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Title: The Loss of His Majesty's Frigate Anson - Which was Wrecked within Three Miles of Helston, December 28, 1807
Author: Unknown
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Loss of His Majesty's Frigate Anson - Which was Wrecked within Three Miles of Helston, December 28, 1807" ***
produced from scans of public domain works at The National
Library of Australia.)
[Illustration: W Elmes Loss of the Anson, frigate, off Cornwall.
Pub. by Thos. Tegg. 111, Cheapside, Aug. 1808.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE
LOSS
OF HIS MAJESTY’S FRIGATE
ANSON,
Which was Wrecked
WITHIN THREE MILES OF HELSTON,
DECEMBER 28, 1807,
AND ABOUT
FIFTY PERSONS LOST.
-------
ALSO AN
AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE OF THE LOSS
OF
The Sidney,
WHICH RAN UPON A DANGEROUS ROCK OR SHOAL,
MAY 20, 1808,
AND ONLY A FEW OF THE CREW PRESERVED;
-------
TOGETHER WITH
Several genuine Anecdotes,
AND ACCOUNTS OF
DREADFUL FAMINES AT SEA.
------------------------------------
LONDON:
Printed for THOMAS TEGG, 111, CHEAPSIDE.
-------
PRICE ONLY SIXPENCE.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOSS
OF HIS
MAJESTY’S FRIGATE
ANSON,
Which was wrecked near HELSTON,
DECEMBER 29, 1807.
-------
THE following account of the unfortunate loss of his Majesty’s frigate
Anson, and of the much lamented death of Captain Lydiard, is
communicated by the captain’s steward, who was continually about his
person, and on whose veracity our readers may depend.
“On the 27th of December, 1807, cruizing off the Black Rocks, and
perceiving the approach of a gale, kept a look out for the commodore in
the Dragon. The next morning (Monday) the gale increasing from the S.W.
and not perceiving the Dragon in any direction, at nine o’clock, shaped
our course for the Lizard, with a view of getting into Falmouth.
“At twelve o’clock all hands upon deck, the sea running very high; two
bowsprits on the starboard-side washed away by the violence of the sea;
also a port abreast the main-mast, by which means she shipped a great
deal of water.
“The captain sent for the master at the time, to determine the situation
of the ship; and at half-past twelve o’clock, or thereabout, land was
seen about two miles distant, but from the extreme thickness of the
weather, we could not ascertain what part. Captain Lydiard ordered the
ship to be wore to the S.E. not thinking it safe to stand in any nearer
under such circumstances of weather. Soon after ten o’clock the master
wished them to run in again, and make the land, which was supposed to be
the Lizard; and that if we could make it out, we should get into
Falmouth; Captain Lydiard asked if he thought it could be done without
risk? he (the master) said, he thought it could.
“The ship was then wore, but the weather still continuing thick, we had
a cast of the lead, and having 27 fathom, we were convinced we must be
to the westward of the Lizard, and immediately wore ship again, and made
all sail.
“Soon after three o’clock, as the captain was going to dinner, he looked
out of the quarter gallery, from whence he saw the breakers close to us,
and the land along distance ahead. The ship wore instantly, and Captain
Lydiard’s mind made up to come to an anchor, for had we kept under weigh
the ship must have struck upon the rocks in a few hours. The top-gallant
masts were got upon deck, and she rode very well until four o’clock on
Tuesday morning, when the cable parted. The other anchor immediately let
go, and the lower yards and top-masts struck. At day-light the other
cable parted, and we were then so close to the land that we had no
alternative but to go on shore, when Captain Lydiard desired the master
to run the ship into the best situation for saving the lives of the
people, and fortunately a fine beach presented, upon which the ship was
run. Shortly after she struck the mainmast went, but hurt no one.
“Captains Lydiard and Sullivan, with the first lieutenant, were resolved
to remain with the ship as long as possible; many people were killed on
board; the first lieutenant, and a number of others, washed overboard.
It was the captain’s great wish to save the lives of the ship’s company,
and he was employed in directing them the whole of the time. He had
placed himself by the wheel, holding by the spokes, where he was exposed
to the violence of the sea, which broke tremendously over him, and from
continuing in this situation too long, waiting to see the people out of
the ship, he became so weak that upon attempting to leave the ship
himself, and being impeded by a boy who was in the way, and whom he
endeavoured to assist, he was washed away and drowned.”
Such is the steward’s account of this melancholy accident. Another
correspondent furnishes us with the following particulars.
“His Majesty’s Frigate Anson, of 40 guns, after completing her stores of
all kinds, for a four-months cruise, sailed from Falmouth on the 24th of
December, 1807, to resume her station off Brest. As it blew very hard
from the S.W.S. we were never able to get so far to the westward;
however, Captain Lydiard persevered in his endeavours until the 28th.
“On the morning of that day we made the Isle of Bas, on the French
coast, which they had seen the preceding evening. There being now every
appearance of bad weather, Captain Lydiard determined to return to port,
and accordingly shaped a course for the Lizard, the gale still
increasing, and it coming on very heavy. About three o’clock P.M. the
land was seen about five miles west of the Lizard, but at the time not
exactly known, as many opinions were expressed, as to what land was then
in sight; the ship was wore to stand of at sea, but had not long been on
that tack before the land was again descried right a-head.
