Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/384

 324 DISASTER 1X> 1789 Sinoe the fint of oar misfortimeB there had not been an < or man nnemplojed. It was, howerer, imposflible that the few hands we had could hold out mnch longer, if employed togetiMr ; Di^on of a reservation was therefore made by dividing the whole of the officers, seamen, oonvijcts, <&e., into two watches, to relieve alter- nately. About half-past ten, the first division went to the pomps. At this time the captain ordered refreshments to be allotted to each man, taking particular care that the grog should not be made too strong. Every man received a dram for the first supply, with biscuit and cheese, which seemed to give them fresh spirits. sumuiuita. The rum above was soon nearly exp^ided; but the captain tbooi^t it would be extremely dangerous to open the hold to get at more, for fear of the men's getting at it. Wine and water was accord- ingly given in lieu. Leaic At midnight the water had increased to six feet, and it was then blowing a very strong gale. At daybreak a few hands wete set about filling one of the lower studding sails with oaknin, and the off watch were ordered to get it under the ship's bottom, which was found to be extremely difficult. The leak, however, gained upon us near a foot of water during this application. By unwearied exertions at the pumps it became reduced, and continued 5t»ep. ^, diminishing till near eleven o'clock, when the water was reduced diminiahing. , . . i to only nineteen inches. Leak aj?ain At half -past eleven we were, however, unhappily informed that ncreaaing. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ again gained upon us some inches, and continued to do so, more or less, for a short time. Another sail was then prepared for a second fothering, which again encouraged our hopes. At noon the water was twenty-seven inches, the ship's head about W,, the wind blowing very hard Rough Dec. 25. — It still continued to blow a strong gale, the sea weather, running extremely high, often breaking over the ship with great violence. Between one and three in the afternoon, the second fothering was got under the ship's bottom. About this time Crew several of the crew became almost unable to perform any duty. UtoSr The weather was likewise unc(munonly piercing. At four the water again gained on us, when Mr. Clements went down by the way of the rudder into the gun-room, and from thence into tiie Efforts to bread and spirit nooma, to endeavour to discover the leak, but i^"" without effect. It was then thought fit to endeavour to eoatile