, was seen steering apparently with the intention of +cutting off some of the convoy. Captain Bland, notwithstanding the +superiority of the force with which he had to contend, determined upon +attacking the stranger, which proved to be the Liguria, mounted with +26 guns of various calibres. + +On approaching within hail, an officer on board the Liguria ordered +the commander of the Espoir to surrender, or he would sink his ship, +enforcing the demand by one shot, and afterwards by a whole broadside. +The fire was returned in a spirited manner by the Espoir, and was kept +up on both sides by the great guns and musketry for upwards of three +hours, when the captain of the Liguria hailed the Espoir, begging her +captain not to fire any more, as he was a Genoese. Upon this, Captain +Bland desired him to lower his sails, and come on board. As no +attention was paid to this demand, and the Genoese appeared to be +attempting some manoeuvre, the Espoir poured in another broadside, +which the Liguria returned; but on the Espoir tacking to fire her +opposite broadside, her opponent surrendered. + +The crew of the Liguria consisted, of one hundred and twenty men of +all nations, whilst that of the Espoir was but eighty men, of which +the master was killed, and six men wounded. + +Captain Bland died in 1810. + + + + +THE AJAX. + + +On the evening of the 14th of February, 1807, H.M. ship Ajax, 74 guns, +commanded by Captain the Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, lay at anchor off +the mouth of the Dardanelles, in company with the squadron of +Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth. The wind, which during the day had +been boisterous, was partially lulled, and in the clear moonlight +every object was visible with a distinctness almost equal to that of +day. + +The scene from the deck of the Ajax was one of surpassing beauty and +interest. The bright moonbeams rested on the waters, and left a +silvery track upon the waves. Ahead and astern, the lofty masts of the +squadron tapered darkly towards the sky, whilst the outline of every +rope and spar was sharply defined against the clear blue vault of +heaven. Every man in the ship, from the commander to the youngest boy, +could feel and understand this natural beauty; but there were many on +board the squadron who had still higher enjoyment, as they gazed on +those isles and shores which recalled the classic verse of Homer and +of Virgil. For them every island, cape, river, and mountain was +fraught with interest. There lay Tenedos, renowned of old; there the +mountain isle of Imbros stood out in bold relief from the snow-clad +summits of Samothracia. In the distance appeared Mount Ida, and at its +foot lay stretched the plains of Troy, o'er which the 'gulfy Simois' +wanders still as it did of old. There is Cape Sigaeum, and on it the +tomb of Patroclus, round which Achilles dragged the godlike Hector's +corpse; there, too, the ashes of Achilles repose near those of his +friend; and a little further north, on the Rhoetian promontory, is the +tomb of 'mighty Ajax.' Homer, Euripides, and Virgil have, it is true, +a very small share in the studies of a youthful sailor, as they do not +form an essential ingredient of a nautical education; but an English +gentleman, although his head be crammed with mathematics and +equations, always contrives to pick up enough of classic lore to +enable him thoroughly to enjoy such a scene as that we have attempted +to describe. He is much to be pitied who cannot appreciate such +enjoyment; but in these days, when the schoolmaster is aboard, and +when, by the wise liberality of the Government, our ships are +furnished with useful and interesting books, none need of necessity be +deprived of the exquisite pleasure which is to be derived from +visiting scenes which have been 'dignified either by wisdom, bravery, +or virtue.' We are constantly reminded that 'knowledge is power;' but +it might be well to impress upon youngsters, that '_knowledge_ is +enjoyment.' There is, indeed, no acquirement in literature or science +that will not at some time or other be productive of real pleasure. + +We have lingered on this subject longer than we should have done, for +we must now relate how soon the tranquillity of that fair scene was +disturbed--how for a time another light, redder and fiercer than that +of the moon, shone on the blue waters of the Hellespont. + +Soon after nine o'clock P.M., Captain Blackwood had received from his +first lieutenant the report of the safety of the Ajax, and all, except +the officers and men who were on duty, had retired to their berths. A +very short time, however, had elapsed, before the stillness of the +night was broken by the appalling cry of 'Fire!' It must be a fearful +sound to hear--the cry of 'Fire!' as awful as the voice of him who + + Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night, + And would have told him half his Troy was burned. + +The officer of the watch instantly informed Captain Blackwood of the +alarm. He hastened upon deck, and found too surely that flames were +bursting from the after-part. He gave orders to beat to quarters--to +fire the guns as signals of distress, and directed Lieutenant Wood and +a midshipman to proceed in one of the boats to all the ships of the +squadron to request assistance. + +These orders were promptly given, and promptly obeyed; but who can +enter fully into the feelings of Captain Blackwood at that awfully +critical moment. Here was his ship and six hundred men threatened with +immediate destruction, and each one of that six hundred looked to him +for direction and guidance. + +In order to inspire others with courage and confidence, he must +display decision in every look and gesture. Whatever others might do, +his lip must not tremble, nor his eyelid quiver--no look of +apprehension must be seen on his brow. He must stand forth calm and +undaunted--the recollection of tender ties and loving hearts might +wring his soul with agony, but these thoughts must be banished; the +safety of six hundred human beings depended, under God, on his +firmness and exertion, and every eye was directed to him in anxious +inquiry. When the ship's company had turned out, every man took his +station calmly and in obedience to orders. + +The captain, followed by several of his officers, went down to the +cockpit, from whence issued clouds of smoke. Every effort was made to +extinguish the flames in that part of the ship, but they increased so +rapidly, it soon became impossible for any one to remain below. +Several of the men who were throwing down water fell from suffocation +with the buckets in their hands. To give more air to the men so +employed, the lower-deck ports were hauled up; but this rather +increasing than diminishing the density of the smoke, they were closed +again, and the after-hatchway shut down. The carpenter's attempt to +scuttle the after-part of the ship was also ineffectual. + +Ten or fifteen minutes only had elapsed after the first alarm had been +given, before the flames raged with such fury, that it was impossible +to hoist out the boats; the jolly-boat had fortunately been lowered in +obedience to the captain's orders when he first went upon deck. As the +flames burst up the main-hatchway, dividing the fore from the +after-part of the ship, the captain ordered all hands to the +forecastle, and seeing that it was utterly beyond human power to +prevent the destruction of the vessel, he desired every man to provide +for his own safety. + + The silent plague through the green timber eats, + And vomits out a tardy flame by fits; + Down to the keels, and upwards to the sails, + The fire descends, or mounts, but still prevails; + Nor buckets pour'd, nor strength of human hand, + Can the victorious element withstand. + DRYDEN'S _AEneid, Book V_. + +The luckless ship was now wrapped in flames from amidships to +taffrail, and the scene of horror is beyond the powers of description. +Hundreds of human beings were assembled together on the forecastle, +bowsprit, and sprit-sail-yard. No boat had yet come to their +assistance. Their perilous situation had levelled all distinction of +rank; men and officers were huddled together, watching with despairing +hearts the progress of the fiery element, which threatened to hurry +them so quickly into eternity. Volumes of black smoke rose in huge +pillars from all parts of the ship, whilst far above the hissing and +crackling of the flames, as they ricked the masts and rigging, rose +the shrieks and death yells of the hapless men, who, unable to gain +the forecastle, had sought safety aloft, where the flames had now +reached them. + +Some, rather than endure the horrible suspense, trusted themselves to +the mercy of the waves, and by plunging overboard, ended their lives +and sufferings in a watery grave. Many, in their agony, fell on their +knees, imploring God for that help which they despaired of receiving +from mortal agency. Perhaps these men would not have thought of prayer +to heaven in face of a human foe, but now that the 'last enemy' glared +upon them in so fearful a shape, they felt compelled to fly to Him who +hath said, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble.' + +The booming of the guns, as they exploded, echoed far and wide over +the waters, and added to the horrors of that awful night. + +In the midst of his people stood the captain, endeavouring to sustain +their sinking spirits, and exhorting them to be firm and to depend +upon the boats which were now heaving in sight. He then bade them +farewell, and sprung into the sea; he breasted the waves for a length +of time, but his strength was nearly exhausted, when, happily, he was +seen, and picked up by one of the boats of the Canopus. + +As the boats from the squadron neared the Ajax, the agonizing fears of +the sufferers were changed into wild transports of joy; so sudden was +the transition from despair to hope, that many of the crew lost all +self-possession, and perished by jumping into the sea in their +impatience to reach the boats. + +Such details as these, showing the effects of fear upon untutored +minds, make us thankful that a great change for the better has been +effected within the last forty years with respect to the religious and +moral instruction of our sailors. + +Every ship's company is exposed to casualties similar to that which +befel the crew of the Ajax,--to shipwreck, fire, and sudden +destruction,--and no man will deny that in times of extreme peril, a +calm and composed mind is the greatest of blessings--the want of it, +the greatest misery. Few will be sceptical enough to deny, on the +other hand, that the best security for such composure, in a moment of +unforeseen danger, or of unlooked-for deliverance, is a firm and sure +trust that there is a God above, who 'ruleth over all;' whom the winds +and the sea obey, and who is 'mighty to save,' even in the hour of +man's direst extremity. To instil this knowledge and trust into the +hearts of our seamen, and by it to make them both better men, and +better sailors, should be the chief object of every improvement in +education. + +Lieut. Willoughby, of the St. George, had hastened in a cutter to +assist the crew of the Ajax, and he very soon rescued as many men as +his boat could carry. Numbers, however, were still surrounding him, +who, for the safety of those in the already overladen boat, were, with +much reluctance, left to their fate. Fortunately some launches and a +barge arrived in time to pick them up, and convey them to the +different ships of the squadron. + +The Ajax all this time was drifting towards the island of Tenedos, +with her stern and broadside alternately presented to the wind. The +humane exertions of Lieutenant Willoughby had been twice crowned with +success; his boat was, for the third time, nearly filled with people, +when he observed the Ajax round to, and that several men were hanging +by ropes under her head. He resolved, at all hazards, to rescue these +poor fellows before she again fell off. Dashing, therefore, towards +her, he succeeded in the first part of his object, but not until the +vessel was again before the wind, flames issuing from every part of +both hull and rigging, and with the cutter across her hawse. + +To extricate himself from this perilous situation was almost +impossible, for every moment increased the speed with which the Ajax +was surging through the water, and the sea thrown up from her bows +threatened his small boat with instant destruction. + +We will now take up the account as given by Marshall, in his _Naval +Biograghy_:[10] + +'Whilst the Ajax was propelling the cutter in the above alarming +manner, the flames reached the shank, painter, and stopper, of her +remaining bower anchor, and it fell from her bows, nearly effecting +the destruction of the boat at its first plunge into the water. The +cable caught her outer gunwale, over which it ran, apparently one +sheet of fire; orders, exertion, and presence of mind were now of no +avail. Death to all in the cutter appeared inevitable. The sole +alternative was either to be burned or drowned, for they were all too +much exhausted to be able to save themselves by swimming. + +'The boats at a distance saw that the cutter was enveloped in flames, +and therefore considered it impossible to assist her. All that +Lieutenant Willoughby and his companions could do while the cable was +running out and binding their boat more firmly to the ship, was to +keep the sparks and flames as much as possible from the uncovered +parts of their persons. Providentially, however, although the inner +portion of the cable had been burnt through, the anchor took the +ground, and gave the ship's head a check to windward, before the less +consumed part had entirely left the tier; and thus the very event +which had seemed to seal the doom of the cutter was in all respects +ordained by the Almighty for her preservation. The change in the +ship's position enabled the boat to get clear, but not before every +individual in her was more or less severely scorched, and the heat was +no longer endurable.' + +The wreck drifted on shore on the north side of the island of Tenedos, +where, at five o'clock in the morning, she blew up with an explosion +which might be felt on the adjacent shores of Europe and of Asia; and +all that remained of the Ajax were a few smoking spars, which rose to +the surface of the sea. + +Such was the fate of this noble ship, destroyed by a conflagration +more rapid than had ever been known, and of which the cause has never +been clearly ascertained. It appears, however, certain that, contrary +to orders, there had been a light in the bread-room; for when the +first lieutenant broke open the door of the surgeon's cabin, the after +bulk-head was already burnt down; and as the purser's steward, his +assistant, and the cooper, were among the missing, it is but +reasonable to suppose that the fire had been occasioned by their +negligence. + +'I trust,' says Captain Blackwood, in his defence before the court of +inquiry, 'that I shall be able to prove to the satisfaction of this +court, that I had instituted a regulation, which obliged the first +lieutenant, the warrant officers, and master at arms, in a body to +visit all the quarters, store-rooms, wings, &c, and report to me at +eight o'clock on their clearness and safety; and that I had also +received at nine o'clock the report of the marine officer of the +guard.' ... 'I trust this court will consider that in ordering the +first lieutenant and warrant officers to visit all parts of the ship, +whose report, as well as that of the master at arms, I had received at +a few minutes past eight o'clock, I had very fully provided for every +want, and might with perfect confidence have considered my ship in a +state of perfect safety with respect to fire.' + +Captain Blackwood, his surviving officers and men, were all most +honourably acquitted of any blame respecting the loss of the Ajax. + +Out of six hundred men, three hundred and fifty were saved by the +boats of the squadron; but two hundred and fifty perished that night +by fire or water. + +Amongst the lost were Lieutenants Reeve and Sibthorpe; Captain Boyd, +Royal Marines; Mr. Owen, surgeon; Mr. Donaldson, master; twenty-five +midshipmen; two merchants of Constantinople, and a Greek pilot. + +The melancholy fate of the gunner must not be passed over unnoticed. + +This poor man had two sons on board, whom he was bringing up to his +own profession. + +When the first alarm of fire was given, he had rushed below, and was +soon seen emerging from the smoke with one of the boys in his arms. + +He threw the lad into the sea and the jolly-boat picked him up; but +on going down for the other, the unfortunate father fell a victim to +his paternal affection, and either perished in the flames, or was +suffocated. + +Of three women who were on board, one saved herself by following her +husband down a rope from the jib-boom, and was received into a boat. + +Captain Blackwood served as a volunteer in the subsequent operations +of the squadron in forcing the passage of the Dardanelles, and his +services then were most highly spoken of in a letter from Sir J. +Duckworth to Lord Collingwood. He had distinguished himself on many +previous occasions. He was in the memorable action of 1st of June, +1794; and he commanded the Euryalus at the battle of Trafalgar. + +When Sir Henry Blackwood bade farewell to Nelson, on leaving the +Victory to repair on board his own ship, before the commencement of +the action, Lord Nelson said, with prophetic meaning, 'God bless you, +Blackwood; I shall never see you again.' + +In 1810, he commanded the inshore squadron off Toulon, and for his +gallant conduct on that station he received the thanks of the +commander-in-chief, Sir Charles Cotton. + +In 1814, Captain Blackwood was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral, +and in 1819 he was appointed commander-in-chief in the East Indies. + +He died a vice-admiral in 1832, and his name is enrolled among the +first class of naval heroes who have fought under the British flag. + +The memory of Blackwood is still held in veneration by the old +weather-beaten tars of the Nelsonian school. + +Lieutenant Willoughby, whom we have seen displaying so much gallantry +in his efforts to save the crew of the Ajax, entered the service in +the year 1790. + +Before big promotion to the rank of lieutenant, in the year 1798, he +distinguished himself on more than one occasion by that promptitude of +action for which his after career was so remarkable. + +In 1801, he served on board the Russel, at the battle of Copenhagen. +The gallant manner in which he boarded the Provestein block ship, +excited so much admiration, that the Russel's crew gave him three +cheers upon his return to the ship. We next find this young officer +performing a most important service when the French forces capitulated +at Cape Francois, St. Domingo, in 1803. + +He was at this period serving on board the Hercule, flag-ship to Sir +John Duckworth. According to the terms agreed upon, the French +men-of-war were to keep their colours hoisted until they got outside +of the harbour, when they were each to discharge a broadside in return +to a shot fired athwart their bows, by one of the British ships, and +then to make the usual signals of submission. + +The Clorinde frigate, in going out of the harbour, grounded under Fort +St. Joseph, at the moment when the launch of the Hercule, commanded by +Mr. Willoughby, was entering the harbour. When Mr. Willoughby saw the +critical position of the Clorinde, and the danger which menaced all on +board of her (for he knew that even if they succeeded in gaining the +shore, which was doubtful, no quarter would be given them by the +blacks), he pulled towards the frigate, and when he came alongside, he +proposed terms to General La Poyne (who was on board of her) by which +the safety of the crew would be secured. + +Mr. Willoughby promised, that if the frigate would hoist English +colours, he (Mr. Willoughby) would wait upon General Dessalines, and +demand that the British flag should be respected; and in the event of +the Clorinde going to pieces during the night, the crew and passengers +should be considered prisoners of war. + +General La Poyne readily accepted the proposed terms, and +accordingly, Mr. Willoughby proceeded to negotiate with General +Dessalines, who promised compliance with his request. + +The boats of the Hercule were sent to the assistance of the Clorinde, +and they succeeded in heaving her off. + +Thus by the timely exertions of this zealous young officer, some +hundreds of lives were saved, and the British navy obtained a frigate +which, for many years, was one of the finest of the 38-gun class. + +At the attack on Curacoa, in 1804, Mr. James relates, that for the +sake of encouraging his men, Mr. Willoughby used to take his meals +sitting in a chair upon the breast-work of a battery, while the earth +was ploughed up all around; and one man, we believe, was killed on the +spot; but still the table and chair, and the daring officer who sat +there, remained untouched. + +In the following year, the Hercule had captured a merchant schooner, +and one of the prisoners gave notice that a Spanish corvette of twenty +guns, was lying in St. Martha, South America. Mr. Willoughby thereupon +volunteered to attack her; and on the 4th of July, he took the command +of the prize, and parted company with his ship, accompanied by three +midshipmen and thirty volunteers. On the 6th, they entered the harbour +of St. Martha; Captain Samuel Roberts, then a midshipman, was at the +helm, with a check shirt on, his head covered with a French kerchief, +and his face blackened. The rest of the men were below, except a +black, and a mulatto. + +The schooner being well known, the deception was perfectly successful, +and she passed the batteries without interruption; but, to the +disappointment of all on board, no corvette was to be found. + +Mortified in the extreme, they put about, but not in time to escape +detection. The enemy had found out the trick that had been played upon +them; and the batteries from the island and harbour opened upon the +schooner a volley of no very gentle reproaches. However, she luckily +avoided the danger, and returned in safety to the Hercule, without +receiving a single shot. + +In 1807, Mr. Willoughby was appointed to the Royal George. We have +already alluded to his humane exertions to save the crew of the Ajax, +while the squadron was off the Dardanelles. He soon afterwards +received a severe wound whilst he was taking more thought for others' +safety than for his own. Upon the return of the squadron from +Constantinople, an attack was made upon a large building on the island +of Prota. + +Lieutenant Willoughby perceiving that three men were very much exposed +to the enemy's fire, called out to them, desiring them to stoop. At +that moment, he was himself struck by two pistol balls; one entered +his head, just above the right jaw, and took a slanting direction +upwards--and has never been extracted; the other shot cut his left +cheek in two; For some minutes he lay apparently lifeless, but +fortunately the movement of an arm indicated enough of life to awaken +hope in his companions; and they carried him on board the Royal +George. + +In 1808, he was promoted to the rank of commander, and appointed to +the Otter sloop, then employed in cruizing off the Isle of France. +Here he distinguished himself in cutting out some vessels under the +protection of the batteries of the Black River; and for his services +at the capture of St. Paul, he was appointed to the Xereide. + +In 1810, he made an attack upon Jacotel: he thought this a somewhat +dangerous enterprise; and, therefore, to inspire his men with more +than usual courage and ardour, he headed them himself, in full +uniform. After a desperate resistance on the part of the enemy, he +succeeded in spiking the guns of the fort, and taking prisoner the +commanding officer. For this service he was promoted to the rank of +captain. + +In the course of the same year, 1810, a musket burst in the hands of +one of the men, so near to the place where Captain Willoughby stood, +that his jaw was fractured, and the windpipe laid bare, so that his +life was despaired of. + +He had hardly recovered from this wound, before he was engaged in an +attack upon Port Louis, Isle de France. The disasters which befel the +squadron upon this occasion have now become a matter of history, and +they need not be recounted here,--suffice it to say, that Captain +Willoughby continued to keep up an unequal conflict until nearly all +on board the Nereide were either killed or wounded. Nor did he +surrender, although he had entirely lost one of his eyes, and the +other was much injured, 'until (to use the words of Vice-Admiral +Bertie) after a glorious resistance, almost unparalleled even in the +brilliant annals of the British navy,' + +Upon his return to England, Captain Willoughby had a pension of +550_l._ per annum awarded to him in consideration of his wounds. + +Having no immediate prospect of employment at home, he repaired to St. +Petersburg, and offered his services to the Czar. + +In his very first engagement in his new career, Captain Willoughby was +taken prisoner by the French.--falling a victim to his own generosity. +During the action, he saw two Prussian soldiers severely +wounded,--dismounting himself, and desiring his servant to do the +same, he placed the wounded men upon his own horses, and attended them +on foot. They were quickly overtaken by some French cavalry, and +Captain Willoughby was made prisoner. He was soon afterwards informed +that if he would sign a paper, pledging himself to hasten to France by +a certain route, he would be allowed to travel alone. + +He gladly consented to this; but to his astonishment, after signing +the required paper, he was ordered to march with the other prisoners. +In vain he protested against this breach of faith--he was obliged to +proceed. His sufferings from cold and hunger whilst crossing the +deserts of Russia and Poland were intense. After witnessing the +heartrending scenes of Moscow, he at length reached Mayence. Thence he +was removed to Metz, and he had scarcely reached the town, before an +order came for his confinement in the Chateau of Bouillon, where he +remained a close prisoner for nine months. He was then taken to +Peronne, and there he continued until the arrival of the Allies at +Chalons, when he contrived to make his escape. + +Soon after his arrival in England, Captain Willoughby received the +Order of the Bath,--an honour scarcely commensurate with the many and +valuable services he had performed for his country. It may safely be +asserted that no officer living has been engaged in so many +hard-fought actions, or has received so many dangerous wounds. From +his first entrance into the service, to the end of the late war, all +his energies were devoted to the service of his country; and now that +his services are no longer required, with a constitution shattered by +age and wounds, he is employing the remainder of his days in deeds of +charity and kindness towards his fellow-creatures. + +Captain Willoughby became admiral in 1847, and since the foregoing +pages were written, death has closed his eventful life. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] _Life of Sir Nisbet Willoughby_. + + + + +THE ANSON. + + +The year 1807 was most disastrous to the British navy: during that +period, we lost no less than twenty-nine ships of war, and, unhappily, +the greater part of their crews. Some of these vessels foundered at +sea, others were wrecked or accidentally burnt, and it was at the +close of this eventful year that a calamity occurred which equalled, +if it did not surpass, any previous disaster. + +The Anson, of 40 guns, under the command of Captain Charles Lydiard, +after completing her stores for a few months' cruise, sailed from +Falmouth on the 24th of December, to resume her station off Brest. The +wind was adverse, blowing very hard from the W.S.W., until the morning +of the 28th, when Captain Lydiard made the Island of Bas, on the +French coast. As the gale was increasing rather than subsiding, he +determined to return to port, and accordingly shaped his course for +the Lizard. At three o'clock P.M. land was discovered, apparently +about five miles west of the Lizard, but owing to the thickness of the +fog, there was a difference of opinion as to the land that was seen, +and therefore the ship was wore to stand out to sea. She had not been +long on this tack before land was descried right ahead. + +It was now evident that their position was extremely dangerous,--the +ship was completely embayed, and the wind raged with increasing fury. +Every exertion was made to keep the Anson off shore, but without +success, and it was not until she was fearfully near to the rocks that +she could be brought to an anchor, in twenty-five fathoms, with the +best bower anchor veered away to two cables' length. The top-gallant +masts were lowered upon deck, and in this state she rode from five +o'clock P.M., when she anchored, till four o'clock the next morning, +when the cable suddenly parted. During the night, the gale was +tremendous, and the sea ran mountains high; they had nothing now to +depend upon for the safety of the ship but a small bower anchor, which +was immediately let go, and this held until eight o'clock, when it +also parted. The ship was no longer an object of consideration; +Captain Lydiard felt that he had done his utmost to save her, but in +vain, and that now every energy must be put forth for the preservation +of human life. The tempest raged with such fury that no boat could +possibly come to their aid, nor could the strongest swimmer hope to +gain the shore. It appeared to Captain Lydiard that the only chance of +escape for any of the crew was in running the ship as near the coast +as possible. He gave the necessary orders, and the master run the +vessel on the sand which forms the bar between the Loe Pool and the +sea, about three miles from Helstone. The tide had been ebbing nearly +an hour when she took the ground, and she broached to, leaving her +broadside heeling over, and facing the beach. + +The scene of horror and confusion which ensued on, the Anson striking +against the ground, was one which baffles all description. Many of the +men were washed away by the tremendous sea which swept over the deck; +many others were killed by the falling of the spars, the crashing +sound of which, as they fell from aloft, mingled with the shrieks of +the women on board, was heard even amidst the roar of the waters and +the howling of the winds. The coast was lined with crowds of +spectators, who watched with an intense and painful interest the +gradual approach of the ill-fated vessel towards the shore, and +witnessed the subsequent melancholy catastrophe. + +Calm and undaunted amidst the terrors of the scene, Captain Lydiard +is described as displacing in a remarkable degree that self-possession +and passive heroism, which has been so often the proud characteristic +of the commander of a British ship of war under similar harassing +circumstances. Notwithstanding the confusion of the scene, his voice +was heard, and his orders were obeyed with that habitual deference +which, even in danger and in death, an English seaman rarely foils to +accord to his commanding officer. + +He was the first to restore order, to assist the wounded, to encourage +the timid, and to revive expiring hope. Most providentially, when the +vessel struck, the mainmast, in falling overboard, served to form a +communication between the ship and the shore, and Captain Lydiard was +the first to point out this circumstance to the crew. Clinging with +his arm to the wheel of the rudder, in order to prevent his being +washed overboard by the waves, he continued to encourage one after +another as they made the perilous attempt to reach the shore. It was +fated that this gallant officer should not enjoy in this world the +reward of his humanity and his heroism. After watching with +thankfulness the escape of many of his men, and having seen with honor +many others washed off the mast, in their attempts to reach the land, +he was about to undertake the dangerous passage himself, when he was +attracted by the cries of a person seemingly in an agony of terror. +The brave man did not hesitate for a moment, but turned and made his +way to the place whence the cries proceeded; there he found a boy, a +protege of his own, whom he had entered on board the Anson only a few +months before, clinging in despair to a part of the wreck, and without +either strength or courage to make the least effort for his own +preservation. Captain Lydiard's resolution was instantly taken,--he +would save the lad, if possible, though he might himself perish in the +attempt. He threw one arm round the boy, whilst he cheered him by +words of kind encouragement, with the other arm he clung to the spars +and mast to support himself and his burthen. But the struggle did not +last long; nature was exhausted by the mental and physical sufferings +he had endured; he lost his hold, not of the boy, but of the mast, the +wild waves swept over them, and they perished together. + +It must not be supposed that the people on the shore were unconcerned +spectators of the fearful tragedy that was enacted before their eyes. +British fishermen are proverbial for their daring and intrepidity. +Inured from childhood to the dangers and hardships attendant on their +perilous calling, with very few exceptions our fishermen have always +been ready to succour the wrecked and tempest-tossed mariner. There is +not, we believe, a fishing village between the Land's End and the +Orkneys, that cannot produce its true _heroes_--men who have risked, +and are willing again to risk, their own lives to save others. Our +fisheries are the best nurseries for our navy. Englishmen may be +justly proud of the boatmen, from amongst whom spring those 'hearts of +oak' which have so long rendered our fleets pre-eminent over those of +every other country in the world. But, besides the generous +disposition to assist any perishing fellow creature, there were in +this instance more powerful motives to exert every effort to save the +crew of the Anson. This ship had been stationed for some time at or +near Falmouth, so that acquaintances, friendships, and still dearer +ties, had been formed between the inhabitants of the neighbouring +towns and villages, and the people of the unfortunate vessel. But a +few days before they had witnessed a far different scene, when she +left their shores in all the pride of a well-ordered and +well-disciplined man-of-war, amidst the shouts, and cheers, and +blessings of the multitude, who now beheld her lying within a few +fathoms of them a helpless wreck, her masts gone, her bulwarks broken +in, the waves sweeping over her, and breaking up her timbers. + +The surf ran so high, it was impossible that any boat could reach the +wreck. The life-boat, in 1807, had not been brought to the state of +perfection it has attained in our day; and the many inventions which +science and art have since introduced for the preservation of life, +were for the most part unknown in the times of which we are now +writing. + +Several men attempted to swim to the ship, but without success; they +were all, one after another, cast back exhausted upon the beach, and +many of them without sense or motion. At last, when there seemed no +hope left of affording aid to the sufferers, Mr. Roberts, of Helstone, +seized hold of a rope, and boldly struck out in the direction of the +Anson. He was a powerful swimmer, and his courageous efforts were +watched from the shore and from the wreck with intense interest, and +many a heartfelt prayer was breathed for his safety and success. +Tossed on the foaming waters, at one moment lost to sight, and almost +suffocated in the spray, and at another rising on the top of a huge +wave, he at last reached the ship, and was hailed as a deliverer by +those who were still clinging to the spars and rigging. The rope which +Mr. Roberts had taken with him was made fast to the wreck, and this +formed a communication with the shore, by which many a poor wretch was +saved who must otherwise have perished. + +Another instance of heroic self-devotion was exhibited by a Methodist +preacher, a little later in the day, when, as no one appeared on the +ship's side, it was supposed that every one had either come on shore, +or had been drowned; but this brave and good mail thought that there +might be some still left on board who were unable to make an effort to +save themselves, and, under this impression, he ventured his life +through the surf, followed by a few other daring spirits like himself. +With great difficulty they gained the wreck, where, as they had +anticipated, they found several persons lying below, all too much +exhausted to get upon deck. Some, in terror and despair, called upon +God for mercy; others, in hopeful trust, seemed resigned to their +fate; and others were so weak as to be indifferent to the horrors +around them. Two women and two children were of the number. The +preacher and his gallant comrades had the happiness of saving the +women and some of the men, but the children were lost. + +Sixty men, amongst whom were Captain Lydiard and his first-lieutenant, +perished in the wreck of the Anson. The survivors of the crew were +conveyed to Helstone, where they received every attention and kindness +which their unfortunate condition required. The body of Captain +Lydiard, which was washed on shore, was interred at Falmouth with +military honours. + + +We feel assured that the following particulars of the life of Captain +Lydiard will not be unacceptable to the reader. + +He entered the navy in the year 1780, in the flag-ship of Admiral +Darby, who then commanded the channel fleet, and from that time served +as a midshipman under several commanders on various stations, both at +home and abroad, during thirteen years. In 1794, he was appointed a +lieutenant of the Captain, of 74 guns, in which ship he served in two +general engagements in the Mediterranean. In July of the following +year he removed to the Southampton frigate, commanded by Captain +Shields, and afterwards by Captain Macnamara. + +On the evening of the 9th of June, 1796, the Southampton was stationed +with the fleet under Sir John Jervis, off Toulon, when a French cruizer +was discovered working up to Hieres Bay. The commander-in-chief called +the captain of the Southampton on board the Victory, and pointing out +the ship, directed him to make a dash at her through the Grand Pas. +Accordingly, the Southampton weighed, and, in order to delude the +French into the supposition that the ship was either a neutral or a +French frigate, hauled up under easy sail close to the batteries at the +north-east of Porquerol. The stratagem succeeded; for before the enemy +were aware of the approach of the Southampton, the ship was alongside +of the French cruizer. Captain Macnamara cautioned her commander not to +make a fruitless resistance; but he replied by snapping his pistol, and +pouring in a broadside. In a moment, the English boarded, led on by +Lieutenant Lydiard, with an impetuosity that nothing could withstand. +After ten minutes' spirited resistance on the part of the French +captain and a hundred of his men under arms, the 'Utile' surrendered, +but not before the death of her gallant commander, who fell at the +beginning of the onset. + +Lydiard was instantly promoted, and appointed to the command of the +ship he had so gallantly captured. In the year 1801, he was advanced +to the rank of post-captain, and though frequently soliciting +employment did not succeed in obtaining a command until 1805, when he +was appointed to the Anson. + +These pages will not admit of our recounting the many instances in +which this officer's gallantry was conspicuous. Before concluding, +however, we cannot refrain from laying before our readers the +following account of the last enterprise in which Captain Lydiard was +engaged, and which is related by his biographer in _The Naval +Chronicle_.[11] + +'No sooner had the Anson been refitted, than she was again selected, +with three other frigates, under the command of Captain Brisbane (as +Commodore), of the Arethusa, to reconnoitre, and, if possible, to +sound the minds of the inhabitants of Curacoa upon the suggestion of +an alliance with this country; but the gallant Brisbane, and his +equally gallant partner in this expedition, soon formed a plan for +curtailing this mode of proceeding, and determined, at all risks, by a +_coup de main_, either to capture the island, or to perish in the +attempt. + +'With this resolution, having arranged their plan of attack, they +proceeded in their course for the island, and they reached the +entrance of the harbour just at the dawn of day, on the 1st of +January, 1807. + +'In order to inform the reader, who may not be acquainted with the +amazing strength of Curacoa on the sea face, we will give some account +of the difficulties which they had to contend with; and, at the same +time, shall avail ourselves of such statements of the facts as the +different official and other communications upon the subject will +furnish us with. + +'The harbour was defended by regular fortifications of two tier of +guns. Fort Amsterdam alone mounting sixty-six pieces of cannon; the +entrance only fifty yards wide, and so circumstanced, that it is +impossible for a ship to return by the same wind that takes it in. +Athwart the entrance of the harbour was the Dutch frigate Kenaw +Hatslam, of 36 guns, and the Surinam, of 22 guns, with two large +schooners of war; a chain of forts was on Mesleberg heights, and that +almost impregnable fortress, Fort Republique, within the distance of +grape-shot, enfilading the whole harbour. The cool determined bravery +of British seamen perceives obstacles only to surmount them; and with +this determination the squadron entered the harbour, the Arethusa, +Captain Brisbane, leading, followed in close line by the Latona, +Captain Wood; Anson, Captain Lydiard; and Fisguard, Captain Bolton. + +'When the headmost ship got round the point of the harbour's mouth, +the wind became so unfavourable that she could not fetch in; but to +return was impossible--it was too late. What a trying moment! At that +instant, however, there came on a squall, in which the wind shifted +two points in their favour, and they proceeded close together. + +'The enemy were panic-struck at such unexpected gallantry, and all was +confusion. A severe and destructive cannonade now commenced, and the +Dutch frigate was boarded by Captain Brisbane, when the Latona +instantly warped alongside and took possession, and Captain Brisbane +proceeded to the shore. The Surinam was boarded from the larboard bow +of the Anson, while her starboard guns were firing at the batteries; +and Captain Lydiard, upon securing the Surinam, went immediately on +shore, and landed at the same moment with Captain Brisbane. +Immediately debarking their respective officers and ship's companies, +they proceeded to storm the forts, citadel, and town, which were by +seven o'clock completely in their possession, and at ten o'clock the +British flag was hoisted on Fort Republique. Captains Brisbane and +Lydiard were the first upon the walls of Fort Amsterdam. Indeed, too +much cannot be said in praise of the almost unparalleled bravery +displayed by the officers and men of all the ships on this occasion. +It may be truly said to be 'perfectly in union with everything +glorious in the past, and an example of everything glorious to the +future.'' + +The same year that opened so brilliantly upon the career of Captain +Lydiard, witnessed, at its close, the total destruction of the Anson, +and the untimely fate of her brave commander. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[11] Vol. xix., p. 449. + + + + +THE BOREAS. + + +In the afternoon of the 21st of November, 1807, the Boreas, of 22 +guns, Captain George Scott, proceeded in search of a pilot-boat, which +had been blown off the coast of Guernsey in a gale of wind. + +This boat was picked up and taken in tow, when about six o'clock P.M. +it was discovered that the ship was near the Hannois rocks, about two +miles to the south-west of Guernsey. Orders were immediately given by +the pilot to put the helm down, but whilst in stays, the ship struck +on the larboard bow; and although every exertion was made to get her +off, it was found impossible to do so. The point of a rock was +reported to be through the well, rendering the pumps useless. The ship +then heeled on her larboard broadside, and the captain gave orders to +cut away the masts. + +The moment the ship struck, the pilots basely deserted her, and made +off in their own boat, without even offering assistance to those who +had encountered this danger and disaster in their service. Had the +pilots returned to Rocquaine, only two miles distant, they might have +procured aid for the Boreas, and preserved the lives of her crew. +When Captain Scott was convinced that there was no chance of saving +his ship, he ordered an allowance of spirits to be served round, and +the gig, the launch, and cutter to be prepared for lowering. + +The gig, with Lieutenant Bewick, a lieutenant of marines, and six men, +was sent to give information, and obtain assistance. The launch, with +the gunner, and some others, was ordered to take on board the sick, +and land them at Hannois Point, and then to return to the ship; and +the cutter, with the boatswain, and a few men, was despatched on the +same service. Captain Scott, with noble intrepidity, remained to share +the fate of his vessel. + +The launch, under the orders of the gunner, succeeded in reaching the +Hannois Rocks, as did also the cutter; but the greater part of the +crew of the launch abandoned her as soon as they touched the land. In +vain did the gunner use every persuasion to induce the men to return +with him to the assistance of their comrades who were left on board +the Boreas; they were deaf to his entreaties, and he was obliged to +put off again with only four men. The wind and tide were so strong, +and so much against them, that the utmost exertion was necessary to +enable them to make their way towards the ship, and when they got +within two hundred yards of the back of the rocks, the launch was half +filled with water. They then tried to make the land again; but before +they could reach it the boat was swamped, and the men were saved with +difficulty by Mr. Simpson, the boatswain, in the cutter. There is +little doubt that if the launch had not been deserted by the greater +part of her crew, she might have reached the Boreas, and have saved +many valuable lives. And here, in justice to the majority of the +ship's company, we must observe, that those who manned the launch were +chiefly smugglers and privateer's men lately impressed, and were not +to be considered as part of the regular crew of the ship. + +In addition to the boats we have already mentioned as having left the +ship, was a small cutter, (containing two midshipmen, of the names of +Luttrell and Hemmings, and two men,) which was lowered into the sea by +order of the first lieutenant, whose humanity induced him to take this +expedient for saving the lives of the two boys. The current was so +strong that in a few moments the cutter drifted away from the ship, +but the generous feelings of the boys forbade them to desert their +comrades in distress, and with great exertion they pulled back to the +vessel; they called for a rope, but were ordered to keep off, and +again their little boat was carried away by the current. Once more +they attempted to get back, but their strength was unequal to the +task, and they were carried out into the open sea. Their situation was +in many respects little better than that of the friends whom they had +left upon the wreck,--the night was pitch dark, the boat had neither +mast nor sail, and the sea ran so high that they could do nothing with +the oars. Every now and then the flash of a gun, seen across the black +distance, told them that the Boreas still held together, and that she +was making signals of distress; but no sound reached their ears save +the roar of the winds and the waves. Even the booming of the guns was +lost in that dismal roar. + +The little party scarcely expected to survive the night; they were +drenched to the skin, and suffering intensely from the cold; the waves +broke over the bows of their frail boat, and threatened each minute to +overwhelm it; but their brave hearts did not sink in utter despair; +they did their utmost to keep themselves afloat, by incessantly baling +out the water with their hats and hands. They thought the night would +never end, and that they should never see the morrow; but day dawned +upon them at last, and then with what anxious eyes did they sweep the +horizon. But in vain they looked; not a sail was to be seen. An hour +passed away; they shipped such a quantity of water that their +imperfect attempts to bale it out were almost useless. The boat sank +deeper and deeper, and their hearts sank too. Suddenly a ship hove in +sight, and she seemed to be bearing towards them. Hope and fear +struggled for the mastery in their breasts; hope urged them to renewed +efforts to keep themselves from sinking, whilst, in breathless +anxiety, they watched the vessel. She came nearer and nearer; the +watchers felt sure they were perceived; then a boat was lowered, and +they thanked God for their deliverance. In a few minutes they were +received on board H.M. ship Thalia, more dead than alive, after so +many hours' endurance of cold, hunger, and dismay. + +We must now return to Captain Scott and his companions on the wreck. +The men were mustered by the officers on the quarter-deck; they +numbered ninety-five or ninety-seven, and they had been all actively +employed in making rafts, and lashing together spars and other +materials, by which they hoped to save themselves, in the event of the +ship going to pieces before assistance should arrive. Hour after hour +passed away, and no help came; by the noise of the vessel grinding +against the rocks they knew that she could not hold together much +longer. Captain Scott continued to issue his commands with coolness +and decision, and they were promptly obeyed by both officers and men. +About four o'clock in the morning, the quarter-deck being no longer +tenable, all the crew were obliged to betake themselves to the main +and mizen chains. They had already suffered severely from the cold, +but they had now to endure it in greater intensity. In their exposed +situation the waves frequently washed entirely over them, and their +limbs were so benumbed with cold that it was with the utmost +difficulty they could hold on to the wreck, so as to save themselves +from being swept into the abyss of waters that seemed yawning to +receive them. By degrees, even the cries and the complaints of the +sufferers became hushed: not a word was spoken; in awful silence they +listened to the groaning of the timbers, and the sullen roar of the +waves dashing against the rocks. + +In this state they had remained another hour, when a hollow sound was +heard below them; still they spoke not a word, for from the captain to +the youngest boy, every one knew what that sound foretold, and that +the last struggle was at hand,--for many, the last hour of existence. +Then a universal tremor was felt through the wreck, and the boldest +heart responded to that shudder. The very timbers seemed to dread +their impending doom: with a mighty crash they yielded to the force of +the waves; for a moment the ship righted, and then sank beneath the +foaming waters. + +The pen is powerless when we attempt to describe an event like this, +for we cannot penetrate into the secret recesses of the heart, nor can +we delineate the agonies of conscience which too often increase the +anguish of such scenes, when the near approach of death unveils to +men, truths they have been unwilling to learn or to believe. Many a +cry for pardon and mercy is raised in the hour of shipwreck, from lips +that never prayed before. The best and bravest then bow their heads in +awe, however well they may be prepared for the dangers that are +incident to their profession; and though from childhood 'these men see +the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep,' yet it must be +an appalling moment when the plank they have been wont to tread in +calm security, is torn from beneath their feet, and they are left as +helpless as infants, to be the sport of the wild billows! + +The moment the vessel sunk, many of the men struck out for the plank +nearest to them; a few of the strongest and best swimmers gained the +raft, but others who were benumbed with cold, or otherwise unable to +swim, perished immediately. The quarter-master was one of those who +reached the raft, and he found the captain, the doctor, and some +others, already upon it. Captain Scott was so much exhausted by the +mental and bodily sufferings he had endured, that the doctor and the +quarter-master were obliged to support him on the raft. He became +gradually weaker, and lingered but a short time ere he expired in +their arms; and a few minutes afterwards a huge wave swept over the +raft, and bore with it the body of the lamented commander of the +Boreas. About eight o'clock in the morning, a number of boats put out +from Guernsey to the relief of the survivors, and carried them safely +on shore. + +We have already mentioned the cowardly and inhuman conduct of the +pilots in deserting the Boreas, and it is also a matter of surprise, +that although twenty guns were fired as signals, and several rockets +and blue lights burned, no help of any kind was sent from the shore +till the next morning. One of the witnesses on the court-martial +affirmed, that a pilot on shore had heard the guns firing, and had +inquired of a soldier on guard whether it was an English or French +man-of-war! On the soldier replying that he thought it was an English +vessel, the man refused to put to sea, saying, by way of excuse, that +'it blew too hard.' + +Through the exertions of Lieut. Colonel Sir Thomas Saumarez, about +thirty seamen and marines were taken off the rocks of the Hannois at +daylight, making the entire number saved about sixty-eight; whilst the +loss amounted to one hundred and twenty-seven. + +The following is an extract from the dispatch of Vice-Admiral Sir +James Saumarez:--'The greatest praise appears due to Captain Scott and +his officers and men, under such perilous circumstances--in a dark and +tempestuous night, in the midst of the most dangerous rocks that can +be conceived, and I have most sincerely to lament the loss of so many +brave officers and men, who have perished on this melancholy occasion. + +'Captain Scott has been long upon this station, and has always shown +the greatest zeal and attachment to his Majesty's service, and in him +particularly his country meets a great loss, being a most valuable and +deserving officer.' + + + + +THE HIRONDELLE. + + +The Hirondelle, a 14-gun brig, had been originally a French privateer. +She was taken by the boats of the Tartar in the year 1804, when +attempting to escape from that vessel through a narrow and intricate +channel between the islands of Saona and St. Domingo. The Tartar +finding from the depth of the water that she could not come up with +the schooner, despatched three of her boats under the command of +Lieutenant Henry Muller, assisted by Lieutenant Nicholas Lockyer and +several midshipmen, all volunteers, to endeavour to bring her out. The +instant the boats put off, the Hirondelle hoisted her colours, fired a +gun, and warped her broadside towards them. As they advanced, the +privateer opened a fire from her great guns, and as they drew nearer, +from her small arms also. In spite of this, and of a strong breeze +directly on the bows of the boats, Lieutenant Muller intrepidly pulled +up to the privateer, and after a short but obstinate resistance, he +boarded and carried her, with the loss only of one seaman, and one +marine wounded.'