Page:Loss of the steam-ship Orion.pdf/3

3 it soon dropped off, and the unfortunate creature slid down the deck into the sea, which was gradually creeping up over the deck as the ship sunk. On turning round, I found the whole space within the bulwarks filled with a struggling multitude in the gurgling and seething waters, and most of these I fear were drowned.

“As soon as the water reached the companion, the pent air in the cabin forced off the skylights  with a most horrid crash, and in an  instant after we were under water. When below the surface I lost hold of my wife, but striking out found myself above water, and in contact with one of the stays of the mizen-mast, which I at once laid hold of. I had hardly done so when my wife rose also to the surface, and I at once took her hand and caused her to hold on by the same rope. I placed my legs round the the rope the better to secure my hold, and told her to rest herself on my knee, which she did.

“As soon as we had so far secured ourselves the ship gave a heavy lurch to starboard, which immersed us under water; but swinging back, she lurched heavily to port, and again were we under water.

“I had only my head above water as I was supporting my wife, and I was afraid to elevate myself farther, as I knew that in that case the weight would be increased. Above me, on the mast, a sailor was perched, who called out in the most imploring accents to some persons in a boat to come and take the people off.

“On the shrouds of the mizen mast, near