Page:Melancholy loss of the whale-fishing ship Oscar, of Aberdeen, on Thursday, April 1, 1813.pdf/3



Thursday last, after a tract of the mildest weather known for many years, one of the most sudden and violent storms, for its short duration, was experienced here, which is recollected by the oldest inhabitant, and attended with one of the most melancholy and distressing events that ever happened at this place.

In the morning, the wind, which had been westerly during the night, veered round to the south-eastward, with snow, blowing strong, but shifted soon after to the north-eastward. At this time five of the Whale-fishing Ships belonging to this port, and among them the , Captain John Innes, which had sailed early in the morning, were riding at anchor in the bay; and the weather being still unsettled and having the appearance of an impending storm, about five o'clock the Oscar weighed and stood out to sea. A boat having gone ashore for