[12] + +Such was the first introduction of the Hirondelle into the British +navy. Her career in it was of short duration, and its conclusion +fearfully sudden and disastrous, as the following account, given by +the survivors, will show. + +On the 22nd of February, 1808, the Hirondelle, commanded by Lieutenant +Joseph Kidd, sailed from Malta, bound to Tunis, with dispatches on +board. On Wednesday evening they steered a course towards Cape Bon, +but unfortunately they got within the action of the strong current +that sets eastward along the Barbary Coast, so that, instead of making +the Cape as she intended, the brig fell some few leagues short of it +to the eastward, and run aground. As soon as the alarm was given, all +hands were turned up; the night was so dark it was impossible to +ascertain the exact position of the ship, but they distinctly heard +the breakers on the shore. Every effort was made to bring the vessel +up, by endeavouring to anchor, but without effect; while this was +going on, the cutter had been manned with ten or twelve men, and she +might have been the means of saving many lives, but she was no sooner +lowered, than the people rushed into her in such numbers that she was +almost immediately swamped, and all who were on board her perished, +except one man, who regained the deck of the Hirondelle. The commander +now saw that the loss of his ship was inevitable, and he therefore +desired his crew to provide for their own safety. The order was +scarcely uttered, no one had had time to act upon it, when suddenly +the brig gave a lurch and went down; the sea washed over her, and of +all her men, four only were left to tell the sad tale. Happily for +them they were clinging to the wreck, and so escaped the fate of their +companions who were swept overboard; and by aid of some of the spars +they succeeded in gaining the shore. + +This account is necessarily brief: so short a time elapsed between the +unexpected striking of the ship and her going to pieces, that there is +no incident to relate. The commander and officers of the Hirondelle +seem to have done all in their power to extricate her from her +unfortunate position; indeed, it would appear that had they attended +less anxiously to the preservation of the ship, many lives might have +been saved. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] James's _Naval History_. + + + + +BANTERER. + + +His Majesty's ship Banterer, of 22 guns, under the command of Captain +Alexander Shephard, was lost on the 29th October, 1808, between Port +Neuf and Point Mille Vache, in the River St. Lawrence, whilst in the +execution of orders, which Captain Shephard had received from Sir John +Borlase Warren, directing him to proceed to Quebec, with all possible +despatch, to take a convoy to England. + +The following is the account of this disastrous affair, as given by +Captain Shephard:-- + +'Being as far as the Island of Bie in pursuance of orders, through +rather an intricate navigation, with foul winds the greater part of +the time, where the charge of the ship devolved upon myself, and the +only chart I could procure of the navigation in question being on a +very small scale, I felt myself relieved from much anxiety by +receiving a branch pilot on board on the 28th October last, on which +night at eight P.M. we passed between that island and the south shore, +with the wind north by west, and very fine weather; at nine, the wind +coming more round to the westward, we tacked for the north shore, in +order, as the pilot said, not only to be ready to avail himself of the +prevailing northerly winds in the morning, but because the current was +there more in our favour. At midnight we tacked to the southward, and +at two A.M. again laid her head to the northward; and at four A.M. the +pilot having expressed a wish to go about, the helm was accordingly +put down, and on rising tacks and sheet, it was discovered that the +ship was aground. As we had then a light breeze at west, the sails +were all laid aback, the land being in sight from the starboard-beam, +apparently at some distance, I immediately ordered the master to sound +round the ship, and finding that the shoal lay on the starboard +quarter and astern, ordered the sails to be furled, the boats hoisted +out, the stream anchor and cable to be got into the launch, and the +boats to tow her out two cables' length, south-west from the ship, +where we found the deepest water; but by this time the wind had +suddenly increased to such a degree that the boats could not row +ahead, and latterly having lost our ground, we were obliged to let +the anchor go in fifteen fathoms, about a cable's length W.S.W. from +the ship, on which, having got the end of the cable on board, we hove +occasionally as the flood made, and in the meantime got our spare +topmasts over the side, with the intention of making a raft to carry +out a bower anchor should it moderate; but the intense cold, and the +still increasing gale rendered it impossible. + +'About half-past eleven A.M. the stream cable being then taut ahead, +the wind W.S.W., with a very heavy sea, the ship canted suddenly with +her head to the southward, where we had deep water; we immediately set +our courses, jib and driver, and for some time had the must sanguine +hopes of getting her off, but were unfortunately disappointed, and as +the ebb made we were obliged again to furl sails. + +'As the ship was then striking very hard, with a heavy sea breaking +over her in a body, we cut away the topmasts, not only to ease her, +but to prevent their falling upon deck; we also endeavoured to shore +up the ship, but the motion was so violent that four and six parts of +a five-inch hawser were repeatedly snapped, with which we were lashing +the topmasts as shores, through the main-deck ports. At about eight +P.M., fearing the inevitable loss of the ship, as the water was then +gaining on the pumps, I availed myself of the first favourable moment +to land the sick, and a party of marines and boys with some +provisions,--this could only be effected at a certain time of tide, +even with the wind off shore,--and employed those on board in getting +upon deck what bread and other provisions could be come at. + +'Though the water was still gaining on the pumps as the flood made, +the wind coming more round to the northward, we again set our +foresail, but without the desired effect. As the stream anchor had, +however, come home, the wind was too doubtful to attempt to lighten +the ship. + +'On the morning of the 30th, it being moderate, with the wind off +shore, we hove our guns, shot, and everything that could lighten the +ship, overboard, reserving two on the forecastle for signals. As the +flood made, we again set what sail we could, and hove on the stream +cable,--though, with all hands at the pumps, we found the water +increase in the hold as it flowed alongside; and it was the prevailing +opinion that the ship would have foundered if got off. Being now +convinced, from concurring circumstances, as well as the repeated +representations of the carpenter, that the ship could not swim, the +water having flowed above the orlop deck, and much sand coming up with +the pumps, we desisted from further attempts to get her off the shoal, +and continued getting such stores and provisions as we could upon +deck. + +'Towards the afternoon, the wind again increasing from the W.S.W., and +the water being on the lower deck, I judged it proper to send some +provisions, with such men as could be best spared, on shore, that, in +the event of the ship going to pieces, which was expected, the boats +might be the better able to save those remaining on board; and on the +morning of the 31st, conceiving every further effort for the +preservation of the ship unavailing, it then blowing strong, with +every appearance of increasing, I felt myself called on, by humanity +as well as duty to my country, to use every effort in saving the lives +of the people intrusted to my care, and accordingly directed the boats +to land as many of them as possible, keeping the senior lieutenant and +a few others on board with me. + +'The whole of this day there was little prospect of saving those who +remained with the wreck, as the surf was so great that the boats could +not return to us; several guns were fired, to point to those on shore +our hopeless situation, and stimulate them to use every possible +effort to come to our relief; but they could not effect it, +notwithstanding every exertion on their part, which we were most +anxiously observing. As the only means which then occurred to me of +saving the people on board, I directed a raft to be made with the +spars left on the booms, which was accomplished, with much difficulty, +in about six hours; the sea then breaking over the ship with great +violence, and freezing as it fell with such severity, that even the +alternative adopted presented little prospect of saving any one left +on the wreck. During this state of awful suspense, we had every reason +to think that the ship was completely bilged, and were apprehensive, +from the steepness of the bank, that she would fall with her decks to +the lee, as the ebb made, in which case all on board must have +inevitably perished. + +'About half-past eleven P.M., the barge came off; and as the lives of +the people were now the primary consideration, I sent as many of them +on shore by her as possible, as well as by the launch, when she was +able to come off; and at two A.M., on the 1st November, having +previously succeeded in sending every other person on shore, I left +the ship with regret, in the jolly boat, and landed, with some +difficulty, through the surf. About eight A.M., the same morning, I +attempted to go off in the barge to save as much provisions and stores +as possible, but found it impracticable, as the boat was nearly +swamped. All this and the succeeding day, the gale continuing, we +could not launch the boats, and were employed carrying such provisions +and stores as were saved, to some empty houses which were discovered +about six miles to the eastward of where we landed. Finding that with +all our exertions we had only been able to save three days' bread, the +officers and crew were put upon half allowances, with the melancholy +prospect of starving in the woods. + +'On Thursday, the 3rd November, the weather moderating, we launched +the boats before daylight, and dispatched the jolly boat, with the +purser, to a village called Trois Pistoles, about forty-five miles +distant, on the opposite side of the river, that he might find his way +to Quebec, to procure us assistance and relief, there being no +possibility of communicating with any inhabited quarter from where we +were but by water. + +'During our stay near the wreck, we had repeated gales of wind, both +to the eastward and westward; and so violent, and with so much sea, +that the mizenmast was thrown overboard, all the upper deck beams +broken, and the ship's bottom beaten out. + +'We embraced every intervening opportunity of going off to save stores +by scuttling the decks, which were covered with ice, the ship on her +broadside, and the water flowing over the quarter-deck. On these +occasions we were generally away ten or twelve hours, exposed to the +wet and cold, without nourishment; from which, and fatigue, I had to +lament seeing the people every day become more sickly, and many of +them frost-bitten from the severity of the weather. By the +indefatigable exertions of the officers and crew, we succeeded in +saving all our spare sails, cables, and stores, to a considerable +amount; though the cables were frozen so hard, that we were obliged to +cut and saw them as junk. + +'On the 7th, I again sent a boat with the second lieutenant, to Trois +Pistoles, in the hope of procuring, if possible, some temporary +supplies; but the wind increasing to a violent gale from the eastward, +with a heavy fall of snow, they got frozen up on the opposite shore, +and did not return till the 12th, having then only procured three +hundred weight of flour, a few potatoes, and some beef--two men having +deserted from the boat. + +'At this period, I had a respectful request made me from the people, +to be allowed to go to Trois Pistoles, that they might shift for +themselves whilst the weather would admit of it, dreading the +consequences of remaining longer where we were; but out boats would +not have carried above one-third, and I conceived the public service +would have suffered from allowing them to separate. We had, also, +several desertions--in consequence, I believe, of hunger, and the +melancholy prospect before them; two of the deserters were brought +back, and one returned delirious, after five days' absence, with his +feet in a state of gangrene, having had only one small cake to eat +during that time. Those still missing must have perished in the woods, +from the accounts of the men who were brought back. + +'On Sunday, the 20th November, we were relieved from the most painful +state of anxiety by the arrival of a small schooner, with a +fortnight's provisions, from Quebec, and information that a transport +had been procured, and was equipping for us, which nothing but the ice +setting in would prevent coming down; and on the 24th I had the +satisfaction of receiving a letter by the government schooner, +announcing a further supply of provisions, with some blankets for the +people; it, however, then blew so hard, with a heavy fall of snow, +that she was obliged to take shelter under Bie. On the 25th the +schooner returned, when we embarked, and were carried to the opposite +side of the river, where the transport was expected,--the pilot +conceiving it unsafe to bring the ship nearer to us at that season of +the year.' + +'Captain Shephard concludes his narrative in paying the following +tribute to the discipline and good conduct of his crew:-- + +In justice to the officers and crew, it now becomes my duty, and a +very pleasing part thereof, to bear testimony to the particular +perseverance with which they bore the cold, hunger, and fatigue, +whilst endeavouring to save the ship; and when that idea was given up, +in saving the stores with the dire prospect before them of being cut +off from all supplies had the winter set in, the ice rendering all +communication impracticable during that season of the year.' + +The sufferings and privations endured by the officers and crew of the +Banterer, during such trying circumstances, have been ably described +in the above narrative of Captain Shephard. From the 29th of October, +to the 24th of November, a period of twenty-seven days, these men, +with little hopes of succour, had borne, with almost unexampled +fortitude, not only hunger and cold, but, to use the words of the +surgeon, 'a considerable number of the crew were affected with +inflammation of the extremities, which in nearly twenty cases produced +partial mortification, and one extensive gangrene on both feet, +attended with delirium and other dangerous symptoms.' + +Captain Shephard died, as rear-admiral, in 1841. + + + + +THE CRESCENT. + + +His Majesty's Ship Crescent, of 36 guns, Captain John Temple, sailed +from Yarmouth about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 29th of +November, 1808, for Gottenburg. When she left Yarmouth, the wind blew +fresh from the south-west, and it continued favourable till the +following afternoon, when the weather became overcast, and the wind +increased to a gale. The vessel proceeded on her course for some days, +and at daylight, on the 5th of December, the coast of Norway was +discernible from the deck. At one o'clock, P.M., they sounded in +twenty-five fathoms, on the coast of Jutland; an hour later they +sounded in eighteen fathoms, and at three o'clock they were in +thirteen fathoms. The pilots in charge of the Crescent requested the +master to inform Captain Temple that they desired that the ship should +be hove to, with her head to the southward, and the topsails close +reefed. The advice of the pilots was immediately acted upon, and they +at the same time assured the captain that they were well acquainted +with the soundings, and they had no doubt the ship would drift with +safety. Suddenly she did drift into ten fathoms, and remained in that +depth until eight o'clock, P.M. + +Captain Temple felt anxious for the safety of his ship and her crew, +and he inquired of the pilots if any alteration could be made with +advantage. They replied that none was necessary; but that the Crescent +should be kept on the same tack till daylight. The vessel drifted till +ten o'clock, P.M. when she struck. A boat was immediately lowered to +sound. The men reported the current setting to eastward at the rate of +two and a-half or three miles an hour. + +As the sails were now only forcing the ship further on the shoal, +orders were given to furl, and to hoist out all the boats except the +jolly-boat and gig--both of these orders were promptly obeyed. At this +time, the current was taking the ship on the larboard bow, and canting +her round. In order to draw her off, the sails were loosed; but this, +instead of having the desired effect, hove her round into a worse +position than before. The sails were again furled, and an anchor and +cable were got into the launch. The boats then took the launch in tow, +and endeavoured to pull her out; but the force and rapidity of the +current rendered it impossible to do so. The situation of the Crescent +became every instant more perilous; the gale had increased, and the +wind, which had veered round to the north-west, blew direct on shore, +forcing the vessel further on the shoal. As a last attempt to save the +ship, the captain directed that the bower anchor should be let go, and +the ship lightened by heaving the guns, shot, balls, &c., overboard. +Little good resulted from this step; and then the water was started +and the provisions thrown overboard out of the fore and aft holds. +Pumping now became useless, as the water had risen to the hatches; and +when at last the cable parted, all hopes of saving the vessel were +abandoned, and at half-past six in the morning of the 6th of December +the masts were cut away by the captain's orders, and she lay a +helpless wreck. The boats which, until this time, had been lying off +in tow, broke their hawsers; and when the people on board found it +impossible to regain the ship, from the force of the current, they +made for the shore, and fortunately all succeeded in reaching it, with +the exception of one of the cutters, which was lost with all her crew. +Lieutenant Henry Stokes, who was in one of the other boats, fearing +that she would be capsized, jumped overboard, and attempted to swim on +shore, but had not strength to buffet with the waves, and was drowned. +The storm continued to increase as the day advanced, and the men on +board the wreck being completely exhausted, they piped to breakfast, +and a dram was served round. At one o'clock, P.M., a raft was +commenced, and in about an hour it was completed and launched, and +placed under the charge of Lieutenant John Weaver, of the Marines, Mr. +Thomas Mason, clerk, and Mr. James Lavender, midshipman. The crew of +the raft was composed chiefly of the sick, or those least capable of +exerting themselves for their own preservation. When the raft left the +ship, the captain and gallant crew of the Crescent gave three hearty +cheers to their companions, whom they were never likely to behold +again. It is hard to say which of the parties was in greatest peril, +or nearest to destruction; but in all such cases, those who are +obliged to wait for the awful moment, are subjected to more intense +mental suffering than those who act, and are enabled to take any +measures, however perilous, for saving their lives. The people upon +the raft returned the farewell cheer, and as each wave dashed over +them, and they again floated on the surface, they announced their +safety with another and another shout. They had little hope indeed of +reaching the shore alive; they were standing up to their middle in +water, and every billow that rolled over them carried away one or more +of their number. Happily some of those who were washed off the raft, +succeeded in regaining it; but seven of them perished, the rest were +safely landed, and to the constant exertions of the officers to keep +up the spirits of the men, they were greatly indebted for their +preservation. + +A second raft was begun on board the Crescent, but it was never +completed; the sea made a clear breach over her; the quarter-deck +became filled with water, and it was therefore necessary to launch the +jolly-boat in order to save as many lives as possible, though she +could scarcely be expected to live in such a sea. Once more, Captain +Temple and above two hundred men and officers said farewell to the +companions of their toils and dangers--once more they bade God speed +to the frail bark--their own last chance of escape--and watched it as +it was now borne aloft on the crested wave, now buried in the briny +furrow. For a time they forgot their own danger in anxiety for the +others; but they were soon recalled to what was passing around +them--the groaning of the timbers, as every sea struck the wreck with +an increasing shock, forewarned them that she could not long resist +that mighty force. There were two hundred and twenty human beings +entirely helpless to save themselves. None may know the agonies of +that hour, when even hope itself had fled--when nothing intervened +between the soul and the unseen world. The Crescent went to pieces a +short time after the departure of the jolly-boat, and every one left +on board perished, to the number of two hundred and twenty, out of a +crew of two hundred and eighty. Amongst the lost were the captain, +three lieutenants, a lieutenant of marines, nine midshipmen, the +surgeon, purser, carpenter, and gunner; two pilots, one passenger, six +women, and a child. + +The surviving officers and crew of the Crescent were tried by a court +martial, at Sheerness, for the loss of the vessel, when the court was +of opinion that 'the loss of the Crescent proceeded from the ignorance +and neglect of the pilots, and that the master was blameable, inasmuch +that he did not recommend to the captain or pilots either coming to an +anchor, or standing on the other tact, for the better security of H.M. +late ship Crescent.' + +'The court was further of opinion that every exertion was made on the +part of the remaining officers and crew for the safety of the +Crescent.' + + + + +THE MINOTAUR. + + +His Majesty's Ship Minotaur, of 74 guns, Captain John Barrett, was +ordered by Admiral Sir James Saumarez to protect the last Baltic +fleet, in the year 1810. + +After seeing the convoy through the Belt, the ship sailed from +Gottenburg about the 15th December, and, with a strong breeze from the +east, shaped her course alone for the Downs. + +At eight o'clock, in the evening of the 22nd, Lieutenant Robert Snell +took charge of the watch; the wind was then blowing hard from the +south-east, the weather thick and hazy, and the ship, under +close-reefed topsails, and courses, was going at the rate of four +knots an hour. + +At nine o'clock, the captain gave orders that soundings should be +taken every hour, under the immediate direction of the pilot of the +watch. At midnight, the pilot desired that the vessel might be put on +the other tack, and all hands were instantly turned up to carry out +his directions, and Lieutenant Snell was in the act of informing the +captain of what was going on, when the ship struck. + +The helm was ordered to be put up, but the first shock had carried +away the tiller; fruitless attempts were then made to back the ship +off, but she had struck with such force upon the sand that it was +impossible to move her. The carpenter now reported fifteen feet water +in the hold; and it increased so rapidly that in a few minutes it rose +above the orlop deck. The officers and the whole of the ship's company +were assembled upon deck, and the universal question passed from mouth +to mouth--'On what coast have we struck?' + +The pilot of the watch maintained that they were on some shoal in the +English coast; the other pilot, however, was of opinion that they were +upon the North Haacks, and this proved to be actually the case. + +For a few minutes after the ship first struck there was some degree of +confusion on board; but this soon subsided; order and tranquillity +were restored, and the men all exerted themselves to the utmost, +although she struck the ground so heavily, it was almost impossible +for them to keep their feet. + +The masts were cut away, and other means taken to lighten the ship; +and guns were fired as signals of distress, but no aid was afforded +to them during that long and dismal night. The darkness was so +intense, it was impossible to see beyond a few yards, and they could +only judge of their proximity to land, by the sullen roar of the +breakers as they dashed upon the shore. In this state of uncertainty +and dread, the night passed away; and daylight at last discovered to +the crew of the Minotaur the horrors of their situation. The ship was +firmly imbedded in sand, and had gradually sunk till the water covered +the forecastle. All the boats excepting the launch and two yauls were +destroyed, either by the falling of the masts, or the waves breaking +over them. + +At eight o'clock, A.M., the Minotaur parted amidships, and the sea +made a clear breach over her. The gunner, seeing that she could not +hold together much longer, volunteered to go off in the yard, and +endeavour to obtain assistance from the shore. Captain Barrett at +first refused the offer, as he thought it impossible the boat could +live in such a sea; but upon further consideration, he gave his +consent; and the gunner, with thirty-one of the crew, succeeded in +launching the yaul, and getting clear of the wreck. + +The ship now presented a most distressing scene--portions of her +timbers and spars were floating about in all directions, with casks of +spirits and provisions which had been washed up from the hold. Crowded +together on the poop and the quarter-deck were officers and men +watching with eager anxiety the progress of the boat. After two hours +of breathless suspense they saw her reach the shore. Their comrades' +success was hailed with joy by the shipwrecked crew as a happy omen +for themselves--it inspired them with hope and confidence, and some of +them immediately attempted to lift the launch into the sea. They +fortunately succeeded in getting her afloat, and numbers then rushed +to get into her, amongst whom was Lieutenant Snell. He failed in his +first attempt, and then swam to the foretop, near which he knew the +launch must pass, to enable her to clear the wreck. He watched his +opportunity, and when the boat approached, jumped into the sea, and +was taken on board. + +In the course of an hour, the launch gained the shore, where, instead +of receiving the assistance they expected, and the kindness their +unfortunate circumstances demanded, the crew were met by a party of +French soldiers, and immediately made prisoners. In vain, they +implored the Dutch officers, who were also on the beach, to send boats +to the aid of their unhappy comrades on the wreck, their earnest +entreaties were met by a cold refusal. + +During the morning, Captain Barrett, and about a hundred men, +attempted to reach the shore in the second yaul, but she was swamped +and all were lost. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the after-part of +the ship turned bottom up, and the remainder of the crew perished. + +The fate of Lieutenant Salsford was distinguished by a singular +circumstance. A large tame wolf, caught at Aspro, and brought up from +a cub by the ship's company, and exceedingly docile, continued to the +last an object of general solicitude. Sensible of its danger, its +howls were peculiarly distressing. It had always been a particular +favourite of the lieutenant, who was also greatly attached to the +animal, and through the whole of their sufferings kept close to his +master. On the breaking up of the ship both got upon the mast. At +times they were washed off, but by each other's assistance regained +it. The lieutenant at last, became exhausted by continual exertions, +and benumbed, with cold. The wolf was equally fatigued, and both held +occasionally by the other to retain his situation. When within a short +distance of the land, Lieutenant Salsford, affected by the attachment +of the animal, and totally unable any longer to support himself, +turned towards him from the mast, the beast clapped his fore paws +round his neck, while the lieutenant clasped him in his arms, and they +sank together.[13] + +Such was the fate of the Minotaur, her captain, and four hundred of +her crew. There is not the slightest doubt but that, had the Dutch +sent assistance, the greater part of the ship's company would have +been saved; and it would appear by the following extract from a +letter, written on the subject by Lieutenant Snell, that the risk +attending such a humane attempt, on the part of the Dutch, would not +have been great. Lieutenant Snell says:-- + +'The launch which had brought on shore eighty-five men, was of the +smallest description of 74 launches, with one gunwale entirely broken +in, and without a rudder. This will better prove than anything I can +say how easy it would have been for the Dutch admiral in the Texel to +have saved, or to have shown some wish to have saved, the remaining +part of the crew.' + +On the other hand, we have the report from the chief officer of the +marine district of the North coast, addressed to the Minister of +Marine, in which he states, that 'Captain Musquetie, commander in the +Texel Roads, sent, at daylight on the 23rd, two boats to reconnoitre +the Minotaur, but the wind and sea prevented them approaching the +vessel.' + +It is to be hoped, for the honour of the Dutch officers, that they +_did_ really put out to the relief of the Minotaur, and that they +considered the attempt an impossibility, which a British sailor deemed +one of little risk. It is evident that there must have been +considerable danger for boats, from the fact of the second yaul being +lost, and Captain Barrett's hesitation before he allowed the gunner to +leave the ship in the first yaul; and in charity we must give the +Dutch the benefit of this evidence. At the same time, we have the +equally conclusive testimony of the safe landing of two boats from the +Minotaur, that it was not 'impossible' for even a somewhat crazy boat +to live on such a sea. At daylight, on the 24th, the survivors of the +Minotaur's crew were marched off as prisoners to Valenciennes. From +which place, the gunner, Mr. Bones, contrived to make his escape on +the 3rd of February. After suffering the greatest privations, +concealing himself in barns and stables by day, and travelling by +night, on the 17th of March he got on board a smuggling lugger, about +a mile from Ostend, the Master of which agreed to land him in England +for the sum of L50. + + * * * * * + +NOTE BY A NAVAL FRIEND. + +The loss of the Minotaur may be attributed to their not knowing their +position; the pilot's desire to put the ship on the starboard tack at +twelve o'clock at night, with the wind from the south-east, showed +that he thought himself on the English coast. This fatal error in the +navigation of the ship is not easily accounted for; it arises in a +great measure from the dread of approaching the dangerous shoals on +our own coast, many of them far off the land, such as the Leman, and +Ower, Smith's Knowl, the Ridge, and others further in shore. Great +fear of these shoals is felt by all hands, and no doubt the man at the +helm would be cautioned not to bring the ship to the westward of her +course, and he would therefore be apt to err on the other +side--currents also may have carried her to the eastward. I am +tempted to offer this opinion from having experienced a similar +danger. In the year of the Battle of Copenhagen, I was in the Lynx +sloop of war on her return from the Baltic, and when we supposed +ourselves in mid-channel, between Yarmouth and the Texel, about two +o'clock, in the middle watch, we touched the ground in broken water; +happily the weather was moderate, and, by hauling to the westward we +soon got into deep water again. The following morning, about ten +o'clock, we spoke a lugger, and were informed that we were seven or +eight leagues from the coast of Holland. The distance ran from the +time we struck, told us that we must have been on the Haacks. A happy +escape! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[13] _Naval Chronicle_, vol. xxxvii. p. 183. + + + + +THE PALLAS AND THE NYMPH. + + +In the month of December, 1810, the Pallas, a 32-gun frigate, +commanded by Captain Paris Monke, was returning, in company with the +Nymph, Captain Edward Sneyd Clay, from a month's cruise on the coast +of Norway, and was steering for Leith, with a prize in tow. She had +not got far to the southward, when, on Tuesday morning, the 18th, +between nine and ten o'clock, land was discovered, but the weather was +so thick, it could not be clearly defined. The pilot, however, gave it +as his opinion that they were north of the Red-head. Towards the +middle of the day they fell in with some fishing-boats, and Captain +Monke having requested one of the fishermen to come on board the +frigate, he learnt from this man that the ship was at that time off +Stonehive and the Tod Head. At four o'clock, P.M., the usual order to +pipe to supper was given; the wind was blowing from the north-west, +and the vessel going at the rate of four knots an hour. Supper being +over, the drum beat to quarters, and the captain, having received the +usual reports, ordered the watch to be called. At six o'clock, in +compliance with the wish of the pilot, the course was altered from +south-west to south-south-west. For the last quarter of an hour the +ship had been increasing her rate of sailing from five and a half to +six knots an hour; the top-gallant scudding sails were therefore taken +in, and the royal and top-gallant stay sails hauled down, as also the +jib and the spanker. Soon after this the pilot, pointing towards the +coast, said to the captain, 'There's Lunan Bay;' and shortly +afterwards he said, 'There's the Red Head;' but it was too dark, then, +to see the land, much less could the outline of the coast be +distinguished. The captain inquired if they should not soon see the +Bell Rock Light, and he was answered in the affirmative. He then +ordered the officer of the watch to hail the forecastle, and direct +the men to keep a vigilant look-out for the Bell Rock Light. + +Ere many minutes had elapsed after the order was given, a light was +perceived before the starboard beam, which the pilot declared to be a +signal hoisted on the pier at Arbroath to show that there was water +enough for vessels to enter the harbour. The captain then went below +to consult the book of sailing directions, and when he returned upon +deck, he said to the pilot, 'If that light be on Arbroath pier, as you +suppose, we ought most certainly to be in sight of the light on the +Bell Rock.' The pilot replied, 'We shall soon see it;' and Captain +Monke repeated to the officer of the watch his order to keep a sharp +look out. + +As the light on the Bell Rock did not appear, the captain became +exceedingly anxious; the more so, as he was convinced, by reckoning +the distances from the Tod Head to the Red Head, and from the Red Head +to the Bell Rock, and comparing their sum with the run from four +o'clock, that the ship had run as many miles to the southward as would +bring her up to the Bell Rock. To ascertain exactly the position of +the ship, he desired the master to work off the run by the log up to +eight o'clock, P.M., and in a short time the master reported that by +his calculation the light which they saw was no other than the +floating light of the Bell Rock, and that they had now only to bear up +and shape a course for the Isle of May. + +The captain had been upon deck for more than five hours, and was so +much fatigued that he went down to the gun-room to get some +refreshment, at a little after ten o'clock, leaving positive orders +with the officer of the watch and the master to be most attentive to +the ship's course; and he was so anxious for her safety, that he had +scarcely sat down in the gun-room before he sent for the pilot-book of +sailing directions, that he might ascertain more exactly the position +of the Bell Rock, and the course and distance from thence to the Isle +of May. In a few minutes, the officer of the watch went down to report +that the May light was in sight, and Captain Monke was in the act of +going upon deck, when the vessel struck the ground. He instantly +rushed upon deck, and inquired of the master where he supposed the +ship had grounded. The reply was a startling one:--'I am afraid,' said +he, 'that we are on the Bell Rock, and not a soul will be saved, +unless we can forge her over it.' How they could possibly be upon the +Bell Rock, when the master had himself so confidently declared they +were running from it for some hours, appeared a mystery: but this was +no time for arguing the matter. Captain Monke saw the danger both to +the ship and all on board: he ordered the drum to beat to quarters, +and the men were soon on deck and each at his post Having assured +himself that the rudder was not damaged, the captain ordered the +foretack to be hauled on board, and the yards to be braced with the +larboard brace, which was done without loss of time. The lead was +cast, to ascertain the depth of water, which the quarter-master +reported to be twelve feet. The ship, which at first had taken the +ground easily, now began to strike with great violence; and when they +found that she did not forge ahead, the yards were braced aback, but +to no better purpose, for she remained hard and fast as before. + +Land was now seen to leeward, and the master changed his opinion, and +imagined that the frigate had struck on the Isle of May; but the pilot +thought they were on shore in St. Andrew's Bay, and blamed the master +for having hauled too soon. As the tide was falling, there was little +hope of getting the ship afloat, although this was so far fortunate, +that it afforded a better chance of escape for the crew. + +Orders were given to man the pumps, and the people obeyed with +alacrity, and worked by turns throughout the night with the utmost +vigour. The ship seemed to come up easier for a time, and the +carpenter reported twelve feet water in the hold. When the moon rose, +the position of the frigate with regard to the land was discovered; +and as the tide ebbed, her larboard bow appeared to be but a short +distance from the nearest rocks. From the time of the ship's striking, +guns had been fired as signals of distress, to arouse the attention of +the inhabitants of the coast, and these signals were soon answered by +lights displayed along the shore, and large fires kindled on the +beach. The glare of the torches moving to and fro on the shore denoted +the inclination of the people to render assistance to the unfortunate +vessel. Voices were heard hailing the ship, but it was impossible to +distinguish the words. The boatswain and carpenter, and some others, +declared that the men said, 'You are in St. Andrew's Bay--come on +shore,' Upon this, the boatswain and gunner volunteered to land with +two men in a small prize skiff, for the purpose of reconnoitring the +beach. This proposition was immediately rejected by the captain, who +assembled the principal officers on the forecastle and declared to +them his determination not to suffer a single boat to be lowered +during the night--but that they should all stick to the ship until +daylight, as the only chance of preserving their lives. + +Happily the captain's orders were obeyed, though doubtless many would +feel tempted to risk a landing. The Pallas became more and more +uneasy--her rudder was carried away, and the sea broke completely over +her. The men were each served with a dram, and were still kept at the +pumps until three o'clock A.M., when the main beam broke and the +others began to give way in succession. In order to lighten the +vessel, the mainmast was cut away. At first, this did not appear to +have the desired effect--but in all probability it would have fallen +of itself and have done injury to the people; it now hung over the +side, and promised to serve as a raft in case of necessity. The +foremast was then cut away, and the mizenmast was doomed to +follow--but the axe and tomahawk, which had been carried forward, were +lost, or washed away. The ship by this time had fallen upon her beam +ends, and the sea was making breaches over her, so that every +individual had enough to do to keep himself from being washed +overboard. + +About four o'clock in the morning, the spirits of the crew were +revived by seeing a boat appear between the wreck and a large fire +that had been kept burning immediately opposite. This was a welcome +sight, and it was hailed by three loud and hearty cheers from the +Pallas. + +Many of the men by this time were suffering much from cold, hunger, +and fatigue, and those who were able, got into the weather chains for +safety and shelter. Daylight discovered to them the real position of +the ship; the light which had been supposed to be on the Isle of May +was that of a lime-kiln on the main land, and as the Bass and North +Berwick Law were plainly visible, it was evident from their bearings +that the frigate was on shore near to Dunbar. She was now a total +wreck--the bottom had separated to some extent amidships from her +upper works; a considerable portion of her floor timber was lying +about ten yards to windward of the rest of the hull, and the iron +ballast within this frame of timber was thus open to view. It was now +time for every man to provide as far as possible for his own safety. A +Portuguese sailor, an excellent swimmer, was the first to quit the +wreck and swim on shore; several men attempted to follow his example, +but five of them perished. The life-boat from Dunbar, which had been +launched with great difficulty on account of the heavy surf beating on +the rocks, reached the ship at ten o'clock in the morning of the 19th, +and she took off a boat-load from the wreck and landed them in safety. + +This success encouraged the people to try to employ the boats of the +Pallas, but they were all found to be stove, or otherwise rendered +useless, with the exception of a sixteen-oared cutter. The cutter was +launched without material injury, and fortunately reached the land +with as many as she could carry. The life-boat again neared the ship, +and made a second successful landing with a number of officers and +men; and a third time she touched the wreck, and was again crowded +with people, but unfortunately the rope which she carried as a +hauling line was too short to reach between the ship and the shore, +and this time she had scarcely put off from the quarter before she +filled and upset. By this accident, six of the crew of the Pallas were +drowned, and one of the bravest fellows belonging to the life-boat The +other thirteen men who manned the boat, and several people from the +wreck, were saved with great difficulty; a small fishing-boat, which +had been opportunely launched through the surf, picked them up. +Amongst others so rescued from a watery grave were Captain Monke, and +Mr. Walker, the first lieutenant. The crew of the fishing-boat +persevered with great courage and good judgment in their efforts to +save the rest of the crew. They procured a small tow-line, which being +held by one end on the beach, they made fast to the mizen chains of +the ship. The boat was then hauled to and fro until, in eight or ten +trips, she had cleared the wreck of all the people; and, with the +exception of Mr. Tomlinson, the boatswain, and ten or twelve others +who perished, the whole of the ship's company were saved. + +The kindness and hospitality exercised by the inhabitants of Dunbar +and the surrounding country were beyond all praise. The sufferers, +many of whom were insensible when carried on shore, and unconscious of +the manner in which their lives had been preserved, were lodged, fed, +and clothed. Captain Monke, who was much bruised, was carried by +Captain Maitland to the house of his father, Lord Lauderdale, at +Dunbar. The first lieutenant, Mr. Walker, who was picked up apparently +lifeless, was conveyed to Broxmouth, the seat of the Duchess of +Roxburgh, where he was, under Providence, indebted for his restoration +to the unremitting attentions of the duchess and her husband, Mr. +Manners. + +The humblest of the crew were equally well cared for. The duchess +went from room to room, ministering to the wants of the sufferers, and +seeing that every comfort was provided for them. + +It is gratifying to record that a handsome pecuniary reward was given +by government to the fishermen and other inhabitants of Dunbar who so +nobly risked their lives for the sake of their fellow-countrymen; and +the widow of the man who was lost in the life-boat had a pension of +L25 per annum settled upon her. + +'I am persuaded,' writes Captain Monke, in his narrative, 'that this +court will participate in my feelings, and would think me most +forgetful, if I did not here publicly express my grateful sense I +shall ever retain of the humane and liberal conduct of the Duchess of +Roxburgh and Mr. Manners, who in their hospitable mansion at Broxmouth +administered every sort of comfort and medical relief to the far +greater part of the suffering officers and people of the Pallas, many +of whose lives were thereby preserved to their country. In justice to +my own feelings, I cannot close my narrative without declaring to this +honourable court that no men under similar circumstances could behave +better than did the crew of the Pallas. So far from being dismayed by +their perilous situation, they manifested equal firmness and +subordination; and, in fact, from the first moment of the ship +striking the ground, to the time when necessity compelled every +individual to consult his own safety, they obeyed all the orders with +as much alacrity as cheerfulness, and (what is more) without either +noise or confusion. Hence, sir, I consider myself justified in +asserting that, notwithstanding the number victualled on board at the +time was reduced to one hundred and sixty, if any human exertion +could, in the first instance, have got the Pallas afloat, she would +not have been irrecoverably lost to the service. I must also beg leave +to add, that the officers set every example; and that from Mr. +Walker, the first-lieutenant, I derived, throughout this trying scene, +the most effectual support and assistance.' + +The