Page:Loss of the Comet steam-boat on her passage from Inverness to Glasgow, on Friday the 21st October, 1825.pdf/21

 exhibits a very melancholy spectacle.—It is expected that, with the assistance of a tide or two more, the vessel will be hauled altogether on the beach—

Gourock, Saturday Evening, July 22nd.

Mr Brown has fixed his chains down to night for the last time, as he expects to have the Comet dry at water to-morrow morning’s tide. As yet there has been no access to the principal cabin. All that has been found therefore has either been on deck or the steerage. This morning the body of a female was found on the quarter deck in a state of very great decay, so much so, that the remains of the dress alone, indicated that it was probably the corpse of Miss McIntosh. It was carefully put into a coffin and interred immediately.

To-day a considerable quantity of bones were in the steerage, but there was in that place such mass of rubbish and mud, that it is impossible to y how many bodies there might be. The jacket of a very young boy was picked up, enclosing the ribs ly, and no other part was visible.

With regard to private property, not much has yet been recovered. The piper’s chest was found yesterday, and bank notes to the amount of about £75 exposed; none of which were in the least injured, saturated with water. A pocket book lay on, containing £6 in small notes, all entire; some silver and copper also were picked up on deck. A number of bottles, supposed originally to have contained whisky, were found full, but the spirit was invariably changed for a liquid of a bitter taste.

The vessel herself is so complete a wreck that she must be broken up; she can never again float. It rects much credit on the ingenuity of Mr Brown that succeeded in bringing her ashore. Both stem and stern are quite smashed, and the deck planks torn up. This must have been chiefly by the chains last winter, the first attempt to raise her.