Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/385

 H.M.S. GXTAKDIAN. 325 the deck close t£t, which, being oat of the roll of the water, would ^7^ enable as to get up and heave overboard some more of the cargo. Accordingly, the captain, the chaplain, the purser, and two men were employed in this business, but unfortunately endeavouring to heave up a cask, it fell back on ihe captain, and braised his Captain hand in so shocking a manner as to disable him from giving any farther assistance. This endeavour was then given up, and all hands were again set to the pumps. At five the water increased to four feet, and at midnight to jjoak four feet and a half. At this time the starboard pump became ^ disabled, from the wrench breaking ; and the leak from that time gained upon us very fast. At four in the morning the water was reported to have increased to six feet, and at six to seven feet. About this time the people began to break off occasionally from the pumps, and to secrete DdreUction themselves, and could only be kept to their duty by threatening to ^ have them thrown overboard. During the night, the fore and maintop sails were shivered by the violence of the wind, and the ship left entirely at the mercy of a most tremendous sea, the dreadful prospect being rendered still more dismal by the thick, black, stormy clouds, which appeared as if collected to hide our misfortunes from the compassionate eye of Providence. The people till now had been kept unacquainted with the true state of the ship, which had hitherto been reported favourable, when one of the carpenters stationed to sound the well, came up, LeaknpkUy and reported that the water was as high as the hallop-deck, and ^^^'^^^ °^' gaining above a foot every half-hour. The officers could not possibly suppress this report ; and many of the people; who were really unable to bear the fatigue any longer, immediately desponded, gr ew^ and gave themselves up to perish with the ship^ A part of those who had got any strength left, seeing that their utmost efforts to aave the ship were likely to be in vain, applied to the officers for the boats, which were promised .to be got in readiness for them, Prenuinff and the boatswain was directly ordered to put the masts, sails, and compass in each. The cooper was also set to work to fill a few quarter-casks of water out of some of the butts on deck, and provisions and other necessaries were got up from the hold. Many hours previous to this, Lieutenant Riou had privately declared to his officers that he saw the final loss of the ship was