Nymph, which we have mentioned as being in company with the +Pallas, got on shore the same night, on a rock called the Devil's Ark, +near Skethard, misled by some irregularity in the lights on the Bell +Rock and Isle of May. + +The crew of the Nymph were all saved, but the fine frigate was lost. + + + + +ST. GEORGE AND DEFENCE. + + +Among the many services in which the fleets of Great Britain were +engaged during the last war, none was more rife with perils and +hardships than that on which the Baltic Fleet was employed. During the +long winter nights the crews were continually exposed to intense cold, +and the ships were often enveloped in such impenetrable fogs, that +sometimes even the pilots were deceived as to their true position, and +those lamentable consequences ensued of which the loss of the Minotaur +was an example, (see page 154), her officers conceiving they were on +the coast of England, when they were actually stranded on the opposite +shore. + +We will briefly mention two instances, which may give the reader some +idea of the severity of the climate in the Northern Seas. + +On the 23rd of December, 1808, the Fama (which had sailed from +Carlscrona the previous day, in consort with some other men-of-war, +and a convoy of merchantmen,) struck upon the Island of Bornholm, in +the midst of such dense darkness, and so blinding a fall of snow, +that it was impossible to discern any of the surrounding objects. The +moment the ship struck, Lieutenant Topping, her commander, sprung from +his berth and rushed upon deck, without giving himself time to put on +his clothes. In his anxiety for the safety of his ship, and of those +who were on board, he continued to give his orders, without any other +protection from the piercing blast and driving snow than a blanket, +which one of his men had thrown over his shoulders; '_in fifteen +minutes from the time the vessel first struck, he fell upon the deck a +corpse_.' One man and a woman shared the same fate, the rest of the +crew survived the night, and were next morning saved by the Danes. + +The circumstances attending the loss of the Pandora were still more +horrible. She struck on the Scaw Reef, a shoal on the coast of +Jutland, on the night of the 13th of February, 1811, and in three +hours her rudder was carried away, and the hold nearly filled with +water. The wind was bitterly cold, and, as the men were unable to get +below, they were in danger of being either washed overboard, or frozen +to death, before morning. In this dreadful state they remained until +daybreak, when it was discovered that several of them had perished +from the inclemency of the weather. The survivors contrived to cut a +hole in the side of the deck which was above water, through which they +crept below, one by one, to seek protection from the cold. During the +day, some boats attempted to put out to their assistance, but the sea +ran so high that it was impossible to approach the wreck. The unhappy +crew, disappointed in their hopes of relief, endeavoured to launch the +boats; but these were so encased in ice, that they resembled large +blocks of marble, and it was impossible to move them. In the course of +the night the wind and sea abated, and the Danes succeeded in +rescuing the people of the Pandora from their perilous situation, but +not before twenty-nine had perished from the intense cold. + +The month of November, 1811, was most disastrous to the Baltic Fleet. +The British ships of war had already suffered so severely from +attempting the dangerous navigation of the Northern Seas too late in +the year, that the commander-in-chief on the station received orders +on no account to delay the departure of the last homeward-bound convoy +beyond the 1st of November. In obedience to these instructions, +Rear-Admiral Reynolds sailed with a convoy from Hano on that day, +having hoisted his broad pendant on board the St. George, of 98 guns, +Captain Daniel Oliver Guion; but owing to severe gales he was +compelled to put back on three several occasions, and the weather did +not permit him finally to leave the anchorage until the 12th of the +month. On the 15th the St George and convoy arrived off the Island of +Zealand, where they anchored to wait for a favourable wind, having met +with very rough weather in their passage from Hano, and several of the +convoy having foundered, without its being possible for the others to +render them the least assistance. In the course of the night of the +15th the wind increased to a hurricane, and all hands on board the St. +George were summoned to give the ship cable. Before this could be +accomplished the sea poured through the hawse-holes, carried +everything away, and rendered it impossible for many of the men to +stand to their duty. They were still in the act of veering away the +cable, when a large merchant vessel, which had been seen looming +through the darkness, drifted down upon them, its hull coming +violently in collision with the bows of the St. George, and severing +her cables;--one piercing shriek followed,--the merchantman gave a +lurch, and the next instant was engulfed in the raging billows. + +However appalling the sight of this fearful tragedy might have been +to the crew of the St. George, their own danger was too imminent to +allow them much time for reflection, for on heaving the lead they +found only fourteen fathoms, though they had anchored in twenty. The +best bower anchor was at once let go, as the ship appeared to be fast +drifting towards the shore; but such was the force of the wind and +sea, that its massive ring broke off as if it had been only a piece of +wire. Upon this it was resolved to wear her off the land, and the jib +and foretopmast stay-sail were loosed, but before they could be set +the sails were wrenched from the bolt-ropes, and borne away by the +blast. The lead being cast again, eight fathoms were reported; the +sheet anchor was let go, in hopes that it would hold, but, like the +other anchor, it made no impression on the ship, and broke short off. +As a last resource, the men began to cut away the masts, when, just as +they fell, a heavy sea lifted the vessel and hurled her with violence +upon a sand bank, where she remained fast, the masts having by good +fortune fallen clear of her sides. + +There was but little hope now of saving the ship, yet the crew behaved +with the most admirable steadiness, and obeyed with cheerful alacrity +when they were ordered to man the pumps. Towards daybreak the rudder +was torn from its fastenings, and it was only the discovery that the +water did not gain on the ship that sustained the drooping spirits of +the seamen, exhausted as they were with their arduous exertions and +long exposure to the biting cold and constant fall of sleet and snow. +At half-past six the long-wished-for dawn appeared, when, to their +dismay, they found themselves on a sand bank, four miles from the +shore. As the wind and sea gradually abated, the rest of the squadron +attempted to render them assistance, but did not venture to approach +too close to the shoal. The St. George continued to strike heavily +until twelve that night, when her head swung round to the land, and, +contrary to all expectations, the water was found to have risen three +feet since eight o'clock in the evening. By ten the next morning +(Sunday, the 17th of November) she was clear of all danger, and having +fitted up jury-masts, with a rudder supplied from the Cressy, she +arrived in safety at Gottenburg, about the 2nd of December. + +Having partially repaired damages, Admiral Reynolds weighed anchor on +the 17th December, and proceeded, in consort with the Defence and +Cressy, to convoy a homeward-bound fleet of merchantmen. + +On the 23rd, another north-westerly gale was encountered, on the coast +of Jutland. At midnight, signals were made to wear, but owing to the +disabled state of the St. George, this was found impossible. In the +hope of bringing her head round to the wind, an anchor was let go, but +the hawser, catching under her keel, tore away the temporary rudder, +and snapped itself with the strain, and again the ship fell off. The +captain gave orders to strike the lower yards and topmasts, and to +lighten the vessel. Between five and six in the morning of the 24th, +the report of a gun was heard from the Defence, which was supposed to +have got on shore about two miles and a half off. A short time after, +the St. George struck, and drifted towards the shore, and from this +moment all hope of saving the ship vanished. + +Upon examining the well, the carpenter reported ten feet water in the +hold; and this rose so rapidly, that in the space of half an hour it +reached the lower deck, driving the people to the main deck. Admiral +Reynolds and the captain used every effort to encourage the men to +remain steady to their duty, as the only chance of preserving their +lives. At ten o'clock, the sea swept the main deck, so that all hands +were obliged to seek refuge on the poop. All the boats, except the +yawl, had either been stove or washed overboard. As an instance of the +obedience and discipline of the crew of the St. George, three or four +men came forward, and asked permission to attempt to reach the shore +in the yawl: this request was at first granted, but as they were about +to lower her into the sea, it was considered impossible that the boat +could live, and the men were directed to return to their posts. +Without a murmur, they instantly obeyed; and as if Providence had +rewarded this implicit obedience and reliance upon their officers, two +of these men were of the few that were saved. + +It is impossible to describe the suffering of the helpless crew. Their +numbers, originally about seven hundred and fifty, had been terribly +thinned by the severity of the weather, and the surging of the waves, +which every instant burst over them. At eight o'clock in the evening +of the 24th, fourteen men took the boat and attempted to pull from the +wreck, but they had not gone many yards when she upset, and her crew +perished. The mizenmast still stood, and orders were given for its +being cut away, but as no axes could be found, the men were obliged to +use their knives to cut the lanyards of the rigging; at this moment, a +sea struck the mast, carrying away the poop, and the men who were upon +it. As the poop was swept away from the wreck, it bore not only the +living but the dead. The latter far outnumbered the former, and it +became necessary for the general preservation to cast overboard the +bodies of their dead comrades. But their strength, already weakened by +previous suffering, was unequal to the performance of this painful +duty; and while thus employed, a sea swept over the poop, scattering +the men upon the foaming billows. Five regained it, but were again +washed off, and again succeeded in reaching their former position. Of +these, two died, and the other three were washed on shore. + +The scene on board was one of the most harrowing description. Mingled +together were the living, the dying, and the dead. The bodies were +piled up by the survivors in rows one above another, as a shelter from +the violence of the waves, which broke incessantly over them. + +In the fourth row lay the admiral and his friend Captain Guion; whilst +the groans of the dying, mingling with the roar of the tempest, +unnerved the hearts of those who had hitherto shown an unappalled +front to the perils surrounding them. + +There still remained about two hundred men, who were employed in +constructing a raft, as the last chance of saving their lives. After +considerable labour, this was effected, by lashing together a topsail +yard and a cross-jack yard, the only spars that remained. + +Upon this, ten men left the wreck, but the timbers being improperly +secured, they broke adrift, and the first sea that came washed five +men off; the others gained the shore, one of whom died. + +According to all accounts, even the few who survived would have +perished, had it not been for the humane conduct of the Danes who came +to their assistance; these, at the risk of their own lives, succeeded +in rescuing from the raft the seven exhausted sufferers who survived, +out of the crew of seven hundred and fifty men. + +The St. George, as has been already mentioned, was in company with +both the Cressy and Defence. Captain Pater, who commanded the former, +seeing the impossibility of rendering any assistance to the St. +George, and the imminent risk to his own ship if he remained longer on +the starboard tack, wore, and escaped the danger. + +The master of the Defence reported to Captain Atkins that the St. +George had gone on shore, and that the Cressy had veered and was +standing to the southward,--at the same time pointing out the great +danger the ship was in, and recommending that he should follow the +example of the Cressy. The captain inquired whether the admiral had +made the signal to part company; upon being answered in the negative, +he replied, 'I will never desert my admiral in the hour of danger and +distress.' + +At about six o'clock A.M., the hands were turned up to wear ship, but +before this could be accomplished she struck, the sea made a breach +over her, and washed several men overboard. + +The captain gave orders to fire minute guns, and cut away the masts. +Five or six guns only had been fired, before they broke adrift, so +that it was impossible to fire any more; but providentially these had +been heard by the look-out men on shore, to whose assistance may be +attributed the preservation of the few lives that were saved. + +The waves swept over the vessel, forcing numbers of the crew down the +hatchways, the guns and other heavy articles had broken loose, killing +some, breaking the arms and legs of others, whose agonizing cries +served only to add to the horrors of a scene scarcely within the power +of description. + +The captain at this time stood on the poop, holding on only by a +howitzer that was lashed before the mizenmast, the officers and crew +clinging to other parts of the wreck. The boats were all stove, except +the pinnace, in which about twenty men had collected, when a sea, +breaking over the wreck, washed her overboard, capsized her, and all +perished. + +Another sea struck the Defence with such excessive violence as to lift +a spare anchor from its berth, throw it up on end, killing in its fall +upon the forecastle about thirty men. The booms were washed away, and +with them nearly one hundred men, who were clinging to the different +spars. + +The following account of the escape of one of her crew is so +interesting, that it has been thought better to leave it as nearly as +possible in his own words, than to alter it for the sake of brevity:-- + +'I got on one side of the booms that were floating among the rest of +the wreck. At that time every man, except two, John Platt and Ralph +Teasel, two of the men who were saved, were washed off. Myself and +several more were at the same time swept off the mizen-top. I then +made the best of my way from one spar to another, until I got on one +side of the booms. At this time about forty men regained their +position upon the booms, when another sea washed all off except four. +I got on the booms a second time, and spoke to John Brown, and told +him I thought we were approaching the shore. There were then about +twenty men on them, but when we reached the shore there were only six +left. + +'Two Danes on the beach came to our assistance; my foot got jammed in +amongst the small spars, and my comrades, seeing that I was unable to +get off the raft, were coming to my help, when the Danes made signs to +them to be quiet. One Dane made three attempts before he succeeded in +reaching the raft, and the third time he was nearly exhausted; he +managed to get hold of my foot, and wrenched it out, and carried me on +shore. I was then taken up to a shed to wait for some carts which were +coming for us, most of us being unable to walk. In about ten minutes a +number of gentlemen arrived on horseback, and some carts came down +upon the beach. We were then placed in them, and driven to a small +village called Shelton. On the road the man who drove the cart spoke +to a woman, and asked her if she had any liquor. She replied by +drawing a bottle from her pocket, and made each of us take a dram, +which I believe was in a great measure the saving of our lives. + +'We soon arrived at the houses in the village, where we were stripped +and put to bed, and treated by the inhabitants with the greatest +hospitality and kindness. When I awoke, I found another seaman had +been placed in the same bed with me; he had come on shore some time +after myself upon a piece of wreck. He said, just as he reached the +shore the poop and forecastle were capsized, and not a man to be seen, +except a few upon pieces of wreck. In the evening, a gentleman who +spoke English came to our bedside, and told us that an officer had +been brought up to the house. He also told us that there was another +ship on shore to the southward of us, which appeared to be a +three-decker, lying with her stern on shore. We knew directly it could +be no other than the St. George. + +'He inquired if we were able to get up, and go and look at the body of +the officer, and see if we knew him. We answered yes, and, with the +assistance of the people, went into the barn, and recognised our +captain. We then returned to bed again, being too exhausted to stand. +The gentleman told us that medical assistance could not be procured +that night, but that we should have every nourishment the house could +afford. He then took his leave, promising that he would return in the +morning, when we might be better able to speak to him. + +'He accordingly came in the morning, and inquired what force our ship +was. + +'We told him a 74-gun ship, with a company of 600 men. Upon our +inquiring if any more of our shipmates had reached the shore, he +answered no; and we returned most hearty thanks to the Almighty for +our deliverance! + +'On Sunday, the 29th, we put our captain into a coffin, and buried him +in Shelton Church-yard, with two seamen alongside of him. + +'It was some time, through the bitterness of the cold and the bruises +we had received, before we were able to walk about. As soon as we had +gained sufficient strength, we went down to the beach, where we saw, +scattered for about two miles along the beach, the wreck of the +Defence, but not a corpse was to be seen. We supposed they had drifted +away to the southward and westward, a strong current setting that way. +This opinion was in a great measure confirmed by seeing our officers' +things sold, and other articles belonging to the ship, six miles to +the southward of where we were cast away, when we went to join the few +who were saved from the St. George. On the 13th January, our captain +was taken up again, and carried to Rinkum Church, and placed in a +vault with the honours of war.' + +Such was the unhappy fate of the St. George and Defence; only six men +from the latter ship being saved, out of a crew of 600. Two days +afterwards, when the gale had abated, a Danish boat, with two of the +English sailors, went on board the St. George to bring away the +corpses of the admiral and others, but they found the decks had been +entirely swept away. Nothing could exceed the hospitality and kindness +with which the Danes treated the few who were thrown upon their shore. +Nor was the Danish government backward in generosity. The dead were +buried with military honours, and the survivors were sent to England +without exchange. The following letter from Major General Tellequist, +given in his own language, sufficiently shows the deep commiseration +felt by the Danish government, as well as by himself, for the +lamentable catastrophe which befel the St. George and Defence. + + 'Randus, the 21st of January, 1812. + + 'Sir,--Though the grievous misfortune which has happened his + great Britannic Majesty's ships of war on the Danish coast perhaps + already may be known to your Excellency; nevertheless, whereas the + opposite case may be possible, I will not omit hereby to make you + acquainted with the sorrowful accident, assuring you that I am + very compassionating. + + 'The 24th of last month, in the night, the English ships of the + line, St. George and Defence, are splitted upon the western + coast of Jutland, and the violent waves made it impossible to + bring the wretched crews any assistance. From both ships are + saved but thirteen persons, who are cast on shore by the sea + with goods of wreck. Some of them are sick, and at present under + care. A part of the dead bodies are driven to land, and interred + with as much ceremony as the circumstances would admit. + + 'All possible pains have been taken to find out the bodies of + the officers, in order to show them military honours, by the + obsequies upon the churchyard. + + 'Two bodies of officers were found, and buried with military + honours. Among these was the body of Captain Atkins, commanding + the Defence, which is deposited in a church till I receive the + further ordaining from my most gracious sovereign. + + 'I complain much that the body of Admiral Reynolds has not yet + been found, for all the pains which are taken on this purpose. + + 'Agreeably to the charitable sensibility of the Danish nation, + the inhabitants have been very grieved to see the English + warriors in such a distress without being able to assist them; + and I am very sorry, Sir, that I cannot give your Excellency of + this accident an account less sorrowful. + + 'With great esteem, I remain, Sir, + + '&c. &c, &c., + + 'TELLEQUIST. + + 'To Governor Maurice.' + +The body of Rear Admiral Reynolds was found a few days after the date +of the above letter, and deposited with military honours near that of +Captain Atkins, in Rinkum Church. + +The surviving officers and men of the St. George were tried by a +court-martial at Sheerness, and were acquitted of all blame with +reference to the loss of that vessel. + +With respect to the loss of the Defence, the court was of opinion that +she was lost by getting on shore on the western coast of Jutland, in +company with his Majesty's late ship St. George, in consequence of the +noble and heroic determination of the captain to stay to the last by +his admiral, at a moment of extreme danger and distress, conduct +which, in the opinion of the court, will reflect immortal honour on +the memory of Captain Atkins. + +Rear Admiral Reynolds was an officer of considerable experience, and +had distinguished himself on several occasions previous to his +melancholy fate on board the St. George. + +In the year 1797, he commanded the Amazon, a 36-gun frigate, and was +cruizing the 13th of January off Ushant, in company with the +Indefatigable, Captain Sir Edward Pellew, when a large ship was +descried, steering under easy sail for France. This was a little after +twelve o'clock at noon; chase was immediately given, and at four in +the afternoon, the stranger was discovered to be a French two-decker, +the Droits de l'Homme, of 74 guns. + +She had on board, exclusive of her crew of 700 men, about 1050 troops, +which, with 50 English prisoners, made 1800 souls. + +At a little past five o'clock, the Indefatigable closed with the enemy +and began the action; this had lasted about an hour, when the +Indefatigable unavoidably shot ahead, on which the Amazon took her +place and nobly continued the battle. The Indefatigable, having in +the meantime repaired her rigging, again joined in the attack, the +British ships placing themselves one on each quarter of their +opponent. A continued fire was kept up for upwards of five hours, when +they found it absolutely necessary to sheer off, in order to secure +their masts. During the action the sea is described as having run so +high, that the men on the main decks of the frigates were up to their +middles in water. As soon as the masts were secured, the attack was +again resumed, and notwithstanding the crews of both ships were almost +exhausted with their exertions, it was prolonged for five hours more, +when, late in the night, the fire ceased on both sides. The Amazon had +now nearly three feet of water in the hold, and was in other respects +most severely damaged. The enemy had suffered still more; her foremast +was shot away, and the main and mizen-masts left tottering, the decks +being strewed with the dead and dying. + +At about four o'clock in the morning, an officer on board the +Indefatigable reported breakers ahead, and the loss of all three +vessels appeared almost inevitable. + +The Indefatigable was then close under the starboard quarter of the +Droits de l'Homme, and the Amazon as near to her on the larboard bow. +The Indefatigable was fortunate enough to avoid the danger by being +able to make sail to the southward, and she escaped. + +When daylight broke, a terrible spectacle was presented. The Droits de +l'Homme had drifted towards the land--broadside on--a tremendous surf +beating over her. The position of the Amazon was as precarious, +notwithstanding every effort was made by her officers and crew to work +her off shore, all proved unavailing, and she struck the ground. The +ship's company, with the exception of six men, gained the shore, which +proved to be Audienre Bay, where they were all made prisoners. + +The melancholy fate of the Droits de l'Homme is described in James's +_Naval History_. Already 900 souls had perished, when the fourth night +came with renewed horrors,--'weak, distracted, and wanting +everything,' says one of the prisoners, a British officer, in his +narrative, 'we envied the fate of those whose lifeless corpses no +longer needed sustenance. The sense of hunger was already lost, but a +parching thirst consumed our vitals.' ... 'Almost lost to a sense of +humanity, we no longer looked with pity on those who were the speedy +forerunners of our own fate, and a consultation took place, to +sacrifice some one to be food to the remainder. The die was going to +be cast, when the welcome sight of a man-of-war brig renewed our +hopes. A cutter speedily followed, and both anchored at a short +distance from the wreck. They then sent their boats to us, and by +means of large rafts, about 150, out of nearly 400 who attempted it, +were saved by the brig that evening; 380 were left to 'endure another +night's misery,--when, dreadful to relate, about one half were found +dead next morning!' + + + + +HERO. + + +We have next to relate the still more tragical fate of the Hero, of 74 +guns. This vessel was lost on the Northern Haaks, under nearly the +same circumstances as the Minotaur in the preceding year, but with +more fatal results, as every soul on board perished. + +The following particulars are derived from the accounts taken from the +evidence of Captain Fanshawe, of the Grasshopper, and from the +journals of the day. + +The Grasshopper sailed from Wingo Sound on the 18th of December, +1811, in company with the Hero, Egeria, and Prince William, and a +convoy of about 120 merchantmen. The weather, at the time they +commenced their voyage, was stormy and tempestuous. The Egeria and +Prince William parted company on the 20th, and on the 23rd the +Grasshopper was left in company with the Hero, and about eighteen +merchantmen. + +At about half-past eleven o'clock, Captain Newman, of the Hero, made +signal to the Grasshopper to come within hail; conceiving that they +were on the Silver Pitts, he directed the course to be altered to the +south-west, which was accordingly done. They continued their course +until ten o'clock at night, when the signal was made to alter it two +points to port. + +The Grasshopper was at this time going at the rate of nine knots an +hour; four of the convoy had been kept in view up to this period, but +were soon lost sight of in the heavy squall of snow and sleet. At +half-past three o'clock all hands were turned up, when the ship being +in broken water, she struck with great violence, and suddenly fell +into three fathoms water. The best bower was let go, and she was +brought to an anchor. In a few minutes the ship struck again, and +continued to do so as long as she remained in that position. + +The crew of the Grasshopper had now their attention called to the +situation of the Hero. It was first supposed that she was at anchor, +although she fired several guns, and burnt blue lights, which in about +half-an-hour ceased. At daylight it was discovered that both the ships +were inside the Northern Haaks, about five or six miles from the Texel +Island. About a mile from the Grasshopper was the Hero--a complete +wreck--lying on her starboard broadside. The ship's company were all +crowded together upon the poop and forecastle; the sea making clean +breaches over her. An attempt was made by the crew of the Grasshopper +to reach the Hero, but the surf ran so high that it prevented all +communication, and they were under the imperious necessity of seeing +their comrades perish, without the slightest possibility of being able +to render them assistance. + +The Hero had hoisted a flag of truce, and fired a gun: in a short time +these signals of distress were answered, by several vessels putting +out from the Texel to her relief; but owing to the flood-tide, and the +strong gale of wind then blowing, the boats were unable to get nearer +than three miles. + +Notwithstanding that those on board the Grasshopper were themselves in +a most precarious position, from the repeated shocks the ship had +sustained by striking against the ground, their attention was +completely diverted from themselves, in their anxiety for the fate of +the Hero. The waves burst with relentless fury over the doomed vessel, +every moment snatching a victim from the now almost deserted decks. + +As the night was approaching, and the weather still continued +boisterous, Captain Fanshawe, having taken the opinion of the +officers, judged that there was no other alternative for saving the +lives of his crew than by surrendering to the enemy. At four o'clock +the cable was cut, and they made sail for the Helder Point, where they +surrendered to the Dutch Vice-Admiral, De Wintner. + +The Hero went to pieces during the night: in the morning not a vestige +of her was to be seen. Every exertion was made by the Dutch squadron +to save the crew, but the weather was so stormy, that all their +efforts proved abortive, and thus every soul on board perished. + +In the year 1798, Captain Newman distinguished himself by a most +gallant action which he fought off the coast of Ireland. He was then +in command of the Mermaid, 32-gun frigate, and was cruising in +consort with the Revolutionnaire, of 38 guns, Captain Twysden, and the +Kangaroo, gun-brig, commanded by Captain Brace. On the 15th October, +when near Black Cod Bay, two very large French frigates were seen and +pursued, but they were lost sight of during the night. The next +morning, however, the Mermaid and Kangaroo made out one of the +Frenchmen, and the Kangaroo came up with her the same afternoon, but +was speedily disabled by the heavy fire of her opponent, and compelled +to drop astern. The Mermaid kept on in chase, and engaged the French +vessel, which proved to be the Loire, 46-gun frigate, on the morning +of the 17th October. Early in the action the French attempted to +board, but were frustrated by the skilful handling of the Mermaid, +which enabled her to close within pistol-shot of the Loire, when the +latter's foretopmast was soon shot away, and the fire from her great +guns nearly silenced, though a continuous storm of musketry was still +kept up from her decks. Upon attempting to rake her opponent, the +Mermaid's mizenmast unfortunately went by the board, so that she fell +off, and the maintop-mast almost instantly followed. By this time the +rigging of the English frigate was completely cut to pieces, and her +boats destroyed; she was also making a great deal of water, having +received several shots between wind and water. In this crippled +condition, Captain Newman had no other alternative but to discontinue +the action. This was done without any attempt on the part of the Loire +to renew the engagement, the French being no doubt only too glad to +get rid of her spirited antagonist, though she was only half the size +of their own vessel. + +On the following day the Loire fell in with the Anson and Kangaroo, +and surrendered to the British flag. Subsequently Captain Newman was +appointed to the Loire, having the proud satisfaction of commanding +the vessel in whose capture he had so gallantly assisted. + +In 1808, our officer received the command of the unfortunate Hero, +which ship, in 1810, formed part of the squadron under Sir James +Saumarez, employed for the protection of commerce in the North Sea. +Here he continued in the unpleasant duty of convoying merchant vessels +backwards and forwards from Dar's Head, the south entrance of the +Great Belt, to Sproe Island. On the 25th of September, Captain Newman, +in company with the Mars, 74, arrived off Yarmouth, having in charge +between five and six hundred merchantmen, the largest convoy that had +ever sailed from the Baltic. He again returned to his former station +in March, 1811, where he remained until the latter end of the year, +when his ship was selected, with others, to convoy the homeward-bound +fleet. On this occasion, he appears to have had sad misgivings as to +the prudence of sending ships home at so late a period of the year, +through the dangerous navigation of the northern seas. On the day +previous to the sailing of the squadron from Wingo Sound, he observed, +'I cannot help thinking that we have been detained too long, and it is +well if some of us do not share the fate of the Minotaur.'[14] His +words were but too prophetic; and, ere long, he and two thousand of +our brave defenders perished on a foreign strand. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] _Naval Chronicle._ + + + + +THE DAEDALUS. + + +His Majesty's ship Daedalus, of 38 guns, Captain Murray Maxwell, +sailed from Spithead on the 27th of January, 1813, in charge of an +East Indian convoy, and made the island of Ceylon, near the Pointe de +Galle, on the 1st of July. She passed Dondra Head at sunset, and then +steered east by north during the night, in order to pass well outside +the Basses. In the morning, the ship's head was pointed to the north, +to get near land, a good look-out being kept both from the deck and +mast-head for rocks and breakers. The atmosphere was so clear that a +ripple might have been seen upon the water for miles around. Nothing +appeared to indicate danger; the vessel was supposed to be seven or +eight miles off the land, and the master was pointing out to Captain +Maxwell her position upon the chart, when they felt her take the +ground abaft; but so very easily, that many people on board were not +aware that she had touched. Signals were immediately made to warn the +convoy of their danger, but before the signals could be answered, the +Daedalus swung off into deep water. All sail was set, and strong hopes +were entertained that she was not materially injured; but her frame +was too slight to sustain any shock whatever without damage, the lower +part of the stern-post had given way, occasioning a leak of such +magnitude, that although the pumps were instantly manned; and worked +with unceasing energy, the water could not be kept under. A signal was +made for the convoy to bring to, and to send all their carpenters on +board the Daedalus, which was immediately done, but the combined +efforts of the whole were unavailing to reduce the leak. The rudder +worked so much that it was found necessary to unship it from the +broken part of the stern-post, and bring it alongside; and in order to +relieve the ship from the pressure aft, the guns and other heavy +things were carried forward; this, however, was of so little avail, +that the guns and anchors were soon thrown overboard. They then +prepared a sail with oakum and tar, and got it over the stern, in +order, by passing it under the keel, to stop the leak. For a time this +seemed to have the desired effect, and hopes were entertained that +they might be able to carry the ship to Trincomalee; but these hopes +were of short duration. In spite of the indefatigable exertions of +every officer and man on board, the water gained upon them till it +rose two feet above the orlop-deck. The men had now been working +without intermission for eight hours, and their strength and spirits +began to fail, when, notwithstanding all their efforts, they saw the +water rising to the level of the lower deck. + +Captain Maxwell now knew that there was not a chance of saving his +ship, and he felt the painful necessity of leaving her as soon as +possible, in order to preserve the lives of his men, whilst there was +yet time. He ordered the boys, idlers, and two divisions of seamen and +marines to get into the boats which were alongside, while the +remaining men were employed at the pumps to keep the ship afloat, The +good order and discipline which prevailed during this scene are beyond +all praise. 'The men behaved,' to use the words of the captain, 'as if +they were moving from one ship to another in any of the king's ports.' + +Such conduct is highly creditable, not only to the ship's company, but +likewise to the captain and officers, in whom the crew must have +reposed most perfect confidence, or such real good order could not +have been maintained at such a time. + +The ship was settling fast, when the boats returned to carry away the +remainder of the officers and men, they left the pumps and embarked in +the boats, taking with them the hammocks and clothes belonging to the +ship's company. The last man who stood upon the deck of the sinking +ship was her captain. When all others had gone, he too with a heavy +heart stepped into the boat which bore him from her side; sadly and +sorrowfully he fixed his gaze upon the wreck of 'his home on the +waters.' In a few minutes the ship gave a lurch, and, falling on her +beam ends, remained in that position for the space of a minute, then +she righted, showing only her quarter-deck ports above water, and then +gently and majestically sunk into the bosom of the deep blue sea. + + + + +THE PERSIAN. + + +The Persian, an 18-gun brig, commanded by Captain Charles Bertram, was +lost on the Silver Keys, St. Domingo, in the West Indies, on the 26th +of June, 1813. It appears from Captain Bertram's statement, that the +Keys were laid down on the chart too far to the southward, or that the +ship was carried in that direction by a strong current not mentioned +in any of the charts. The Persian struck about five o'clock P.M., by +running stem on, upon one of the rocks; she was at the time going at +the rate of three or four knots an hour. Everything was done to back +her off; the water was started, most of the guns thrown overboard, the +boats were got out, and the anchors cut from the bows. These measures +for the moment seemed to have the desired effect; but in paying off, +she struck on another rock, and from this it was impossible to move +her. Again the same means were resorted to; the remainder of the guns, +spars, &c, were thrown overboard, but to no purpose. The pumps had +been kept in active play from the first moment of alarm, but the water +gained on them so fast, there was little hope of the vessel keeping +afloat till daylight. The Captain, therefore, resolved to prepare for +the worst, and he directed a large raft to be made for the safety of +some of the ship's company. About seven o'clock, two hours after she +first struck, Captain Bertram perceived that she was gradually +sinking; he therefore ordered as many of the ship's company as the +boats would hold, to get into the two cutters and the jolly-boat; the +cutters were placed under the command of Mr. Norris, the second +lieutenant, and Mr. Nicholls, the master; and the jolly-boat under the +superintendence of the gunner. These boats were ordered to remain near +the ship, in case anything should occur to render it necessary for the +people to return on board. + +About half-past nine P.M., Lieutenant Price and the rest of the ship's +company, excepting two or three who remained on board with the +captain, took their places upon the raft, which was veered by a hawser +to leeward of the brig, and directed to remain in that position until +the morning. At two o'clock in the morning Captain Bertram, convinced +that there was no hope of saving his ship, got into his gig with the +men who had stayed with him, and he had scarcely left the side of the +Persian ere she slipped off the rock, fell over on the larboard side, +and sunk into about seven fathoms water, the tops of the masts only +being visible above the waves. + +At daylight, Captain Bertram, with the other boats, bore up for the +raft, which had broken from the hawser during the night and drifted to +some distance. They found her and her crew in a very deplorable +state,--the lashings had been cut through by the rocks, and many of +the timbers were broken, so that they scarcely held together, and the +men had had great difficulty in keeping her from being dashed to +pieces against the rocks, and in preserving themselves from being +carried away by the surf which washed over them continually. + +Here was a great difficulty to be overcome; the raft was evidently so +insecure that it could not be depended upon for an hour, and the only +means of saving the men was by distributing them amongst the boats, +which were already so over-crowded, that it would be imminently +perilous to add to their freight. However, Captain Bertram did not +hesitate to brave the danger, but set the example by first taking four +men from the raft into his own gig, and directing the other boats to +receive the rest amongst them in their relative proportions. His +commands were instantly and cheerfully obeyed, but to carry them into +effect the boats' crews were obliged to throw overboard the few +articles of clothing they had saved, and the greater part of the +provisions, in order to enable the boats to bear the additional +weight. + +It was now between five and six o'clock in the morning; the wind was +blowing fresh from the east; the nearest part of St. Domingo was, as +far as they could judge, about twenty-five leagues distant, to reach +which they supposed they must go through the Mona passage, the most +dangerous in the West Indies. + +One of the cutters had forty-five men on board, the other forty-two, +the jolly-boat twenty-two, and the gig fourteen; in all, a hundred and +twenty-three persons. The wind increased as the day advanced, and +became so violent that it seemed almost by a miracle that the boats +were enabled to resist the fury of the storm. In the afternoon the +danger increased, and the men were obliged to heave overboard the +remainder of their bread and water, and never for an instant could +they relax in their efforts to keep the boats free from water. God in +His mercy preserved those who had shown such trust in Him; for we can +scarcely suppose that such noble acts of humanity, courage, and +self-sacrifice as were evinced by these men could arise from other +than the highest and holiest principles. + +Before the evening closed in, they caught a glimpse of the land, but +too distant for them to make out what part of the coast it was. The +boats were hove to for the night, and a dreary night it was to these +poor men. They were without food, almost without clothing, weak from +want of nourishment, and exhausted by fatigue; and in this miserable +state they awaited the break of day, the rain falling in torrents, and +the sea breaking over the boats. + +On the morning of the 28th, they again made sail, and landed the same +evening in a small cove of a bay between Vieux Cap Francois and Cap +Cabron. Here, to their bitter disappointment, they could get nothing +to eat--not even a spring of fresh water could be found,--and all the +nourishment they had that night was a few limpets, and the rain water +that had remained in the holes of the rocks,--sorry fare for men who +had been exposed to the inclemency of the weather for two days and two +nights, in open boats, without food. + +However, it was a great thing to be on shore; for many of the people +had suffered severely from being so closely stowed in the bottom of +the boats, and their limbs had been terribly cramped. They now wisely +endeavoured to make themselves as comfortable as circumstances +allowed, by lighting a fire to keep off the insects, and to dry their +clothes, and then they composed themselves to sleep, which they much +needed. The next morning, being somewhat refreshed, they started +across the bay to a place called Margante, which they reached about +eight o'clock. Here they found the people well disposed towards them, +and they were able to purchase some beef and plantains, and plenty of +good water, of which they all gladly partook. The inhabitants informed +them that it was probable they might find a vessel at Port Plata that +could take them to St. Thomas's, that being the nearest port where +they were likely to fall in with any of His Majesty's ships. On the +30th of June, they departed from Margante, taking with them a pilot, +to guide them to Port Plata. In order to ease the boats, Captain +Bertram and part of the ship's company walked along the shore. Towards +evening, the people had gone upwards of twenty miles, and were so +exhausted, they were obliged to put into a small bay called Scott's +Bay (B. Ecossaise), where they came on shore and erected a tent, with +the sails of the boats and a few logs of mahogany. With the help of +some turtle, the whole of the ship's company were supplied with food; +and they remained on shore till the next morning, when the boats were +again launched, and all the party embarked in them, as there was no +way along the beech. They arrived safely at Port Plata at eleven +o'clock that night, and were received with great kindness and +humanity. Three houses were provided for the men and one for the +officers, and everything was done that could alleviate their +sufferings. Unfortunately there was no vessel at Port Plata large +enough to convey them to St. Thomas's. With some difficulty, a boat +was procured, in which Lieutenant Price was despatched to Turk's +Island, with a letter to the naval officer there, describing the +situation of the crew of the Persian, and requesting that assistance +might be afforded to Lieutenant Price to enable him to hire a vessel +to take the crew to St. Thomas's. + +Lieutenant Price made a successful voyage, and returned to Port Plata +on the 10th of July, with the government schooner Swift, and a hired +sloop. Three days were spent in fitting out these vessels with the +necessary stores, and on the evening of the 13th, the ship's company, +to the number of 112, embarked in them, and arrived at St. Thomas's on +the 22nd. The crew was by this time in a very sickly state; the +crowded state of the ships had engendered a complaint of which the +surgeon died an hour after they cast anchor; and there is little doubt +that had they been forty-eight hours longer on their passage, many +others would have fallen victims to the same disease. At St. Thomas's, +the sufferers received the care and attention they required, and were +sent home to England. + +We cannot conclude this account without quoting the following passage +from the narrative of Captain Bertram:--'I most justly attribute the +preservation of the ship's company to very great coolness and +persevering exertions of both officers and men, in keeping the boats +free from the water they shipped, and their great attention in +steering before the sea. I am happy to say that every man behaved with +a regularity that is seldom found on similar occasions: in fact, when +the little clothing the people had saved, and the remaining bread and +water, were from necessity ordered to be thrown overboard, there was +not a murmur,--they vied with each other who should obey the order +first.' + +In the year 1808, Captain Bertram, then a lieutenant, was appointed to +the Emerald, a 36-gun frigate, commanded by Captain the Honourable +Frederick Maitland. On the 13th of March, they were off the harbour of +Vivero, when a large French schooner was discovered at anchor, under +the protection of the batteries. Captain Maitland determined to +attempt to capture or destroy her, and accordingly he stood in for the +harbour at about five o'clock in the evening. The first fort, which +mounted eight 24-pounders, opened on the ship, as did also another +fort about a mile higher up, as soon as the frigate came within range. +As it was impossible to place the ship in a position to act upon both +batteries, Captain Maitland ordered Lieutenant Bertram, with a party +of marines and seamen, to storm the outer fort, whilst he took the +ship as near the inner fort as the water would allow. Mr. Bertram +succeeded in driving the enemy from the battery, and spiking the guns; +he then made the best of his way by the shore to take possession of +the schooner, which had been run upon the rocks. He was joined by Mr. +Baird, a midshipman, who had been sent with a party for the same +purpose. On the road they were met by a part of the schooner's crew, +consisting of about sixty men. These were speedily assailed by the two +young officers and their men, and put to flight. Lieutenant Bertram +then advanced towards the schooner, which proved to be L'Apropos, of +twelve 8-pounder carronades, and he persevered for several hours in +his attempts to get her afloat, under a galling fire of musketry from +the shore. All his efforts, however, were of no avail, as she had gone +on shore at high water; it therefore became necessary to set her on +fire, which was done; and the lieutenant returned with his party to +the Emerald. + +In this gallant exploit, nine men belonging to the Emerald were +killed, and Lieutenant Bertram and several others wounded. + +Captain Bertram, has lately accepted the rank of Retired Rear-Admiral. + + + + +THE PENELOPE. + + +We have now to relate the painful statement of a wreck, which was not +only one of the most disastrous, but the most disgraceful in its +consequences, of any that we have had to describe. + +Unfortunately, the loss of the ship is not the darkest side of the +picture; and the insubordination of the crew of the Penelope in the +hour of danger was as fatal to themselves as it was rare in its +occurrence. + +The Penelope, troop-ship, Commander James Galloway, sailed from +Spithead for Canada on the 31st of March, 1815, and had a favourable +passage to the Banks of Newfoundland. Here she fell in with large +masses of ice, fogs, and strong south-east winds, so that the captain +considered it unsafe to run in for the land until the weather cleared +up. On the 24th of April, they made the Island of Mequilon, and at the +same time encountered a very heavy gale from the north-west. On the +following day they were surrounded with ice, and were frozen up for +nearly twelve hours. When the ice gave way, all sail was set, and the +ship entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and for the next few days she +continued her course in a north-easterly direction, and passed between +the Islands of Brion and Magdalen. The frost during this time was so +severe, that the furled sails were frozen into a solid body. + +On the 29th, they met with large quantities of field ice, which gave +the sea the appearance of one entire sheet of ice, but it was not +strong enough to stop the ship's way. In the afternoon of that day, +the land about Cape Rozier, on the coast of Lower Canada, was visible. + +On the 30th, the weather was more moderate, though cloudy; at noon +they steered an eastward course, until the ship broke off about three +points, when at sunset they tacked, and stood in for the land, which +was set by the first lieutenant and the master, at three or four +leagues distance. + +At eight o'clock, they sounded in seventy-one fathoms; the vessel +broke off to the west by north, and the captain ordered the master to +go round the ship, and caution the men forward to keep a good look +out,--at the same time desiring him on no account to leave the deck. +The captain then sent for the first-lieutenant into his cabin, and was +in the act of pointing out to him the supposed situation of the vessel +on the chart; the line was at the same moment passing forward for +another cast of the lead, when the ship took the ground. + +'I cannot describe my feelings,' writes Captain Galloway, 'at that +moment; for having, for a long time, been almost deprived of my +eyesight by night, and also afflicted with rheumatic pains and other +complaints, I was unable to judge correctly of the extent of our +danger.' The helm was immediately put down, and the sails thrown +aback. One boat was then hoisted out to sound, and found two and a +half fathoms forward, and about three and a half fathoms aft, having +six fathoms a little on the starboard quarter. + +All the boats were immediately lowered, and the stream-anchor and +cable, with part of the messenger bent on to it, stowed in the +pinnace, which, from the strength of the current, was with great +difficulty towed to leeward by the other boats, and dropped into five +and a-half fathoms water. + +On heaving round, the anchor came home, which it continued to do until +more than half of the cable was run in, when it held fast, but without +altering the position of the vessel. The captain then gave orders to +heave overboard the guns, and cut away the anchors from the bows; but +all these attempts to lighten the vessel were of no avail. The wind, +which had been moderate when she first struck, had increased to a +gale, and the ship beat with such violence upon the rocks, that it +appeared impossible that she could hold together many hours. + +In this condition they were obliged to remain until daylight, exposed +to a cold north-east wind, and a pitiless storm of sleet and snow. The +officers did all in their power to sustain the courage of the men, but +unfortunately in many instances without success. Already symptoms of +insubordination had exhibited themselves, several had skulked below to +their hammocks, where they remained in defiance of every command and +entreaty of their officers. + +The topmasts were got over side to shore the ship up, but the motion +was so violent that the lashings gave way. At daylight, as the weather +did not moderate, and there was no prospect of saving the ship, orders +were given to get up the provisions. This, however, had been delayed +until it was too late; the water had risen over the orlop deck, and in +a short time gained the lower deck. All that was saved was thirty bags +of biscuits, and these so damaged by the salt water, that they were +totally unfit for use. + +The masts were about this time cut away, in order to ease the ship as +much as possible; they fell towards the shore about a cable's length +from the beach. The master was sent in the cutter to try to fasten a +rope to the shore, but the surf ran so high that the boat was stove, +and the crew with difficulty gained the beach. + +In this condition, with very little prospect of saving the lives of +the crew, the captain, anxious for the preservation of the public +dispatches, entrusted them to the purser, who, with Captain Moray +(aide-de-camp to Lieut. General Sir George Murray), in charge of the +military dispatches, embarked in the life-boat, to which a small line +was attached. They had, however, no better success than the other +boat, for as soon as they reached the surf, the boat capsized, and the +two officers swam to the shore with the dispatches tied round their +necks. + +Another cutter was then sent off in hopes that she would be more +successful, but she filled almost immediately; and the rope which was +fastened to her was obliged to be abandoned. + +By this time it was impossible to stand upon the deck, the sea made a +fair breach over the ship, and the water having rushed into the cabin, +the few bags of bread that had been stowed there for protection were +destroyed. + +The captain being unable from ill health to make any great exertion to +save his life, was lowered into the pinnace, into which were already +crowded as many men as she could hold, and they took another rope on +board, to make a last attempt to form a communication with the shore. +The boat had scarcely left the side of the ship before a sea struck +and upset her. The captain, supported by two men, made his way through +the surf with great difficulty and got on shore, followed by the rest +of the boat's crew, who, some by swimming and others by help of oars +and spars, saved themselves from destruction. The gig was now the only +boat left on board; she was lowered from the stern, and the first and +second lieutenants, with eighteen men, jumped into her. They were all +fortunate enough to reach the shore, and some of the men gallantly +returned to the vessel, and succeeded in landing about twenty others. +Again, the gig repaired to the wreck, and took off some more of the +crew, but this time she was unfortunately upset in the surf, though no +lives were lost. + +When the men left on the wreck saw themselves thus deprived of the +last chance of escape, they raised the most piteous cries for +assistance, although they knew that their comrades had no means of +affording it. It has been said that 'man is a bundle of +inconsistencies,' and here was a proof of the assertion. These were in +all probability the very men who had betaken themselves to their +hammocks a short time before, and had refused to assist in providing +for their own safety; they had disobeyed orders, and despised +discipline, and now we find them imploring others for that deliverance +which they had neglected to provide for themselves. Most of them had +been drinking the spirits, and were so stupified that they were +incapable of taking advantage of the floating spars and planks to +which they might have clung, and so gained the land. + +By drunkenness the bed of the ocean has been rendered a foul and +gloomy charnel house, where the bones of thousands of our fellow-men +await the summons of the Archangel's trumpets, when 'the sea shall +give up her dead.' The reckless seamen, though unprepared for another +world, hurry themselves into the presence of their Judge, to meet the +drunkard's doom. + +It has been related that upon one occasion, when the shipwreck of a +large packet seemed inevitable, the sailors grew tired of working at +the pumps, and shouted 'to the spirit-room!' They saw death staring +them in the face, and to drown their terror for the moment, they +desired to die drunk. A post-captain in the navy, who was on board the +packet, knowing what would be the result if they got at the spirits, +took his stand at the door of the spirit-room, with a pistol in each +hand, and declared in the most solemn manner, that he would shoot the +first man who attempted to enter. The men seeing themselves defeated, +returned to the pumps, and by the blessing of God, the vessel was +brought in safe with all her crew.