“It was now quite certain that the ship was embayed, and every exertion
was made to work her off the shore; but finding she lost ground every
tack, she was brought to an anchor in 25 fathoms, at five P.M. with the
best bower anchor veered away to two cable’s length. By their anchor,
the ship rode in a most tremendous sea, and as heavy a gale as was ever
experienced, until 4 A.M. of the 29th, when the cable parted. The small
bower anchor was then let go, and veered away to two cable’s length,
which held her until 8 A.M. when that also parted; and as the last
resource, in order to preserve the lives of as many as possible, the
foretop sail was cut, and the ship run on shore, on the sand which forms
the bar between the Loe Pool (about three miles from Helston) and the
sea. The tide had ebbed about an hour when she struck; on taking the
ground, she broached to with her broadside to the beach, and most
happily heeled into the shore; had she, on the contrary, heeled off, not
a soul could have escaped alive.
“Now commenced a most heart-rending scene to some hundreds of spectators
who had been in anxious suspence, and who exerted themselves to the
utmost, at the imminent risk of their lives, to save those of their
drowning fellow-men. Many of those who were most forward in quitting the
ship, lost their lives, being swept away by the tremendous sea, which
entirely went over the wreck. The main-mast formed a floating raft from
the ship to the shore, and the greater part of those who escaped passed
by this medium.”
Some of the officers who were fortunately saved have given us the
following further particulars of this unfortunate event.
“The Anson sailed from Falmouth on Christmas-eve, on her station off the
Black-rocks, as one of the look-out frigates of the Channel fleet. In
the violent storm of Monday, blowing about W. to S.W. she stood across
the entrance of the channel, towards Scilly, made the Land’s End, which
they mistook for the Lizard, and bore up, as they thought, for Falmouth.
Still doubtful, however, in the evening of Monday, Captain Lydiard stood
off again to the southward; when a consultation being held, it was once
more resolved to bear up for Falmouth. Running eastward and northward,
still under the fatal persuasion, that the Lizard was on the north-west
of them, they did not discover their mistake till the man on the
look-out a-head, called out “breakers!” The ship was instantaneously
broached-to, and the best bower let go, which happily brought her up;
but the rapidity with which the cable had veered out, made it impossible
to serve it, and it soon parted in the hawse-hole. The sheet anchor was
then let go, which also brought up the ship; but after riding end-on for
a short time, this cable parted from the same cause, about eight in the
morning, and the ship went plump on shore, upon the ridge of sand which
separates the Loe Pool from the bay. Never did the sea run more
tremendously high. It broke over the ship’s masts, which soon went by
the board; the main-mast forming a floating raft from the ship to the
shore; and the greater part of those who escaped, passed by this medium.
One of the men saved, reports, that Captain Lydiard was near him on the
main-mast; but he seemed to have lost the use of his faculties, with
horror of the scene, and soon disappeared.”
We have not language to convey an adequate picture of the terrific view
which presented itself; but justice demands that we notice the conduct
of a worthy member of a sect but too much vilified.
At a time when no one appeared on the ship’s deck, and it was supposed
that the work of death had ceased, a methodist preacher, venturing his
life through the surf, got on board over the wreck of the main-mast, to
see if any more remained; some honest hearts followed him. They found
several persons still below, who could not get up; among whom were two
women and two children. The worthy preacher and his party saved the two
women an some of the men, but the children were lost. About two P.M. the
ship went to pieces; when a few more men, who, for some crime, had been
confined in irons below, emerged from the wreck. One of these was saved.
By three o’clock, no appearance of the vessel remained. She was an old
ship—(a 64, we believe, cut down)—which accounts for her beating to
pieces so soon on a sandy bottom.
The men who survived, were conveyed to Helston about two miles distant;
where they were taken care of by the magistrates, and afterwards sent to
Falmouth in charge of the Regulating Captain at that port. General
report has stated the number drowned to be greater than it really is;
but of the missing, we understand many are deserters, who scampered off
as soon as they reached the shore. Among the officers saved, are the
following:—Captain Sullivan, a passenger; Messrs. Hill and Brailey,
midshipmen; Mr. Ross, assistant surgeon, and some others.
We regret to say that about fifty of our countrymen are missing; amongst
these unfortunate men is Captain Charles Lydiard; also, the first
lieutenant, a very valuable officer; also the doctor, a very worthy man,
and his son; besides some midshipman, and petty officers. The principal
things saved from the wreck are a few casks, containing spirits, butter,
&c. Captain Lydiard was nearly half-way to the beach, when a most
dreadful sea overwhelmed him, so that he was seen no more!
The body of Captain Lydiard was found, and interred with military
honours. Several officers, both naval and military, attended the
funeral, together with the mayor, &c. of Helston. The body was
afterwards conveyed to his family vault in Haslimere, Surrey. This
worthy and distinguished officer was married to an amiable woman, by
whom he had five children. He was highly esteemed as a gentleman; and as
an officer, he was of sterling merit. His conduct in attacking the
Fourdroyant, (Admiral Williametz), under the Spanish batteries, near the
Havannah;—in the capture of the Spanish frigate Pomona, under the
batteries of Mure Castle; and at the capture of Curaçao, obtained him a
name for skill and bravery, that will “live after him.”
We are happy to hear that the inhabitants of Helston, and its
neighbourhood, have, in this instance, as well as the late one of a
transport, which was also wrecked, rescued their character from those
odious epithets of savage and barbarian, which have heretofore been
thrown upon them; for by their unexampled and hazardous activity, all
the crew that remained on board, and escaped a watery grave by not being
precipitate in getting on shore, were landed by eleven o’clock; and too
much praise cannot be given, that Mr. Tobias Roberts, shopkeeper, of
Helston, does not deserve, for the imminent and perilous danger he ran
by remaining close to the Anson, (while the sea, in all its rage broke
over her mast high), lifting the benumbed crew from impending ruin.