[15] + +Unfortunate as was the situation of the helpless creatures on the +wreck of the Penelope, it was only a few degrees more wretched than +that of the officers and men on the shore. They had been cast at the +base of a steep mountain, bruised and benumbed by the cold; their +clothes were actually freezing on their backs, and they were without +provisions of any kind. Their first care was to search for wood and +kindle fires, which they at last succeeded in doing, and then they +dried their clothes--but before they could derive any benefit from the +fire, the intensity of cold had caused many of them extreme suffering; +they were frost-bitten in the hands and feet, and several lost their +toes. Some of the people were employed in constructing a tent with +branches of trees and blankets, others were searching for provisions +and securing such articles as were washed on shore from the ship. In +the evening, they found about sixty pieces of pork,--and with this and +some melted snow they satisfied the cravings of hunger and thirst. +Later in the evening several casks of wine, which had been stowed in +the ward-room, were washed on shore; but this, which might have proved +a blessing to all, was seized by a party of the men,--who broke open +the casks and drank to such an excess that they fell asleep, and were +found almost frozen to death. During the whole of the day the unhappy +men upon the wreck had never ceased supplicating their more fortunate +comrades to go to their assistance, but this was impossible; no human +effort could save them. As night drew on, their cries were redoubled, +and were still heard far above the howling and roaring of the +tempest, when darkness had hidden the ill-fated vessel from view. +About twelve o'clock three fearful crashes were followed by a still +more fearful sound--the last agonized shriek of many perishing +creatures. + + And then all was hushed, + Save the wild and remorseless dash + Of billows. BYRON. + +At daylight, the remains of the Penelope were again visible, but in +three separate pieces; all that were left on board had perished, save +one man, who was washed on shore nearly lifeless. + +The sufferings of these poor wretches must have been awful in the +extreme, for their agonies of mind appear to have surpassed those of +the body, and to have prolonged their lives by preventing them falling +into the torpor which precedes death from cold. So severe was the +frost, that the wreck had the appearance of huge masses of ice; and on +shore nothing but the very large fires that were kept burning could +have preserved the existence of the rest of the crew. + +Upon the ship breaking up, the spirits floated on shore, when there +ensued such a scene of tumult and insubordination as, happily for the +honour of the service, seldom occurs in the British navy. The men +broke open the casks, and before the officers were aware of it, +scarcely a man was to be seen sober. This brought with it its own +punishment; many had drank to such a degree that they fell lifeless in +the snow. The officers then caused the remainder of the rum to be +stove, excepting a certain quantity placed under their own care; but +when discipline is once broken, it is not easily restored. The next +day, forty-eight men deserted, after plundering several of their +shipmates, and breaking open every trunk that was washed up. These +paid the penalty of their crimes, for many of them were found dead in +the woods by the Canadians. + +We cannot do better than take up the account which is thus given by +one of the surviving officers:-- + +'With the remaining part of the crew the boats were hauled up, which +we began to repair the best way we could. Sails were made from a lower +and topmast studding-sail, which were fortunately washed ashore; a +cask of flour was also found, a part of which was made into dough, and +preparations were made to proceed to Quebec. + +'On the third day, a Canadian boat was passing, when the captain +ordered her to be detained to proceed to that port. With the +assistance of the cooking utensils found in the Canadian boat, all the +pork that could be found was cooked and served out to the different +boats, which was a very short allowance for two days. + +'On the sixth day of our misery, the weather moderated, the boats were +launched, and all hands embarked; sixty-eight persons in all, +including two women. The wind was favourable, but light; with rowing +and sailing, we got to Great Fox River that night, at which place we +were hospitably entertained with potatoes and salt at a Canadian hut. +Next morning we sailed for Gasper Bay, and reached Douglas Town in the +evening. + +'The captain and officers were accommodated at Mr. Johnston's, and the +crew lodged at the different huts around the place. After three days' +rest, we walked nine miles over the ice to where the transports lay; +leaving the sick at Douglas Town. The captain hoisted his pendant on +board the Ann, transport, and put a lieutenant in each of the others, +and an equal number of men. When the ice broke up, which was seven +days after we got on board, we dropped down to Douglas Town, and +embarked the sick, one of whom died, and two deserted. The next +morning we sailed for Quebec, where we arrived on the 28th, many of us +not having a change of clothes of any description.' + +In concluding the above narrative of the loss of this vessel, we will +quote the language of Captain Galloway, who thus deprecates, in strong +terms, the disgraceful conduct of the majority of the crew of the +Penelope:--'I feel it my duty,' he says, 'to state to you the infamous +conduct of the whole of the crew, with a very few exceptions. From the +time that the ship struck, their behaviour was not in the character of +British seamen in general; they had neither principle nor humanity; +some, in consequence, have suffered severely, and several died from +drunkenness.' + +Captain Galloway died in 1846. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] _Parliamentary Report_, 255. + + + + +THE ALCESTE. + + +At the close of 1815, the Court of Directors of the East India Company +having represented to the British Government the impediments thrown in +the way of our trade with China, by the impositions practised by the +local authorities at Canton, it was determined to send an embassy to +the court of Pekin. + +Lord Amherst was selected to undertake the mission, and Mr. Henry +Ellis was appointed secretary to the embassy. + +The Alceste, a frigate of 46 guns, under the command of Captain, +afterwards Sir Murray Maxwell, was fitted up for the reception of the +ambassador and his suite. + +On the 9th of February, 1816, the expedition sailed from Spithead, +and arrived in the China seas about the middle of July following. It +is not in our province to give any account of the proceedings of the +embassy, which have already been so ably described, and are well +known. + +His excellency, having accomplished the object of his mission, took his +departure from China on the 9th of January, 1817, arrived at Manilla +on the 3rd of February, and finally sailed from thence in the Alceste, +on the 9th of the same month. + +Captain Maxwell directed the ship's course to be steered towards the +Straits of Gaspar, in preference to those of Banca, as affording, at +that period of the monsoon, the most convenient and speedy egress from +the China seas; and though this passage is not so often taken as that +of Banca, the Gaspar Straits appeared by the plans and surveys laid +down in the Admiralty charts, as well as in those of the East India +Company, to be, not only wider, but to have a much greater depth of +water, and to offer fewer difficulties to navigation. + +Early on the morning of the 18th of February, they made the Island of +Gaspar, and in a short time, Pulo Leat, or Middle Island, was descried +from the mast-head. The weather was remarkably fine and clear,--a mild +breeze blowing from the north-west, and the surface of the water +gently agitated by the current, which perpetually sets through the +straits, either to the south-east or south-west, according to the +monsoon. + +The sea, which is usually so clear in these climates, had been greatly +discoloured that morning by a quantity of fish spawn, a circumstance +of not unfrequent occurrence in those seas; and the navigation being +thus rendered more dangerous, unusual precautions were taken for +ensuring the safety of the ship. A man was stationed at the +foretopmast head, and others at the fore-yardarms. Captain Maxwell, +with the master and other officers, was upon deck, 'steering, under +all these guarded circumstances,' (writes an eye-witness,) 'the +soundings corresponding so exactly with the charts, and following the +express line prescribed by all concurring directions, to clear every +danger,--and it was the last danger of this sort between us and +England,--when the ship, about half-past seven in the morning, struck +with a horrid crash on a reef of sunken rocks, and remained +immoveable.' 'What my feelings were,' says Captain Maxwell, 'at this +momentary transition from a state of perfect security to all the +horrors of a shipwreck, I will not venture to depict; but I must +acknowledge, it required whatever mental energy I possessed to control +them, and to enable me to give with coolness and firmness the +necessary orders preparatory to abandoning the ship,--which a very +short period of hard working at all the pumps showed the +impracticability of saving.' + +The carpenter very soon reported the water above the tanks in the main +hold, and in a few minutes more, over the orlop deck. + +The quarter boats had been instantly lowered to sound, and reported +deep water all round the reef, ten fathoms immediately under the +stern, and seventeen about a quarter of a cable further off,--so that +it was but too evident that the preservation of the crew depended +solely upon the vessel's remaining fast where she was. + +The first care of Captain Maxwell was for the safety of Lord Amherst +and his suite; the boats were quickly hoisted out, and before +half-past eight, he had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing the +ambassador and all his attendants safely embarked in them. + +For the better protection of the embassy, an officer was sent in the +barge, with a guard of marines, to conduct them to Pulo Leat, between +three and four miles distant, and from which it was hoped that plenty +of water and abundance of tropical fruits might be procured. + +Meanwhile the officers and men exerted themselves most indefatigably +to save some of the provisions,--a task by no means easy of +accomplishment, as the holds and everything in them were submerged in +water. Towards the afternoon, the boats returned from the shore, and +the men reported that they had had great difficulty in landing his +excellency, from the mangrove trees growing out to a considerable +distance in the water; and it was not until they had pulled three or +four miles from the place where they first attempted to land that they +were enabled to reach terra firma. They also stated that neither food +nor water could be discovered on the island. Unpromising as +appearances were, there was no alternative but to seek shelter on the +inhospitable shore. Accordingly, every preparation was made, and by +eight o'clock P.M., the people were all landed, excepting one +division, who remained on board the wreck, with the captain, first +lieutenant, and some other officers. + +About midnight, the wind had greatly increased, and the ship became so +uneasy from her heeling to windward, that fears were entertained for +the safety of those on board. To prevent her falling further over, the +topmasts were cut away, and as the wind became more moderate towards +daylight, the ship remained stationary, and all apprehensions were +removed. The boats did not return to the wreck till between six and +seven o'clock in the morning, and they brought no better tidings as to +the capabilities of the island to furnish food and other necessaries +for the subsistence of so many human beings. + +A raft had been constructed during the previous day, upon which the +small quantity of provisions they had been able to collect, together +with some of the baggage of the embassy, and clothes and bedding of +the officers and men, had been transported to the shore. + +In the course of the forenoon, Captain Maxwell thought it right to +confer with Lord Amherst as to his further movements; he accordingly +quitted the wreck, and went on shore. He left the vessel in charge of +Mr. Hick, the first lieutenant, with orders that every effort should +be made to get at the provisions and the water, and that a boat should +remain by the wreck for the safety of the men in case of any +emergency. Captain Maxwell reached the shore about half-past eleven +A.M., and we may imagine the bitterness of his distress on finding the +ambassador, surrounded by his suite, and the officers and men of the +Alceste, in the midst of a pestilential saltwater marsh. + +The scene is well described by Mr. McLeod. 'The spot in which our +party were situated was sufficiently romantic, but seemed, at the same +time, the abode of ruin and of havoc. Few of its inhabitants (and +among the rest the ambassador) had now more than a shirt or a pair of +trousers on. The wreck of books, or, as it was not unaptly termed, 'a +literary manure,' was spread about in all directions; whilst +parliamentary robes, court dresses, and mandarin habits, intermixed +with check shirts and tarry jackets, were hung around in wild +confusion on every tree.' + +The situation in which Captain Maxwell was placed was, indeed, a most +trying one, and such he felt it to be, for, from the lowest seaman to +the ambassador himself, every one looked to him for relief and +direction in his perilous position. Captain Maxwell was fully +competent to meet the emergency; and, said he, 'I had the consolation +left me, to feel with confidence that all would follow my advice, and +abide by my decision, whatever it might be.' + +His first care was for the safety of Lord Amherst; and in a short +conference with his excellency and Mr. Ellis, the second commissioner, +it was arranged that the embassy should proceed to Batavia in the +barge and cutter, with a guard of marines to defend the boats from any +attack of the pirates. Mr. Ellis promised that if they arrived safely +at Batavia, he would himself return, in the first vessel that should +put off, to the assistance of those who remained on the island. + +A small quantity of provisions, and nine gallons of water, was all +that could be spared from their very scanty store; but at sunset every +heart was exhilarated by hope and sympathetic courage, on seeing the +ambassador strip, and wade off to the boats, with as much cheerfulness +as if he had stepped into them under a salute. At seven o'clock, the +barge, under the charge of Lieutenant Hoppner, and the cutter, +commanded by Mr. Mayne, the master, containing in all forty-seven +persons, took their departure for Batavia, accompanied by the anxious +thoughts and good wishes of their fellow-sufferers, who were left to +encounter new dangers. + +Captain Maxwell's first order was to direct a party to dig in search +of water. The men had begun to suffer greatly from thirst, as for the +last two days they had had scarcely a pint of water each--one small +cask only having been saved from the ship. The next step was to remove +their encampment to higher ground, where they could breathe a purer +air, and be in greater safety in case of attack. + +In a short time the island presented a scene of bustle and activity +strangely at variance with the dreary solitude it had exhibited two +days before; and the once silent woods resounded with the voices of +men, and the strokes of the axe and the hammer. One party was employed +in cutting a path to the summit of the hill, another in removing +thither their small stock of provisions. A few men were on board the +wreck, endeavouring to save every article that might prove of general +use. + +About midnight, the men who had been employed for so many hours on a +most fatiguing and harassing duty, and exposed to the burning rays of +a vertical sun, began to suffer most painfully from increased thirst, +and it was at that moment when they were almost bereft of hope that +they experienced one of the many merciful interpositions of Providence +by which the Almighty displays His tender care for His creatures: a +plentiful shower of rain fell, which the people caught by spreading +out their table cloths and clothes; and then, by wringing them, a +degree of moisture was imparted to their parched lips, and their +hearts were revived, and prepared to hear the joyful news, which was +communicated by the diggers soon after midnight, that they had found +water in the well, and a small bottle of this most dearly prized +treasure was handed to the captain. So great was the excitement of the +people on receiving the announcement, that it became necessary to +plant sentries, in order to prevent their rushing to the well and +impeding the work of the diggers. + +On the morning of the 20th, the captain called all hands together, and +pointed out to them the critical nature of their position, and the +absolute necessity of their uniting as one man to overcome the +difficulties by which they were surrounded. He reminded them that they +were still amenable to the regulations of naval discipline, and +assured them that discipline would be enforced with even greater +rigour, if necessary, than on board ship; and that in serving out the +provisions the strictest impartiality should be observed, and all +should share alike until the arrival of assistance from Lord Amherst. + +During this day, the well afforded a pint of water to each man; the +water is said to have tasted like milk and water, and when a little +rum was added to it, the men persuaded themselves it resembled +milk-punch, and it became a favourite beverage with them. + +The people were employed during the 20th much in the same manner as on +the previous day, but very few things could be obtained from the ship, +every article of value being under water. + +On Friday, the 21st, the party stationed on board the wreck observed a +number of proahs full of Malays, apparently well armed, coming towards +them. Being without a single weapon of defence, they could only jump +into their boats without loss of time, and push for the land. The +pirates followed closely in pursuit but retreated when they saw two +boats put out from the shore to the assistance of their comrades. The +Malays then returned to the ship and took possession of her. In an +instant all was activity and excitement in the little camp. + +'Under all the depressing circumstances attending shipwreck,' writes +Mr. McLeod, 'of hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and menaced by a ruthless +foe, it was glorious to see the British spirit stanch and unsubdued. +The order was given for every man to arm himself in the best manner he +could, and it was obeyed with the utmost promptitude and alacrity. +Rude pike staves were formed by cutting down young trees; small +swords, dirks, knives, chisels, and even large spike nails sharpened, +were firmly fixed to the ends of these poles, and those who could find +nothing better hardened the end of the wood in the fire, and bringing +it to a sharp point, formed a tolerable weapon. There were, perhaps, a +dozen cutlasses; the marines had about thirty muskets and bayonets; +but we could muster no more than seventy-five ball cartridges among +the whole party. + +'We had fortunately preserved some loose powder, drawn from the upper +deck guns after the ship had struck (for the magazines were under +water in five minutes,) and the marines, by hammering their buttons +round, and by rolling up pieces of broken bottles in cartridges, did +their best to supply themselves with a sort of shot that would have +some effect at close quarters, and strict orders were given not to +throw away a single discharge until sure of their aim. + +'Mr. Cheffy, the carpenter, and his crew, under the direction of the +captain, were busied in forming a sort of abattis by felling trees, +and enclosing in a circular shape the ground we occupied; and by +interweaving loose branches with the stakes driven in among these, a +breast-work was constructed, which afforded us some cover, and must +naturally impede the progress of any enemy unsupplied with artillery.' + +The Malays had taken possession of some rocks, at no great distance +from where the crew of the Alceste were encamped, and here they +deposited the plunder they had taken from the wreck. It now became +necessary for Captain Maxwell to prepare against an attack. With a +very small stock of provisions, which, even if husbanded with the +greatest care, could last only a few days, he had to contend, with a +handful of men, many of them unarmed, against a host of savages, +perhaps the most merciless and inhuman that are to be found in any +part of the world. + +In the evening a general muster was called, and a rude and motley +group presented itself to the eye of the commander. But rough as was +the exterior, he well knew that there was that within which would bid +defiance to danger and outrage so long as life should last. + +So stanch and resolute was the spirit diffused through all the little +band, that Mr. McLeod says,--'Even the boys had managed to make fast +table-forks on the end of sticks for their defence. One of them, who +had been severely bruised by the falling of the masts, and was slung +in his hammock between two trees, had been observed carefully fixing, +with two sticks and a rope yarn, the blade of an old razor. On being +asked what he meant to do with it, he replied, 'You know I cannot +stand, but if any of these fellows come within reach of my hammock, +I'll mark them.' + +The officers and men were divided into companies, and every precaution +adopted to secure the slender garrison from being taken by surprise. +The boats were hauled closer up to the landing-place, and put under +the charge of an officer and guard. + +On Saturday morning, the 22nd, every effort was made to induce the +Malays to come to an amicable conference, but without success. Mr. +Hay, the second lieutenant, was, therefore, ordered to proceed to the +ship, with the barge, cutter, and gig, (armed in the best manner +possible under the circumstances,) and to gain possession of her by +fair means or by force. No sooner did the pirates see the boats put +out towards the wreck, than they left the vessel, though not before +they had set fire to her, thus performing an act which was of great +service to the crew of the Alceste; for by burning her upperworks and +decks, everything buoyant could float up from below and be more easily +laid hold of. The ship continued to burn during the night, and the +flames, as they darted from her sides, shed a ruddy glare upon the +wild scenery around, and breaking through the shade of the thick and +lofty trees rested upon a landscape worthy of the pencil of Salvator +Rosa. + +Upon the summit of a hill, and under the spreading branches of the +majestic trees, was a rude encampment, formed by the erection of a few +wigwams; whilst here and there, collected together in groups and +reclining in different attitudes, were parties of men armed with pikes +or cutlasses, in their ragged, unwashed, and unshorn appearance, +resembling rather a gang of banditti, than the crew of a British ship +of war. + +It was with the most painful feelings that both officers and men +witnessed the gradual destruction of the gallant ship, which had been +their home for so many months. + +No one but a sailor can understand the devotion with which a brother +sailor regards his ship, and we cannot better describe it than in the +words of Captain Basil Hall:-- + +'We do truly make the ship our home, and we have no other thoughts of +professional duty or of happiness, but what are connected with the +vessel in which we swim; we take a pride in her very looks, as we +might in those of a daughter; and bring up her crew to honourable +deeds, as we should wish to instruct our sons. The rate of sailing of +each ship in a fleet is a subject of never-ending discussion amongst +all classes of officers, midshipmen, and crews, every one of whom +considers his own individual honour involved in all the ship does or +is capable of doing. + +'This is true almost universally, but it is most striking, no doubt, +in our first ship, which like our first love, is supposed to drink up +from our opening feelings the richest drops of sentiment, never to be +outdone, or even equalled by future attachments. + +'I owe, indeed, much good companionship, and many sincere obligations +to other vessels; yet I am sure that if I live to be Lord High +Admiral, the old Leander must still be nearest and dearest to my +nautical heart. I remember every corner about her, every beam, every +cabin, every gun.' + +The same feeling, no doubt, existed in the breast of every man and +boy who now stood watching, with painful interest, the fate of the old +ship; all had been too actively employed from the time the vessel +first struck to think of anything save of providing means for their +own preservation; but now, in the dead hour of night, thrown upon a +strange shore, and surrounded by enemies, the thought, perhaps, that +they might never again see their native land or their beloved kindred, +might steal over their hearts, and fill them with sad forebodings. By +degrees the fire became less and less vivid; for an instant, at times, +a brighter flame illuminated the sky, throwing up a shower of golden +sparks--then all was darkness,--a darkness which was felt by all; for +it told that nought remained of their old home, save a smouldering +hull,--that thus was severed, perhaps, the last link between them and +England. + +During the night that followed this sad scene, an incident occurred +which, though it occasioned considerable alarm at the time, became a +source of amusement afterwards. + +A sentry, startled by the approach of a very suspicious looking +personage, who was making towards him, levelled his musket and fired. +In an instant the whole camp was alive with excitement, supposing that +they were attacked by the savages, when; behold, the enemy turned out +to be a large baboon, one of a race that abounded in the island. These +creatures became very troublesome; they were most audacious thieves, +and even carried away several ducks which had been saved from the +wreck; till at last the poor birds were so frightened that they left +their little enclosure and voluntarily sought for safety and +protection amongst the people. + +From the morning of Sunday, the 23rd, till Wednesday, the 26th, the +men were busied in saving whatever they could from the hull of the +Alceste, and they were fortunate enough to obtain several casks of +flour, a few cases of wine, and a cask of beer, besides between fifty +and sixty boarding-pikes, and eighteen muskets, all of which proved +most acceptable. + +A second well had been sunk, which supplied clearer water, and in +great abundance, so that they possessed one of the chief necessaries +of life in plenty. + +Everything now wore a more favourable aspect. The Malays had retired +behind a little island (called Palo Chalacca, or Misfortune's Isle), +about two miles distant; and although they were expected to return +speedily with a reinforcement, the crew of the Alceste were better +prepared for them. The gunner had been actively employed in forming +musket cartridges; and, by melting down some pewter basons and jugs, +with a small quantity of lead obtained from the wreck, balls had been +cast, in clay moulds, which not a little increased their confidence +and feeling of security. + +Under the able command of Captain Maxwell, the greatest regularity and +order prevailed amongst the people. Every man appeared happy and +contented with his lot; for each man, from the highest to the lowest, +encouraged his neighbour by his own good conduct, whilst he in turn +received encouragement from the example of those above him. The +provisions were served out with the strictest impartiality. 'The mode +adopted by Captain Maxwell,' (writes Mr. M'Leod,) 'to make things go +as far as possible, was to chop up the allowance for the day into +small pieces, whether fowls, salt beef, pork, or flour, mixing the +whole hotch-potch, boiling them together, and serving out a measure to +each publicly and openly, and without any distinction. By these means +no nourishment was lost: it could be more equally divided than by any +other way; and although necessarily a scanty, it was by no means an +unsavoury mess.' + +Early on Wednesday morning, Lieutenant Hay, who had charge of the +boats, observed two pirate proahs nearing the island, as if to +reconnoitre; he immediately made a dash at them, with the barge, +cutter, and gig. The barge closed with the Malays first, and a +desperate conflict ensued. There was only one musket in the boat, +which Mr. Hay used to some purpose, for he killed two of the savages +with his own hand. In the meantime, the other two boats had come up to +the assistance of their comrades. One more pirate was shot dead, and +another knocked down with the butt-end of a musket; yet the rest +continued to fight with savage ferocity, until, seeing that resistance +was fruitless, they jumped into the sea and drowned themselves, +choosing to perish rather than yield. During the engagement, an +officer who was on the beach, observed a canoe, which had been cut +away from one of the proahs, drifting not many yards from the spot +where he stood; and as he thought the prize worth securing, he entered +the water, and swam towards it. He had nearly attained his object, +when those who watched him from the shore perceived an enormous shark +hovering about. They were almost petrified with horror; anxious to +make their friend aware of his danger, yet not daring to call out to +warn him, lest a sudden perception of the perils of his situation, and +of the proximity of his formidable enemy, should unnerve him, and thus +deprive him of the slight chance of escape that remained. Breathless +and silent then they stood, and marked the movements of the shark with +trembling anxiety. He seemed to be so sure of his prey, that he was in +no haste to seize it, but swam leisurely about, crossing and +recrossing betwixt the doomed victim and the shore, as if gloating +himself, and sharpening his appetite by gazing on the anticipated +feast. The officer, too, seemed to be luxuriating in the refreshing +coolness of the water, calmly approaching the canoe, happily +unconscious of his danger; but the shark followed him closely: his +life depended upon a swimmer's stroke, or the whim of a moment. The +anxiety of the spectators became agony; but that moment was +decisive--the swimmer struck out once more--the canoe was gained, and +he was saved. + +Then, and then only, did he become aware of the horrible fate that had +threatened him, and of the merciful interposition of Providence in his +behalf. + +In the course of this day fourteen proahs and smaller boats were +observed standing towards the island, from the Banca side, and every +heart bounded with joy in the full anticipation that it was a party +sent by Lord Amherst from Batavia, to their relief. Their joy, +however, did not last long, for they soon found that the boats had +come only to gather a kind of sea-weed much esteemed by Chinese +epicures, who use it, as they do birds' nests, in their soup. + +Consultations were held that night as to the policy of negotiating +with these people, so as to induce them, by promises of reward, to +convey part of the crew of the Alceste to Java--the four remaining +boats would then be sufficient for the transport of the rest. + +But the morning dawn put all such plans to flight, and revealed the +true character of the Malays. No sooner did they perceive the wreck, +than they started off to her and plundered the hull of everything they +could carry away. No assistance was to be expected from these +rapacious thieves; and as the time had elapsed which was required to +bring succour from Batavia, measures were taken to repair the launch +and to construct a raft to enable the people to leave the island +before their provisions should be completely exhausted. + +Matters now began to assume a more formidable aspect, for on +Saturday, the 1st of March, the Malay force was increased by the +arrival of several proahs, who joined in breaking up the remains of +the wreck. + +At daybreak on Sunday, the 2nd, the camp was alarmed, and all were +called to arms by the yells of the savages, who, firing their +partereroes, and beating their gongs, advanced with about twenty of +their heaviest vessels towards the landing-place, and anchored within +a cable's length of the shore. + +After a short deliberation, a boat full of men armed with creeses +approached the shore, and was met by a canoe containing an officer and +party with a letter from Captain Maxwell, addressed to the chief +authority at Minto, stating the situation of the Alceste's crew, and +praying that assistance might be sent to them. + +The officer placed this letter in the hands of the Malays, repeatedly +pronounced the word Minto, and showed them a dollar, to intimate that +they would be well rewarded if they returned with an answer. They +appeared to understand the mission, and to be willing to execute it; +but, as may be supposed, the service was never performed. + +Meantime the Malay forces continued to increase; no less than fifty +proahs and boats of different sizes were collected, and, on a moderate +computation, they had 500 men on board. Their mischievous intentions +were too evident; they drew closer and closer to the shore, prevented +the escape of any of the ship's boats, and even had recourse to +stratagem in order to gain possession of the much-desired booty. One +party declared that all the Malays except themselves were hostile, and +urged that they might be allowed to go to the camp to guard the crew +of the Alceste. This kind offer was of course refused. 'We can trust +to ourselves,' was the reply. The plot began to thicken; the odds +seemed fearfully against the heroic little band, who, badly armed, +and worse provisioned, had to make good their position against a +multitude of foes--matchless amongst savages in cunning and cruelty. +But in proportion to the imminence of the danger rose the courage of +our countrymen. + +Mr. M'Leod relates that, in the evening, when Captain Maxwell had +assembled, as usual, the men under arms, for the purpose of inspecting +them, he addressed them in these words: 'My lads, you must all have +observed this day, as well as myself, the great increase of the +enemy's force (for enemies we must now consider them), and the +threatening position they have assumed. I have, on various grounds, +strong reason to believe they will attack us this night. I do not wish +to conceal our real state, because I think there is not a man here who +is afraid to face any sort of danger. We are now strongly fenced in, +and our position in all respects is so good, that armed as we are, we +ought to make a formidable defence even against regular troops; what, +then, would be thought of us, if we allowed ourselves to be surprised +by a set of naked savages with their spears and their creeses? + +'It is true they have swivels in their boats, but they cannot act +here; I have not observed that they have any matchlocks or muskets; +but if they have, so have we! + +'I do not wish to deceive you as to the means of resistance in our +power. When we were first thrown together on shore we were almost +defenceless. Seventy-five ball-cartridges only could be mustered; we +have now sixteen hundred. They cannot, I believe, send up more than +five hundred men, but, with two hundred such as now stand around me, I +do not fear a thousand--nay, fifteen hundred of them! I have the +fullest confidence that we shall beat them. The pikemen standing firm, +we can give them such a volley of musketry as they will be little +prepared for, and when we find they are thrown into confusion, we'll +sally out among them, chase them into the water, and ten to one but we +secure their vessels. Let every man, therefore, be on the alert with +his arms in his hands; and should these barbarians this night attempt +our hill, I trust we shall convince them that they are dealing with +Britons!' + +This short but spirited appeal had its full effect upon the hearts to +whom it was addressed. It was answered by three wild hurras, which +were taken up by the piquets and outposts, and resounded through the +woods. The British cheer struck the savages with terror; they no doubt +thought it preceded an attack, and they were observed making signals +with lights to some of their tribe behind the islet. + +The night passed undisturbed, and daylight discovered the pirates in +the same position, their force increased by ten proahs, making their +number at least six hundred men. The situation of Captain Maxwell and +his party became hourly more critical; the provisions could not last +long--something must be done--some plan must be decided on. They had +but little choice; they must either make a dash at the pirates, and +seize their boats, with the certainty of being all butchered should +they not succeed,--and the odds were fearfully against them,--or they +must maintain their present position, in the hope that aid might be +sent from Java, in time to save them from a scarcely less horrible +fate--the lingering death of famine. + +Under these depressing circumstances, the spirits of the men never for +a moment seemed to flag. True 'hearts of oak,' their courage increased +with their difficulties, and the prevailing desire amongst them was, +to rush upon the enemy and get possession of their boats, or perish in +the attempt. + +But for this day, at least, they were ordered to remain passive; +perhaps in coming to this decision, the wise and brave commander of +the party may have remembered another captain who was 'in a great +strait,' and who said, 'Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, +for His mercies are great, and let me not fall into the hand of man,' +The decision, then, was to wait; and the hours rolled on till +afternoon, when an officer ascended one of the loftiest trees, and +thence he thought he descried a sail at a great distance. The joyful +news seemed too good to be true. + +A signal-man was sent up with a telescope, to sweep the horizon. The +eager and intense anxiety that pervaded the little band, until he +could report his observations, may be better imagined than described. +At last, he announced that the object was indeed a brig, or a ship, +standing towards the island under all sail. The joy was unbounded and +overpowering. Men felt as if awaking from some horrible dream; and, +doubtless, many an honest heart was uplifted in thankfulness to the +Almighty, for the mercy vouchsafed in delivering them from what had +appeared, a few minutes before, to be certain destruction. + +There remains little more to be told; the vessel proved to be the +Ternate, which Lord Amherst had sent to their assistance. The pirates +took to flight as soon as they discovered the ship, but not before +they had received a volley from the Alceste's people, unfortunately +without effect. + +It was not till Friday, the 7th of March, that all were embarked on +board the Ternate. They arrived safely at Batavia on the 9th, and were +most kindly received by Lord Amherst, who converted his table into a +general mess for the officers, as well as the embassy; comfortable +quarters were also provided for the men; and in their present +enjoyment they all soon forgot the hardships they had suffered. + +In conclusion, we will quote the following passage from the pen of Mr. +M'Leod:--'It is a tribute due to Captain Maxwell to state (and it is a +tribute which all will most cheerfully pay) that, by his judicious +arrangements, we were preserved from all the horrors of anarchy and +confusion. His measures inspired confidence and hope, while his +personal example in the hour of danger gave courage and animation to +all around him.' Nor ought we to omit the high and well deserved +praise which Captain Maxwell bestowed upon the ship's company in his +examination before the court martial. + +'I should be trespassing far too long upon the time of this court,' +said Captain Maxwell, 'were I to bring all before them whose conduct +merited applause; but I can with great veracity assure the court, that +from the captain to the smallest boy, all were animated by the spirit +of Britons; and, whatever the cause was, I ought not to regret having +been placed in a position to witness all the noble traits of character +this extraordinary occasion called forth; and having seen all my +companions in distress fairly embarked, I felt in walking off to the +boat that my heart was lifted up with gratitude to a kind Providence +that had watched over us.' + + +Captain Murray Maxwell commenced his naval career under the auspices +of Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, and obtained his first commission as +lieutenant in 1796, and was subsequently promoted to the command of +the Cyane, in December, 1802. + +In the following year he was appointed to the Centaur, and received +his post commission on the 4th of August, in the same year. In 1804, +Captain Maxwell distinguished himself at the capture of Surinam, and +for his conduct on that occasion was highly mentioned in the +dispatches. + +This officer was constantly employed in the late war, and +distinguished himself on so many occasions, that we can only briefly +allude to one or two instances where his gallantry was most +conspicuous. In 1806, he was appointed to the Alceste, and on the 4th +of April, 1808, whilst that vessel, in company with the Mercury, +Captain James Alexander Gordon, and the Grasshopper, 18-gun sloop, lay +at anchor near Cadiz, a large convoy under the protection of several +gun-boats, was seen coming close in shore from the northward. + +Captain Maxwell determined to attempt their capture, and accordingly, +the Alceste and Mercury attacked the gun-boats, whilst the +Grasshopper, stationed close to the batteries of Rota, by a well +directed fire, succeeded in driving the Spaniards from their guns. The +gun-boats being thrown into confusion, the first-lieutenant of the +Alceste, Mr. Allen Stewart, and Lieutenant Watkin Owen Pell of the +Mercury, volunteered to board the enemy in the boats. They accordingly +dashed in among the convoy, boarded and brought out seven tartans from +under the very muzzles of the enemy's guns, though supported by +several armed boats sent from Cadiz to their assistance. + +Captain Maxwell was actively employed on the coast of Italy until +1811, when we find him cruizing in the Adriatic, in company with the +Active, Captain James Alexander Gordon, and a 36-gun frigate, the +Unite, Captain Edward Henry Chamberlain. On the morning of the 28th of +November, the little squadron was lying in Port St. George, Island of +Lissa, when signals were made that there were three suspicious sail +south. The three frigates immediately got under weigh, and on the +morning of the 29th came within sight of the strange vessels, which +proved to be the Pauline, a 40-gun frigate, the Pomone, frigate, and +26-gun ship, Persanne. The French commodore, finding the English force +greater than he expected, bore up to the north-west, and the Persanne +separated, and stood to the north-east. The Unite was then despatched +in chase of the Persanne, and the Alceste and Active continued in +pursuit of the French frigates. + +In the course of a couple of hours the Alceste commenced action with +the Pomone, but an unlucky shot soon afterwards brought down the +main-topmast of the Alceste, and she was compelled to drop astern. The +Active speedily ranged alongside of the Pomone, and after a spirited +conflict, the latter ship was compelled to haul down her colours and +surrender. + +The Pauline, in the meantime, tacked, and poured her fire into the +Alceste, no doubt anticipating an easy victory from her disabled +state; but in this she was disappointed, for the fire was returned +with such effect, that after a warm conflict of two hours and twenty +minutes, the commodore made off to the westward, which, from the +crippled state of the Alceste, Captain Maxwell was unable to prevent. +In this action the Alceste lost twenty killed and wounded, the Active +thirty-five, and Pomone fifty. The gallant captain of the Active had +the misfortune to lose his leg, and his first lieutenant, William +Bateman Dashwood, had his right arm shot away: the command therefore +fell upon the second lieutenant, George Haye, who fought the action, +until her opponent surrendered. + +In 1813, Captain Maxwell had the misfortune to be wrecked in the +Daedalus, and in 1815 was again reappointed to the Alceste. On his +passage home, after the loss of that vessel, he touched at St. Helena, +and had an interview with Napoleon Buonaparte, who, reminding him of +the capture of the Pomone, said 'Vous etiez tres mechant. Eh bien! +your government must not blame you for the loss of the Alceste, for +you have taken one of my frigates.'[16] + +Captain Maxwell was nominated a C.B. in 1815, and received the honour +of knighthood in 1818. + +He died in June, 1831. + + + + +THE DRAKE. + + +The Drake, a small schooner, under the command of Captain Charles +Baker, had been despatched by the commander-in-chief on the +Newfoundland station, upon special duty to Halifax. + +Having accomplished the object of her mission there, she set sail +again to return to St. John's, on the morning of Thursday, the 20th of +June, 1822. The weather was unusually fine, the wind favourable, and +everything promised a short and prosperous voyage. + +Nothing occurred to retard the progress of the vessel until Sunday +morning, when the increasing thickness of the atmosphere betokened the +approach of one of those heavy fogs which so frequently hover over the +coast of Newfoundland. + +There are few things more perplexing to the mariner than to find +himself suddenly enveloped in one of these thick mists: it is +impenetrable gloom; night and day are both alike; the sails, saturated +with the watery vapour, hang heavily, and flap against the masts with +a sad foreboding sound, whilst every heart on board feels more or less +oppressed by the atmospheric influence, and every countenance +expresses languor or discontent. But these discomforts are minor evils +compared with other attendants upon a Newfoundland fog. It often +happens that, in spite of every precaution on the part of the men on +the look-out, the bows of the vessel run across some unfortunate +fishing boat; and before a single voice can be raised in warning, a +sudden shock, a smothered cry, a gurgling of the waves, tell the sad +tale! One moment, and all is silent; the ship pursues her course, and +no trace is left of the little vessel and her crew, for whom many days +and nights will anxious love keep watch; but those objects of a +mother's tenderness and of a wife's affection will never more gladden +the eyes of the watchers, till 'the sea shall give up her dead.' + +Would that such calamities were of less frequent occurrence. There is +one curious characteristic of these fogs, which in some degree +mitigates the evil of them: they sometimes do not extend beyond a few +miles, having the appearance of a huge wall of dense cloud or mist. A +vessel, after beating about for hours, will suddenly emerge from +almost total darkness, the clouds break away, and all hearts are +gladdened by finding themselves once more beneath the rays of the +glorious sun. + +Captain Basil Hall gives an amusing instance of such an occurrence. +The Cambrian 'had run in from sea towards the coast, enveloped in one +of these dense fogs. Of course they took it for granted that the +light-house and the adjacent land--Halifax included--were likewise +covered with an impenetrable cloud of mist; but it so chanced, by what +freak of Dame Nature I know not, that the fog on that day was confined +to the deep water, so that we who were in the port could see it at the +distance of several miles from the coast, lying on the ocean like a +huge stratum of snow, with an abrupt face fronting the shore. + +'The Cambrian, lost in the midst of this fog-bank, supposing herself +to be near land, fired a gun. To this the light-house replied; and so +the ship and the light-house went on pelting away gun for gun during +half the day, without seeing one another. + +'The people at the light-house had no means of communicating to the +frigate, that if she would only stand on a little further, she would +disentangle herself from the cloud, in which, like Jupiter Olympus of +old, she was wasting her thunder. At last, the captain, hopeless of +its clearing up, gave orders to pipe to dinner; but as the weather, in +all respects except this abominable haze, was quite fine, and the ship +was still in deep water, he directed her to be steered towards the +shore, and the lead kept constantly going. As one o'clock approached, +he began to feel uneasy, from the water shoaling, and the light-house +guns sounding closer and closer; but being unwilling to disturb the +men at their dinner, he resolved to stand on for the remaining ten +minutes of the hour. Lo and behold! however, they had not sailed half +a mile further before the flying gib-boom end emerged from the wall of +mist, then the bowsprit shot into daylight, and lastly, the ship +herself glided out of the cloud into the full blaze of a bright and +'sunshine holiday.' All hands were instantly turned up to make sail: +and the men, as they flew on deck, could scarcely believe their senses +when they saw behind them the fog-bank--right ahead the harbour's +mouth, with the bold cliffs of Cape Sambro on the left--and further +still, the ships at their moorings, with their ensigns and pendants +blowing out light and dry in the breeze.' + +But to return to our sad tale. Towards noon, the weather cleared up +for about a quarter of an hour, allowing just sufficient time to get a +good observation of the latitude, which, according to Captain Baker's +reckoning, made their position to be about ninety-one miles from Cape +Race, and fifty-one from Cape St. Mary's. + +They continued to steer east till about six o'clock in the evening, +when the breeze rather freshening, and the ship having run sixty miles +since noon, she was hauled off to south-east. + +The fog was then so dense that the men could not see more than twenty +yards beyond the ship, but as Captain Baker's orders were to use the +utmost dispatch, he determined to make the best of his way. Every +precaution was taken, by using the lead, and by keeping a vigilant +look-out from every part of the ship. In this manner they proceeded, +carefully feeling the way, until about half-past seven o'clock, when +the look-out man shouted, 'Breakers ahead! Hard a-starboard!' The ship +was instantly hauled to the wind, but not being able to clear the +danger on that tack, every effort was made to stay the vessel, but +from the heavy sea, and whilst in stays, her stern took the breakers, +and she immediately fell broadside on, the sea breaking completely +over her. + +At the moment the ship struck, every man was on deck, and there was +such a universal feeling of confidence in the commander, that +notwithstanding their extreme peril, not the slightest confusion +ensued. Captain Baker's first order was to cut away the masts, so as +to lighten the vessel, and perhaps afford means of saving some of the +crew. The order was promptly executed, but unhappily without producing +the desired result, for in a few moments the ship bilged, and the +destruction of the whole crew appeared to be inevitable. + +Captain Baker then ordered the cutter to be launched, but they had +scarcely got her over the gangway before she sank. It was a time of +terrible anxiety for both officers and men; for, from the denseness of +the fog, they could not form a conjecture as to their actual +position, whilst the crashing of the masts, the strain of the vessel +upon the rocks, and the roar of the waters, as they swept over the +decks, added to the horrors of the scene. + +Captain Baker was as calm and self-possessed as if nothing unusual had +occurred, whilst the eyes of the men were fixed upon him, and they +were ready to obey every command with the same promptitude as when +performing the usual routine of ship's duty. + +Fortunately a small rock was discerned through the mist, and as it +seemed to be at no great distance, it presented a means of escape from +the most pressing danger. Without a moment's hesitation, a man of the +name of Lennard sprang forward, and seizing a lead-line, jumped into +the sea; but the current setting directly against him to the +northward, his efforts were unavailing, and with difficulty he was +dragged on board again. + +It might be supposed that Lennard's failure would have damped the +spirits of the men, and deterred them from a second attempt. But it +seems to have had a contrary effect, and to have stirred them up to +renewed exertion. A consultation was held as to the next steps to be +taken. The only hope that remained was in the gig, (the jolly-boat +having been washed away,) when Turner, the boatswain, as brave a +fellow as ever breathed, volunteered to make the attempt. He secured a +rope round his body, and was then lowered into the boat. The tackling +was let go, the men gave a cheer, and the boat, with its occupant, was +borne away by the current. + +With intense anxiety the men on the wreck watched the progress of +Turner, who had been carried in the boat to within a few feet of the +rock; then the watchers saw it balanced upon the crest of a huge wave, +and the next moment it was dashed to pieces upon the rock; the +boatswain, however, retained his presence of mind; he kept hold of +the rope when dashed out of the boat, and succeeded in scrambling up +the cliff. + +In the meantime, the waves were making heavy breaches over the ship; +the crew clung by the ropes on the forecastle; each succeeding wave +threatened them all with destruction; when a tremendous sea lifted her +quarter over the rock on which she had at first struck, and carried +her close to that on which the boatswain stood. The forecastle, which +up to this time had been the only sheltered part of the ship, was now +abandoned for the poop; and as Captain Baker saw no chance of saving +the vessel, he determined to remove the people from her if possible. + +Calling around him his officers and men, he communicated to them his +intentions, and pointed out the best means of securing their safety. +He then ordered every man to make the best of his way from the wreck +to the rock. Now, for the first time, his orders were not promptly +obeyed; all the crew to a man refused to leave the wreck unless +Captain Baker would precede them. There was a simultaneous burst of +feeling that did honour alike to the commander and the men. To the +former, in that he had so gained the affection and respect of his +people; and to the latter, inasmuch as they knew how to appreciate +such an officer. + +Never was good discipline displayed in a more conspicuous manner. No +argument or entreaty could prevail on Captain Baker to change his +resolution. He again directed the men to quit the vessel, calmly +observing that his life was the least, and last consideration. The +men, upon hearing this reiterated command, stepped severally from the +poop to the rock with as much order as if they had been leaving a ship +under ordinary circumstances. Unhappily, a few of them perished in the +attempt; amongst these was Lieutenant Stanley, who, being benumbed +with cold, was unable to get a firm footing, and was swept away by +the current, his companions, with every inclination, had not the power +to save him; he struggled for a few moments--was dashed with +irresistible force against the rocks, and the receding wave engulfed +its victim. + +When he had seen every man clear of the wreck, and not till then, did +Captain Baker join his crew. + +As soon as they had time to look about them, the ship's company +perceived that they were on an isolated rock, separated from the +mainland by a few fathoms. The rock rose some feet above the sea, but +to their horror they perceived that it would be covered at high-water. +It seemed as if they were rescued from one fearful catastrophe, only +to perish by a more cruel and protracted fate. They watched the waters +rise inch by inch around them, appalled by the feeling that those +waters must sooner or later close over them for ever, and that nothing +could save them except the outstretched arm of Him who could bid the +waves be stayed, and say to the stormy winds, be still. Every man is +more or less courageous under circumstances of danger, when it is +attended by excitement,--such as that of the battlefield. There is a +courage which springs from companionship in danger, and a courage +derived from the fear of shame; but the test of true valour is a scene +like that we have described. _There_ was no room for a display of the +adventitious bravery which often becomes in reality the thing it +strives to appear. No man _there_ could reproach his neighbour if his +cheek should blanch and his lip quiver; all are alike appalled, but +the well-regulated mind rises superior to the rest. Such was the case +with Captain Baker. Although he could not conceal from himself that +their condition was almost hopeless, he continued with his voice to +encourage the timid, and by his arm to support the weak. + +By degrees the fog had partially dispersed, and as the dawn began to +break, a dreary prospect was displayed. The haggard countenances and +lacerated limbs of the men told the sufferings they had endured, +whilst the breakers, which they had only heard before, became +distinctly visible. Still the devoted crew, following the example of +their commander, uttered no complaint. They were ready to meet death, +yet they felt it hard to die without a struggle. The tide was rising +rapidly, and if anything was to be done, it must be done instantly. +The boatswain, who had never lost hold of the rope, determined at all +hazards to make another effort to save his comrades, or to perish in +the attempt. + +Having caused one end of the rope to be made fast round his body, and +committing himself to the protection of the Almighty, he plunged into +the sea, and struck out in the direction of the opposite shore. + +It was an awful moment to those who were left behind; and in +breathless suspense they waited the result of the daring attempt. All +depended upon the strength of his arm. At one moment he was seen +rising on the crest of the wave, at the next he disappeared in the +trough of the sea; but in spite of the raging surf, and of every other +obstacle, he reached the shore, and an inspiring cheer announced his +safety to his comrades. + +As soon as he had recovered his breath and strength, he went to the +nearest point opposite the rock, and, watching his opportunity, he +cast one end of the line across to his companions. Fortunately it +reached the rock, and was gladly seized, but it proved to be only long +enough to allow of one man holding it on the shore, and another on the +rock, at arm's length. It may be imagined with what joy this slender +means of deliverance was welcomed by all. The tide had made rapid +advances; the waves, as if impatient for their prey, threw the white +surf aloft, and dashed over the rock. + +Would that we could do justice to the noble courage and conduct +displayed by the crew of the Drake. Instead of rushing to the rope, as +many would have done under similar circumstances, not a man moved +until he was commanded to do so by Captain Baker. Had the slightest +hesitation appeared on the part of the commander, or any want of +presence of mind in the men, a tumultuous rush would have ensued, the +rope, held as it was with difficulty by the outstretched hand, would +inevitably have been lost in the struggle, and then all would have +perished. + +But good order, good discipline, and good feeling triumphed over every +selfish fear and natural instinct of self-preservation, and to the +honour of British sailors be it recorded, that each individual man of +the crew, before he availed himself of the means of rescue, urged his +captain to provide for his own safety first, by leading the way. But +Captain Baker turned a deaf ear to every persuasion, and gave but one +answer to all--'I will never leave the rock until every soul is safe.' + +In vain the men redoubled their entreaties that he would go; they were +of no avail; the intrepid officer was steadfast in his purpose. There +was no time for further discussion or delay. One by one the men +slipped from the rock upon the rope, and by this assistance forty-four +out of fifty succeeded in gaining the opposite shore. Unfortunately, +amongst the six who remained, one was a woman. This poor creature, +completely prostrate from the sufferings she had endured, lay +stretched upon the cold rock almost lifeless. To desert her was +impossible; to convey her to the shore seemed equally impossible. Each +moment of delay was fraught with destruction. A brave fellow, in the +generosity of despair, when his turn came to quit the rock, took the +woman in his arms, grasped the rope, and began the perilous transit. +Alas! he was not permitted to gain the desired shore. When he had made +about half the distance, the rope parted--not being strong enough to +sustain the additional weight and strain, it broke; the seaman and his +burden were seen but for an instant, and then swallowed up in the +foaming eddies. With them perished the last means of preservation that +remained for Captain Baker and those who were with him on the rock. +Their communication with the mainland was cut off; the water rose, and +the surf increased every moment; all hope was gone, and for them a few +minutes more must end 'life's long voyage.' + +The men on shore tried every means in their power to save them. They +tied every handkerchief and available material together to replace the +lost rope, but their efforts were fruitless; they could not get length +enough to reach the rock. A party was despatched in search of help. +They found a farm-house; and while they were in search of a rope, +those who stayed to watch the fate of their loved and respected +commander and his three companions, saw wave after wave rise higher +and higher. At one moment the sufferers disappeared in the foam and +spray; the bravest shuddered, and closed his eyes on the scene. Again, +as spell-bound, he looked; the wave had receded--they still lived, and +rose above the waters. Again and again it was thus; but hope grew +fainter and fainter. We can scarcely bring our narrative to an end; +tears moisten our page; but the painful sequel must be told. The fatal +billow came at last which bore them from time into eternity--all was +over. When the party returned from their inland search, not a vestige +of the rock, or of those devoted men, was to be seen. + + And is he dead, whose glorious mind + Lifts thine on high? + To live in hearts we leave behind, + Is not to die. CAMPBELL. + +We feel how inadequate have been our efforts to depict the +self-devotion of Captain Baker, and the courage and constancy of his +crew. The following letter, addressed to Lieutenant Booth, formerly an +officer of the Drake, will go farther than any panegyric we can offer, +to display the right feeling of the ship's company, and their just +appreciation of their brave and faithful commander. + + 'SIR,--Your being an old officer of ours in a former ship, and + being our first lieutenant in H.M. ship Drake, leads us to beg + that you will have the goodness to represent to our Lords + Commissioners of the Admiralty the very high sense of gratitude + we, the surviving petty officers and crew of his Majesty's late + ship Drake, feel due to the memory of our late much lamented, + and most worthy commander, who, at the moment he saw death + staring him in the face on one side, and the certainty of escape + was pointed out to him on the other, most stanchly and + frequently refused to attempt procuring his own safety, until + every man and boy had been rescued from the impending danger. + Indeed, the manliness and fortitude displayed by the late + Captain Baker on the melancholy occasion of our wreck was such + as never before was heard of. It was not as that of a moment, + but his courage was tried for many hours, and his last + determination of not crossing from the rock, on which he was + every moment in danger of being washed away, was made with more + firmness, if possible, than the first. In fact, during the whole + business he proved himself to be a man whose name and last + conduct ought ever to be held in the highest estimation by a + crew who feel it their duty to ask from the Lords Commissioners + of the Admiralty that, which they otherwise have not the means + of obtaining, that is, a public and lasting record of the + lion-hearted, generous, and very unexampled way in which our + late noble commander sacrificed his life in the evening of the + 23rd of June.' + +The above letter was signed by the surviving crew of the Drake. + +We need not add that their request was complied with; and a monument +erected to the memory of Captain Baker, in the chapel of the Royal +Dockyard at Portsmouth. + +At the request of the author, a friend, to whom he related the +pathetic story of the captain of the Drake, composed the following +verses on his untimely and romantic fate:-- + + THE LOSS OF THE DRAKE. + + 1. + + There's a garden full of roses, there's a cottage by the Dove; + And the trout stream flows and frets beneath the hanging crags above; + There's a seat beneath the tulip-tree, the sunbeams never scorch: + There's jasmine on those cottage walls, there's woodbine round the porch. + A gallant seaman planted them--he perished long ago; + He perished on the ocean-wave, but not against the foe. + + 2. + + He parted with his little ones beneath that tulip-tree; + His boy was by his father's side, his darling on his knee. + 'Heaven bless thee, little Emma; night and morning you must pray + To Him on high, who'll shield thee, love, when I am far away. + Nay, weep not!--if He wills it, I shall soon be back from sea; + Then how we'll laugh, and romp, and dance around the tulip-tree! + + 3. + + 'Heaven bless thee, too, my gallant boy! The God who rules the main + Can only tell if you and I shall ever meet again. + If I perish on the ocean-wave, when I am dead and gone + You'll be left with little Emma in a heartless world alone: + Your home must be her home, my boy, whenever you're a man; + You must love her, you must guard her, as a brother only can. + + 4. + + 'There's no such thing as fear, my boy, to those who trust on high; + But to part with all we prize on earth brings moisture to the eye. + There's a grave in Ilam Church-yard, there's a rose-tree marks that + grave; + 'Tis thy mother's: go and pray there when I'm sailing o'er the wave. + Think, too, sometimes of thy father, when thou kneel'st upon that sod, + How he lived but for his children, for his country, and his God.' + + 5. + + Farewell, farewell, thou gallant ship! thy course will soon be o'er; + There are mournful hearts on board thee, there are breaking hearts on + shore. + The mother mourned her sailor boy, the maiden mourned her love; + And one, on deck, was musing on a cottage, near the Dove: + But his features were unmoved, as if all feeling lay congealed; + They little knew how soft a heart that manly form concealed. + + 6. + + Beware, beware, thou gallant ship! there's many a rock ahead, + And the mist is mantling round thee, like a shroud around the dead. + The listless crew lay idly grouped, and idly flapped the sail, + And the sea-bird pierced the vapour with a melancholy wail. + So hushed the scene, they little deemed that danger was at hand, + Till they heard the distant breakers as they rolled upon the strand. + + 7. + + The winds were roused, the mist cleared off, the mighty tempest rose, + And cheeks were blanched that never yet had paled before their foes: + For the waves that heaved beneath them bore them headlong to the rock, + And face to face with death they stood, in terror of the shock. + A crash was heard--the ocean yawned--then foamed upon the deck, + And the gallant Drake, dismasted, on the waters lay a wreck! + + 8. + + On that rock they've found a refuge; but the waves that dash its side + They know, must sweep them from it at the flowing of the tide. + With the giant crags before them, and the boiling surge between, + There was one alone stood dauntless midst the horrors of the scene. + They watched the waters rising, each with aspect of dismay; + They looked upon their fearless chief, and terror passed away. + + 9. + + There's a gallant seaman battling with the perils of the main; + They saw the waves o'erwhelm him thrice, but thrice he rose again. + He bears a rope around him that may link them with the beach: + One struggle more, thou valiant man! the shore's within thy reach. + Now blest be He who rules on high; though some may die tonight, + There are more will live to brave again the tempest and the fight. + + 10. + + They gathered round their gallant chief, they urged him to descend, + For they loved him as their father, and he loved them as a friend. + 'Nay, go ye first, my faithful crew; to love is to obey,-- + 'Gainst the cutlass or the cannon would I gladly lead the way; + But I stir not hence till all are safe, since danger's in the rear; + While I live, I claim obedience; if I die, I ask a tear.' + + 11. + + With a smile to cheer the timid, and a hand to help the weak, + There was firmness in his accents, there was hope upon his cheek. + A hundred men are safe on shore, but one is left behind; + There's a shriek is mingling wildly with the wailing of the wind. + The rope has snapped! Almighty God! the noble and the brave + Is left alone to perish at the flowing of the wave. + + 12. + + 'Midst the foaming of the breakers and the howling of the storm, + 'Midst the crashing of the timbers, stood a solitary form; + He thought upon his distant home, then raised his look on high, + And thought upon another home--a home beyond the sky. + Sublimer than the elements, his spirit was at rest, + And calm as if his little one was nestling on his breast. + + 13. + + In agony they watched him, as each feature grew elate, + As with folded arms and fearless mien lie waited for his fate; + Now seen above the breakers, and now hidden by the spray, + As stealthily, yet surely, heaved the ocean to its prey. + A fiercer wave rolled onward with the wild gust in its wale, + And lifeless on the billows lay the Captain of the Drake. + + J. HENEAGE JESSE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[16] Marshall's _Naval Biography_. + + + + +FURY. + + +In the year 1824, notwithstanding the repeated failures which had +attended the expeditions to the Polar Seas, the British government +determined to make another attempt to discover a passage between the +Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; for this purpose Captain, now Sir Edward +Parry was appointed to the command of the Hecla, and a second vessel +was commissioned by Captain Hoppner, who was directed to put himself +under the orders of the beforenamed officer. + +The vessels being fully equipped and furnished with provisions and +stores for two years, sailed from England on the 16th of May. Their +progress had been unexpectedly slow, from the quantity and magnitude +of the ice, which had kept the people constantly employed in heaving, +warping, or sawing through it, so that they did not arrive at the +entrance of Lancaster Sound until nearly the middle of September. + +There was no doubt that the more than ordinary difficulties which they +encountered in crossing the barrier of ice in Baffin's Bay was owing +to a season of very unusual severity; indeed, Captain Parry was of +opinion, that but for Phillips's capstan, the Hecla and Fury would +have been obliged to winter in the middle of Baffin's Bay. + +The season was now too far advanced to give any hopes of the ships +being able to penetrate to the westward, according to their +instructions, during the present year; Captain Parry determined, +therefore, to push on as far as the present season would permit, and +devote the whole of the next summer to the fulfilment of the object of +the expedition. + +It is not our intention to enter into a detailed description of the +many difficulties which they met in their passage; it is enough to say +that their toils were incessant, and nothing but the most unwearied +vigilance and perseverance could have prevented the ships being +materially damaged by the enormous pressure of the ice. + +Both officers and men were constantly employed, one time in getting +out the boats to tow or cut through the ice, at another, at what is +termed 'sallying,' or causing the ship to roll, by the men running in +a body from side to side, so as to relieve her from the adhesion and +friction of the young ice. It sometimes happened, also, that their +labour was in vain; for during the night a westerly wind would spring +up, and that, combined with a strong current, would drive the vessels +several leagues to eastward, thus compelling them to recommence their +work over again. + +On the 27th of September they found themselves in a tolerably open +sea, and assisted by a fine working breeze they reached Port Bowen, in +Regent's Inlet. Here Captain Parry determined to make his winter +harbour, being convinced that it would be safer to remain there, than +run the risk of any further attempt at navigation during the present +year. + +'To those who read,' writes Sir Edward Parry, 'as well as those who +describe, the account of a winter passed in these regions can no +longer be expected to afford the interest of novelty it once +possessed; more especially in a station already delineated with +tolerable geographical precision on our maps, and thus, as it were, +brought near to our firesides at home.' + +Here it may be perhaps asked, why tell a thrice-told tale?--why go +over ground that has been so often trod before? The answer is, we are +not only writing for the information of the general reader, but also +for the seaman, in the hope that these examples may afford +encouragement to him, if ever thrown under similar circumstances to +those which befel the crews of the Hecla and Fury. + +In a short time, the ships became embedded in ice, and in this remote +part of the globe were they destined to remain, in all probability, +for nine months, during the greater part of which they would not see +the light of the sun. + +To the seaman, whose happiness is dependent upon a life of excitement +and adventure, such a change must be almost insupportable. As far as +the eye could reach, nothing was to be seen but trackless wilds of +snow; an awful stillness reigned around; even the indigenous animals +had for a time fled; and out of his ship, which is the world to him, +not a living creature breathed in this dreary desert. In order to +procure occupation and amusement for the men, it was necessary to hit +upon some expedient to keep their spirits from flagging. This was +found, by a proposal from Captain Hoppner, that they should attempt a +masquerade, in which both officers and men should join. The happy +thought was at once seized upon, the ship's tailor was placed in +requisition, admirably dressed characters were enacted, and mirth and +merriment rang through the decks of the Hecla. These reunions took +place once a month, alternately on board each ship, and not one +instance is related of anything occurring which could interfere with +the regular discipline of the ship, or at all weaken the respect of +the men towards their superiors. But an occupation which was of +benefit as much to the mind as to the body, was found in the +establishment of a school on board each of the ships. These were +superintended by Mr. Hooper, in the Hecla, and Mr. Mogg, in the Fury. +The men gladly seized this opportunity of instruction which was +afforded them, and in many a long winter evening the lower deck was +made a scene of rational employment, which was not only a lasting +benefit to themselves, but assisted materially in passing away the +time, which otherwise would have hung heavily on their hands. + +We cannot refrain here from offering a few observations upon the good +results of education to the seaman. + +In the beginning of the present century, and even in a much later +date, the majority of our seamen could neither read nor write; in the +present day it is quite the reverse. We may affirm, without +exaggeration, that two-thirds of them are more or less educated. +Experience has taught those placed at the head of naval affairs the +advantages arising from the improvement of the minds of the seamen of +our navy; every ship has now a seaman schoolmaster, and a well +selected library; and there is no doubt that the moral effect thus +produced, adds in no small degree to the preservation of that +discipline which is so necessary for the comfort and welfare of a +ship's company. + +In corroboration of the above, we cannot do better than quote the +words of Sir Edward Parry:--'And I do not speak lightly when I express +my thorough persuasion that to the moral effect thus produced upon the +minds of the men were owing to a very high degree the constant yet +sober cheerfulness, the uninterrupted good order, and even in some +measure the extraordinary state of health which prevailed among us +during winter.' + +With the amusement before mentioned, varied now and then, as the days +grew longer, by the excitement of killing a bear, entrapping foxes, +or shooting grouse, the men continued to pass the winter months. To +the officers, higher and more intellectual enjoyments were afforded by +making observations, studying astronomy, and witnessing the brilliant +appearance of the Aurora Borealis. + +About the end of March, or beginning of April, 1825, thin flakes of +snow, lying upon painted wood or metal, exposed to the sun's direct +rays, began to melt. These signs of returning spring were hailed as +indications of their approaching deliverance from their winter +quarters. Towards the middle of June, information was brought that the +sea was clear of ice about twenty miles from Port Bowen. On the 12th +of July, the ice began to break away, leaving the ship about one mile +and a quarter from the open sea. All hands were set to work to saw +through this barrier, the men being employed from seven in the +morning, till seven in the evening. On the 19th, after the most +incessant labour, which was performed with the greatest cheerfulness +and alacrity, Captain Parry had the satisfaction of seeing the two +vessels once more floating in their proper element. + +After a winter of unusual severity, but of unprecedented good health, +they sailed out of Port Bowen on the 20th of July, the expedition +being in every respect in the most perfect condition, and the season +remarkably forward and fine. Pushing over to the west coast of Prince +Regent's Inlet, which it was Captain Parry's intention to coast +northward and then westward, till they could strike off to the +continental shore, the prospect seemed as favourable as could possibly +be expected. The season continued unusually warm, and channels of open +water always occurred along the shore with particular winds. The ice +was entirely detached from the shores, very much broken up, and +lighter than they had yet navigated. + +Proceeding as usual, taking advantage of every opening, and +sheltering the ships on shore when the ice closed, the Fury, on the +1st of August, was unfortunately pressed by the ice in such a manner, +while she also took the ground, that her main keel, stern-post, and +cutwater were immediately broken, and four pumps were necessary to +keep her free. + +It was now evidently impossible to proceed without heaving the Fury +down to repair, her officers and men being in a few days almost +exhausted with excessive fatigue; the men's hands having become so +sore from the constant friction of the ropes, that they could hardly +handle them any longer without the use of mittens. + +The shore being a straight and exposed one, the principal difficulty +consisted in securing the ship from the inroads of the ice during the +operation. There was little hopes of discovering a harbour for this +purpose, and the only alternative was to endeavour to make one. This +was done by passing lower cables round grounded masses of ice, and +setting them up to anchors buried on the beach, so as to form a basin +for the reception of the ships. + +We have now arrived at the period when the labour of heaving down the +Fury commenced; and, for the better information of the reader, we will +at once lay before him the account of the future proceedings, as +related by Sir Edward Parry.[17] + +'The ice remaining quite close, on the 6th every individual in both +ships, with the exception of those at the pumps, was employed in +landing provisions from the Fury, together with the spars, boats, and +everything from off her upper deck. The ice coming in in the +afternoon with a degree of pressure which usually attended a northerly +wind on this coast, twisted the Fury's rudder so forcibly against a +mass of ice lying under her stern, that it was for some hours in great +danger of being damaged, and was, indeed, only saved by the efforts of +Captain Hoppner and his officers, who, without breaking off the men +from their other occupations, themselves worked at the ice-saw. + +'On the following day, the ice remaining as before, the work was +continued without intermission, and a great quantity of things landed. +The two carpenters, Messrs. Pulfer and Fiddis, took the Fury's boats +in hand themselves, their men being required as part of our physical +strength in clearing the ship. The armourer was also set to work on +the beach in forging bolts for the martingales of the outriggers. In +short, every living creature among us was somehow or other employed, +not even excepting our dogs, which were set to drag up the stores on +the beach, so that our little dockyard soon exhibited the most +animated scene imaginable. The quickest method of landing casks, and +other things not too weighty, was that adopted by Captain Hoppner, and +consisted of a hawser secured to the ship's mainmast head, and set up +as tight as possible to the anchor on the beach,--the casks being +hooked to a block traversing on this as a jack stay, were made to run +down with great velocity. By this means, more than two were got on +shore for every one handed by the boats; the latter, however, being +constantly employed in addition. The Fury was thus so much lightened +in the course of the day, that two pumps were now nearly sufficient to +keep her free, and this number continued requisite until she was hove +down. Her spirit room was now entirely clear, and on examination the +water was found to be rushing in through two or three holes that +happened to be in the ceiling, and which were immediately plugged up. +Indeed it was now very evident that nothing but the lightness of the +Fury's diagonal ceiling had so long kept her afloat, and that any ship +not thus fortified within could not possibly have been kept free by +the pumps. + +'At night, just as the people were going to rest, the ice began to +move to the southward, and soon after came in towards the shore, again +endangering the Fury's rudder, and pressing her over on her side to so +alarming a degree, as to warn us that it would not be safe to lighten +her much more in her present insecure situation. + +'One of our bergs also shifted its position by this pressure, so as to +weaken our confidence in the pier heads of our intended basin; and a +long 'tongue' of one of them, forcing itself under the Hecla's +fore-foot, while the drift-ice was also pressing her forcibly from +astern, she once more sewed three or four feet forward at low water, +and continued to do so, notwithstanding repeated endeavours to haul +her off, for four successive tides, the ice remaining so close, and so +much doubled under the ship, as to render it impossible to move her a +single inch. + +'Notwithstanding the state of the ice, however, we did not remain idle +on the 8th, all hands being employed in unrigging the Fury, and +landing all her spars, sails, booms, boats, and other top weight. + +'The ice still continuing very close on the 9th, all hands were +employed in attempting, by saws and axes, to clear the Hecla, which +still grounded on the tongue of ice every tide. After four hours' +labour, they succeeded in making four or five feet of room astern, +when the ship suddenly slided down off the tongue with considerable +force, and became once more afloat. We then got on shore the Hecla's +cables and hawsers for the accommodation of the Fury's men in our +tiers during the heaving down; struck our topmasts, which would be +required as shores and outriggers; and, in short, continued to occupy +every individual in some preparation or other. + +'These being entirely completed at an early hour in the afternoon, we +ventured to go on with the landing of the coals and provisions from +the Fury, preferring to run the risk which would thus be incurred, to +the loss of even a few hours in the accomplishment of our present +object. As it very opportunely happened, however, the external ice +slackened to the distance of about a hundred yards outside of us, on +the morning of the 10th, enabling us by a most tedious and laborious +operation, to clear the ice out of our basin piece by piece. The +difficulty of this apparently simple process consisted in the heavy +pressure having repeatedly doubled one mass under another, a position +in which it requires great power to move them, and also by the corners +locking in with the sides of the bergs. + +'Our next business was to tighten the cables sufficiently by means of +purchases, and to finish the floating of them in the manner and for +the purpose before described. After this had been completed, the ships +had only a few feet in length, and nothing in breadth to spare, but we +had now great hopes of going on with our work with increased +confidence and security. The Fury, which was placed inside, had +something less than eighteen feet at low water; the Hecla lay in four +fathoms, the bottom being strewed with large and small fragments of +limestone. + +'While thus employed in securing the ships, the smoothness of the +water enabled us to see, in some degree, the nature of the Fury's +damage; and it may be conceived how much pain it occasioned us, +plainly to discover that both the stern-post and fore-foot were broken +and turned up on one side with the pressure. We could also perceive, +as far as we were able to see along the main-keel, that it was much +torn, and we had therefore reason to conclude that the damage would +altogether prove very serious. We also discovered that several feet of +the Hecla's false keel were torn away abreast of the fore chains, in +consequence of her grounding forward so frequently. + +'The ships being now as well secured as our means permitted from the +immediate danger of ice, the clearing of the Fury went on with +increased confidence, though greater alacrity was impossible, for +nothing could exceed the spirit and zealous activity of every +individual, and as things had turned out, the ice had not obliged us +to wait a moment except at the actual times of its pressure. Being +favoured with fine weather, we continued our work very quickly, so +that on the 12th every cask was landed, and also the powder; and the +spare sails and clothing put on board the Hecla. + +'On the 13th, we found that a mass of heavy ice which had been aground +with the Fury, had now floated alongside of her at high water, still +further contracting her already narrow basin, and leaving the ship no +room for turning round. At the next high water, therefore, we got a +purchase on it, and hove it out of the way, so that at night it +drifted off altogether. + +'The coals and preserved meats were the principal things now remaining +on board the Fury, and these we continued landing by every method we +could devise as the most expeditious. The tide rose so considerably at +night, new moon occurring within an hour of high water, that we were +much afraid of our bergs floating; they remained firm, however, even +though the ice came in with so much force as to break one of our +hand-masts, a fir spar of twelve inches in diameter. As the high +tides, and the lightening of the Fury, now gave us sufficient depth +of water for unshipping the rudders, we did so, and laid them upon the +small berg astern of us, for fear of their being damaged by any +pressure of the ice. + +'Early on the morning of the 14th, the ice slackening a little in our +neighbourhood, we took advantage of it, though the people were much +fagged, to tighten the cables, which had stretched and yielded +considerably by the late pressure. It was well that we did so, for in +the course of this day we were several times interrupted in our work +by the ice coming with a tremendous strain on the north cables, the +wind blowing strong from the N.N.W., and the whole 'pack' outside of +us setting rapidly to the southward. Indeed, notwithstanding the +recent tightening and re-adjustment of the cables, the bight was +pressed in so much, as to force the Fury against the berg astern of +her, twice in the course of the day. Mr. Waller, who was in the hold +the second time that this occurred, reported that the coals about the +keelson were moved by it, imparting the sensation of part of the +ship's bottom falling down; and one of the men at work there was so +strongly impressed with that belief, that he thought it high time to +make a spring for the hatchway. From this circumstance, it seemed more +probable that the main keel had received some serious damage near the +middle of the ship. + +'From this trial of the efficacy of our means of security, it was +plain that the Fury could not possibly be hove down under +circumstances of such frequent and imminent risk. I therefore directed +a fourth anchor, with two additional cables, to be disposed, with the +hope of breaking some of the force of the ice, by its offering a more +oblique resistance than the other, and thus by degrees turning the +direction of the pressure from the ships. We had scarcely completed +this new defence, when the largest floe we had seen since leaving +Port Bowen came sweeping along the shore, having a motion to the +southward of not less than a mile and a half an hour, threatened to +overturn it, and would certainly have dislodged it from its situation +but from the cable recently attached to it. + +'A second similar occurrence took place with a smaller mass of ice +about midnight, and near the top of an unusually high spring tide, +which seemed ready to float away every security from us. For three +hours about the time of this high water, our situation was a most +critical one, for had the bergs, or, indeed, any one of them, been +carried away or broken, both ships must inevitably have been driven on +shore by the very next mass of ice that should come in. Happily, +however, they did not suffer any further material disturbance, and the +main body keeping at a short distance from the land until the tide had +fallen, the bergs seemed to be once more firmly resting on the ground. +The only mischief, therefore, occasioned by this disturbance was the +slackening of our cables by the alteration in the position of the +several grounded masses, and the consequent necessity of employing +more time, which nothing but absolute necessity could induce us to +bestow, in adjusting and tightening the whole of them afresh. + +'The wind veering to the W.N.W. on the morning of the 15th, and still +continuing to blow strong, the ice was forced three or four miles off +the land in the course of a few hours, leaving us a quiet day for +continuing our work, but exciting no very pleasant sensations, when we +considered what progress we might have been making had we been at +liberty to pursue our object. + +'The land was indeed so clear of ice to the southward, that Dr. Neill, +who walked a considerable distance in that direction, could see +nothing but an open channel in shore to the utmost extent of his view. +We took advantage of this open water to send the launch for the +Fury's ironwork, left at the former station; for though the few men +thus employed could very ill be spared, we were obliged to arrange +everything with reference to the ultimate saving of time; and it would +have occupied both ships' companies more than a whole day to carry the +things round by land. + +'The Fury being completely cleared at an early hour on the 16th, we +were all busily employed in 'winding' the ship, and in preparing the +outriggers, shores, purchases, and additional rigging. Though we +purposely selected the time of high water for turning the ship round, +we had scarcely a foot of space for doing it, and indeed, as it was, +her fore-foot touched the ground; and loosened the broken part of the +wood so much as to enable us to pull it up with ropes, when we found +the fragments to consist of the whole of the gripe, and most of the +'cutwater.' The strong breeze continuing, and the sea rising as the +open water increased in extent, our bergs were sadly washed and +wasted; every hour producing a sensible and serious diminution in +their bulk. As, however, the main body of ice still kept off, we were +in hopes, now that our preparations were so near completed, we should +have been enabled in a few hours to see the extent of the damage, and +repair it sufficiently to allow us to proceed. + +'In the evening we received the Fury's crew on board the Hecla, every +arrangement and regulation having been previously made for their +personal comfort, and for the preservation of cleanliness, +ventilation, and dry warmth throughout the ship. The officers of the +Fury, by their own choice, pitched a tent on shore for messing and +sleeping in, as our accommodation for two sets of officers was +necessarily confined. On the 17th, when every preparation was +completed, the cables were found again so slack, by the wasting of +the bergs, in consequence of the continued sea, and possibly also in +part by the masses being moved somewhat in shore, that we were obliged +to occupy several hours in putting them to rights, as we should soon +require all our strength at the purchases. One berg also had, at the +last low water, fallen over on its side, in consequence of its +substance being undermined by the sea, and the cable surrounding it +was thus forced so low under water as no longer to afford protection +from the ice should it again come in. In tightening the cables, we +found it to have the effect of bringing the bergs in towards the +shore, still further contracting our narrow basin; but anything was +better than suffering them to go adrift. + +'This work being finished at ten P.M., the people were allowed three +hours' rest only, it being necessary to heave the ship down at, or +near, high water, as there was not sufficient depth to allow her to +take her distance at any other time of tide. Every preparation being +made, at three A.M., on the 18th, we began to heave her down on the +larboard side; but when the purchases