On the 31st of December, Mr. Rogers, the Coroner, took an inquest on the
bodies of Mr. Robert Smith, the Surgeon, and Mr. Richard Leach, one of
the midshipmen, belonging to the Anson, in the church-yard, at Helston.
Dead bodies were continually washing on ashore in great numbers along
the coast, and most of them very much mangled and disfigured.
During the interval of the Anson being on the beach, the situation of
our brave seamen was perilous beyond description: the sea running
mountains high, so that it was quite impossible for any boat to live on
the water; and the only method which remained for the crew to land was,
by ropes from the masts to the beach (as fortunately she was thrown with
her masts towards the land), and through the assistance of which, by the
aid and blessing of a merciful and kind providence, about two hundred
and fifty were saved from destruction.
We cannot help here recording, as an illustration of the naval
character, a most heroic and benevolent act of one of these seamen in
the hour of danger. This brave fellow was supporting himself in the
water on a plank, expecting every moment a watery grave. At this
critical time, he perceived one of his companions, who had been swimming
for about an hour in the vain hope of reaching land, in such an
exhausted state, that he could no longer persevere in his exertions. Our
hero magnanimously threw him the plank, with which he had so long
defended himself, desiring him to take that, the only assistance he
could at present give him, while he would see how far he himself could
swim. Having thus parted with his staff, he swam for about twenty
minutes, and fortunately met with another piece of the wreck, by which
he was enabled to prolong his worthy existence, till a boat came to his
relief. We sincerely trust that the valour and commiseration of this
noble tar may be properly rewarded, whose merit is certainly worthy of a
more exalted station.
Another anecdote of a more entertaining though, perhaps, less
interesting nature, but equally authentic, has happily reached us in
time for insertion.
One of the poor fellows, who narrowly escaped drowning, took refuge in
the first cottage he could find. In this cottage there happened to live
an old lady and her niece, who received the distressed mariner in the
most kind and compassionate manner. As, however, they were provided with
no male apparel, and it was necessary that their guest should have some
comfortable clothing, till his own was perfectly dry, the niece supplied
him with a _change of her own_; and Jack having plenty of flannel
petticoats on, soon recovered his strength and spirits. Though plenty
did not adorn their board, yet a sufficiency was provided, and the
hospitality with which it was given, rendered it more delicious; suffice
it to say, that the sailor passed a very comfortable night here, and
owing to a pressing invitation from the niece, who thought it would be
dangerous for him to stir out too soon for fear of catching a cold that
might be fatal, he also spent two or three comfortable days. It was not,
however, the apprehensions of catching cold, a phrase unknown to
mariners, that induced Jack to make a longer stay; the fact was, he
became delighted with the conversation and manners of his younger
hostess, and as every hour of his stay tended to augment that delight,
he at last declared to the old woman his passion for the niece. This
information was by no means disagreeable to the latter, and the end of
the matter was, that our hero found a wife in Helston; he does not
therefore repent his being shipwrecked, but humorously remarks, “It is
an ill wind that blows nobody good.”
The philanthropy of the inhabitants of Helston, in endeavouring to save
their fellow creatures from perishing by shipwreck, reminds us of
another similar instance of feeling and humanity, which was also united
with courage; and which we think, may, with great propriety be
introduced here, as a further stimulus to the people of sea coasts to
use, at all times on these occasions, their utmost exertions in favor of
distressed mariners.
A ship having been wrecked at the cape of Good Hope, a guard was sent
from Horse Island, consisting of thirty men and a lieutenant, to the
place where the ship lay, in order to keep a strict look-out, and to
prevent any of the cargo being stolen. A gibbet was erected, and at the
same time an edict was issued, importing, that whoever should come near
that spot should be hanged immediately, without trial, or sentence of
judgment passed on him. From this cause the compassionate inhabitants,
who had gone out on horseback to afford the wretched sufferers in the
ship some assistance, were obliged to return back without being able to
do them any service; but, on the contrary, were occular witnesses of the
brutality and want of feeling shewn by some persons on this occasion,
who did not bestow a thought of affording their fellow-creatures, that
sat on the wreck perishing with cold, hunger, and thirst, and were
almost in the arms of death, the least assistance or relief.
An old man of the name of Woltemad, by birth an European, had a son in
the citadel, who was a corporal, and among the first who had been
ordered out, to Horse-Island, where the guard was to be set for the
preservation of the shipwrecked goods. This worthy veteran borrowed a
horse, and rode out in the morning, with a bottle of wine and a loaf of
bread for his son’s breakfast. This happened so early that the gibbet
had not been erected, nor the edict posted up, to point out to the
traveller the nearest road to eternity. This hoary sire had no sooner
delivered his son’s breakfast, than he heard the lamentations of the
distressed crew from the wreck, when he resolved to ride his horse,
which was a good swimmer, to the wreck, with a view to save some of
them. He repeated this dangerous trip six times more, bringing each time
two men alive on shore, and thus saved in all fourteen persons.
The horse was by this time so much fatigued, that he did not think it
prudent to venture out again; but the cries and entreaties of the poor
wretches on the wreck increasing, he ventured once more, which proved so
unfortunate, that he lost his own life, as on this occasion too many
rushed upon him at once, some of them catching hold of the horse’s tail,
and others of the bridle, by which means the horse, both wearied out and
now too heavy laden, turned head over heels, and all were drowned
together. When the storm and waves had subsided, the ship was found to
lie at so small a distance from the land, that a person might have
almost leaped from it on shore.