were nearly a-block, we found +that the strops under the Hecla's bottom, as well as some of the +Fury's shore-fasts, had stretched or yielded so much, that they could +bring the keel out of water within three or four feet. We immediately +eased her up again, and re-adjusted everything as requisite, hauling +her further in shore than before by keeping a considerable keel upon +her, so as to make less depth of water necessary; and we were then in +the act of once more heaving her down, when a snow storm came on, and +blew with such violence off the land, as to raise a considerable sea. +The ships had now so much motion as to strain the gear very much, and +even to make the lower mast of the Fury bend in spite of the shores. +We were, therefore, most unwillingly compelled to desist until the +sea should go down, keeping everything ready to recommence the instant +we could possibly do so with safety. The officers and men were now +literally so harassed and fatigued as to be scarcely capable of +further exertion without some rest; and on this and one or two other +occasions, I noticed more than a single instance of stupor amounting +to a certain degree of failure in intellect, rendering the individual +so affected quite unable at first to comprehend the meaning of an +order, though still as willing as ever to obey it. It was, therefore, +perhaps, a fortunate necessity which produced the intermission of +labour which the strength of every individual seemed to require. + +'The gale rather increasing than otherwise, during the whole day and +night of the 18th, had, on the following morning, when the wind and +sea still continued unabated, so destroyed the bergs on which our sole +dependence was placed, that they no longer remained aground at low +water; the cables had again become slack about them, and the basin we +had taken so much pains in forming had now lost all its defences, at +least during a portion of every tide. It will be plain, too, if I have +succeeded in giving a distinct description of our situation, that +independently of the security of the ships, there was now nothing left +to seaward by which the Hecla could be held out in that direction +while heaving the Fury down, so that our preparations in this way were +no longer available. + +'After a night of most anxious consideration and consultation with +Captain Hoppner, who was now my mess-mate in the Hecla, it appeared +but too plain that, should the ice again come in, neither ship could +any longer be secured from driving on shore. It was therefore +determined instantly to prepare the Hecla for sea, making her +thoroughly effective in every respect; so that we might at least push +her out into comparative safety among the ice, when it closed again, +taking every person on board her; securing the Fury in the best manner +we could, and returning to her the instant we were able to do so, to +endeavour to get her out, and to carry her to some place of security +for heaving down. If, after the Hecla was ready, time should still be +allowed us, it was proposed immediately to put into the Fury all that +was requisite, or at least as much as she could safely carry, and +towing her out into the ice, to try the effect of 'foldering' the +leaks, by sails under those parts of her keel which we knew to be +damaged, until some more effectual means could be resorted to. + +'Having communicated to the assembled officers and ships' companies my +views and intentions, and moreover given them to understand that I +hoped to see the Hecla's top-gallant yards across before we slept, we +commenced our work, and such was the hearty good-will and +indefatigable energy with which it was carried on, that by midnight +the whole was accomplished, and a bower-anchor and cable carried out +in the offing, for the double purpose of hauling out the Hecla when +requisite, and as some security to the Fury if we were obliged to +leave her. The people were once more quite exhausted by these +exertions, especially those belonging to the Fury, who had never +thoroughly recovered their first fatigues. The ice being barely in +sight, we were enabled to enjoy seven hours of undisturbed rest; but +the wind becoming light, and afterwards shifting to the N.N.E., we had +reason to expect the ice would soon close the shore, and were, +therefore, most anxious to continue our work. + +'On the 20th, therefore, the re-loading of the Fury commenced with +recruited strength and spirits, such articles being in the first place +selected for putting on board as were essentially requisite for her +re-equipment; for it was my full determination, could we succeed in +completing this, not to wait even for rigging a topmast, or getting a +lower yard up, in the event of the ice coming in, but to tow her out +among the ice, and there put everything sufficiently to rights for +carrying her to someplace of security. At the same time, the end of +the sea-cable was taken on board the Fury, by way of offering some +resistance to the ice, which was now more plainly seen, though still +about five miles distant. A few hands were also spared, consisting +chiefly of two or three convalescents and some of the officers, to +thrum a sail for putting under the Fury's keel; for we were very +anxious to relieve the men at the pumps, which constantly required the +labour of eight to twelve hands to keep her free. In the course of the +day several heavy masses of ice came drifting by with a breeze from +the north-east, which is here about two points upon the land, and made +a considerable swell. One mass came in contact with our bergs, which, +though only held by the cables, brought it up in time to prevent +mischief. By a long and hard day's labour, the people not going to +rest till two o'clock on the morning of the 21st, we got about fifty +tons weight of coals and provisions on board the Fury, which, in case +of necessity, we considered sufficient to give her stability. + +'While we were thus employed, the ice, though evidently inclined to +come in, did not approach us much; and it may be conceived with what +anxiety we longed to be allowed one more day's labour, on which the +ultimate saving of the ship might almost be considered as depending. +Having hauled the ships out a little from the shore, and prepared the +Hecla for casting by a spring at a moment's notice, all the people +except those at the pumps were sent to rest, which, however, they had +not enjoyed for two hours, when, at four A.M. on the 21st, another +heavy mass coming violently in contact with the bergs and cables, +threatened to sweep away every remaining security. Our situation, with +this additional strain,--the mass which had disturbed us fixing itself +upon the weather-cable, and an increasing wind and swell setting +considerably on the shore,--became more and more precarious; and +indeed, under circumstances as critical as can well be imagined, +nothing but the urgency and importance of the object we had in +view--that of saving the Fury, if she was to be saved--could have +prevented my making sail, and keeping the Hecla under way till matters +mended. More hawsers were run out, however, and enabled us still to +hold out: and after six hours of disturbed rest, all hands were again +set to work to get the Fury's anchors, cables, rudder, and spars on +board, these things being absolutely necessary for her equipment, +should we be able to get her out. At two P.M. the crews were called on +board to dinner, which they had not finished, when several not very +large masses of ice drove along the shore near us at a quick rate, and +two or three successively coming in violent contact either with the +Hecla or the bergs to which she was attached, convinced me that very +little additional pressure would tear everything away, and drive both +ships on shore. I saw that the moment had arrived when the Hecla could +no longer be kept in her present situation with the smallest chance of +safety, and therefore immediately got under sail, despatching Captain +Hoppner, with every individual, except a few for working the ship, to +continue getting the things on board the Fury, while the Hecla stood +off and on. It was a quarter-past three P.M. when we cast off, the +wind then blowing fresh from the north-east, or about two points on +the land, which caused some surf on the beach. Captain Hoppner had +scarcely been an hour on board the Fury, and was busily engaged in +getting the anchors and cables on board, when we observed some large +pieces of not very heavy ice closing in with the land near her; and at +twenty minutes after the Hecla had cast off, I was informed, by +signal, that the Fury was on shore. Making a tack in shore, but not +being able, even under a press of canvass, to get very near her, owing +to a strong southerly current which prevailed within a mile or two of +the land, I perceived that she had been apparently driven up the beach +by two or three of the grounded masses forcing her onwards before +them, and these, as well as the ship, seemed now so firmly aground, +as entirely to block her in on the seaward side. We also observed that +the bergs outside of her had been torn away, and set adrift by the +ice. As the navigating of the Hecla with only ten men on board +required constant attention and care, I could not at this time with +propriety leave the ship to go on board the Fury. This, however, I the +less regretted, as Captain Hoppner was thoroughly acquainted with all +my views and intentions, and I felt confident that, under his +direction, nothing would be left undone to endeavour to save the ship. +I, therefore, directed him by telegraph, 'if he thought nothing could +be done at present, to return on board with all hands until the wind +changed;' for this alone, as far as I could see the state of the Fury, +seemed to offer the smallest chance of clearing the shore, so as to +enable us to proceed with our work, or to attempt hauling the ship off +the ground. + +'About seven P.M., Captain Hoppner returned to the Hecla, accompanied +by all hands, except an officer with a party at the pumps, reporting +to me that the Fury had been forced aground by the ice pressing on the +masses lying near her, and bringing home, if not breaking, the seaward +anchor, so that the ship was soon found to have swerved from two to +three feet fore and aft. The several masses of ice had, moreover, so +disposed themselves, as almost to surround her on every side where +there was sufficient depth of water for hauling her off. With the ship +thus situated, and masses of heavy ice constantly coming in, it was +Captain Hoppner's decided opinion, as well as that of Lieutenants +Austin and Ross, that to have laid out another anchor to seaward would +have only been to expose it to the same danger as there was reason to +suppose had been incurred with the other, without the most distant +hope of doing any service, especially as the ship had been driven on +shore by a most unfortunate coincidence, just as the tide was +beginning to fall. Indeed, in the present state of the Fury, nothing +short of chopping and sawing up a part of the ice under her stern +could by any possibility have effected her release, even if she had +been already afloat. Under such circumstances, hopeless as, for the +time, every seaman will allow them to have been, Captain Hoppner +judiciously determined to return for the present, as directed by my +telegraphic communication; but being anxious to keep the ship free +from water as long as possible, he left an officer and a small party +of men to continue working at the pumps, so long as a communication +could be kept up between the Hecla and the shore. Every moment, +however, decreased the practicability of doing this; and finding, soon +after Captain Hoppner's return, that the current swept the Hecla a +long way to the southward while hoisting up the boats, and that more +ice was drifting in towards the shore, I was under the painful +necessity of recalling the party at the pumps, rather than incur the +risk, now an inevitable one, of parting company with them altogether. +Accordingly Mr. Bird, with the last of the people, came on board at +eight o'clock in the evening, having left eighteen inches water in +the well, and four pumps being requisite to keep her free. In three +hours after Mr. Bird's return, more than half a mile of closely packed +ice intervened between the Fury and the open water in which we were +beating, and before the morning this barrier had increased to four or +five miles in breadth. + +'We carried a press of canvas all night, with a fresh breeze from the +north, to enable us to keep abreast of the Fury, which, on account of +the strong southerly current, we could only do by beating at some +distance from the land. The breadth of the ice inshore continued +increasing during the day, but we could see no end to the water in +which we were beating, either to the southward or eastward. Advantage +was taken of the little leisure now allowed us to let the people mend +and wash their clothes, which they had scarcely had a moment to do for +the last three weeks. We also completed the thrumming of a second sail +for putting under the Fury's keel, whenever we should be enabled to +haul her off the shore. It fell quite calm in the evening, when the +breadth of the ice inshore had increased to six or seven miles. We did +not, during the day, perceive any current setting to the southward, +but in the course of the night we were drifted four or five leagues to +the south-westward, in which situation we had a distinct view of a +large extent of land, which had before been seen for the first time by +some of our gentlemen, who walked from where the Fury lay. This land +trends very much to the westward, a little beyond the Fury Point, the +name by which I have distinguished that headland, near which we had +attempted to heave the Fury down, and which is very near the southern +part of the coast seen in the year 1819. It then sweeps round into a +large bay, formed by a long, low beach, several miles in extent, +afterwards joining higher land, and running in a south-easterly +direction to a point which terminated our view of it in that quarter, +and which bore from us S. 58 deg. W., distant six or seven leagues. This +headland I named Cape Garry, after my worthy friend, Nicholas Garry, +Esq., one of the most active members of the Hudson's Bay Company, and +a gentleman most warmly interested in everything connected with +northern discovery. The whole of the bays which I named after my much +esteemed friend, Francis Cresswell, Esq., as well as the land to the +southward, was free from ice for several miles; and to the southward +and eastward scarcely any was to be seen, while a dark water-sky +indicated a perfectly navigable sea in that direction; but between us +and the Fury there was a compact body of ice eight or nine miles in +breadth. Had we now been at liberty to take advantage of the +favourable prospect before us, I have little doubt we could, without +much difficulty, have made considerable progress. + +'A southerly breeze enabling us to regain our northing, we ran along +the margin of the ice, but were led so much to the eastward by it, +that we could approach the ship no nearer than before during the whole +day. She appeared to us, at this distance, to have a much greater heel +than when the people left her, which made us still more anxious to get +near her. A south-west wind gave us hopes of the ice setting off from +the land, but it produced no good effect during the whole of the 24th. +We therefore beat again to the southward, to see if we could manage to +get in with the land anywhere about the shores of the bay; but this +was now impracticable, the ice being once more closely packed there. +We could only wait, therefore, in patience for some alteration in our +favour. The latitude at noon was 72 deg. 34' 57", making our distance from +the Fury twelve miles, which by the following morning had increased to +at least five leagues, the ice continuing to pack between us and the +shore. The wind, however, now gradually drew round to the westward, +giving us hopes of a change, and we continued to ply about the margin +of the ice in constant readiness for taking advantage of any opening +that might occur. It favoured us so much by streaming off in the +course of the day, that by seven P.M. we had nearly reached a channel +of clear water which kept open for seven or eight miles from the land. +Being impatient to obtain a sight of the Fury, and the wind becoming +light, Captain Hoppner and myself left the Hecla in two boats, and +reached the ship at half-past nine, or about three-quarters of an hour +before high water, being the most favourable time of tide for arriving +to examine her condition. + +'We found her heeling so much outward, that her main-channels were +within a foot of the water; and the large floe-piece which was still +alongside of her, seemed alone to support her below water, and to +prevent her falling over still more considerably. The ship had been +forced much farther up the beach than before, and she had now in her +bilge above nine feet of water, which reached higher than the +lower-deck beams. On looking down the stern-post, which, seen against +the light-coloured ground, and in shoal water, was now very distinctly +visible, we found that she had pushed the stones at the bottom up +before her, and that the broken keel, stern-post, and dead wood had, +by the recent pressure, been more damaged and turned up than before. +She appeared principally to hang upon the ground abreast the gangway, +where, at high water, the depth was eleven feet alongside her keel; +forward and aft, from thirteen to sixteen feet; so that at low tide, +allowing the usual fall of five or six feet, she would be lying in a +depth of from five to ten feet only. The first hour's inspection of +the Fury's condition too plainly assured me, that, exposed as she was, +and forcibly pressed up upon an open and stony beach; her holds full +of water, and the damage of her hull, to all appearance and in all +probability, more considerable than before, without any adequate means +of hauling her off to the seaward, or securing her from the incursions +of the ice, every endeavour of ours to get her off, or _if_ got off, +to float her to any known place of safety, would at once be utterly +hopeless in itself, and productive of extreme risk of our remaining +ship. + +'Being anxious, however, in a case of so much importance, to avail +myself of the judgment and experience of others, I directed Captain +Hoppner, in conjunction with Lieutenants Austin and Sherer, and Mr. +Pulfer, carpenter, being the officers who accompanied me to the Fury, +to hold a survey upon her, and to report their opinions to me. And to +prevent the possibility of the officers receiving any bias from my own +opinion, the order was given to them the moment we arrived on board +the Fury. + +'Captain Hoppner and the other officers, after spending several hours +in attentively examining every part of the ship, both within and +without, and maturely weighing all the circumstances of her situation, +gave it as their opinion that it would be quite impracticable to make +her sea-worthy, even if she could be hauled off, which would first +require the water to be got out of the ship, and the holds to be once +more entirely cleared. Mr. Pulfer, the carpenter of the Fury, +considered that it would occupy five days to clear the ship of water; +that if she were got off, all the pumps would not be sufficient to +keep her free, in consequence of the additional damage she seemed to +have sustained: and that, if even hove down, twenty days' work, with +the means we possessed, would be required for making her sea-worthy. +Captain Hoppner and the other officers were therefore of opinion, that +an absolute necessity existed for abandoning the Fury. My own opinion +being thus confirmed as to the utter hopelessness of saving her, and +feeling more strongly than ever the responsibility which attached to +me of preserving the Hecla unhurt, it was with extreme pain and regret +that I made the signal for the Fury's officers and men to be sent for +their clothes, most of which had been put on shore with the stores. + +'The Hecla's bower-anchor, which had been placed on the beach, was +sent on board as soon as the people came on shore; but her remaining +cable was too much entangled with the grounded ice to be disengaged +without great loss of time. Having allowed the officers and men an +hour for packing up their clothes, and what else belonging to them the +water in the ship had not covered, the Fury's boats were hauled up on +the beach, and at two A.M. I left her, and was followed by Captain +Hoppner, Lieutenant Austin, and the last of the people in half an hour +after. + +'The whole of the Fury's stores were, of necessity, left either on +board her or on shore; every spare corner that we could find in the +Hecla being now absolutely required for the accommodation of our +double complement of officers and men, whose cleanliness and health +could only be maintained by keeping the decks as clear and well +ventilated as our limited space would permit. The spot where the Fury +was left is in latitude 72 deg. 42' 30"; the longitude by chronometers is +91 deg. 50' 05"; the dip of the magnetic needle, 88 deg. 19' 22"; and the +variation 129 deg. 25' westerly.' + +There now remains little more to be told--the accident that befel the +Fury, the lateness of the season, and the crowded state of the Hecla, +deprived Sir Edward Parry of all hopes of being able that season of +accomplishing the object for which the expedition had been despatched. + +Under all these untoward circumstances, he determined to return to +England, and on the 2nd of September the crew of the Fury were taken +on board the Hecla, the boats hoisted up, the anchor stowed, and the +ship's head put to the north-eastward. + +After a prosperous voyage, the whole of the Hecla and Fury's crews, +with but two exceptions, returned in safety to their native country, +arriving at Sheerness on the 20th of October, in as good health as +when they quitted England eighteen months before. + +Lieutenant, now Captain Austin has, since these pages were written, +been appointed to the command of an expedition in search of Sir John +Franklin and his brave companions. + +Captain Sir Edward Parry at present holds the appointment of +Superintendent of the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, and Haslar +Hospital, Portsmouth. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] The loss of the Fury is taken from Sir Edward Parry's _Voyage to +the North Pole_, published by Mr. Murray, who has kindly allowed it to +be inserted in this work. + + + + +THE MAGPIE. + + +It is a common and no less apposite remark that truth is stranger than +fiction, and the longer we live, the more are we convinced of the +force of the above axiom. + +The story which we are about to relate is one of the most remarkable +incidents in a sailor's life, and, as a tale of horror, cannot be +exceeded even in the pages of romance. + +In the year 1826, the Magpie, a small schooner under the command of +Lieutenant Edward Smith, had been despatched in search of a piratical +vessel, which had committed serious depredations on the western shores +of the Island of Cuba. + +In the prosecution of this object, she was cruizing on the 27th of +August, off the Colorados Roads, at the western extremity of the +Island. The day had been extremely sultry, and towards the evening the +schooner lay becalmed, awaiting the springing up of the land breeze, a +blessing which only those can appreciate who have enjoyed its +refreshing coolness after passing many hours beneath the burning rays +of a tropical sun. + +About eight o'clock a slight breeze sprung up from the westward, and +the vessel was standing under reefed mainsail, whole foresail, and +topsail, and jib. Towards nine, the wind shifted to the southward, and +a small dark cloud was observed hovering over the land. This ominous +appearance, as is well known, is often the precursor of a coming +squall, and seems as if sent as a warning by Providence. + +The lurid vapour did not escape the practised eye of the mate of the +watch, who immediately reported the circumstance to Mr. Smith. All +hands were turned up, and in a few minutes the schooner was placed in +readiness to encounter the threatened danger. + +In the meantime, the cloud had gradually increased in size and +density. The slight breeze had died away, and a boding stillness +reigned around. Suddenly a rushing, roaring sound was heard, the +surface of the water, which a moment before was almost without a +ripple, was now covered with one white sheet of foam, the schooner was +taken aback; in vain her commander gave the order to cut away the +masts--it was too late, and in less than three minutes from the first +burst of the squall, the devoted vessel sunk to rise no more. + +At this fearful juncture, a vivid flash of lightning darted from the +heavens, displaying for a moment, the pale faces of the crew +struggling in the water; the wind ceased as suddenly as it had begun, +and the ocean, as if unconscious of the fearful tragedy that had so +lately been enacted upon its surface, subsided into its former repose. + +At the moment of the vessel going down, a gunner's mate, of the name +of Meldrum, struck out and succeeded in reaching a pair of oars that +were floating in the water,--to these he clung, and having divested +himself of a part of his clothing, he awaited in dreadful anxiety the +fate of his companions. + +Not a sound met his ear, in vain his anxious gaze endeavoured to +pierce the gloom, but the darkness was too intense. Minutes appeared +like hours, and still the awful silence remained unbroken; he felt, +and the thought was agony, that out of the twenty-four human beings +who had so lately trod the deck of the schooner, he alone was left. +This terrible suspense became almost beyond the power of endurance, +and he already began to envy the fate of his companions, when he heard +a voice at no great distance inquiring if there was any one near. He +answered in the affirmative, and pushing out in the direction from +whence the sound proceeded, he reached a boat, to which seven persons +were clinging; amongst whom was Lieutenant Smith, the commander of the +sloop. + +So far this was a subject of congratulation; he was no longer alone; +but yet the chances of his ultimate preservation were as distant as +ever. + +The boat, which had been placed on the booms of the schooner, had +fortunately escaped clear of the sinking vessel, and if the men had +waited patiently, was large enough to have saved them all; but the +suddenness of the calamity had deprived them of both thought and +prudence. Several men had attempted to climb in on one side,--the +consequence was, the boat heeled over, became half filled with water, +and then turned keel uppermost; and when Meldrum reached her, he +found some stretched across the keel and others hanging on by the +sides. + +Matters could not last long in this way, and Mr. Smith, seeing the +impossibility of any of the party being saved, if they continued in +their present position, endeavoured to bring them to reason, by +pointing out the absurdity of their conduct. To the honour of the men, +they listened with the same respect to their commander, as if they had +been on board the schooner; those on the keel immediately relinquished +their hold, and succeeded, with the assistance of their comrades, in +righting the boat. Two of their number got into her and commenced +baling with their hats, whilst the others remained in the water, +supporting themselves by the gunwales. + +Order being restored, their spirits began to revive, and they +entertained hopes of escaping from their present peril; but this was +of short duration, and the sufferings which they had as yet endured, +were nothing in comparison with what they had now to undergo. + +The two men had scarcely commenced baling, when the cry was heard +of--'A shark! a shark!' No words can describe the consternation which +ensued: it is well known the horror sailors have of these voracious +animals, who seem apprised by instinct when their prey is at hand. All +order was at an end, the boat again capsized, and the men were left +struggling in the waters. The general safety was neglected, and it was +every man for himself; no sooner had one got hold of the boat, than he +was pushed away by another, and in this fruitless contest more than +one life was nearly sacrificed. + +Even in this terrible hour, their commander remained cool and +collected; his voice was still raised in words of encouragement, and +as the dreaded enemy did not make its appearance, he again succeeded +in persuading them to renew their efforts to clear the boat. The night +had passed away--it was about ten o'clock on the morning of the 28th; +the baling had progressed without interruption; a little more +exertion, and the boat would have been cleared, when again was heard +the cry of--'The sharks! the sharks!' But this was no false alarm; the +boat a second time capsized, and the unhappy men were literally cast +amongst a shoal of these terrible monsters. + +The men, for a few minutes, remained uninjured, but not untouched; for +the sharks actually rubbed against their victims, and, to use the +exact words of one of the survivors, 'frequently passed over the boat +and between us, whilst resting on the gunwale,' This, however, did not +last long; a shriek soon told the fate of one of the men; a shark had +seized him by the leg, dying the water with his blood; another shriek +followed, and another man disappeared. + +But these facts are almost too horrible to dwell upon; human nature +revolts from so terrible a picture; we will therefore hurry over this +part of our tale. + +Smith had witnessed the sufferings of his followers with the deepest +distress; and although aware that in all probability he must soon +share the same fate, he never for a moment appeared to think of +himself. There were but six men left, and these he endeavoured to +sustain by his example, cheering them on to further exertions. They +had once more recommenced their labours to clear out the boat, when +one of his legs was seized by a shark. Even whilst suffering the most +horrible torture, he restrained the expression of his feelings, for +fear of increasing the alarm of the men. But the powers of his +endurance were doomed to be tried to the utmost; another limb was +scrunched from his body, and uttering a deep groan, he was about to +let go his hold, when he was seized by two of his men, and placed in +the stern sheets. + +Yet when his whole frame was convulsed with agony, the energies of his +mind remained as strong as ever, his own pain was disregarded, he +thought only of the preservation of his crew. Calling to his side a +lad of the name of Wilson, who appeared to be the strongest of the +remaining few, he exhorted him, in the event of his surviving, to +inform the admiral that he was going to Cape Ontario in search of the +pirate when the unfortunate accident occurred; 'Tell him,' he +continued, 'that my men have done their duty, and that no blame is +attached to them. I have but one favour to ask, and that is, that he +will promote Meldrum to be a gunner.' + +He then shook each man by the hand, and bade them farewell. By degrees +his strength began to fail, and at last became so exhausted, that he +was unable to speak. He remained in this state until the sunset, when +another panic seized the men, from a reappearance of the sharks. The +boat gave a lurch, and the gallant commander found an end to his +sufferings in a watery grave. + +Thus perished an officer, who, if it had pleased Providence to +preserve, would, in all probability, have been one of the brightest +ornaments of the service. His character combined the three great +qualities which are essential for an officer and a seaman--courage, +coolness, and decision: opportunity only was wanting to display these +parts. If he had succeeded in capturing the pirate, promotion would +without doubt have followed, and a bright and honourable career have +been open to him. But the ways of Providence are inscrutable; it was +ordained that he should undergo sufferings from which the bravest +would have shrunk with horror. Had he fallen in battle, his name would +have been recorded in history. We hope that our feeble efforts to +rescue the memory of this brave seaman from sinking into oblivion will +not have been in vain, and that his name may find an honourable place +with others who have died in the performance of their duty. + +The death of their commander was sensibly felt by all, for they had +long known his kindness and courage, and when his body sank below the +waves, their hopes sank also. Mr. Maclean, a mate, and now the +commanding officer, took upon himself to direct the efforts of his +comrades, and did all that lay in his power to revive their spirits; +he assured them that if they once succeeded in righting the boat, that +there was every chance of falling in with some vessel. But twenty +hours of constant fatigue, hunger, and thirst had made fearful ravages +upon the strength of the men. Night was again approaching, and Maclean +could not conceal from himself, that when darkness came on, the +chances of their being seen by any vessel passing near were further +removed than ever. The sharks had for a time taken their departure, +but they might return at any moment; for having once tasted blood, +they were not likely to be debarred from making another attack. Two +more of the men, either worn out from fatigue, or anxious to escape +from further suffering, threw themselves from their support, and were +drowned. + +The burning sun again set beneath the horizon, but as yet no sail had +been seen upon the waters. Again the land-breeze passed over the +ocean, but it brought no refreshing coolness; it only reminded them of +the weary hours that had elapsed since it was so anxiously expected, +though its results were then far different from what they had hoped. + +There were but four men left--Maclean, Meldrum, (the gunner's mate,) +Wilson, and another man. These had, by their united efforts, almost +managed to clear the boat of water, when, about three o'clock in the +morning, the two latter became delirious, sprung overboard, and were +either seized by the sharks or drowned. It will be remembered, that it +was Wilson who was selected by poor Smith to convey his last message +to the admiral. + +The two survivors for a time forgot their own sufferings in the +horrible scene which they had just witnessed; but this did not last +long; their thoughts soon returned to the necessity of preserving +their own lives. They once more resumed their labours, and, though +nearly exhausted, did not desist until the boat was almost dry. They +then lay down to rest, in comparative security, and, let us hope, with +their hearts filled with gratitude for the mercies which had already +been vouchsafed to them, and remembering those words of our beautiful +Liturgy: 'That it may please Thee to succour, help, and comfort all +that are in danger, necessity, or tribulation.' + +It is said that sometimes the criminal, the night before his +execution, forgets the fate that awaits him in a deep and refreshing +slumber. These two men, in spite of the horrors they had undergone, +fell into a sound sleep, from which they did not awake until the sun +was high in the heavens; when the horrors of their situation broke +upon them, rendered doubly painful by the temporary oblivion of the +last few hours. + +The sun darted its scorching rays upon the two solitary beings, who +had planted themselves, one in the bows, and the other in the stern of +the boat, with neither oars, mast, sail, nor provisions of any kind. +In vain they strained their gaze in every direction; nothing was to be +seen but a boundless expanse of waters. Their eyes met, but it needed +no words to tell the hopeless despair which was gnawing at their +hearts. No longer was the loss of their companions regarded with +horror; they envied the fate which had spared them the torture which +they themselves were doomed to suffer:-- + + Famine, despair, cold, thirst, and heat had done + Their work on them by turns. BYRON. + +Death at that moment would have been welcome. + +Hour after hour passed away, but still the boat remained motionless on +the waters. Neither spoke; their hearts were too full for utterance: +in rapid succession, every thought and action of their lives passed +across their minds; home, kindred, friends, all would be remembered, +only again to be banished by the pangs of hunger and thirst. + +Towards eight o'clock in the morning, the energies of Maclean and his +companion had almost sunk under the accumulated load of suffering; it +was more in despair than with any expectation of success, that they +once again cast their eyes around. But this time it was not in vain; a +white speck was seen in the distance: both exclaimed, 'A sail! a +sail!' and the extravagance of joy was now equal to their former +despair. Still the vessel was several miles distant, and unless those +on board kept a vigilant look-out, it was more than probable that they +would escape observation. + +Of all the ills to which the human frame is liable, the agony of +suspense is the most intolerable. Hope and fear rose alternately in +their breasts; at one moment, the ship appeared to be nearing, at +another, she seemed further off than ever. The vessel sped slowly on +its course, but to their excited minds the time seemed interminable. +First the white canvas was seen, then the dark hull became visible; +but as yet no signs gave token that those on board were aware of their +proximity. + +The brig, for such she now appeared, could not have been above half a +mile distant, when she suddenly altered her course. In vain they both +hailed at once, and waved their jackets as a signal, but no notice was +taken; then, indeed, every hope was dispelled, and the bitterness of +despair returned with redoubled force. + +At this juncture, Meldrum resolved, at all hazards, to attempt to swim +to the vessel. If he remained in the boat, certain death would be the +fate of himself and his companion: on the other hand, he might perish +in the sea, but if he reached the brig, both would be saved. Without a +moment's hesitation, he communicated his design to Maclean, and then, +committing himself to the pretection of the Almighty, sprang +overboard. + +The idea of solitude is so repugnant to human nature, that even death +would be preferable. It can be therefore easily imagined that it was +with feelings almost amounting to agony that Maclean saw himself +separated from his last friend. His first impulse was to follow his +companion, but better judgment prevailed, and he determined to await +the result. Never for a single instant did his eyes turn from the bold +swimmer: they followed his every stroke. At one time, he thought he +had sunk; at another, the ripple of a wave appeared to his distorted +imagination like the fin of a shark. Anxiety for the fate of his +companion kept his mind on the stretch until distance rendered the +object no longer visible. 'Then, indeed, did he feel that he was +alone.' + +Meldrum was naturally a good swimmer, and every nerve was strained in +this last struggle for life; buoyed up by hope, he had accomplished +about two-thirds of his weary task when his strength began to fail, +his dying eyes turned towards the brig, and with one last effort he +raised his voice. He was heard: a boat was lowered from the brig, and +he was taken on board. The perilous situation of his comrade was made +known; and thus by his gallant exertions were preserved the lives of +the two survivors, of the ill-fated Magpie. + +This tale might almost be discredited, but the facts from which it was +taken bear the signature of the officers composing the court-martial +who sat upon the two remaining men. Mr. Maclean is at the present +moment alive, and is now serving as a lieutenant in the coast-guard. +Meldrum was promoted for his gallantry to the rank of gunner, and died +two years ago. + + + + +THE THETIS. + + +His Majesty's ship, Thetis, Captain Samuel Burgess, sailed from Rio +Janeiro on the evening of the 4th of December, 1830, having a large +amount of treasure on board. The weather was so thick, that as they +worked out of the harbour, the islands at its entrance were not +visible; but as the evening was tolerably fine, with the exception of +the fog, Captain Burgess determined to persevere in his course. The +following morning the fog dispersed, but it was soon succeeded by such +heavy rain, that the obscurity was nearly as great as before. The ship +continued her course with the wind upon the starboard tack, until +half-past one in the afternoon, when, from the reckoning, they +supposed Cape Frio to be about thirty-eight miles distant, lying north +36 deg. east. From the hour of their departure from Rio Janeiro, till the +time of which we speak, neither sun, moon, nor stars had been visible. +On account of the cross sea, which appeared to impede the progress of +the vessel, and the lightness of the wind, her course was kept east by +north until two o'clock, when it was changed to E.N.E. At four +o'clock P.M. it was calculated that they had run about nineteen miles, +and that they must be nearly abreast of Cape Frio, and about +twenty-four miles distant from it. The weather clearing up at that +time, they discovered a large ship, with all sail set, standing in +shore, and no land being visible, they concluded that they were still +further from land than they had reckoned, and therefore they changed +their course again to N.E. by E. At five o'clock the people were +mustered at quarters, and then a looming of land was seen to the +N.N.W., which, according to their calculation, was the direction Cape +Frio would bear; and there being no land near it that could have the +same appearance, the reckoning was considered correct, and a prudent +proportion of sail was made, regard being had to the state of the +weather, and the course they were steering. Between six and seven +o'clock P.M. the rain again began to fall; the fog returned, and +became gradually so thick, that it was impossible to see the length of +the ship. + +At eight P.M. the watch was mustered, and the men placed at their +stations to keep a vigilant look-out, while the officer of the watch +went forward himself to see that the sails were well trimmed, and that +every one was on the alert. At half-past eight, when the captain had +retired to his cabin, and was waiting for the usual evening report +from the master, a midshipman entered with the startling intelligence +that land had been seen close ahead, the ship at the time going at +the rate of eight or nine miles an hour. + +Captain Burgess was on deck in a moment; he ordered the helm to be put +'hard a-port,' and was told it had been done. The next instant the +jib-booms and bowsprit were heard to crash; the captain hastened to +the gangway, and was just in time to see the foremast go. Scarcely had +he called to the men to stand clear, when all the three masts fell +aft, one after the other, covering the deck with masts, yards, sails, +and rigging, and in their fall killing some and dreadfully mangling +others. Within a few feet of the ship rose a stupendous black rock, +against which the surf was raging violently. The rock was so +perpendicular, that both the fore and main yardarms were (before they +fell) scraping against the granite cliff. The hull, however, did not +appear to come in contact with the rock; but, as if answering the +helm, her head turned off shore, and as she swung round, the larboard +quarter boat was completely smashed between the ship's side and the +rock. Nothing could exceed the alarm that prevailed on board for a few +minutes after the sudden crash. The decks were covered with spars and +rigging, lying pell-mell upon the bodies of those who had been injured +by their fall. The man at the helm had been killed at his post, and +the wheel itself was shivered to atoms; whilst the darkness of the +night, and the roar of the breakers against the cliff, added to the +horrors of a catastrophe of which the suddenness alone was sufficient +to paralyse the energies of the men. + +Captain Burgess saw that everything depended upon promptitude and +decision: he quickly rallied his people, and order was soon restored: +he then gave directions that the well should be sounded, and that the +men should stand by the small bower anchor. + +A sentinel was placed to guard the spirit-room, and two small sails +were run up the fore and main-masts, the stumps of which were from +twelve to fifteen feet above the deck, and the helm was put to +starboard. The winches were next manned, and guns, rockets, and blue +lights let off in rapid succession. + +The well was reported dry; orders were given for the small bower +anchor to be let go, but it was found covered with the wreck of the +bowsprit, and it was necessary to cut away the best bower in order to +keep the ship off shore; and for the same purpose every spar that +could be obtained was made use of to bear her off the rocky cliffs, +but in vain, for from the depth of the water, the anchor did not reach +the bottom, and the stern tailed upon a shelving rock in spite of all +their efforts. The men were next ordered to clear away the boats and +get them ready--but they were found totally destroyed. Those on the +quarters had been smashed by the rocks, and those on the booms and +stern by the falling of the masts. During the whole of this anxious +period, the conduct of the men was most exemplary. Aware that all +depended upon individual exertion, each one appeared to emulate the +example set by his officers, and worked with hearty good will; not a +single instance of anything like bad conduct occurred. + +Their condition was most disheartening; the boats were no longer +available; the water was gaining on the vessel; and the rockets and +blue lights, as they darted into the air, served but to show them the +rugged face of the high rocks, which appeared to afford no footing by +which the summit could be gained, even if they should be so fortunate +as to reach them at all. + +Whilst all on board were weighing these chances of destruction or of +safety, the vessel's head had gone round off, and a few succeeding +heavy surfs threw her again with her starboard quarter upon the rock, +and whilst she was in this position, there appeared a possibility of +getting some of the people on shore. Captain Burgess, therefore, +ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to do everything in his power to +facilitate such a proceeding, and shortly afterwards that officer, Mr. +Mends, midshipman, and about seventy others, effected a landing by +jumping either from the broken end of the mainyard, which was lying +across the ship, or from the hammock netting abaft the mizenmast; +several others who attempted to land in the same way were less +fortunate; some were crushed to death, and some drawn back by the +recoil of the surf and drowned. + +From the time the ship first struck, the current had been carrying her +along the cliffs at the rate of at least a quarter of a mile an hour; +it now carried her off the rock, and she drifted along shore, a +helpless wreck, at the mercy of the winds and waves. The captain saw +that nothing more could be done for the vessel, and therefore he +directed all his energies to the preservation of the crew. The marine +who had been appointed to guard the spirit-room still remained at his +post, and never left it till commanded to do so by his superior +officer, even after the water had burst open the hatch. We mention +this as an instance of the effect of good discipline in times of the +greatest peril. + +The vessel, or rather the wreck, was now carried towards a small cove, +into which she happily drifted; she struck heavily against the rocks, +then gave some tremendous yauls, and gradually sunk until nothing was +left above water but the bows, the broken bowsprit, and the wreck of +the masts as they laid on the booms. + +All on board deemed that the crisis of their fate had arrived,--and +they prepared for the final struggle between life and death. There +were some moments of awful suspense, for every lurch the ill-fated +vessel gave, was expected to be the last; but when she seemed to sink +no deeper, there came the hope that her keel had touched the bottom, +and that they should not all he engulfed in a watery grave. + +Before she sunk, the frigate's bows had gone so close into the rocks +as to enable some sixty or seventy people to jump on shore; and a +hawser was got out and fixed to a rock, by which several others were +saved; but by a tremendous surge, the piece of rock to which the +hawser was fastened was broken away, and for a time all communication +with the land was suspended. They tried every means that could be +devised to convey a rope from the ship to the land, but for a long +time without success, until Mr. Geach, the boatswain, swung himself on +the stump of the bowsprit, and by making fast two belaying pins to the +end of a line, he succeeded in throwing it on shore. To this a +stronger cable was bent, and it was dragged through the surf by the +people on the rocks, who then kept it taut. + +Although a few words only are required to describe the mode by which a +communication was established between the ship and the shore, yet it +had been a work of toil, time, and danger. The boatswain had more than +once nearly lost his life by being washed away by the waves as they +swept over the wreck; the captain, who directed his proceedings, was +standing up to his middle in water, upon one foot only, frequently +losing his hold, and with great difficulty regaining his position. + +The boatswain, when the preparations were completed, suggested that, +in order to test the strength of the cable, a boy should be the first +to make a trial of it; accordingly, a young lad was firmly secured to +a sort of cradle or bowling knot, and drawn on shore in safety. The +success of the attempt was announced by a loud cheer from the strand, +and the captain then took upon himself to direct the landing of the +rest of the crew by the same means. He stationed himself on the knight +head, so as to prevent a general rush being made; he then called each +man separately, and one by one they slung themselves upon the rope and +were swung on shore. Nothing could exceed the good conduct displayed +by the whole of the ship's company, every order was promptly obeyed, +and the utmost patience and firmness exhibited by every individual. + +When the greater part of the people had quitted the wreck, there +still remained several who could not be induced even by the earnest +and repeated entreaties of their commander to leave their _dry_ +position on the yards. The strength of the captain and boatswain was +almost exhausted, and as they could not persuade any more of the men +to avail themselves of the proffered means of safety, they were +obliged, though very reluctantly, to leave them on the wreck, and they +themselves joined the crew on the rocks. + +In the course of an hour or two, however, the party who had stayed by +the wreck, took courage and ventured upon the rope; but as the stump +of the bowsprit, which was over the larboard cathead, rendered it +extremely hazardous to come forward, they did not all get on shore +till daylight. In the morning, Captain Burgess's first care was