The East India Directors in Holland, on receiving this intelligence,
ordered one of their ships to be called after the name of Woltemad, and
the story of his humanity to be painted on her stern; they further
enjoined the regency at the Cape to provide for his descendants.
Unfortunately in the southern hemisphere they had not the same
sentiments of gratitude. The young corporal, Woltemad, who had been an
unavailing witness of his father’s having sacrificed himself in the
service of the company and of mankind, wished in vain to be gratified
with his father’s place, humble as it was, (keeper of the beasts in the
menagerie.) Stung with the disappointment, he had left that ungrateful
country, and was gone to Batavia, where he died, before the news of so
great and unexpected a recommendation could reach him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOSS
OF THE
SIDNEY,
BOUND TO BENGAL,
Which ran upon a dangerous rock, May 20, 1806.
-------
IN the “Asiatic Mirror,” (an Indian newspaper,) the commander of the
Sidney gives an account of her loss, and the subsequent preservation of
the greater part of the crew, in a letter, which for the satisfaction of
our readers, is here copied verbatim.
SIR,
Calcutta, October 14, 1806.
“The Sidney left Port Jackson on the 12th of April, 1806, bound to
Bengal. Intending to proceed through Dampier’s Straits, her course
was directed as nearly as possible in the track of Captain Hogan, of
the Cornwallis, which, as laid down in the charts, appears a clear
safe passage. On the 20th of may, at one A.M. in lat. 3° 20′ south,
long. 146° 50′ east, we ran upon a most dangerous rock or shoal; and
as this reef is not noticed in any map or chart, it appears that we
were its unfortunate discoverer.
“On Sunday, over the taffrail, we found 25 fathoms water; over the
larboard gangway six fathoms; on the starboard side only nine feet;
and over the bows twelve feet. One of the boats was immediately got
out, with a bower anchor; but on sounding ten fathoms distance from
the ship, found no ground at sixty fathoms.
“It must have been high water when we struck; for at that time there
was no appearance of any reef or breaker; but as the water subsided,
the shoal began to shew itself with a number of small black rocks.
The ship had been striking very hard, and began to sue forward. At
three A.M. there were six feet water in the hold, and increasing
rapidly; at five o’clock the ship was setting aft, and her top sides
parting from the floor-heads.
“Upon consultation with my officers, it was the unanimous opinion,
that the ship was irrecoverably gone, and that no exertions could
avail for her safety. We therefore employed all hands in getting the
boats ready to receive the crew, 108 in number. Eight bags of rice,
six casks of water, and a small quantity of salted beef and pork,
were put in the long-boat, as provisions for the whole. We were
prevented taking a large stock, as, from the number of people, the
three boats were barely sufficient to receive the whole with safety.
“We remained with the Sidney till five P.M. on the 21st of May, when
there were three feet water on the orlop deck; we now thought it
full time to leave the ship to her fate, and to seek our safety in
the boats. Accordingly I embarked in the long-boat, with Mr.
Trounce, second officer, and 74 Lascars; Mr. Robson, first officer,
and Stalkart, third, with 16 Lascars, were in the cutter; and the
jolly boat was allotted to 15 Dutch Malays and one Sepoy.
“Being desirous to ascertain the position of the reef, by making the
Admiralty islands, shaped our course accordingly, steering N. by E.
half E. During the night it blew fresh, and the long-boat making
much water, we were obliged to lighten her, by throwing overboard a
great deal of lumber, and two casks of water. The three boats kept
close in company, the long-boat having the jolly boat in tow.
Finding at day-light that the cutter sailed considerably better, I
directed Mr. Robson to take the jolly boat in tow. The wind
increased as the morning advanced, and a heavy swell rising, at 10
A.M. the jolly boat sunk, while in tow by the cutter, and all on
board, to the number of 16, unfortunately perished. It was
lamentable to witness the fate of these unhappy men, and the more
so, as it was not in our power to render them the smallest
assistance.
“At noon on the 22d we saw the Admiralty islands, bearing N.N.E.
distant three or four leagues, and as we had run about 58 miles in
the boats, upon a N. by E. half E. course, the situation of the
shoal, on which the Sidney struck, was accurately ascertained, and
will be found as above laid down.
“From the Admiralty islands we continued standing to the westward;
and on the 25th made a small island: we stood towards it, and from
its appearance I was induced to land, in the hope of obtaining a
supply of water. Mr. Robson, myself, and 20 of the best of our
hands, armed with heavy clubs, brought from New Caledonia, our fire
arms being rendered useless from exposure to heavy rains, approached
in the cutter, and landed through a heavy surf, to the utmost
astonishment of the inhabitants, who, as far as we could judge from
appearance, had certainly never before seen people of our
complexion. The men were tall and well made, wearing their hair
plaited and raised above the head—they had no appearance of Malays,
nor of caffrees; and, excepting their colour, which was of a light
copper, they had the form and features of the natives of Europe;
they were entirely naked. We saw a number of women, who were well
formed, with mild pleasing features.
“We were received on the beach by about 20 or 30 of the natives, who
immediately supplied each of us with a cocoa nut. We then succeeded
in making them understand that we wanted water, upon which they made
signs for us to accompany them towards the interior of the
island:—we did so; but after walking above a mile, they conducted us
into a thick jungle, and as their number was quickly increasing, I
judged it imprudent to proceed further, and returned to the beach,
where I was alarmed to find the natives had assembled to the number
of 150 or upwards, armed with spears, eight or ten feet long. One of
them, an old man, of venerable appearance, and who seemed to be
their Chief, approached, and threw his spear at my feet, expressive,
as I understood it, that we should part with our clubs in like
manner. Perceiving at this time a crowd of women to have got hold of
the sternfast of the cutter, and endeavouring to haul her on shore,
from the grapnell with which we had come to, we hastily endeavoured
to gain the boat; the natives followed us closely, some of them
pointed their spears at us, as we retreated to the boat, and some
were thrown, though happily without effect; and to us they appeared
to be very inexpert in the management of their weapons. On my
getting into the water, three or four of the natives followed me,
threatening to throw their spears, and when I was in reach of the
boat, one of them made a thrust, which was prevented taking effect
by the interference of Mr. Robson, who warded off the weapon. When
we had got into the boat, and were putting off, they threw at least
200 spears, none of which took effect, excepting one, which gave a
severe wound to my cook, entering immediately above the jaw, and
passing through the mouth.
“Having thus escaped from this perilous adventure, we pursued our
course, and got as far as Dampier’s Straits, as favourably as our
situation could well admit. Being now within reach of land, the
Lascars became impatient to be put on shore. It was in vain that I
endeavoured to persuade them to persevere; they would not listen to
argument, and expressed their wish, rather to meet with immediate
death on shore, than to be starved to death in the boats. Yielding
to their opportunity, I at length determined to land them on the
N.W. extremity of the island of Ceram, from whence they might travel
to Amboyna in two or three days. On the 9th of June, being off that
part of the island, Mr. Robson volunteered to land a part of the
people in the cutter, to return to the long-boat, and the cutter to
be then given to such farther part of the crew as chose to join the
party first landed. Mr. Robson accordingly went on shore with the
cutter; but to my great mortification, after waiting two days, there
was no appearance of his return or the cutter.
“We concluded that the people had been detained either by the Dutch
or the natives; yet as the remaining part of the Lascars were
desirous to be landed, we stood in with the long-boat, and put them
on shore near the point where we supposed the cutter to have landed
her people.
“Our number in the long-boat was now reduced to seventeen, viz.
myself, Mr. Trounce, Mr. Stalkart, fourteen Lascars, and others. Our
stock of provisions consisted of two bags of rice, and one gang cask
of water; with this stock we conceived we might hold out till we
reached Bencoolen, for which port we determined to make the best of
our way.—We fixed the allowance of provisions to each man at one
tea-cup full of rice and a pint of water _per diem_; but we soon
found it necessary to make a considerable reduction in this
allowance.
“We proceeded on through the Straits of Bantam, meeting in our
course several Malay prows, none of which took notice of us,
excepting one, which gave chase for a day, and would have come up
with us, had we not got off under cover of a very dark night.
Continuing our course, we passed through the Straits of Sapay, where
we caught a large shark. Our spirits were much elated by this
valuable prize, which we lost no time in getting on board, and,
having kindled a fire in the bottom of the boat, he was roasted with
all expedition; and such was the keenness and extent of our
appetite, that although the shark must have weighed 150 or 160 lbs.
not a vestige of it remained at the close of the day. We suffered
most severely from our indulgence; on the following day we were all
afflicted with the most violent complaint of the stomach and bowels,
which reduced us exceedingly, and left us spiritless and languid,
insomuch that we now seriously despaired of our safety.
“On the 2d of July, I lost an old and faithful servant, who died
from want of sustenance. On the 4th we made Java Head; and at the
same time caught two large boobies, which afforded all hands a most
precious and refreshing meal. On the 9th, at midnight, came-to off
Pulo Penang, on the west coast of Sumatra. At day-light we
endeavoured to weigh our anchor, and to run close in shore; but we
were so much exhausted that our united strength was insufficient to
get up the anchor. We made a signal of distress, on which a sandpan,
with two Malays, came off. As I was the only person in the long-boat
who had sufficient strength to move, I went on shore with the
Malays. On landing, I found myself so weak, that I fell upon the
ground, and was obliged to be carried to an adjoining house. Such
refreshments as the place afforded were immediately sent off to the
long-boat; and we recruited so quickly, that in two days we found
ourselves in a condition to proceed on our voyage. On the 12th of
July we weighed, and on the 19th anchored off Rat island, at
Bencoolen.
“Here I met with an old friend, Captain Chauvet, of the
Perseverance, and whose kindness and humanity I shall ever remember,
and gratefully acknowledge. On the day following my arrival, I
waited on the resident, Mr. Parr, from whom I received every
kindness and attention.
“I left Bencoolen on the 17th of August, in the Perseverance, for
Penang, where I arrived on the 27th, and where I was most agreeably
surprised to meet with my late chief mate, Mr. Robson, who, with the
Lascars, landed on Ceram, and had safely reached Amboyna, where they
were received by Mr. Cranstoun, the Dutch governor, with a humanity
and benevolence that reflect honour on his character. The governor
supplied them with whatever their wants required; he accommodated
Mr. Robson at his own table, and on his leaving Amboyna, furnished
him with money for himself and his people, refusing to take any
acknowledgement or receipt for the amount. He also gave Mr. Robson
letters to the governor-general of Batavia, recommending him to his
kind offices. Such honourable conduct from the governor of a foreign
country, and with which we were at war, cannot be too widely
promulgated.
“From Amboyna, Mr. Robson embarked in the Dutch frigate Pallas, for
Batavia, and on their passage thither, fell in with and was captured
by his Majesty’s ships Greyhound and Harrier, and brought to Prince
of Wales’s Island.