to +muster his men, and a melancholy spectacle presented itself. Sixteen +were missing, and of those who were gathered around him, many had been +dreadfully bruised and lacerated in their efforts to reach the shore. +Amongst those who perished was a fine spirited lad, the son of Captain +Bingham, late commander of the Thetis. But a few months before, +Captain Bingham himself had been drowned in the Guayaquil: thus father +and son lay far from their native land, beneath the western flood. + + The warlike of the isles, + The men of field and wave, + Are not the rocks their funeral piles, + The seas and shores their grave? + Go, stranger! track the deep-- + Free, free, the white sail spread; + Wind may not rove, nor billows sweep, + Where rest not England's dead. + +The crew of the Thetis had now time to look around them, and to +consider what was next to be done. The prospect was a sad one. Before +them, and almost hidden by the white foam, lay the once noble frigate, +now a complete wreck; the cove into which she had drifted was bound by +lofty and precipitous crags, arising abruptly from the sea, and +varying in height from 80 to 194 feet. The men and officers were +perched in groups on points of the rocks; few of them had clothing +enough to cover them, and scarcely any had shoes. There seemed to be +no means of ascending the precipice; but to do so must be their first +object; and anxiously they sought for some part which might offer a +surer footing, and a less perilous and perpendicular ascent. At last +they succeeded in casting a rope round one of the projecting crags, +and by help of this some of the strongest of the party climbed the +giddy height, and then assisted in hauling up their weaker comrades. + +To give some idea of the difficulties which they had to surmount, and +their almost miraculous escape, we subjoin the following description +of the place from the pen of Captain Dickenson:-- + +'The coast is formed of rugged and almost perpendicular rocks, varying +from 80 to 194 feet in height, a peak rising at each point, and +another in nearly the centre of the north-eastern side. + +'On viewing this terrific place, with the knowledge that at the time +of the shipwreck the wind was from the southward, I was struck with +astonishment, and it appeared quite a mystery that so great a number +of lives could have been saved; and indeed it will never cease to be +so, for that part on which the crew landed is so difficult of access, +that (even in fine weather) after being placed by a boat on a rock at +the base, it required considerable strength and agility, with the +assistance of a man-rope, to climb the precipitous face of the cliff, +and I am certain that in the hour of extreme peril, when excess of +exertion was called forth, there must have been a most extraordinary +display of it by a few for the benefit of the whole.' + +When the party were all safely landed on the top of the rocks, they +perceived that they were on an island without inhabitants, and +affording no shelter, except a few huts, that had been erected for the +convenience of the natives curing fish. Fortunately these huts +contained a considerable quantity of salt fish and farina. This was +placed in charge of the purser, and immediately distributed amongst +the ship's company, who stood in great need of refreshment. As soon as +the men were sufficiently recovered from their fatigues, they were +despatched in parties in all directions, to discover means of +communicating with the mainland, from which the island was a few miles +distant. Most of them soon returned with the tidings that no means of +transport could be procured. This was a very disheartening +announcement; but its effects were quickly dispelled by the appearance +of a canoe coming into the little cove where the huts were situated. + +The seamen made signals to the men in the canoe, inviting them to +approach, which they did; and when they came up, they communicated the +welcome intelligence, that round a point to the left, on the mainland, +there was a village which afforded all kinds of accommodation. + +Captain Burgess then ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to go in a canoe, +with two or three of his men, to this village, and there to make +arrangements for proceeding to the commander-in-chief at Rio Janeiro, +and to send off as many canoes as he could procure to convey the +ship's company to the mainland. + +In a short time several canoes arrived at the island, and Mr. Drake, +the purser of the Thetis, was amongst the first sent off to the +village, with directions to despatch a sufficient quantity of +provisions for the people on the rock; but after making two or three +trips between the parties, Mr. Wilson, the master's assistant, +returned in one of the canoes to say, that the natives refused to come +again without being paid. In this dilemma, Captain Burgess went across +himself, and by dint of persuasion and promises of payment, he at last +induced some of the natives to go to the assistance of his people; and +in the course of a few hours as many were conveyed to the village as +was deemed prudent. It was necessary to leave some men to look after +the wreck; and to this duty Lieutenant Otway, Mr. Mends, midshipman, +the gunner, carpenter, four marines, and thirty-three seamen, were +appointed: they therefore remained on the island; and before night +Captain Burgess had the satisfaction of seeing all the rest of his +crew, if not very comfortably lodged, at least safe and under shelter. +In the evening, Lieutenant Hamilton set out overland to Rio Janeiro to +apprise the commander-in-chief of the loss of the Thetis, and the +distressing situation of her men. + +The following morning the people had great difficulty in hiring +canoes, and only one could be obtained, in which Lieutenant West and +the boatswain went off to the wreck, where they were for several days +actively employed. None of the men were allowed to be idle, for they +had full occupation in carrying wood and water, which were only to be +found at a great distance. + +The behaviour of the local authorities was disgraceful in the extreme; +although fully aware of the destitute condition of the Englishmen who +had been cast upon their shores, they denied them the most trifling +assistance, and turned a deaf ear to every entreaty and remonstrance. + +Money! money! was the constant cry. In vain Captain Burgess assured +them that the little he had saved was almost expended; but that as +soon as assistance should arrive from his countrymen, every article +should be paid for. All his arguments and promises were thrown away +upon the natives, whose rapacity knew no bounds; they would give +nothing without payment, and their charges were exorbitant. + +Captain Burgess was so exasperated at one of these natives, who had +agreed to let the crew have a small bullock, but, upon finding there +was no money to pay for it, had driven it away, that he thought it +almost justifiable to desire his men to help themselves. There was, +however, one bright exception to this universal hard-heartedness. A +sergeant, named Antonio das Santos, who commanded a small fort of +three guns, seeing the unwillingness of the natives to render any aid +to the strangers, came forward and asked if anything was wanted that +he could supply. Captain Burgess replied, that both his officers and +men stood in great need of food, and that a loan of money for present +use would be very acceptable. The sergeant immediately placed in the +captain's hands forty milreas in copper, and most generously put at +his disposal everything he possessed. The example of this +noble-hearted fellow had no effect on the conduct of the rest; their +great object seemed to be to make as much gain as possible by the +misfortunes of their fellow-creatures, and they went so far as to +plunder the wreck, breaking open the chests, and taking possession of +their contents whenever an opportunity occurred. + +In order to attract the notice of vessels passing near, two +flag-staffs had been erected upon the heights, with the ensign +downwards; but day after day passed on, and no friendly sail appeared. +The cupidity of the natives was insatiable, and provisions became more +and more scarce. It was not until the 15th of December, ten days +after the loss of the Thetis, that a vessel was seen in the offing. +She proved to be the Algerine, which arrived most opportunely, when +they were almost reduced to extremity, and brought them the articles +of which they were in greatest need. + +The next day, just after the Algerine had entered the harbour of Cape +Frio, Admiral Baker arrived with a necessary supply of money. He had +attempted the sea-passage from Rio Janeiro, for three days, in his +barge, but had been obliged to put back on account of the current, and +had then performed the journey of seventy miles overland in +forty-eight hours. From the admiral, Captain Burgess had the +satisfaction of hearing that the Druid, Clio, Adelaide, and a French +brig of war might be hourly expected. + +These all arrived in due course, and took on board the officers and +men of the late Thetis, who were safely landed at Rio Janeiro on the +24th of December. + +In conclusion, we cannot refrain from noticing the firmness and +presence of mind evinced by Captain Burgess under the most appalling +circumstances. After having adopted every available means for saving +the ship without effect, he superintended for many hours the +disembarkation of the crew, and during all that tedious process he was +standing in a heavy surf up to the middle in water; nor could he be +persuaded to quit the wreck until not one more of his officers or men +would consent to go before him. Respecting the conduct of the officers +and men, we cannot do better than lay before our readers Captain +Burgess's own estimate of its merits. + +'I owe,' he says, 'to the whole of my officers and men (and which most +sincerely and unreservedly I render,) the meed of praise due to the +conduct of every one, without exception. It was their prompt obedience +to all my orders, and the firmness, fortitude, and alacrity which +they perseveringly as well as patiently displayed amidst their great +perils, sufferings, and privations, through the whole of this trying +scene, that contributed, under Providence, to the saving of so many of +their lives. + +'Their subsequent orderly and excellent conduct on shore as much +bespeaks my approbation; and, in truth, the general character of their +conduct throughout has induced an esteem in me which it is impossible +can ever cease but with my life.'[18] + +Captain Samuel Burgess entered the navy in 1790, and served on board +the Impregnable at the victory of the 1st of June, 1794. He was almost +constantly employed from that time until the year 1804, when he was +appointed a lieutenant on board the Prince, of 98 guns, in which ship +he was present at the battle of Trafalgar. + +He next served on board the Dreadnought, 98, and subsequently was +appointed to the command of the Pincher, a 12-gun brig, employed in +the North Sea and Baltic. Whilst in command of this vessel, Lieutenant +Burgess distinguished himself on many occasions, particularly in +assisting Lord George Stuart in reducing the batteries of Cuxhaven and +Bremerleke. His next appointment was to the Vixen gun-brig; and +although he might well have expected promotion for his services, he +remained lieutenant until the year 1816, when he was appointed to the +Queen Charlotte, in which ship he served as flag-lieutenant to Lord +Exmouth at the bombardment of Algiers. Upon the arrival of the +dispatches in England, Lieutenant Burgess was promoted to the rank of +commander. He received his post rank on the 27th November, 1830, when +he took the command of the Thetis. A more lengthened statement of the +services of this officer will be found in O'Byrne's _Naval Biography_, +to which work we are indebted for the above sketch. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[18] The greater part of the treasure lost with the Thetis (806,000 +dollars) has subsequently been recovered. An interesting description +of the means used for raising it will be found in a volume published +by Captain Dickenson. + + + + +THE FIREFLY. + + +The Firefly, a small schooner, with a crew of about fifty men, was +proceeding on her voyage from Belize to Jamaica, on the 27th of +February, 1835. The wind had been moderate during the day, and as they +were steering a course laid down in the chart, no danger was +anticipated. + +Between nine and ten o'clock at night, the greater part of the crew, +with the exception of those whose duty it was to be upon deck, had +retired below, when the seaman in charge of the watch reported to the +commander, Lieutenant Julius McDonnell, that it was very dark ahead. +He instantly went upon deck, when the sound of surf breaking upon +rocks was distinctly heard. The helm was put down, under the hopes of +staying the vessel, but as the wind was light, and a heavy swell +setting in at the time, she did not come round, but getting stern-way, +struck with a shock which made every timber vibrate, and appeared to +threaten instant destruction to the vessel. All were in a moment upon +deck; the sweeps were got out on the larboard side, the best bower +anchor let go, and the boats hoisted out, and ordered to sound, whilst +the cutter was sent to carry out the stream anchor. The cable was then +held taut, but snapped almost immediately: the best bower came home, +and the small bower was let go. In the meantime, the wind had shifted +to the northward, and was blowing in heavy squalls, and their small +bower anchor, which was their sole dependence, came home. + +Everything that could be done was put into practice to save the +vessel, but all in vain; and when daylight broke, her commander saw +that there was nothing now left him but to take measures for +preserving the lives of the crew. + +For this purpose, all the officers and men were set to work to +construct rafts, as the boats were not sufficient to contain the whole +of the crew. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, one raft +was completed, and the cutter and gig prepared to receive the men. The +vessel was all this time rapidly breaking up; the bolts of her keelson +and the stempost had started; the deck was broken in, and there was +but little hope of her holding together many hours. + +One officer, Mr. Nopps, the master's assistant, had been placed in the +cutter, to prevent the men from taking away anything save the clothes +they had on. Eighteen were already in the boat, including Captain West +(an engineer officer) and his son, and fifteen were mustered in the +raft, which was lashed to the larboard of the wreck, when from some +accident the raft got adrift, and was carried away by the current. +This proved most unfortunate, as the raft was their great resource; +and all on board of her would inevitably have perished, had not the +cutter pushed out to their assistance. A rope was fastened to the +raft, and they attempted to tow her back to the schooner; but as the +cutter had only four oars, and the wind set so strong to the +southward, they were unable to reach the schooner. + +Those who remained upon the wreck had only the gig left; and as this +could contain but a few, Lieutenant McDonnell thought it advisable to +direct an officer to take on board the sick, and proceed for +assistance to Belize, and if he fell in with the cutter to send her +back to the schooner. The gig accordingly shoved off, but again +returned, in consequence of an accident having happened to the mast; +this being remedied, she again pulled away from the wreck and having +fallen in with the cutter, communicated the orders of Mr. McDonnell +for her return. This, as has before been shown, was impossible, and +the gig having taken on board Captain West and his son, parted from +the cutter, with the intention of proceeding to Belize. + +When Lieutenant McDonnell saw that the cutter did not return, he +directed and assisted the men who remained upon the wreck to construct +a second raft. This, after considerable labour, was completed by the +following morning: it was then launched overboard, and made fast to +the rocks within the reef. As the wreck still held together, Mr. +McDonnell considered it prudent to remain by her as long as possible, +in the hope that some assistance might arrive from Belize: but in this +he was disappointed. In the meantime, another and stronger raft had +been formed from the after part of the quarter-deck, which had been +broken up by the sea; this also was launched, and brought forward +under the bows. The men almost hoped against hope, but yet no +assistance arrived. Fortunately, the weather was partially moderate, +but still the sufferings, from exposure to the weather, and the +deprivation of proper food, were severely felt; and Lieutenant +McDonnell determined, under all these circumstances, to wait no +longer, and on the 4th of March everything was in readiness to quit +the wreck. A small barrel of bread was placed on the raft, but this +was immediately washed off into the sea. A beaker one-third full of +rum was then fastened more securely, and this was the only thing that +they could take with them. + +All having embarked, they started with the intention of steering +towards a cay which was in sight, but the current proved too strong, +and the raft was swept into deep water. The sail was then set, and +they steered in the direction of what was supposed to be a wreck, or +vessel, in the same situation as themselves; but on nearing, it proved +to be a sand-bore, on which people were distinctly seen walking to and +fro. They immediately conjectured that these must be the crew of one +of the boats, a supposition which afterwards proved to be correct. +Every effort was made to gain the bank, but the current was too +strong, and they found it impossible to reach any part of the reef. + +Lieutenant McDonnell, who had been suffering some days from ill +health, was now so exhausted that he was obliged to be supported upon +the raft. He was, therefore, unable to give any commands; and, after a +short consultation, it was considered best to stand out to sea, in the +hopes of falling in with some vessel. The night had set in, and they +steered a course westward. On the following morning a white bottom was +seen, but immediately afterwards the raft was again in deep water. All +this time they had nothing to eat; their sole subsistence being a +small quantity of rum, which was served out at stated intervals. + +The following morning, about eight o'clock, land was observed right +ahead, and they endeavoured to steer in that direction; but their +progress, from the heavy construction of the raft, was necessarily +very slow, and it was not until sunset that they found themselves +about nine or ten miles from the shore. All the next night they stood +in the same direction; and about four or five o'clock in the morning, +as near as they could guess, they were cast by the surf upon the +beach. Utterly prostrate with the fatigues they had undergone, they +threw themselves upon the sand, and soon found in sleep a brief +forgetfulness of their past cares and troubles. They did not awake for +many horn's, when, upon looking around, they discovered that the +commander was absent. This, however, gave them no uneasiness, as it +was supposed that he had gone in search of assistance. The first +object was to proceed in quest of water, of which they stood in most +need. They had gone for more than a mile without finding anything to +moisten their lips, or any signs of habitation, when one of the men +discovered a cocoa-nut tree: here was both food and drink, and with +avidity they seized upon the fruit, and found relief from their most +urgent wants. + +Amongst the party who were cast on shore were Mr. Malcolm, a master's +assistant, and Mr. Price, a merchant; these, with the rest of the men, +proceeding a little further into the woods, became so fatigued that +they were obliged to return to the place where they were first cast, +whilst their companions prosecuted the search for Lieutenant +McDonnell, whose continued absence had given the greatest alarm. + +About one o'clock, some of the men returned, but brought no tidings of +the commander; they said that the rest of the men had determined to +walk round the cay, as they conjectured the place on which they were +cast was Ambegris Cay, and more especially as Mr. Price, who had been +long a resident at Honduras, had assured them that to the south-east +there was a plantation belonging to one of his friends. + +About two hours afterwards the men returned, but neither their +endeavours to find a habitation nor any traces of Lieutenant McDonnell +had been successful. They said that it had been their intention to +walk round the cay, but from the appearance of the coast, they did not +think it was possible to do so that day. It was then proposed that +they should rest where they were during night, and renew their search +at an early hour next morning. + +Whilst they were sitting on the beach, one of the men thought he saw +Mr. McDonnell running in the surf, about half a mile distant. Ritchie, +the gunner's mate, immediately proceeded in the direction where he was +supposed to be, and found that unfortunate officer in a state of +delirium. He endeavoured to persuade him to come down to where the +rest of the men were assembled, but a few incoherent words were his +only reply. Ritchie was, therefore, obliged to return to his comrades +for assistance; and having communicated the sad condition of their +officer, they all proceeded together to the spot where he was last +seen, but found no traces of the commander. Search was made in every +direction, but in vain; and as night was approaching, they were +reluctantly obliged to return to the place which they had fixed upon +as their rendezvous. In their way thither they gathered some more +cocoa-nuts, and having satisfied their hunger and thirst, lay down to +rest, under the canopy of heaven, and with no softer bed than what the +sandy beach afforded. + +The next morning the men again declared their intention of walking in +search of the plantation mentioned by Mr. Price. Mr. Malcolm, who had +become the senior officer in the absence of Mr. McDonnell, advised +them to remain where they were, and to build a hut, and dig a well for +water; he assured them that, as long as there was a plentiful supply +of cocoa-nuts, they could not starve, and that the chances were, +assistance would arrive. All was, however, to no purpose; they would +not listen to any argument, and even disregarded his authority. It was +as much as he could do to insist upon their first going in search of +their commander. + +After a long time employed for this purpose, they discovered Mr. +McDonnell asleep beneath a parmetta tree. Upon hearing footsteps +approaching, he awoke, but in such a feeble state that he was unable +to rise without assistance, and from the wildness of his manner, there +was too much reason to fear that his reason had fled. They gave him +some cocoa-nut milk, which he eagerly drank, and this appeared to give +him some relief. With difficulty they made him comprehend that they +intended to proceed to the plantation for assistance, but he refused +to join them, alleging that a boat was coming for him. In a short time +he appeared a little more collected, and agreed to join the +expedition. There still remained a small supply of rum, and a portion +of this being poured into some empty cocoa-nuts, it was distributed +equally amongst the men, and they all commenced their journey, the men +about 200 yards ahead, and Mr. McDonnell, supported by Malcolm and Mr. +Price, brought up the rear. + +After proceeding in this way about two miles, Mr. McDonnell's strength +utterly failed, and he sank down upon the ground, declaring that he +could go no further; every entreaty was urged to persuade him to make +another effort, but both the powers of the mind and body had deserted +the unfortunate officer, and Malcolm and his companion were at a loss +to know what course to pursue. After a brief consultation they +determined to leave Mr. McDonnell, and as soon as they reached the +plantation, which Mr. Price declared could not be far distant, return +with assistance. + +They then once more resumed their journey, the men proceeding ahead +as before; in the middle of the day they stopped to rest, and again +resumed their march until about an hour before sunset, when they +arrived at two cocoa-nut trees; and as these formed not only a place +of shelter, but also a means of procuring food, they determined to +remain there for the night. The men who had climbed up the trees, and +were gathering fruit, descried a pond, or creek, in the wood, about +half a mile distant. Mr. Price then observed, if that was the case, +they were on the mainland, and not on Ambegris Cay. + +They were now in a great dilemma, for they were uncertain which way to +proceed, and Mr. Malcolm endeavoured to persuade the men to return to +the beach, assuring them that it was quite useless their proceeding +any further, for they did not know where they were going; but they +turned a deaf ear to every argument, declaring that they would walk as +long as they were able. Mr. Price, the merchant, agreed with the rest +of the men, and urged them to continue their journey, in the hopes +that they might be seen by some coasting boats going to Belize. This +was Saturday night; and after toiling all day, they had only walked +ten miles from where they had left Mr. McDonnell. The next morning Mr. +Malcolm again entreated the men to remain, but it was of no avail, and +they recommenced their march. + +The men continued to walk together until Tuesday evening, subsisting +upon cocoa-nuts, which they gathered on their way, when Malcolm was +obliged to be left behind, as he was unable to walk any further. The +next morning he was found by some natives, and taken to Ambegris Cay, +where the men had arrived the previous evening. + +We must now return to the fate of the cutter, which it will be +remembered left the wreck on the morning of the 28th of February, +taking the raft in tow. They endeavoured to return to the schooner, +but the current proving too strong, they were obliged to abandon the +attempt, and ran before the wind until they made a sand-bore, on the +south end of the reef, about an hour afterwards. + +They then cut the raft adrift, and landed the men that were in the +cutter, sending the boat back with two men to carry the rest off the +raft, as it was impossible to bring the raft to the sand-bore. It was +about seven o'clock in the evening when they were all safely landed, +the cutter being at this time in such a condition, that she could not +have floated, even in smooth water, without baling. + +They then dragged the boat up the beach, where they remained until +daylight next morning, the 1st of March. Mr. Nopps, master's-assistant, +who was the commanding officer of the party, determined to leave the +majority of the men on the sand-bore, and proceed to the wreck; he +accordingly started with five men in the cutter, in hopes of reaching +the schooner, but as it blew strongly from the northward, and the boat +had no jib or mizen, and the mainmast and sprit sprung, they found it +impossible to beat to windward. In this condition, as there was no +appearance of the wind abating, and nothing to eat except some salt +pork, and only two beakers of water, one of which had been drunk during +the night, Mr. Nopps considered it his duty to take the boat with these +five men, and run for the first place they could fetch, hoping to reach +Belize, which was nearly before the wind. + +For two days they scudded before the wind, without being able to set +any sail, and had passed at least forty miles to the southward of +Belize, before the wind abated; during this time they suffered +severely from want of water, the last beaker having been finished, +and the salt pork increasing their thirst. It was not until twelve +o'clock on Tuesday, the 3rd of March, that they arrived in Belize +roads, and were taken on board the Fly. + +Here they received every attention that was necessary, and Mr. Rogers, +the master of the Fly, accompanied by Mr. Nopps, was despatched in the +Governor's schooner to the assistance of the men who were left on the +sand-bore, and of the others who were still supposed to be upon the +wreck. + +On the following Friday, the 6th of March, they reached the sand-bore, +and having taken off the men, proceeded to the wreck, where they found +only two men, from whom they learnt that Lieutenant McDonnell, and the +rest of the people, had quitted the wreck two days previously. Pilot +boats were then sent in search, and another party explored the coast; +and after visiting Long Bay, without hearing any tidings, returned to +Belize. + +In the course of two days, a boat arrived with the eight men who had +been with McDonnell, who reported that they had left that officer, +almost dead, in the wood. + +Mr. Nopps again departed in a pilot-boat in search of his commander, +but when he reached Ambegris Cay, the boat was unable to beat up +outside the breakers, and it came on to blow so violently during the +night, that they were prevented from landing; the following day they +were more successful, and Mr. Nopps walked up the coast. For two days +his search proved useless, but on the third he had the pleasure of +finding Mr. McDonnell still alive, in a hut, under the care of some +Indians. After the lapse of two days, he was so far recovered as to be +taken on board the pilot-boat, and arrived next morning at Belize Bay. + +It would have been happy if all connected with the Firefly had been +equally fortunate. The gig, which had been sent from the wreck to +Belize for assistance, was found several days afterwards cast upon the +beach, broken in two, and all in her must have perished. + +Lieutenant McDonnell was promoted to the rank of commander in 1846, +and at present is unemployed. + + + + +THE AVENGER. + + +The Avenger, a steam frigate, with an armament of 6 heavy guns and 280 +men, sailed from Gibraltar on the afternoon of the 17th of December, +1847. As her commander, Captain Charles G.E. Napier, was anxious to +spare the coal, the steam was reduced to the least possible degree, +leaving sufficient to work the wheels up to the rate of sailing. On +Monday, the 20th, the steamer was running with square yards, at the +rate of eight or nine knots an hour, steering about east by south, +under double-reefed topsails and reefed foresail. At eight o'clock in +the evening the usual watch was placed, with directions to keep a +careful look-out. The night was dark and squally, with a high sea +running, and occasionally loud peals of thunder were heard, +accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning. + +Most of the officers were collected in the gun-room, with the +exception of the captain, who had retired to his sleeping cabin. He +had directed his steward to request the attendance of the master, and +of Mr. Betts, the second master, who soon joined him in the cabin, +where they remained for a few minutes examining the charts. The +captain's steward relates, that the above officers went upon deck, +when Captain Napier desired him to take away the light, and to leave a +small lamp burning in the fore-cabin, which was always kept alight at +sea during the night. He accordingly did so, and returned to his +berth. In about half-an-hour afterwards he heard some one come down +from the quarter-deck, and go into the captain's cabin. In about five +minutes the captain went upon deck, where he remained for a short +time, and again returned to his cabin, but had scarcely closed the +door, before he was summoned upon deck by the officer of the watch. + +The officers in the gun-room were upon the point of retiring to their +berths, when they were startled by a sudden jerk, which they at first +supposed to be a gun broken adrift, but the next moment the ship gave +a heavy lurch, as if filling, and her whole frame appeared shaken, and +every beam loosened. It would be in vain to attempt to describe the +dismay of the crew of the ill-fated Avenger, when thus roused from a +sense of comparative security, to find themselves in an instant upon +the verge of destruction. Already the deck was crowded with people, +most of them only partially clothed, and the rest almost naked. On the +bridge between the paddle-boxes stood the captain and master; Mr. +Ayling, the master's assistant, the quarter-master, and two seamen +were at the wheel. In another minute the ship gave a heavy lurch to +starboard, and the sea poured over the forecastle. The captain then +gave the order, 'Out boats--lower away the boats.' These were his last +words, for he was immediately afterwards washed overboard and drowned. + +Lieutenant Rooke, who never appears to have lost his presence of mind, +immediately went forward to assist in lowering the boats, but under +the firm impression that the ship was fast sinking, and with little +hope that there was time enough to get out the boats, or even if +lowered, that they could live in such a heavy sea. He saw, however, if +anything was to be done, it must be done immediately; he therefore +went amongst the men endeavouring to persuade them to lower the +starboard cutter; Mr. Betts, the second master, at the same time +attempted to lower the port one. Every entreaty and persuasion that +Lieutenant Rooke could use was, however, of no avail; the men seemed +paralysed with the sudden panic and the apparent helplessness of their +situation. Instead of affording assistance, they clustered together, +exclaiming, 'Oh, my God, Sir, we are lost--we are lost!' Mr. Rooke, +finding that all his arguments were of no avail, crossed the deck to +the port side for the purpose of helping Mr. Betts in lowering the +port cutter. In his way he met Larcom, the gunner, who had just come +from below, with his clothes under his arm, having been in bed when +the ship struck. Hastily acquainting him with his intention, they made +the best of their way to the cutter, where they were joined by Dr. +Steel, the surgeon, Mr. Ayling, master's-assistant, John Owen, a +stoker, James Morley, a boy, and W. Hills, captain's steward. At this +moment, Lieutenant Marryat made his appearance, his manner calm and +self-possessed; he was in the act of addressing himself to one of the +party, when the ship gave a heavy lurch to starboard, and the gallant +young officer lost his footing, and was washed overboard. + +Whilst they were in the act of lowering the cutter, an accident +occurred, which was nearly proving fatal to all their hopes of +preservation. + +In lowering the boat, the foremost fall got jammed, and the after one +going freely, the boat had her stern in the water, and her bows in the +air; at this moment, Dr. Steel threw in his cloak, which fortunately +got into the sleave-hole of the after fall, and stopped it. + +Just as the boat touched the water, and before the tackles were +unhooked, the ship struck again heavily, and began swinging broadside +to the sea, falling over to starboard at the same time, which, from +the cutter being the port one, made her crash with great violence +against the ship's side; however, by dint of great exertion, the boat +was got free from the tackles, and pulled clear of the ship. + +The Avenger now lay broadside to the sea, with her head towards +Africa, falling at the same time to windward, with her deck exposed; +the foremast, mainmast, and mizen topmast falling over the starboard +side, and the funnel on the gangway, no doubt killing many of the crew +as it fell. As the boat left the ship's side, some one attempted to +burn a blue-light, but it went out immediately. The sea was now +occasionally seen to break over the forecastle and quarter, and Mr. +Rooke, in the hope of saving some of the crew, gave orders to lie on +their oars, and keep the boat's bow to the ship, to be ready to pick +up any of the survivors in the event of the ship's falling to pieces. +Lieutenant Rooke and his little party[19] remained by the ship for +about an hour and a half, the moon at intervals shining out brightly +from behind the heavy clouds, and discovering the Island of Galita, +apparently at about ten or twelve miles distant. The weather now +became more tempestuous; the rain poured in torrents; and all being +almost exhausted with pulling against a strong current, and being +gradually drawn away from the ship, Lieutenant Rooke considered it +most advisable to run under the lee of Galita, and there, if possible, +remain on their oars until there was daylight sufficient to land, and +seek assistance for the ship, in the event of the island being +inhabited. + +All being of the same opinion, the boat's head was turned towards +Galita, and they took a last look of the Avenger, which appeared to be +firmly fixed, and likely to hold together for some time. + +The weather grew worse and worse; the boat, under a close-reefed mizen +on the bumpkin stepped as a foremast, was steered with an oar by the +second master. When they had arrived within about two miles of the +island, the wind shifted to a very severe squall, accompanied with +lightning, thunder, and a heavy hail-storm. Mr. Larcom, the gunner, +now took the place of the second master in steering the boat, which +was scarcely got round, before the wind caught her with such violence, +that it seemed impossible the boat could live. + +The squall continued without intermission for two hours and a half, +when the moon again emerged from the clouds, and the Island of Galita +was discovered on the port quarter. Some in the boat exclaimed, 'That +is the island!' which, at the time, they supposed to be long out of +sight, as the boat appeared to be going rapidly through the water; +this naturally led to a conjecture that a strong current set to the +northward and eastward. The wind still continued to veer about, and at +one time they thought that they must have passed the ship, but the +night was too dark to enable them to discern anything clearly many +yards beyond the boat. + +In this manner they passed the long hours of night, exposed to cold, +hunger, and exhaustion; and, as Lieutenant Rooke afterwards observed, +with the full expectation that they would be unable to survive until +morning. The second master appeared to have lost all reason. Upon +being questioned as to whereabouts they were, or in what direction it +was necessary to steer, he seemed to be scarcely aware that he was +addressed. The doctor, the master's assistant, and the boy Morley, +were lying at the bottom of the boat during the whole night, and the +stoker, John Owen, was wrapped in his jacket, and appeared, if +possible, in a worse condition than the second master. When asked to +do anything, he only replied by vacant answers, and before morning +became an idiot. At last the wished-for day broke, and the coast of +Africa was discerned about eight or nine miles distant. As Lieutenant +Rooke considered that the boat could not be kept above water much +longer, he determined upon attempting a landing, and accordingly he +himself steered her towards a small spot of sand, apparently clear of +the rocks, and slightly sheltered by a reef running out into the sea. + +This officer, from the time the boat quitted the Avenger, had, +notwithstanding his own personal sufferings, set a noble example to +his comrades, by exerting every effort to sustain their drooping +spirits. As he approached the shore, he exclaimed in a cheerful voice, +'This is something like Don Juan's shipwreck; I only hope we shall +find a Haidee.' It must not be supposed that this was said out of +bravado, or because he was not perfectly aware of the danger, but from +the necessity of his duty, as their commanding officer, to infuse a +new spirit into his exhausted crew, and to encourage them in the +approaching struggle, which he well knew would he 'life or death.' On +hearing the above words, poor Steel, the doctor, exclaimed, 'Rooke! +Rooke! there are other things to think of now.' The words were +prophetic, for before many minutes had elapsed, he had ceased to +exist. As they approached the shore, the sail was shifted from the +port side to the starboard, and the sheet which had been held by +Hills, the captain's steward, for ten hours, was fastened to the +thwarts. + +Mr. Rooke now again resigned his place as steerer to Larcom, the +gunner, and assisted the others in baling out the boat, which had +shipped a heavy sea on the quarter. The boat was steered within about +one hundred and fifty yards of the beach, when the rollers caught her, +first lifting her upright, and, as there was not water enough to float +her whole length, she filled and capsized. Larcom, Lieutenant Rooke, +Hills, the captain's steward, and the boy Morley, succeeded in gaining +the beach, but the rest of their unfortunate comrades perished. + +We should here mention that this was the second occasion on which the +boy Morley narrowly escaped a watery grave. + +When the Avenger was at Lisbon, the boy fell overboard, and would have +perished, had it not been for Lieutenant Marryat, who, at the risk of +his own life, sprung into the sea, and rescued the boy. + +In a few minutes a Bedouin Arab, who had been watching the boat from +some high ground, came toward them and conducted them to his hut, +where he supplied them with some milk; and having lighted a fire, they +were enabled to dry their clothes. + +They remained with their hospitable entertainer during that day, and +in the evening made a supper of maize-cake and sour milk. In the +meantime, Mr. Rooke had made the Arab understand their situation, and +their wish to get to Tunis; and after some trouble and promise of +reward, he agreed to conduct them next morning to Biserta. The wearied +men then threw themselves on the ground, where they passed the night +in company with dogs, cows, and goats, exposed to a violent wind and +pouring rain. + +Their subsequent proceedings are thus related by Lieutenant Rooke:-- + +'Wednesday, December 22nd.--At about 9 A.M. we started. Our road lay +at first over a ridge of high hills, from which we saw nothing of the +ship. We then crossed a sandy plain covered with the cactus, which +severely wounded my feet. Afterwards passed through some wooded +ravines, and over an extensive marsh intersected with brooks. Towards +the evening a horseman overtook us, who seeing the tired condition of +the steward, his feet bleeding, and also suffering from a gash on his +head, received whilst landing, carried him for about four miles, and +when his road lay in a different direction, gave our guide his gun, +and a piece of silver for us. + +'The night being now dark, and all of us exhausted, we stopped at a +Bedouin encampment, and asked for shelter, which after some time was +granted. We had been walking about ten hours, and got over more than +thirty miles of broken ground, having stopped once for a few minutes +to pick the berries off some arbutus trees, being our only food since +breakfast till late that night. We were wet, coverless, and all except +myself shoeless. + +'They gave us some maize-cake and milk. Seeing horses, I made them +understand that they would be well paid if they let us have them to +take us on to Biserta that night, when they made signs that the gates +were locked, but that we should have them in the morning. + +'Thursday, December 23rd.--At daylight we set out, but none of us +could walk from swollen feet. After a ride of about fifteen miles, +sometimes fording streams, and at others nearly up to our horses' +knees in mud, we arrived about ten A.M., at Biserta, and went to the +house of our consular agent, an Italian, whom I immediately asked to +prepare a boat for Tunis. + +'The boats here were all too small to send to the wreck, and for which +the wind was foul, with a fresh breeze. About 1 P.M. I started for +Tunis, and arrived about 11 P.M. at the Goletta, where I landed, and +sent to our Vice-Consul, who after some difficulty, owing to the port +regulations, came to see me, and tried to pass me through the gates, +but did not succeed. He promised to get two vessels ready, as +unfortunately there were no steamers here at the time of our arrival. +In one I meant to have sent Mr. Larcom to Galita, and the other I +intended to take to the wreck. + +'Friday, December 24th.--At daylight, when the gates opened, I entered +a carriage, and drove up to our consul-general, who ordered his agent +to forward my views in every way, sending his son to hurry matters, +whilst he communicated with the Bey, who ordered his squadron to sea. + +'Whilst my boat was preparing (a Maltese speronara, with a crew of +twelve men, selected for their knowledge of the coast,) I wrote two +letters, one to Malta, and the other to Lisbon, stating the loss of +the ship. Not having slept for four nights, and being thoroughly +tired, would account for the vague statement I sent. I then +breakfasted, and started about two P.M., having put on board such +provisions as my hurried departure admitted of--tea, coffee, biscuits, +and spirits, in case I should be fortunate enough to save anybody. + +'Saturday, December 25th, on my passage, and at daylight on Sunday I +was close to the spot where the Avenger was wrecked, although there +was no broken or discoloured water to mark it. I cruised about till +satisfied she had either broken up or sunk. Whilst here I saw two +steamers (Lavoisier and Pasha) come up and cruise about Galita +together: a merchant ship, and a gun-boat of the Bey's, with which I +communicated, asking them to take me to Galita, which I wished to +examine personally, as also to speak the steamers, my own crew, with +whom I had great trouble, refusing to do so. They declined, when I +asked them to take half my crew out, and lend me two men, to which +request I also received a negative; so I returned to Tunis, arriving +at about 1 A.M. on the morning of Tuesday, December 28th. Sir Thomas +Reade took all to his house, and made it a home for us. I went on +board the French steamer Lavoisier, to thank the captain for his +assistance, and also waited on the governor for the same purpose.' + +During the summer of the present year, the French government directed +Captain Bouchet Riviere to make a survey of the Sorelle. In +conclusion, therefore, we will give the following extract from that +officer's letter, as it throws some light upon the circumstances which +led to the loss of the Avenger:-- + +'The English frigate, Avenger, was lost on the two Sorelle; I saw +between the two heads of rocks, which are aptly named 'Sisters,' her +entire engine, two anchors, a shell gun, and some loose parts of the +wreck. I recovered and took on board some pieces of iron from the bed +of the engine, and a boarding cutlass. The engine lies in a medium +depth of ten metres (thirty-three feet). + +'From information which has been given me by boats which saw the +Avenger at sea the day of her loss, and adding the observations which +I was enabled to make on the spot itself, I have every reason to +believe that the event happened in the following manner:-- + +'The Avenger had, during the day, run along the coast of Algeria, but +on the approach of night, being then north of Calle, and the weather +having suddenly become very bad, with a great deal of wind from the +north-west, the captain of the Avenger altered her course immediately +to the northward, in order not to be caught in the middle of a +dangerous channel. As soon as he thought that the ship had passed the +parallel of the Sorelle, he resumed his course to the eastward, +satisfied that he would pass several miles to the northward of them. +He had not calculated on the currents which I have found at this +dangerous spot, and which, with a north-west wind, set to the +south-eastward with a rapidity of about 3 miles an hour. The track of +the Avenger must have been materially altered by this cause. When she +steered east, she was only in the latitude of the Sorelle, and was +shortly afterwards, on a very dark night, shattered against these +rocks. The first shock must have been dreadful. It took place on the +point south-east of the north-west rock; when she cleared this rock, +which is at this spot thirteen feet below the surface, leaving a large +white furrow, she ran a hundred and sixty feet further, and struck on +the south-east rock, which is only about four feet (one metre twenty +centimetres) below the surface. She again marked the rock very +distinctly. The sea, which is often very rough on this spot, has left +nothing remaining but the massive part of the engine, where it can be +perceived between the two rocks, covered with thick weed. + +'The dangerous Sorelle are formed by two tables of rocks, distant +about a hundred and sixty feet from each other, and separated by a +channel of a medium depth of thirty-nine to forty-nine feet (twelve to +fifteen metres). These two tables of rocks extend from the north-west +to the south-east. The north-west one has a diameter of 66 English +feet (twenty metres), its highest point is to the eastward, 16 feet +under water (five metres). The southeastern has a diameter of 197 feet +(sixty metres), and its highest point is only at a depth of 4 feet. +This last point is situated, according to my observations, which agree +with the position laid down in the chart of Admiral Berard, in 37 deg. +24' of north latitude, and 6 deg. 16' 25" of east longitude from Paris, +(or 8 deg. 36' 45" east of Greenwich); 17'.4 miles S. 65 deg. 15' W. of +the east point of the Island of Galita, and 27'.3 miles N. 0 deg. +30' E. of Cape Roux.' + +The fate of the Avenger leads to many sad reflections. The last of the +wrecks described in this volume, one of yesterday, as it were, was +more disastrous than many others. It is painful to contemplate the +scene of dismay, when the ship struck, so unlike the presence of mind +and calm deportment which we have recorded on similar occasions. But +every allowance is to be made for the panic which followed a +catastrophe so sudden and so overwhelming. The night was dark and +tempestuous, the sea was running high, and all the elements were in a +state of uproar. The paralyzing effect of this accumulation of horrors +appears in the fact, that even after the small party of eight had so +far secured their preservation as to be in possession of the cutter, +and were within sight of the Island of Galita, two of them were found +to be bereft of their reason. + +The first crash, and the rapid plunge of the ship into the gulf that +opened for her, and the loss of their captain among the first that +perished, left the crew without that guidance and control to which +seamen are in the habit of looking for support. + +But though we have to regret the consternation that prevailed, there +was no gross neglect or misconduct to throw a darker shade over the +last hours of the Avenger. Captain Napier had been in consultation in +his cabin with the master and second-master, examining the charts, and +had also been on deck, giving directions to the officer of the watch, +but a short time before the first alarm. When the panic was at its +height, there was no act of dastardly selfishness for personal +preservation, to the disregard of the safety of others. The officers +are not accused of losing their composure. Lieut. Marryat is stated to +have been 'calm and self-possessed;' and Mr. Rooke's strenuous efforts +to lower the cutter, and his manly resolution to remain by the ship, +as long as there was any chance of saving the lives of some of the +survivors, attest his devotion to his duty to the very last. + +The French officer, Captain Bouchier Riviere, who made a survey of the +Sorelle after the wreck, and who deliberately considered all the +circumstances, imputes no blame to the officers of the Avenger, but +generously accounts for the misfortune by referring to the dangers of +the spot, the force of the currents, the wildness of the weather, and +the darkness of the night. 