“From Penang I went to Bengal, with the Varuna, Captain Dennison,
and arrived safely in Calcutta a few days ago.”
All the other accounts which we have seen, relative to the calamitous
loss of this vessel, are mere repetitions of the captain’s letter. In
one, however, it is stated, that the resistance which they met with from
the natives, originated entirely with the women; who, notwithstanding
their seeming mildness, were the first transgressors. They intended to
make themselves mistresses of the cutter; and by their wanton
proceedings, the men were stimulated to hostilities. These people, like
all those whom nature has left in a wild state, evidently delighted in
plunder.
When Mr. Robson landed on Ceram, it was his intention to return to the
long-boat, with all possible speed, but he was detained on shore by the
Lascars, who insisted on his accompanying them to Amboyna. The remaining
part of the Lascars, who were afterwards landed, overtook the first
party; and from these Mr. Robson learned that the long-boat had declined
waiting for him any longer, and was now proceeding on through the
straits of Bantam. Indeed this gentleman did not suppose that Capt.
Forrest would wait for him so long as he did, or he would certainly have
watched an opportunity of escaping from the Lascars, and returning to
him. He now made up his mind of prosecuting his journey to Amboyna,
where he met with the kind reception that has been already stated, and
which far exceeded his expectations.
Except the crew of the jolly boat, who were all lost, the rest were
happily, and indeed we may add, most wonderfully preserved.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREADFUL
FAMINES AT SEA,
AND THEIR
Melancholy Consequences.
-------
Letters received from St. Helena, in 1802, give a most singular and
affecting narrative respecting six deserters from the artillery of the
island. Their extraordinary adventures produced a course of inquiry on
the 12th of December last, when John Brown, one of the survivors,
delivered the following account upon oath, before Captain Desfontaine,
president, Lieutenant B. Hodson, and Ensign Young.
“In June, 1799, I belonged to the first company of artillery, in the
service of this garrison, and on the 10th of that month, about half an
hour before parade time, M’Kinnon, gunner, and orderly of the 2d
company, asked me if I was willing to go with him on board an American
ship, called the Columbia, Captain Henry Lelar, the only ship then in
the Roads. After some conversation, I agreed, and met him about seven
o’clock at the play-house, where I found one M’Quinn, of Major Searle’s
Company, another man called Brighouse, another called Parr, and the
sixth, Matthew Conway.
“Parr was a good seaman, and said he would take us to the island of
Ascension, or lay off the harbour till the Columbia could weigh anchor
and come out. We went down about eight o’clock to the West Rocks, where
the American boat was waiting for us, manned with three American seamen,
which took us alongside the Columbia. We went on board. Parr went down
into the cabin; and we changed our clothes after having been on board
half an hour.
“Brighouse and Conway proposed to cut out a whale-boat from out of the
harbour, to prevent the Columbia from being suspected; which they
effected, having therein a coil of rope and five oars, with a large
stone she was moored by. This happened about eleven o’clock at night.
“We observed lanterns passing on the line towards the Sea-gate, and
hearing a great noise, thought we were missed, and searched for. We
immediately embarked in the whale-boat, with twenty-five pounds of bread
in a bag, and a small keg of water, supposed to contain about thirteen
gallons, one compass, and one quadrant, given to us by the commanding
officer of the Columbia; but in our great hurry the quadrant was either
left behind or dropped over-board.
“We then left the ship, pulling with two oars only, to get a-head of
her. The boat was half full of water, and nothing to bale her out. In
this condition we rowed out to sea, and lay off the island a great
distance, expecting the American ship hourly.
“About twelve o’clock the second day, no ship appearing, by Parr’s
advice, we bore away, steering N. by W. and then N.N.W. for the island
of Ascension, using our handkerchie as substitutes for sails. We met
with a gale of wind, which continued two days. The weather then became
very fine, and we supposed we had run ten miles an hour. M’Kinnon kept a
reckoning, with pen, ink, and paper, supplied by the Columbia, as also
charts and maps.
“We continued our course till about the 18th in the morning, when we saw
a number of birds, but no land. About twelve that day Parr said he was
sure we must be past the island, accounting it to be eight hundred miles
from St. Helena. We then each of us took our shirt, and with them made a
small sprit-sail, and laced our jackets and trowsers together at the
waistband, to keep us warm; and then altered our course to W. by N.
thinking to make Rio de Janeiro, on the American coast. Provisions
running very short, we allowanced ourselves only one ounce of bread for
twenty-four hours, and two mouthfuls of water.
“We continued until the 20th, when all our provisions were expended. On
the 27th, M’Quinn took a piece of bamboo in his mouth to chew, and we
all followed his example. On that night, it being my turn to steer the
boat, and remembering to have read of persons eating their shoes, I cut
a piece off one of mine; but it being soaked with salt water, I was
obliged to spit it out, and take the inside sole, which I ate part of,
and distributed to the rest, but found no benefit from it.
“On the 1st of July, Parr caught a dolphin with a graff, that had been
left in the boat. We all fell on our knees, and thanked God for his
goodness to us. We tore up the fish, and hung it to dry: about four we
ate part of it, which agreed with us pretty well. On this fish we
subsisted till the 4th, about eleven o’clock, when, finding the whole
expended, bones and all, Parr, myself, Brighouse, and Conway, proposed
to scuttle the boat, and let her go down, to put us out of our misery.
The other two objected, observing, that God who had made man, always
found him something to eat.
“On the 5th, about eleven, M’Kinnon proposed, that it would be better to
cast lots for one of us to die, in order to save the rest; to which we
consented. William Parr, being sick two days before with the spotted
fever, was excluded. He wrote the numbers out, and put them in a hat,
which we drew out blindfolded, and put them in our pockets. Parr then
asked whose lot it was to die—none of us knowing what numbers we had in
our pockets—each one praying to God that it might be his lot. It was
agreed that No. 5 should die, and the lots being unfolded, M’Kinnon’s
was No. 5.
“We had agreed, that he whose lot it was should bleed himself to death;
for which purpose we had provided ourselves with nails sharpened, which
we got from the boat. M’Kinnon with one of them cut himself in three
places, in his hand, foot, and wrist, and praying God to forgive him,
died in about a quarter of an hour.
“Before he was quite cold, Brighouse, with one of those nails, cut a
piece of flesh off his thigh, and hung it up, leaving the body in the
boat. About three hours after we ate of it—only a very small bit. This
piece lasted us until the 7th. We dipped the body every two hours into
the sea, to preserve it. Parr having found a piece of slate in the
bottom of the boat, he sharpened it on the other large stone, and with
it cut another piece of the thigh, which lasted us until the 8th; when,
it being my watch, and observing the water about break of day to change
colour, I called the rest, thinking we were near shore; but saw no land,
it not being quite day-light.
“As soon as day appeared, we discovered land right a-head, and steered
towards it. About eight in the morning we were close to the shore. There
being a very heavy surf, we endeavoured to turn the boat’s head to it:
but being very weak, we were unable. Soon after the boat upset! Myself,
Conway, and Parr, got on shore, M’Quinn and Brighouse were drowned.
“We discovered a small hut on the beach, in which were an Indian and his
mother, who spoke Portuguese; and I understanding that language, learnt
that there was a village about three miles distant, called Belmont. This
Indian went to the village, and gave information that the French had
landed, and in about two hours the governor of the village, (a
clergyman), with several armed men, took Conway and Parr prisoners,
tying them by their hands and feet, and slinging them on a bamboo stick;
and in this manner took them to the village. I being very weak, remained
in the hut some time, but was afterwards taken.
“On our telling them we were English, we were immediately released, and
three hammocks provided. We were taken in them to the governor’s house,
who let us lie on his own bed, and gave us milk and rice; but not having
eaten any thing for a considerable time, we were lock-jawed, and
continued so till the 23d, during which time the governor wrote to the
governor of St. Salvador, who sent a small schooner to a place called
Porto Seguro, to take us to St. Salvador. We were then conducted to
Porto Seguro on horseback, passing through Santa Croix, where we
remained about ten days. Afterwards we embarked; and, on our arrival at
St. Salvador, Parr, on being questioned by the governor, answered, “that
our ship had foundered at sea, and we had saved ourselves in the boat;
that the ship’s name was the Sally, of Liverpool, and belonged to his
father, and was last from Cape Coast Castle, on the coast of Africa, to
touch at the Ascension for turtle, and then bound for Jamaica.” Parr
said he was the captain.
“We continued at St. Salvador about 13 days, during which time the
inhabitants made up a subscription of 200£. each man. We then embarked
in the Maria, a Portuguese ship, for Lisbon; Parr as mate, Conway
boatswain’s-mate, myself being sickly as passenger. In thirteen days we
arrived at Rio de Janeiro. Parr and Conway sailed for Lisbon, and I was
left in the hospital. In about three months Captain Elphinstone, of the
Diomede, pressed me into his majesty’s service, giving me the choice of
remaining on that station or to proceed to the admiral at the Cape. I
chose the latter, and was put, with seven suspected deserters, on board
the Ann, a Botany Bay ship, in irons, with the convicts. When I arrived
at the Cape I was put on board the Lancaster, of 64 guns. I never
entered. I at length received my discharge; since which I engaged in the
Duke of Clarence as a seaman. I was determined to give myself up the
first opportunity, in order to relate my sufferings to the men at this
garrison, to deter them from attempting so mad a scheme again.”
“In attending to the above narrative, as simple as it is affecting, we
cannot help noticing the justice of Providence, so strikingly
exemplified in the melancholy fate of M’Kinnon, the deluder of these
unhappy men, and the victim of his own illegal and disgraceful scheme.
May his fate prove a memento to soldiers and sailors, and a useful
though awful lesson to the encouragers and abettors of desertion.”
* * * * *
The following is an account of another famine, given by Captain
Bradshaw, commander of the Andalusia, in a letter, dated Halifax, April
30, 1759.
On the 27th day of February, about two o’clock in the afternoon, we
saw a vessel without masts, about three miles to leeward of us; and
immediately bore down to see what she was: I found it to be the
Dolphin sloop, Captain Baron, from the Canaries, bound to New York;
they had been from the Canaries ever since September 11th, 165 days;
115 of which they had nothing to eat. I sent my boat on board to see
what condition they were in; my people called to me and told me they
were helpless and starving, and desired to know whether I would take
them on board.—I ordered my people to put them in the boat, and
bring them on board, which accordingly they did. When they came
alongside our ship we were obliged to haul them in with ropes, they
were so very weak: there were the captain and seven others; but such
poor miserable creatures sure never were seen: had it been a week
longer they must all have died. When I came to examine the captain
and the people, they told me, that they had not any provisions for
upwards of three months before they saw me; they had eaten their
dog, their cats, and all their shoes, and in short, every thing that
was eatable on board. On the 10th of January they all agreed to cast
lots for their lives, which accordingly they did; the shortest lot
was to die; the next shortest to be the executioner. The lot fell
upon Anthony Gallitia, a Spanish Gentleman, a passenger; they shot
him through the head, which they cut off and threw overboard; they
then took out his bowels and ate them, and afterwards ate all the
remaining part of the body, which lasted but a very short time. The
captain told me, they were about to cast lots a second time, but it
happened very luckily that he bethought himself of a pair of
breeches, which he had lined with leather; he soon found them, took
out the lining, and cut off for each man’s share a piece of about an
inch and a half square, for the day’s allowance; that, with the
grass that grew upon deck, was all the support they had for about
twenty days before I met with them: the grass was in some places
four or five inches high. The captain brought on board the remaining
part of the leather lining, which I have got, and a piece of the
same that was the allowance of one man for the day. No words in my
power to express, are sufficient to describe the truly deplorable
and wretched condition these poor unfortunate sufferers were in when
I met with them.