'The first shock,' says he, 'must have been +dreadful.' + +It would have been humiliating and afflicting, had this record of the +Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, in which there is so much to admire, +been closed with the details of a calamity in any way disgraceful to +the service. Truth has required that the words '_dismay_' and +'_panic_' should be used in the foregoing relation; but the terrible +suddenness of the event, the instantaneous shock which broke up the +Avenger in a moment, without the preparatory warning of 'breakers +ahead,' or the previous notice of rocks or shoals in sight, will more +than account for the helplessness to which the crew were reduced. +They had not time to brace up their shattered nerves. The noble +bearing of the two lieutenants, Rooke and Marryat, cool as they were, +and in full command of their energies in the midst of crashing timbers +and perishing men, places the character of the British seaman in its +title light, and winds up our narrative with two more examples of +naval heroism. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[19] The party in the boat consisted of Lieutenant Rooke; Mr. Betts, +second master; Mr. Ayling, master's assistant; Mr. Larcom, gunner; Dr. +Steel, the surgeon; Wm. Hills, captain's steward: John Owen, stoker; +and the boy Morley. + + + + +LIST OF THE SHIPWRECKS OF THE ROYAL NAVY, +BETWEEN 1793 AND 1850. + + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+---------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+---------------- +Advice, | June 1, 1793| 4 |Edward Tyrell | 30| None |Bokell Key, + Cutter | | | | | |Honduras. +Amphitrite | Jan. 20, 1794| 24 |Anthony Hunt |160| None |On a sunken + | | | | | |rock in the + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Ardent | April, 1794| 64 |Robert M. |500| All |Blown up or + | | | Sutton | | |burnt off + | | | | | |Corsica. +Amethyst | Dec. 29, 1795| 44 |Thomas |300| None |Striking on + | | | Affleck | | |rocks off + | | | | | |Guernsey. +Arab, Sloop | June 10, 1796| 14 |Stephen | 96|Capt. |Rocks off the + | | | Seymour | | |Glenan Isles, + | | | | | |near Brest. +Active |Sept. 15, 1796| 32 |Ed. Leveson |215| None |Running on shore + | | | Gower | | |at Anticosti + | | | | | |River St. + | | | | | |Lawrence. +Amphion |Sept. 22, 1796| 32 |Isaac Pellew |215|Grter.|Burnt by + | | | | |pt. of|accident, and + | | | | |crew |blown up in + | | | | | |Hamoaze Harbour. +Albion |April 27, 1797| 64 |Henry Savage |491| None |Striking on + | | | | | |Middle Sand in + | | | | | |the Swin. +Artois | July 31, 1797| 32 |Sir Edmund |284| None |Running on + | | | Nagle | | |Ballien Rocks. +Amazon | Jan. 14, 1797| 32 |Robert C. |264| None |Engaged with the + | | | Reynolds | | |Droits des + | | | | | |Hommes, and ran + | | | | | |on shore in + | | | | | |Audernie Bay, + | | | | | |coast of France. +Aigle | July 18, 1797| 36 |Charles Tyler |274| None |Off Farina, + | | | | | |coast of Spain. +Apollo | Jan. 7, 1797| 38 |Peter Halkett |284| None |Running on Haak + | | | | | |Sand, coast of + | | | | | |Holland. +Amaranthe, | Oct. 25, 1799| 14 |George Hans | 86| 22 |Coast of + Sloop | | | Blake | | |Florida. +Augustus, | July 7, 1801| |James Scott | | None |In the Sound, + G. Boat | | | | | |on the Hoe. +Assistance | Mar. 29, 1802| 50 |Richard Lee |345| None |Between + | | | | | |Dunkerque and + | | | | | |Gravelines. +Avenger, | Dec. 5, 1803| 14 |F. Jackson | 80| None |Running on sand + Sloop | | | Snell | | |bank at the + | | | | | |mouth of the + | | | | | |River Jade, + | | | | | |Heligoland. +Apollo |April 2, 1804| 36 |J.W. Taylor |264| 62 |Running on shore + | | | Dixon | | |in Mondego Bay, + | | | | | |Portugal. +Athenienne | Oct. 20, 1806| 64 |Robert |491| 350 |On the + | | | Raynsford | | |Esquerques, off + | | | | | |Sicily. +Adder, | Dec. 9, 1806| 12 |Molyneux | | None |Driven on shore + Gun Brig | | | Shuldham | | |on coast of + | | | | | |France. +Ajax | Feb. 14, 1807| 74 |Hon. Hy. |600| 250 |Burnt by + | | | Blackwood | | |accident in the + | | | | | |Dardanelles. +Atalanta, | Feb. 12, 1807| 14 |John Bowker |110| None |On La Grande + Sloop | | | | | |Blanche, Island + | | | | | |of Rhe, France. +Anson | Dec. 29, 1807| 44 |Charles |330| 60 |On sand-bank + | | | Lydiard | | |off Helstone, + | | | | | |Falmouth. +Astraea | Mar. 23, 1808| 32 |Edmund |215| 4 |On a reef, + | | | Heywood | | |Island of + | | | | | |Anegada, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Alemene | Apr. 20, 1809| 32 |W. Henry |254| None |On a shoal at + | | | Tremlett | | |the mouth of + | | | | | |the Loire. +Agamemnon | June 16, 1809| 64 |Jonas Rose |491| None |Ran on shore in + | | | | | |Maldonado Roads, + | | | | | |Rio de la + | | | | | |Plata. +Achates, | Feb. 7, 1810| 14 |Thomas Pinto | 76| None |On Englishman's + Sloop | | | | | |Head, + | | | | | |Guadaloupe. +Amethyst | Feb. 15, 1811| 38 |Jacob Walton |284| 8 |On Cony Cliffs, + | | | | | |Plymouth Sound. +Avenger, | Oct. 8, 1812| 18 |Urry Johnson | 80| None |In the narrows + Sloop | | | | | |of St. John's + | | | | | |Harbour, + | | | | | |Newfoundland. +Algerine, | May 20, 1812| 10 |Daniel | 70| None |On the + Schooner | | | Carpenter | | |Galapagos + | | | | | |Roads, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Atalante | Nov. 10, 1813| 18 |Frederick |121| None |In a fog on the + | | | Hickey | | |Sisters' Rocks, + | | | | | |Halifax. +Anacreon, | Feb. 28, 1814| 18 |John Davis |121| |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |the Channel. +Alceste | Feb. 18, 1817| 38 |Murray |315| None |Off Island of + | | | Maxwell | | |Pulo Leat, + | | | (Sir) | | |China Seas. +Arab, Sloop | Dec. 12, 1823| 18 |William |100| All |Near + | | | Holmes | | |Belmullett, + | | | | | |Westport. +Algerine | Jan. 9, 1826| 10 |Charles | 75| All |In a squall in + | | | Wemyss | | |the + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Acorn, | Apr. 14, 1828| 18 |Edward Gordon |115| All |On Halifax + Sloop | | | | | |Station. +Avenger, | Dec. 20, 1847| 6 |Edw. G.E. |250| 246 |On the Sorelle + Steam-ship| | | Napier | | |Rocks, + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Boyne | May 1, 1795| 98 |George Grey |750| 11 |Accidentally + | | | | | |burnt at + | | | | | |Spithead. +Bombay | Dec. 21, 1796| 74 |Thomas |590| None |In the Tagus. + Castle | | | Sotheby | | | +Berbice, | Nov. 1796| 20 |John Tresahar | 42| None |Off the coast + Schooner | | | | | |of Dominique, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Braak, Sloop| May 23, 1798| 14 |James Drew | 86| 35 |Foundered in + | | | | | |the Delaware. +Blanche |Sept. 28, 1799| 16 |John Ayscough |121| None |In Scalp Gat, + | | | | | |in the Texel. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Brazen, | Jan. 26, 1800| 14 |James Hanson |116| 1 |Near Brighton. + Sloop | | | | | | +Bonetta | Oct. 13, 1801| 16 |Thomas New |121| None |On a shoal east + | | | | | |of the + | | | | | |Jardines, Cuba. +Babet | Unknown, 1801| 24 |Jemmett |155| All |Foundered in + | | | Mainwaring | | |the West + | | | | | |Indies. +Barraconta, | Oct. 2, 1805| 10 |Joel Orchard | 48| None |On the south + Schooner | | | | | |side of the + | | | | | |Island of Cuba, + | | | | | |(running on + | | | | | |shore.) +Biter, | Nov. 10, 1805| |Geo. Thos. | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-brig | | | Wingate | | | +Bouncer, | Feb. 1805| |Samuel Bassan | 50| None |Off Dieppe. + Gun-brig | | | | | | +Brave | April 2, 1806| |Edmund Boger | | None |Foundered in + | | | | | |passage from + | | | | | |from Jamaica to + | | | | | |England. +Boreas | Dec. 5, 1807| 28 |George Scott |195| 127 |On the Hannois + | | | | | |Rocks, + | | | | | |Guernsey. +Blenheim | 1807| 74 |Sir Thomas |590| All |Foundered, date + | | | Troubridge, | | |unknown, off + | | | V.-Admiral, | | |the Island of + | | | Austin | | |Rodrigue, + | | | Bissell, | | |Indian Ocean. + | | | Capt. | | | +Blanche | Mar. 4, 1807| 38 |Sir T. Lavie |284| 45 |Off Ushant. +Busy, Sloop | 1807| 18 |Richard |121| All |Foundered on + | | | Keilley | | |the Halifax + | | | | | |Station, date + | | | | | |unknown. +Bolina | Nov. 3, 1807| |Edward | | 1 |Driven on + | | | Claributt | | |shore, Peran + | | | | | |Porth. +Bermuda, |April 22, 1808| 12 |Wm. Henry |121| None |On Little + Sloop | | | Byam | | |Bahama Bank. +Bustler, | Dec. 26, 1808| 10 |Richard Welsh | 50| None |On shore, Cape + Gun-brig | | | | | |Grisnez, + | | | | | |France. +Banterer | Dec. 29, 1808| 22 |Alexander |155| None |In the river + | | | Sheppard | | |St. Lawrence. +Bassora, | Feb. 13, 1808| 12 |James Violett | 50| None |Near + Brig | | | | | |Carthagena. +Barbadoes |Sept. 29, 1812| 28 |Thomas |195| 1 |Sable Island, + | | | Huskisson | | |Bermuda. +Belette, | Nov. 24, 1812| 18 |David Sloane |121| 116 |On rocks off + Sloop | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Lessoe, in the + | | | | | |Kattegat. +Bold, Sloop |Sept. 27, 1812| 10 |John Shekel | 55| |On Prince + | | | | | |Edward's + | | | | | |Island. +Bermuda, | Nov. 24, 1816| 10 |John Pakenham | 76| 1 |On Passage from + Sloop | | | | | |Gulf of Mexico. +Briseis, | Nov. 5, 1816| |Geo. Domett | 76| None |On reef off + Sloop | | | | | |Point Pedras, + | | | | | |Cuba. +Bermuda, | March, 1821| | | | All |Passage from + Schooner | | | | | |Halifax to + | | | | | |Bermuda. +Briseis, | 1838| 6 |John Downey | 33| All |Falmouth to + Packet | | | | | |Halifax. +Buffalo, | July 28, 1841| |James Wood | | 2 |In Mercury Bay, + Store-ship| | | | | |Bay of Islands, + | | | | | |New Zealand. +Convert | Feb. 8, 1794| 32 |John Lawford | | None |On the Grand + | | | | | |Caymanes, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Ca Ira | Apr. 11, 1796| 80 |Chas. Dudley | | 4 |Burnt by + | | | Pater | | |accident, and + | | | | | |blown up in + | | | | | |St. Fiorenzo + | | | | | |Bay. +Courageux | Dec. 10, 1796| 74 |Capt. B. |640| 410 |Struck on rocks + | | | Hallowell | | |under Apes' + | | | | | |Hill, coast of + | | | | | |Barbary. +Cormorant, | Dec. 24, 1796| 16 |Thomas Gott |121| 95 |Burnt and blown + Sloop | | | | | |up by accident, + | | | | | |at + | | | | | |Port-au-Prince, + | | | | | |St. Domingo. +Curlew, | Dec. 31, 1796| 16 |Jas. Ventris | 90| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | Field | | |North Sea. +Charlotte, | Dec. 11, 1797| |John Thukness | | None |Off the Island + Brig | | | | | |of Cuba. +Crash, | Aug. 26, 1798| 50 |Berkeley | 50| None |Blown on shore + Gun-boat | | | Mackworth | | |on the Island + | | | | | |of Vlieland, + | | | | | |Holland. +Colossus | Dec. 9, 1798| 74 |George Murray |640| None |Off the Island + | | | | | |of Scilly. +Contest, | Aug. 28, 1799| |John Ides | 50| None |Driven on shore + Gun-boat | | | Short | | |in the Helder. +Cormorant, | May 20, 1800| 24 |C. Boyle, |155| None |On a shoal near + Sloop | | | (Hon.) | | |Rosetta, coast + | | | | | |of Egypt. +Chance, | Oct. 9, 1800| 14 |George S. |121| 116 |Foundered. + Sloop | | | Stovin | | | +Charlotte, | Mar. 28, 1801| |John Williams | 60| None |Running on reef + Schooner | | | | | |of rocks near + | | | | | |Ash, (Island + | | | | | |of.) +Calypso | Aug. 1803| 16 |William |121| All |Foundered in a + | | | Venour | | |gale, coming + | | | | | |from Jamaica. +Circe | Nov. 16, 1803| 28 |Chas. |195| None |On the Leman + | | | Fielding | | |and Ower, North + | | | | | |Sea. +Creole | Jan. 2, 1804| 38 |Austin | | None |Foundered in + | | | Russell | | |passage from + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Cerbere, | Feb. 20, 1804| |John Patey | 50| None |Rocks near + Gun-boat | | | | | |Berry Head. +Conflict, | Oct. 24, 1804| |Chas. Cutts | 50| None |Near Newport, + Gun-boat | | | Ormsby | | |Isle of Wight. +Clinker, | Dec. 1806| 14 |John Salmon | 50| All |Foundered in a + Sloop | | | | | |cruize off + | | | | | |Havre. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Cassandra, | May 13, 1807| 10 |Geo. Le Blanc | 35| 11 |By upsetting in + | | | | | |a sudden squall + | | | | | |off Bourdeaux. +Capelin, | June 28, 1808| 6 |Josias Bray | 20| 1 |Sunken rock off + Schooner | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Brest Harbor. +Crane, | Oct. 26, 1808| 4 |Joseph | 20| None |Running on a + Brig | | | Tindale | | |rock to the W. + | | | | | |of the Hoe, + | | | | | |Plymouth. +Crescent | Dec. 5, 1808| 36 |John Temple |280| 220 |On the coast of + | | | | | |Jutland, in a + | | | | | |heavy gale. +Carrier, | Jan. 24, 1808| 4 |W. Milner | 20| None |On a sand-bank + Cutter | | | | | |near Boulogne. +Carieux, |Sept. 25, 1809| 18 |Henry Geo. |110| None |Off Petit + Sloop | | | Moysey | | |Terre, Island + | | | | | |of Marigalante, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Contest | 1809| |John Gregory | | All |Foundered, as + | | | | | |is supposed, + | | | | | |in passage from + | | | | | |America. +Claudia, | Jan. 20, 1809| 10 |Anth. Bliss, | 42| None |Off Norway. + Brig | | | W. Lord | | | +Cuckoo, |April 4, 1810| 4 |Silas Hiscutt | 20| 2 |Haaks, off + Brig | | | Paddon | | |Texel. +Conflict, | Nov. 9, 1810| 10 |Joseph B. | 50| All |Foundered in + Brig | | | Batt | | |the Bay of + | | | | | |Biscay. +Chichester | May, 2, 1811| |William Kirby | 88| 2 |In Madras + | | | | | |Roads. +Centinel, | Oct. 10, 1812| |W. Elletson | 45| None |North-east end + Gun-boat | | | King | | |of the Island + | | | | | |of Rugen, + | | | | | |Baltic. +Chubb, | Aug. 14, 1812| |Samuel | 20| All |Foundered near + Gun-boat | | | Nisbett | | |Halifax. +Calibre, | Aug. 23, 1813| 16 |John Thomson |100| None |In crossing the + Sloop | | | | | |bar of Port + | | | | | |Royal, Jamaica. +Captain | Mar. 22, 1813| 74 |In Ordinary |590| None |Burnt in + | | | | | |Hamoaze, + | | | | | |Plymouth. +Crane, |Sept. 30, 1814| 14 |Robert |121| All |Foundered in the + Sloop | | | Stanley | | | West Indies. +Cuttle, | 1814| 4 | | 20| All |Exact date + Gun-boat | | | | | |unknown, on the + | | | | | |Halifax Station. +Cygnet, | 1815| 16 |Robert Russel |121| All |Date unknown, + Sloop | | | | | |off the + | | | | | |Courantine + | | | | | |River. +Comus | Nov. 4, 1816| 22 |J. John G. |175| None |Off Cape Pine, + | | | Bremer | | |Newfoundland. +Carron |July. 6, 1820| |John Furneaux |135| 19 |Four miles to + | | | | | |the north of + | | | | | |the Black + | | | | | |Pagoda, Poorie. +Confiance, |April 21, 1822| 18 |W.T. Morgan |100| |Between Moyin + Sloop | | | | | |Head and Three + | | | | | |Castle Head, + | | | | | |Crookhaven. +Columbine, | Jan. 25, 1824| 18 |Chas. Abbott |100| None |In the harbor + Sloop | | | | | |of Port Longue, + | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Sapienza. +Cynthian, | June 6, 1827| 6 |John White | 28| None |Off the Island + Pack.-brig| | | | | |of Barbados. +Cambrian | Jan. 31, 1828| 48 |G.W. Hamilton |275| None |Off Carabusa, + | | | | | |Mediterranean, + | | | | | |in attacking + | | | | | |pirates. +Contest, |April 14, 1828| 12 |Edw. | 50| All |On Halifax + Gun-boat | | | Plaggenborg | | |Station. +Calypso, | 1833| 6 |H. Peyton | 30| All |In passage from + Packet | | | | | |Halifax to + | | | | | |England. +Challenger | May 19, 1835| 28 |Michael |160| 2 |Coast of + | | | Seymour | | |Moquilla, + | | | | | |Conception, + | | | | | |Chili. +Diomede | Aug. 2, 1795| 44 |Matthew Smith |294| |Striking on a + | | | | | |sunken rock off + | | | | | |Trincomalee. +Deux Amis, | May 23, 1799| |Mr. Samuel | | None |In Great Chine, + Schoon. | | | Wilson | | |Isle of Wight. +Dromedary, | Aug. 10, 1800| 20 |Bridges W. |120| None |Parasol Rock, + Store-sh. | | | Taylor | | |Island of + | | | | | |Trinidad. +Diligence | Oct. 8, 1800| 16 |Charles H.B. |121| None |On a shoal on + | | | Ross | | |the coast of + | | | | | |Havannah. +Determinee | Mar. 25, 1803| 26 |Alexander |145| 19 |Striking on a + | | | Becher | | |sunken rock off + | | | | | |the Island of + | | | | | |Jersey. +Drake, | July 12, 1804| 14 |William King | 86| None |On a shoal off + Sloop | | | | | |the Island of + | | | | | |Nevis. +De Ruyter | Sept. 4, 1804| 32 |Joseph |250| None |In a hurricane + | | | Beckett | | |in Deep Bay, + | | | | | |Antigua. +Doris | Jan. 12, 1805| 36 |Patrick |264| None |On a sunken + | | | Campbell | | |rock in + | | | | | |Quiberon Bay. +Dover, Mar. | Aug. 20, 1806| | | | |Burnt at + Barr. | | | | | |Woolwich. +Delphinen | Aug. 4, 1808 | 16 |Richard |100| None |On the + | | | Harward | | |South-West part + | | | | | |of Vieland, + | | | | | |Holland. +Delight, | Jan. 31, 1808| 16 |Phillip C. | 95| All |On the coast of + Sloop | | | Handfield | | |Calabria. +Defender, |Dec. 14, 1809 | 10 |John George | 50| None |Near + Brig | | | Nops | | |Folkestone. +Dominica, | Aug. 1809 | 10 |Charles Welsh | 65| 62 |Foundered near + Brig | | | | | |Tortola. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Diana, | May 1810| 10 |Wm. | 50| None |At the Island + Cutter | | | Kempthorne | | |of Rodrigue, + | | | | | |East Indies. +Dover | May 2, 1811| 38 |Edward Tucker |300| 2 |In Madras + | | | | | |Roads. +Defence | Dec. 24, 1811| 74 |David Atkins |593| 587 |Off the coast + | | | | | |of Jutland. +Daedalus | July 2, 1813| 38 |Murray |315| None |Off Island of +Dart, | | | Maxwell | | |Ceylon. +Cutter | 1814| 10 |Thomas Allen | 40| |Foundered, date + | | | | | |unknown. +Dominica, | Aug. 15, 1815| 14 |Richard | | |Near Bermuda. + Schooner | | | Cranford | | | +Drake, | June 20, 1822| |Charles Baker | 76|Cmdr.&|Off the + Sloop | | | | |others|coast of + | | | | | |Newfoundland. +Delight | Feb. 23, 1824| 10 |Robert Hay | 75| All |In a hurricane + | | | | | |at the + | | | | | |Mauritius. +Dwarf | Mar. 3, 1824| 10 |Nicholas | 60| 1 |Ran against the + | | | Gould | | |Pier in + | | | | | |Kingstown + | | | | | |Harbour. +Etrusco, | Aug. 23, 1798| 26 |George |125| None |Foundered in + Store-ship| | | Reynolds | | |the West + | | | | | |Indies. +Espion | Nov. 17, 1799| 18 |Jonas Rose | | None |In Goodwin + | | | | | |Sands. +Ethalion | Dec. 25, 1799| 38 |John Clark |284| None |On the + | | | Searle | | |Saints. +Explosion, |Sept. 10, 1807| 10 |Edward Elliot | 57| None |On a reef near + Bomb | | | | | |Sandy Island, + | | | | | |Heligoland. +Elizabeth, | 1807| 12 |John Sedley | 55| All |Foundered, date + Schooner | | | | | |unknown, in + | | | | | |West Indies. +Electra, | Mar. 23, 1808| 16 |George | 95| None |On a reef at + Sloop | | | Trolloppe | | |the entrance of + | | | | | |Port Augusta, + | | | | | |Sicily. +Ephira, | Dec. 26, 1811| 14 |Thomas | 76| None |On Cochinos + Sloop | | | Everard | | |Rocks, in + | | | | | |passage + | | | | | |between Cadiz + | | | | | |and Tarifa. +Encounter, | July 11, 1812| 10 |S.H. Talbot | 60| |Attempting to + Brig | | | | | |cut out some + | | | | | |vessels, on the + | | | | | |coast of Spain. +Emulous, | Aug. 2, 1812| 18 |W. Howe |121| None |Ragged Island, + Sloop | | | Mulcaster | | |Nova Scotia. +Exertion, | July 8, 1812| |James Murray | 60| None |In the Elbe. + Gun-boat | | | | | | +Elizabeth, | Oct. 1814| 10 |Jonathan W. | 35| |Upsetting in + Schooner | | | Dyer | | |chase of an + | | | | | |American + | | | | | |Privateer. +Fleche | Nov. 12, 1795| 14 |Charles Came | | None |Reef of Rocks + | | | | | |off Fernelli + | | | | | |Tower, Saint + | | | | | |Fiorenzo's Bay, + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Fortune, | June 15, 1797| 14 |Valentine | 86| |Ran on shore + Sloop | | | Collard | | |near Toreiro, + | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Portugal. +Fox |Sept. 18, 1799| 32 |James |215| None |In St. George's + | | | Wooldridge | | |Sound, Gulf of + | | | | | |Mexico. +Fulminante, | Mar. 24, 1801| 10 |Robert | 60| None |Drifted on + Cutter | | | Corbett | | |Shore at La + | | | | | |Cruelle, coast + | | | | | |of Egypt. +Forte | Jan. 28, 1801| 50 |Lucius F. |343| None |On a sunken + | | | Hardyman | | |rock in the + | | | | | |harbour of + | | | | | |Jedda, Red Sea. +Fly, | Jan. 1802| 16 |Thomas Duval |121| All |Foundered, + | | | | | |date unknown, + | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Newfoundland. +Fearless, | Jan. 19, 1804| |Richard | 50| 1 |Driven on shore + Gun-boat | | | Williams | | |in Cawsand Bay. +Firebrand, | Oct. 13, 1804| |William | 18| 1 |Off Dover. + Fire-ship | | | Maclean | | | +Fly, | Mar. 3, 1805 | 18 |Pownole |121| None |On the + Sloop | | | Bastard | | |Carysfort, + | | | Pellew | | |Reef, Gulf of + | | | | | |Florida. +Felix, | Jan. 23, 1807| 18 |Robert Clarke | 60| 57 |In St. Andero + Schooner | | | | | |Bay. +Firefly | Oct. 17, 1807| |Thomas Price | | All |Foundered in a + | | | | |except|hurricane off + | | | | |Surg &|the Spanish + | | | | |3 men.|Main. +Flora | Jan. 19, 1803| 36 |Loftus Otway |264| 9 |On the coast of + | | | Bland | | |Holland. +Flying Fish,| Dec. 15, 1808| 2 |J. Glassford | 50| None |On reef to + Schooner | | | Gooding | | |eastward of + | | | | | |Point Salines, + | | | | | |St. Domingo. +Fama, | Dec. 23, 1808| |Chas. Topping | | 2 |On Bornholm, + Sloop | | | | | |Baltic. +Foxhound, | Aug. 31, 1809| 18 |James |121| All |Foundered on + Sloop | | | Mackenzie | | |her return from + | | | | | |Halifax. +Fleche, | May 24, 1810 | 16 |George Hewson | 86| None |On the + Sloop | | | | | |Shaarhorn Sand, + | | | | | |off Newark, + | | | | | |Elbe. +Fleur | Dec. 29, 1810| |John | 40| None |Foundered in + de la Mer | | | Alexander | | |lat. 15 deg. 15' + | | | | | |long. 71 deg. 2'. +Firm, | June 28, 1811| 10 |John Little | 50| None |On a bank off + Brig | | | | | |the coast of + | | | | | |France. +Fancy, | Dec. 24, 1811| |Alexander | 50| All |In the Baltic + Gun-boat | | | Sinclair | | |(foundered.) +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Fly, Sloop | Feb. 28, 1812| 16 |Henry Higman | 95| None |On Anholt Reef. +Fearless | Dec. 8, 1812 | 10 |Henry L. | 50| None |Rocks off St. + | | | Richards | | |Sebastian. +Ferret, | Jan. 7, 1813 | 18 |Fred. Alex. |121| None |On Newbiggin + Sloop | | | Halliday | | |Point, + | | | | | |Northumberland. +Fantome, | Nov. 24, 1814| 18 |Thomas Sykes |121| None |On rocks near + Sloop | | | | | |Prospect + | | | | | |Harbour, Nova + | | | | | |Scotia. +Fury | Aug. 1, 1825 | |H.P. Hoppner | 75| None |In Regent's + | | | | | |Inlet. +Firefly, | Feb. 27, 1835| 5 |Julius | 50|A few |Reef near + Schooner | | | McDonnell | | |Belize. +Fairy | 1841| 6 |William | 63| All |Foundered in + | | | Hewett | | |the North Sea. +Garnet | Jan. 7, 1798| |James Clark | | None |On a reef off + | | | | | |Cape Francois. +Garland | July 26, 1798| 28 |James Athol |195| None |Coast of + | | | Wood | | |Madagascar. +Grampus, | Jan. 19, 1799| 20 |John Hall |155| None |Near Woolwich. + Store-ship| | | | | | +Galgo | Oct. 9, 1800| |Thomas | | 25 |Upset in a + | | | Forrest | |saved |squall, in lat. + | | | | | |21 deg. long. + | | | | | |61 deg. west. +Grappler, | Dec. 20, 1803| |Abel Wantn. | 50| None |On the Isle de + Gun-boat | | | Thomas | | |Chausey, + | | | | | |Jersey. +Garland |Sept. 10, 1803| 24 |Frederick |135| None |Caracol Reef, + | | | Cotterell | | |off St. + | | | | | |Domingo. +Georgiana, |Sept. 25, 1804| |Joshua | | None |On a sand-bank + G.-boat | | | Kneeskarn | | |near Harfleur. +Griper | Feb. 18, 1807| 10 |Edward Morris | 50| All |Off Ostend. +Greyhound | Oct. 11, 1808| 32 |Hon. W. |215| 1 |On the coast of + | | | Pakenham | | |Lemonia. +Glommen, | Nov. 1809| 18 |Charles |100| None |In Carlisle + Sloop | | | Pickford | | |Bay, Barbados. +Guachapin, | July 7, 1811| 10 |Michael | | None |On Rat Island, + Brig | | | Jenkins | | |Antigua. +Grouper, | Oct. 21, 1811| 4 |James Atkins | 40| None |Off Guadaloupe. + Brig | | | | | | +Goshawk, |Sept. 21, 1813| 16 |Hon. W.J. | 95| None |To the eastward + Sloop | | | Napier | | |of the Mole + | | | | | |Head, + | | | | | |Barcelona. +Hussar | Dec. 24, 1796| 28 |James Colnett |195| None |In a gale of + | | | | | |wind to the + | | | | | |westward of the + | | | | | |Island of Bass, + | | | | | |France. +Helena, | Nov. 3, 1796 | 14 |Jeremiah J. | 86| All |On the coast of + Sloop | | | Symons | | |Holland. +Hamadryad | Dec. 24, 1797| 36 |Thomas |264| None |Blown on shore + | | | Elphinstone | | |in Algier Bay. +Hermes | Jan. 1797| 14 |William Malso | 76| All |Place unknown. +Hunter, | Dec. 27, 1797| 14 |Tudor Tucker | 80| 75 |Wrecked on Hog + Sloop | | | | | |Island, off + | | | | | |Virginia. +Hound, |Sept. 26, 1800| 16 |Wm. Jas. |235| None |Near Shetland. + Sloop | | | Turquand | | | +Harwich | Nov. 9, 1801| 16 |Phillip |121| None |In St. Aubin's + | | | Bartholomew | | |Bay, Jersey. +Hindostan, | Mar. 20, 1804| 20 |John Le Gros |140| 3 |Burnt in Bay of + Store-sh | | | | | |Rosas. +Hussar | Feb. 8, 1804| 38 |Philip |284| None |On the Saintes + | | | Wilkinson | | |in the Bay of + | | | | | |Biscay. +Hawke, | May, 1805| 14 |James Tippet | 96| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |the Channel. +Heureux | 1806| 24 |John Morrison |155| All |Foundered, date + | | | | | |unknown, in + | | | | | |passage from + | | | | | |West Indies to + | | | | | |Halifax. +Hirondelle, | Feb. 23, 1808| 12 |Joseph Kidd | 50| 46 |On shore the + cutter | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Barbary. +Harrier, | 1809| 18 |Thomas B. |121| All |Foundered, date + Sloop | | | Ridge | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |East Indies. +Hero | Dec. 24, 1811| 74 |J. Newman |590| All |Off the coast + | | | Newman | | |of Jutland. +Halcyon, | May 19, 1814| 14 |J. Houlton |121| None |On reef of + Sloop | | | Marshall | | |rocks in + | | | | | |Annatto Bay, + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Holly, | Jan. 29, 1814| 10 |S. Sharpe | 50| 44 |Off St. + Schooner | | | Treacher | | |Sebastian. +Herring, | 1814| 4 |John Murray | 20| All |Exact date + Gun-boat | | | | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |Halifax station. +Illustrious | Mar. 17, 1795| 74 |Thomas L. |600| None |In a gale of + | | | Frederick | | |wind on rocks + | | | | | |near Avenga. +Jason | Oct. 13, 1798| 38 |Chas. |284| None |Unknown rock + | | | Stirling | | |near Brest. +Impregnable | Oct. 19, 1799| 74 |Jonathan |190| None |Striking on + | | | Faulknor | | |Chichester + | | | | | |Shoals. +Invincible | Mar. 16, 1801| 74 |John Rennie |590| 464 |Ranon Hammond's + | | | | | |Knowl, near + | | | | | |Yarmouth. +Iphigenia | June 20, 1801| 20 |Hayard | 60| None |Burnt by + | | | Stackpool | | |accident in + | | | | | |Aboukir Bay. +Jason | July 24, 1801| 36 |Hon. J. |264| None |On a rock not + | | | Murray | | |laid down in + | | | | | |the Charts, + | | | | | |entrance of St. + | | | | | |Malocs. +Julia | Jan. 21, 1805| |James Harley | | None |On Castle Rocks + | | | | | |at the entrance + | | | | | |of Dartmouth + | | | | | |Harbour. +Imogene, | Mar. 12, 1805| 18 |Henry Vaughan |121| None |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |passage from + | | | | | |Leeward Islands. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Jupiter | Dec. 10, 1807| 50 |Hon. E. Reg. |343| None |Reef of rocks + | | | Baker | | |in Vigo Bay. +Java | 1807| 32 |Georg Pigot | | All |Foundered with + | | | | | |Blenheim. +Inveterate, | Feb. 18, 1807| 14 |George Norton | 50| 4 |Off Etables, + Gun-boat | | | | | |France. +Jackall, | May 29, 1807| 14 |Charles | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-boat | | | Stewart | | | +Ignition, | Feb. 19, 1807| |Phillip | 32| 28 |Wrecked off + Fire-ship | | | Griffin | | |Dieppe. +Jaspar, | Jan. 20, 1817| |Thomas Carew | 76| 72 |Rocks under + Sloop | | | | | |Mount Batten, + | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Catwater. +Julia, | Oct. 2, 1817| |Jenkin Jones | 95| 55 |Off Tristan + Brig | | | | | |d'Acunha, coast + | | | | | |of Africa. +Jasper, | Oct. 11, 1828| 10 |L.C. Rooke | 75| None |Grounded in + Sloop | | | | | |running for + | | | | | |Harbour of St. + | | | | | |Maura. +Jackdaw | Mar. 11, 1835| 4 |Edw. Burnett | 36| None |On reef off Old + | | | | | |Providence. +Kangaroo, | Dec. 18, 1828| 6 |Anthony de | 45| 1 |South-east of + S.-vessel | | | Mayne | | |Reef of + | | | | | |Hogsties. +Leda | Dec. 11, 1796| 38 |John Woodley |264| 257 |Foundered by + | | | | | |upsetting in a + | | | | | |heavy gale, + | | | | | |lat. 38 deg. 8' + | | | | | |long. 17 deg. 40' +Lively |April 12, 1798| 36 |Jas. N. |254| None |On Rosa Point, + | | | Morris | | |near Cadiz. +Lord |April 10, 1799| 26 |Edward |121| None |Arklow Bank, + Mulgrave | | | Hawkins | | |Irish Channel. +Lutine | Oct. 9, 1799| 32 |Lancelot |240| 1 |Off the Vlie + | | | Skinner | | |Island, coast + | | | | | |of Holland. +Legere, | Feb. 2, 1801| 16 |Cornelius |121| None |Jamba Bay, east + Sloop | | | Quinton | | |of Carthageua, + | | | | | |S. America. +Lowestoffe | Aug. 10, 1801| 32 |Robert. |215| None |On the Island + | | | Plampin | | |of Great + | | | | | |Heneaga, W. + | | | | | |Indies. +Leveret, | Nov. 10, 1807| 18 |Jas. L. |121| None |On the Albion + Sloop | | | O'Connor | | |Shoal, Galloper + | | | | | |Rock. +Leda | Jan. 31, 1808| 32 |Robert |284| None |At the entrance + | | | Honyman | | |of Milford + | | | | | |Harbour. +Lark, Sloop | Aug. 3, 1809| 18 |Robert |121| 3 |In a sudden + | | | Nicholas | | |squall off + | | | | | |Point Palenqua, + | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Domingo. +Lively | Aug. 10, 1810| 38 |George |284| None |Point of + | | | M'Kinley | | |Salina, + | | | | | |South-east of + | | | | | |Bay of St. + | | | | | |Paul's, Malta. +Laurel | Jan. 31, 1812| 38 |Samuel C. |300| None |On a sunken + | | | Rowley | | |rock in + | | | | | |Teigneuse + | | | | | |Passage, + | | | | | |Quiberon Bay. +Laurestinus | Aug. 21, 1813| 24 |Thos. Graham |175| 1 |North end of + | | | | | |the Island of + | | | | | |Abaco, Halifax. +Leopard, | June 28, 1814| |Edward | |Gr'ter|Near the Island + Transport | | | Crofton | | part |of Anticosti, + | | | | | saved|Gulf of St. + | | | | | |Lawrence. +Lizard, | July 24, 1843| 3 |Charles | 60| None |Off Carthagena, +Steam-vessel| | | Postle | | |by being run + | | | | | |foul of by a + | | | | | |French + | | | | | |man-of-war. +Musquito, | 1795| |---- McCarty | 50| |Wrecked, date + G.-boat | | | | | |unknown, on the + | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |France. +Malabar | Oct. 10, 1796| 54 |Thos. Parr |324| None |Foundered + | | | | | |coming home + | | | | | |from West + | | | | | |Indies. +Medusa, | Nov. 22, 1798| |Alexander |118| None |Drifting on + Store-ship| | | Becher | | |shore in Rosier + | | | | | |Bay, Gibraltar. +Mastiff, | Jan. 5, 1800| |James Watson | 50| Many |In Cockle + Gun-boat | | | | | |Sands, Yarmouth + | | | | | |Roads. +Marlborough | Nov. 4, 1800| 74 |Thomas |590| None |In the + | | | Sotheby | | |Bervadeux + | | | | | |Shoal, near + | | | | | |L'Orient, + | | | | | |France. +Martin, | October, 1800| 16 |Hon. Matth. | 76| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | St. Clair | | |North Sea. +Melenger | June 9, 1801| 16 |Hon. T. |215| None |In the + | | | Bladen Capel | | |Westernmost + | | | | | |Triangle, G. of + | | | | | |Mexico. +Minerve | July 2, 1803| 40 |Jaheel |294| None |On the western + | | | Brenton | | |point of the + | | | | | |Cones of + | | | | | |Cherbourg. +Magnificent |March 25, 1804| 74 |Wm. Henry |500| None |Wrecked near + | | | Jervis | | |the Pierres + | | | | | |Noires, Brest. +Morne | Dec. 5, 1804| |John L. Dale | | None |On Crooked + Fortunee | | | | | |Island, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Mallard, | Dec. 24, 1804| |John William | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-boat | | | Miles | | | +Martin, | 1806| 18 |Thomas Prouse |121| All |Date unknown. + Sloop | | | | | |In passage + | | | | | |to Barbadoes. +Moueheron | 1807| |James Hawes |121| All |Wrecked, date + | | | | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |Mediterranean. +Maria, | 1807| 10 |John | 50| All |Foundered, date + Gun-boat | | | Henderson | | |unknown, in + | | | | | |West Indies. +Melbrook, |March 25, 1808| 10 |James Leach | 50| None |On the + Schooner | | | | | |Burlings. +Muros |March 24, 1808| 24 |Archibald |155| None |At the entrance + | | | Duff | | |of the Harbour + | | | | | |of Bahia Honda, + | | | | | |Cuba. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Meleager | July 30, 1808| 36 |Fred. Warren |264| 4 |On Barebush + | | | | | |Cay, Jamaica. +Magnet, | Jan. 11, 1809| 18 |George Morris |121| None |In the Baltic. + Sloop | | | | | | +Morne | Jan. 9, 1809| 10 |John Brown | 65| 41 |Off Martinique. +Fortunee, | | | | | | + Bg. | | | | | | +Minotaur | Dec. 22, 1810| 74 |John Barrett |640| 400 |On the North + | | | | | |Haaks, Texel. +Monkey, | Dec. 25, 1810| 10 |Thomas | 50| |Rocks at Bell + Brig | | | Fitzgerald | | |Isle, France. +Manilla | Jan. 28, 1812| 38 |John Joyce |274|8 men |On Haaks, + | | | | | |Texel. +Magnet, | 1812| 16 |F. Moore | 95| All |Foundered, date + Sloop | | | Maurice | | |unknown, near + | | | | | |Halifax. +Magnet, | Aug. 4, 1814| 16 |G.I. | 90| None |Run on shore + Sloop | | | Hawksworth | | |near Niagara. +Martin, | Dec. 8, 1817| 18 |---- Mitchell |121| None |Western coast + Sloop | | | | | |of Ireland. +Magpie, | Aug. 27, 1826| 3 |Edward Smith | 35| 33 |Colorados + Schooner | | | | | |Roads, Island + | | | | | |of Cuba. +Myrtle | April 3, 1829| 6 |Samuel Sism | 29| None |Western head of + | | | | | |Ragged Island, + | | | | | |Nova Scotia. +Megoera | March 4, 1843| 2 |George | 60| 1 |On Bare Bush + | | | Oldmixon | | |Cay. +Mutine, | Dec, 21, 1848| 12 |J. Lewis |120| 5 |Reef near + Sloop | | | Palmer | | |Palestrina, + | | | | | |Adriatic. +Narcissus | Oct. 3, 1796| 24 |Percy Fraser |155| None |On Sandy Key, + | | | | | |near Nassua, + | | | | | |New Providence. +Nautilus | Feb. 2, 1799| 16 |Henry Gunter |121| None |Near + | | | | | |Flamborough + | | | | | |Head. +Nassau | Oct. 24, 1799| 36 |George Tripp |250| 42 |Haaks Sand, in + | | | | | |the Helder. +Nautilus, | Jan. 4, 1807| 18 |Capt. Palmer |122| 58 |On Cerrigoto, + Sloop | | | | | |a barren rock + | | | | | |in the Levant. +Netley, | July 10, 1808| 12 |Charles | 65| 56 |On the Leeward + Schooner | | | Burman | | |Island Station. +Nymphe | Dec. 18, 1810| 36 |Edward Sneyd |254| None |Wrecked off + | | | Clay | | |Dunbar. +Nimble, | Oct. 6, 1812| 10 |John Reynolds | 50| None |On Salo Beacon, + Cutter | | | | | |coast of Sweden. +Nimrod, | Jan. 14, 1827| 18 |---- |115| None |Driven on shore + Sloop | | | Sparshott | | |in Holyhead Bay. +Nightingale,| Feb. 17, 1829| 2 |George Wood | 31| None |On ground in + Schoon. | | | | | |the Shingles. +Nimble, | Dec. 4, 1834| 5 |Charles | 50| None |On reef between + Schooner | | | Bolton | | |Key Verde and + | | | | | |Old Bahama + | | | | | |Channel. +Orestes | Unknown, 1799| 16 |William |121| All |In a hurricane + | | | Haggett | | |in the Indian + | | | | | |Ocean. +Orestes, | July 11, 1805| 14 |Thomas Brown | 80| None |Splinter Sand, + Sloop | | | | | |Dunkerque. +Orquino | Nov. 7, 1805| |Charles | | Many |In a sudden + | | | Balderson | | |squall off Pt. + | | | | | |Antonio, Jamaica. +Orpheus | Jan. 23, 1807| 36 |Thomas Briggs |255| None |Running on + | | | | | |shore at the + | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Port Royal + | | | | | |Harbour. +Osprey, |March 11, 1846| 12 |Fred. Patten |110| None |At False + Sloop | | | | | |Hokianga. +Pigmy, | Dec. 16, 1793| 4 |A. Pullibank | 60| 10 |On the + Cutter | | | | | |Motherbank. +Placentia, | May 8, 1794| 4 |Alexander | | None |Saddle Back, + Sloop | | | Sheppard | | |Marticot Island, + | | | | | |N. America. +Pylades, | Nov. 26, 1794| 16 |Thomas |125| None |Heraldswick Bay, + Sloop | | | Twysden | | |Nest, Shetland. +Port Royal |March 30, 1797| |Elias Man | | None |Running on shore + | | | | | |near Cape St. + | | | | | |Nicolas. +Providence, | May 17, 1797| 14 |W.R. | 96| None |On a reef in + Sloop | | | Broughton | | |the Pacific. +Pandora | 1797| 14 |Samuel Mason | 75| All |In the North + | | | | | |Sea. Date + | | | | | |unknown. +Pallas |April 4, 1798| 36 |Hon. Henry |254| None |On Mount Batten + | | | Curzon | | |Point, Plymouth + | | | | | |Sound. +Pique | June 30, 1798| 32 |David Milne |250| None |Running on shore + | | | | | |on the French + | | | | | |coast, after + | | | | | |action with the + | | | | | |French frigate, + | | | | | |La Seine. +Proserpine | Feb. 1, 1799| 28 |James Wallis |195| 14 |On a sand-bank, + | | | | | |near Newark + | | | | | |Island, River + | | | | | |Elbe. +Proselyte | Sept, 2, 1801| 32 |Henry Whitly |215| None |On shoal, Isle + | | | | | |of St. Martin, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Porpoise | Aug. 17, 1803| |Richard | | None |On a reef of + | | | Fowler | | |coral, in the + | | | | | |Pacific. +Pigmy, | Aug. 9, 1805| 10 |William Smith | 60| None |On Sillet Rock, + Cutter | | | | | |St. Aubyn Bay, + | | | | | |Jersey. +Pigeon | Dec. 1805| |John Luckraft | | None |Running on + | | | | | |sand-bank, off + | | | | | |Texel. +Papillon, | 1806 | 18 |William |121| |Foundered in + Sloop | | | Woolsey | | |Jamaica station, + | | | | | |exact date + | | | | | |unknown. +Pert, Sloop | Oct. 16, 1807| 14 |Donald | 70| 10 |Driven on shore + | | | Campbell | | |in a hurricane, + | | | | | |Island of + | | | | | |Mucarva, Spanish + | | | | | |Main. +Prospero, | Feb. 18, 1807| 10 |William King | 67| All |Foundered in + Bomb | | | | | |the North Sea. +Pigmy, | March 2, 1807| 10 |Geo. M. | 60| None |Off Rochefort. + Cutter | | | Higginson | | | +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Pickle, | June 27, 1808| 10 |Moses | 40| None |On the Chipiona + Schooner | | | Cannadey | | |Shoal, Cadiz. +Proselyte, | Dec. 5, 1808| 12 |James Hy. | 78| None |On Anholt Reef, + Bomb | | | Lyford | | | Anholt Island. +Primrose, | Jan. 22, 1809| 18 |James Mein |121| 120 |On the Manacle + Sloop | | | | | |Rocks, near + | | | | | |Falmouth. +Pelter, | Dec. 1809| 10 |William | 50| None |Foundered in + Brig | | | Evelyn | | |passage from + | | | | | |Halifax to + | | | | | |Leeward Islands. +Pigeon | Jan. 15, 1809| |Richard Cox | | 2 |Off Kingsgate + | | | | | |Point, near + | | | | | |Margate. +Pallas | Dec. 18, 1810| 32 |George Paris |215| 11 |Wrecked off + | | | Monke | | |Dunbar. +Pandora, | May 13, 1811| 18 |John Ferguson |121| 29 |On the Skaw + Sloop | | | | | |Reef, Kategat. +Pomone | Oct. 14, 1811| 38 |Robert Barrie | 84| None |On a sunken rock + | | | | | |in the Needles. +Porgey, | 1812| |Name Unknown | 20| All |Foundered, date + Gun-boat | | | | | |unknown, in the + | | | | | |West Indies. +Persian, | June 26, 1813| 18 |Charles |121| All |On the Silver + Sloop | | | Bertram | | |Keys, West + | | | | | |Indies. +Peacock, | Aug. 1814| 18 |Richard Coote |121| All |Off the southern + Sloop | | | | | |coast of the + | | | | | |United States. +Penelope | | 36 |James |284| |To the east of + | | | Galloway | | |Magdalen River, + | | | | | |Lower Canada. +Phoenix | Feb. 20, 1816| 36 |Charles John |284| None |Near Smyrna. + | | | Austin | | | +Partridge | Nov. 27, 1825| 10 |G. Younge | 75| None |Stranded at the + | | | | | |mouth of the + | | | | | |Texel. +Parthian, | May 15, 1828| 10 |Fred. Hotham | 75| None |Stranded 16 + Sloop | | | | | |miles to the + | | | | | |westward of + | | | | | |Mayabout, Egypt. +Pincher, |March 6, 1838| 5 |F. Hope | 40| All |In a squall off + | | | | | |the Owers. +Queen | Mar. 17, 1800|110 |Andrew Todd |859| 673 |Burnt by + Charlotte| | | | | |accident off + | | | | | |Leghorn. +Rose | June 28, 1794| 28 |Matthew H. |200| None |Rocky Point, + | | | Scott | | |Jamaica. +Reunion | Dec. 7, 1797| |W. Henry |249| A few|In the Swim. + | | | Baynton | | | +Resolution, | Unknown, 1797| |W. Huggett | 60| All |Foundered at sea. + Cutter | | | | | | +Raven, | Feb. 3, 1798| 16 |John W.T. |121| None |On a sand-bank, + Sloop | | | Dixon | | |Cuxhaven, in + | | | | | |the Elbe. +Rover | June 23, 1798| 14 |George Irvine | 80| None |Running on + | | | | | |shore on coast + | | | | | |of Cape Breton. +Resistance | July 24, 1798| 44 |Edward |294| 290 |Blown up in the + | | | Pakenham | | |Straits of Banca. +Repulse | Mar. 10, 1800| 64 |James Alms |491| 3 |Saints, Coast of + | | | | | |France. +Railleur, | May 16, 1800| 14 |John Raynor | 76| All |Foundered in the + | | | | | |Channel. +Requiem, | Feb. 1, 1801| 12 |James Fowell | 59| None |On rocks in + Brig | | | | | |Quiberon Bay. +Resistance | May 31, 1803| 36 |Hon. P. |264| None |Running on + Wodehouse | | | Wodehouse | | |rocks near Cape + | | | | | |St. Vincent. +Raven, | Jan. 5, 1804| 14 |Spelman | 86| None |Ran on shore, + Sloop | | | Swaine | | |near Mayara + | | | | | |Bay, Sicily. +Romney | Nov. 10, 1804| 50 |Hon. John |343| None |In the Haaks, + | | | Colville | | |near the Texel. +Raven, | Jan. 30, 1805| 18 |William |121| None |In Cadiz Bay. + Sloop | | | Layman | | | +Redbridge, | Feb. 26, 1805| 10 |F. Blower | 60| None |Foundered in + Schooner | | | Gibbs | | |Pedro Bay, + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Redbreast, | Feb. 24, 1807| 14 |J. Bayley | 50| None |Running on + Gun-boat | | | Harrison | | |shore at the + | | | | | |Needles. +Rhodian, | Feb. 2, 1813| 14 |John George | 76| None |On Little Plumb + Sloop | | | Boss | | |Point, Port + | | | | | |Royal, Jamaica. +Racer, | Oct. 10, 1814| 14 |H.F.G. Pogson |178| None |In the Gulf of + Schooner | | | | | |Florida. +Racehorse | Dec. 14, 1822| 18 |Benjamin |125| 5 |Ran on Langness + | | | Suckling | | |Point, Isle of + | | | | | |Man. +Redwing | 1827| 18 |D.C. |125| All |Near Mataceney, + | | | Clavering | | |coast of Africa + | | | | | |(supposed). +Recruit, | 1832| 10 |T. Hodges | 52| All |Supposed to be + Gun-brig | | | | | |lost in a + | | | | | |hurricane off + | | | | | |Bermuda. +Rapid, Brig | Apr. 12, 1838| 10 |Hn. G.S.V. | 50|Commr.|Off Cape Biso, + | | | Kinnaird | | |Mediterranean. +Spitfire, | Feb. 1794| 16 |J.W. Rich |125| All |Foundered or + Sloop | | | | | |upset off St. + | | | | | |Domingo. +Scourge, | Nov. 7, 1795| |W. Stap | 30| None |On Penconsand, + Gun-boat | | | | | |coast of + | | | | | |Friesland. +Salisbury | May 10, 1796| 50 |William |343| None |On the Isle of + | | | Mitchell | | |Ash, West + | | | | | |Indies. +St. Pierre | Feb. 12, 1796| |Christopher | | None |Rocks off Point + | | | Paule | | |Negroe. +Spider, | April 4, 1796| |J. Oswald | | None |Running foul + Hired Lug | | | | | |of the Ramilies. +Swift, | Unknown| 16 |Thomas |121| All |In the China + Sloop | | | Hayward | | |seas + | | | | | |(foundered), + | | | | | |all perished, + | | | | | |date unknown. +Sceptre | Nov. 5, 1799| 64 |Valentine |491| 438 |In Table Bay, + | | | Edwards | | |Cape of Good + | | | | | |Hope. +Stag | Sept. 6, 1800| 36 |Robert |271| None |In Vigo Bay. + | | | Winthrop | | | +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Scout | Mar. 25, 1801| 16 |Henry Duncan |121| None |Running on + | | | | | |Shingles in + | | | | | |British Channel. +Sensible, | March 3, 1802| 16 |Robert Sauce |155| None |Stranded to + Troop-Ship| | | | | |southward of + | | | | | |Moeltiva, + | | | | | |Trincomalee. +Seine | July 23, 1803| 28 |David Milne |284| None |Runing on + | | | | | |sand-bank, off + | | | | | |Schelling Island, + | | | | | |Texel. +Suffisante, | Dec. 25, 1803| 14 |Gilbert | 86| None |Off Spike + Sloop | | | Healthcote | | |Island, Cork + | | | | | |Harbour. +Shannon | Dec. 10, 1803| 36 |Edward L. |264| None |In a gale, + | | | Gower | | |under the + | | | | | |batteries near + | | | | | |Cape La Hogue. +Starling, | Dec. 24, 1804| |George | 50| None |Near Calais. + Gun-brig | | | Skottowe | | | +Severn | Dec. 20, 1804| 32 |Duke de |224| None |In Gronville + | | | Bouillon | | |Bay, Jersey. +Sheerness | Jan. 8, 1805| 44 |Lord G. |294| 2 |In a hurricane + | | | Stuart | | |off Trincomalee. +Seagull | 1805| 18 |Henry Burke |121| All |Foundered. +Serpent, | 1806| 18 |John Waller |121| All |Foundered in + Sloop | | | | | |Jamaica station. +Seaforth, | Feb. 1806| 14 |George Steel | | All |Foundered on + Gun-brig | | | | | |the Leeward + | | | | | |Island station. +Subtle | Oct. 26, 1807| |W. Dower | | None |On a reef of + | | | | | |rocks, near + | | | | | |Somerset Island, + | | | | | |Bermuda. +Speedwell, | Feb. 18, 1807| |L.W. | 60| All |Foundered off + Cutter | | | Robertson | | |Dieppe. +Snipe, | 1807| 14 | | 50| |Near + Gun-brig | | | | | |Lowestoffe. +Sparkler, | Jan. 29, 1808| 10 |Sam. Akid | 50| 14 |On a reef, S.W. + Gun-brig | | | Dennis | | |of the Island + | | | | | |of Schelling, + | | | | | |Holland. +Sacorman | Dec. 23, 1808| |Andrew Duncan | | 1 |Foundered in + | | | | | |Baltic. +Solebay | July 11, 1809| 32 |E.H. |215| None |Coast of + | | | Columbine | | |Africa. +Scalark, | June 18, 1809| 4 |James Proctor | 20| |In the North + Brig | | | | | |Sea. +Satellite, | Dec. 1810| 16 |Willoughby | 95| All |In the Channel. + Sloop | | | Berkie | | | +Saldanha | Dec. 4, 1811| 36 |Hon. W. |274| All |Off + | | | Pakenham | | |Loughswilly, + | | | | | |Ireland. +Shamrock, | Feb. 25, 1811| 10 |W. Parsons | 40| 1 |On Cape + Brig | | | Croke | | |Sta-Maria. +St. George | Dec. 24, 1811| 98 |R. Carthew |738| 731 |Off the Coast + | | | Reynolds, R. | | |of Jutland. + | | | Adm., Daniel | | | + | | | O. Guion, | | | + | | | Captain | | | +Skylark, | May 3, 1812| 16 |James Boxer | 95| None |Between Etaples, + Sloop | | | | | |& Cape Grisnez, + | | | | | |France. +Southampton | Nov. 27, 1812| 32 |Sir James |215| None |Sunken rock off + | | | Lucas Yeo | | |Island of + | | | | | |Conception, + | | | | | |Jamaica. +Sarpedon, | Jan. 1, 1813| 10 |Thomas Parker | 76| All |Foundered. + Sloop | | | | | | +Subtle, | Nov. 30, 1812| 10 |Charles Brown | 50| All |Foundered off + Schooner | | | | | |St. + | | | | | |Bartholomew's, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Statira | Feb. 27, 1815| 38 |Spelman |315| None |On a sunken rock + | | | Swaine | | |off the S.E. + | | | | | |Point of the + | | | | | |Great Macque, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Sylph, | Jan. 17, 1815| 18 |George |121| 115 |On Southampton + Sloop | | | Dickens | | |Bar, North + | | | | | |America. +Success | Nov. 29, 1829| 28 | | 61| All |In Cockburn + | | | | | |Sound. +Spey, Packet| | |---- James | | |In passage to + | | | | | |Havanna. +Skipjack, | | 3 |H. Wright | 40| | + Schooner | | | | | | +Spitfire, |Sept. 10, 1842| 6 |H.E.S. | 53| None |On the + St.-vessel| | | Winthrop | | |Lighthouse Reef, + | | | | | |British + | | | | | |Honduras. +Skylark, |April 25, 1845| 2 |Geo. Morris | 50| None |Ran on shore, + Brig | | | | | |Kemeridge, + | | | | | |Isle of Wight. +Snake | Aug. 29, 1817| 14 |T. Bourncaster|130| None |On a reef, + | | | Brown | | |Coast of Africa, + | | | | | |5 miles from + | | | | | |Mozambique. +Thetis | | |A.F. Cochrane | | None |Forty-four + | | | | | |miles south of + | | | | | |Cape Henry. +Trompeuse, | July 15, 1796| 14 |J. Rowley |106| None |On Dudley + Sloop | | | Watson | | |Point, Kinsale. +Tartar | July 1, 1797| 28 |Hon. G. |195| None |Coming out of + | | | Elphinstone | | |Port Plate, + | | | | | |St. Domingo. +Tribune | Nov. 16, 1797| 32 |Scory Barker |244| 238 |Off Halifax, + | | | | | |Nova Scotia. +Trompeuse, | May 16, 1800| 16 |Peter | 86| 83 |Supposed to + Sloop | | | Robinson | | |have foundered + | | | | | |in Channel. +Tartarus | Dec. 20, 1804| 10 |Thomas | 67| 1 |On Margate + | | | Withers | | |Sands. +Tartar | Aug. 18, 1811| 32 |Joseph Baker |254| None |On a sand in + | | | | | |the Baltic. +Thistle, | Mar. 6, 1811| 10 |George | 50| |Near New York. + Cutter | | | McPherson | | | +Tweed, |Nov. 5, 1813 | 18 |William |121| 61 |In Shoal Bay, + Sloop | | | Mather | | | Newfoundland. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + | | | Commanding |No.|Number| + Name of | Date. |Guns| Officer's |of | of | Where lost. + Ship. | | | Name. |men| lost.| +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- +Tay | Nov. 11, 1816| 20 |Samuel |135| None |On the Isles + | | | Roberts | | |Alacranes, Gulf + | | | | | |of Mexico. +Telegraph, | Jan. 20, 1817| |John Little | 50| None |Rocks under + Schooner | | | | | |Mount Batten, + | | | | | |entrance of + | | | | | |Catwater. +Thetis | Dec. 5, 1830| 46 |Samuel |275| 16 |Off Cape Frio. + | | | Burgess | | | +Tribune | Nov. 28, 1839| 20 |C. Hamlyn |190| None |Off Port of + | | | Williams | | |Tarragona. +Thunderbolt,| Feb. 3, 1847| 6 |Alex. Boyle |148| None |Cape Recife, + St.-ves. | | | | | |Algoa Bay. +Undaunted | Aug. 31, 1796| 38 |Robert |286| None |Morant Keys, + | | | Winthrop | | |West Indies. +Vanceau, | Oct. 21, 1796| |John Gourly | 60| |Running on + Cutter | | | | | |sunken rock, + | | | | | |Port Ferrajo, + | | | | | |Elba. +Viper | Jan. 2, 1797| |H. Harding | | All |Off the + | | | Parker | | |Shannon. +Urchin, | 1800| |T. Pearson |120| 116 |In tow of the + | | | Croasdale | | |Hector, in + | | | | | |Tetuan Bay. +Utile, | Nov. 1801| 14 |Edward Jekyl | 76| All |Foundered in a + | | | Canes | | |gale in passage + | | | | | |from Gibraltar + | | | | | |to Malta. +Venerable | Nov. 24, 1804| 74 |John Hunter |590| None |In Torbay. +Volador, | Oct. 22, 1808| 18 |Francis G. |121| 1 |Near Cape + Sloop | | | Dickens | | |Arrekla, Spanish + | | | | | |Man. +Unique, | May 31, 1809| 10 |Thomas | 65| |Burnt at Basse + Brig | | | Fellowes | | |Terre, + | | | | | |Guadaloupe. +Union, | May 17, 1828| |C. Madden | 32| None |On a reef off + Schooner | | | | | |the East End of + | | | | | |Rose Island, + | | | | | |West Indies. +Victor | 1843| 16 |Charles Otway |130| All |In a passage + | | | | | |from Vera Cruz + | | | | | |to Halifax. +Weazel, | Jan. 12, 1799| 14 |Hon. Henry | 86| 85 |In Barnstaple + Sloop | | | Grey | | |Bay. +Weazel, | Feb. 29, 1804| 12 |William | 70| None |On Cabreta + Sloop | | | Layman | | |Point, + | | | | | |Gibraltar Bay. +Woodlark | Nov. 13, 1805| 14 |Thos. Innes | 50| None |Near Calais. +Wolfe, | Sept. 4, 1806| 18 |G.C. |121| None |On Heneaga, one + Sloop | | | Mackenzie | | |of the Bahama + | | | | | |Islands. +Woodcock, | Feb. 13, 1807| 10 |I.C. Smith | 18| None |West of Villa + Schooner | | | Collett | | |Franca, Saint + | | | | | |Michael's. +Wagtail, | Feb. 13, 1807| 10 |William | 18| None |West of Villa + Schooner | | | Cullis | | |Franca, Saint + | | | | | |Michael's. +Widgeon, |April 20, 1808| 6 |George Elliot | 20| None |On a reef of + Schooner | | | | | |rocks, near + | | | | | |Banff. +Wildbear, | Feb. 15, 1810| 10 |Thomas Burton | 76| 12 |On the Rundel + Sloop | | | | | |Stone, Scilly + | | | | | |Islands. +Woolwich |Sept. 11, 1813| 20 |Thos. Ball |135| |Off Barbuda, + | | | Sullivan | | |West Indies. +Whiting, |Sept. 21, 1816| 14 |John Jackson | 50| None |Near Dunbar. + Schooner | | | | | | +Wolf, Sloop | Mar. 10, 1830| 18 |Robt. Russell,|116| None |Off Isle of + | | | Esq. | | |Wight (Brock). +York | Jan. 1803| 64 |Henry Mitford |491| All |Foundered in + | | | | | |the North Sea. +Zenobia | 1806| |Name unknown | | All |Wrecked, exact + | | | | | |date unknown, + | | | | | |on the Coast + | | | | | |of Florida. +Zebra, Brig | 1841| 16 |J.S. Shepperd |115| None |In the Levant. +------------+--------------+----+--------------+---+------+--------------- + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVES OF SHIPWRECKS OF THE +ROYAL NAVY; BETWEEN 1793 AND 1849*** + + +******* This file should be named 15301.txt or 15301.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/3/0/15301 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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