* * * * *
During Lord Anson’s voyage round the world, the Spaniards fitted out a
squadron of ships (to traverse the views and enterprizes of the English
vessels), one of which, the Admiral’s ship, named the Asia, of 66 guns,
when off Cape Horn, was reduced to such infinite distress, that after
every kind of sustenance failed, the sailors gave four dollars a piece
for every rat that could be caught; and some little time previous to
this, a sailor who died on board, had his death concealed by his
brother, who, during that time, lay in the same hammock with the corpse,
only to receive the dead man’s allowance of provisions. In this shocking
situation, they were alarmed (if their horrors were capable of
augmentation) by the discovery of a conspiracy among the marines, which
was to massacre the officers and the crew of the ship, that they might
satisfy their hunger by eating their bodies. But their designs were
discovered, when just upon the point of execution, by means of one of
the conspirators, and three of the ringleaders were put to death. At
length, though the conspiracy was suppressed, yet by the complicated
misfortunes of sickness, fatigue, and hunger, which could not be
alleviated until too late, the greatest part of the ship’s company died
a lingering and painful death; so that when the ship arrived at the
River de la Plate, out of nearly seven hundred men, only about fifty
were remaining alive, and scarcely able to crawl for want of
nourishment.
* * * * *
“We have also the following account of forty-two persons who perished by
famine and shipwreck, near Spitzbergen, in the year 1746.”
John Cornelius, of Muniken, being ordered to Spitzbergen, to catch
whales, he set sail in a galliot, on the 6th of May, 1746, and arrived
on the 3d of June following near Spitzbergen, with an intention to
anchor in the bay, but was by the vast floods of ice-shoals forced to
keep out at sea. After having in vain cruised up and down among the
ice-shoals, they got into the bay, but perceiving two whales farther at
sea, they sent out their sloop in pursuit of them.
Whilst they were rowing up and down, to watch the motions of these
creatures, they discovered at a distance a great ice-shoal, with
something white upon it, which at first sight they imagined to be bears
(they being generally white there;) but one Ellert Johnson, who was in
the sloop to manage the harpoon, judging by the motion that it was
something else, persuaded them to row that way, which being done
accordingly, they not long afterwards perceived the same to be a piece
of a rope belonging to the sails of a ship, which was held up by a man
as a signal of the utmost distress; so they rowed up to it with all the
oars they had, and coming near, found, to their great surprise, four
living men, and one dead one, all Englishmen, upon the ice-shoal, who,
upon their bended knees, expressed their joy and thankfulness for so
unexpected a deliverance from the jaws of death. They were taken into
the sloop, and carried to the bay aboard the ship.
These unfortunate men had cut a large hole, in the nature of a
subterraneous cave, into the ice, and round the entrance thereof had
placed the pieces of ice that were cut out of the concavity, to defend
themselves against the violence of the winds and waves. In this hole
they had spent fourteen days, it being so long since they had lost their
ship. At first there were in all forty-two of them, and they had saved
some victuals and tools, with their sloop. The commander, however,
perceiving, after a little while, that it was impossible for them to
hold out long on the ice-shoal, resolved to go ashore in the sloop, with
seventeen of his men, and afterwards to send word back how matters stood
there. This was done accordingly, but it blowing very hard, and they not
having heard the least tidings of them since, they were afraid that they
were drowned before they reached the shore.
There were twenty-four left upon the ice-shoal, but the want of
provisions increasing daily amongst them, and they being reduced to a
starving condition, and expecting nothing but present death, resolved to
divide themselves, and to get upon several other ice-shoals, in hopes,
by some chance or other, to come near the shore; but whether some of
them got ashore, or were taken up by some ships, or swallowed up by the
waves, they were not able to tell.
Certain it is, that four of them, the miserable remnants of forty-two,
were found sitting together upon this ice-shoal, overwhelmed with
affliction, without any hopes of being saved from the last extremity,
which they were reduced to by frost and hunger, before the Dutch ship
came in sight of them, having had nothing to feed upon for some time but
a leathern belt, which they had divided and eaten, share and share
alike, till it was all consumed.
After they were brought to the Dutch ship, the surgeon took all
imaginable care for their recovery, notwithstanding which, three of them
died in a few days after; so that of forty-two, wherewith this ship was
manned, no more than one escaped with life, who arriving in September,
1746, in the galliot, the Delft, upon the Meuse; from thence he returned
to England, his native country.
------------------------------------
Plummer, Printer, Seething-lane.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
● Transcriber’s Notes:
○ Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected.
○ Unbalanced quotation marks were left as the author intended.
○ Typographical errors were silently corrected.
○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only
when a predominant form was found in this book.
○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
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