Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/375

 “The proper signals were made to the schooner, and the Master sent to anchor her as near as possible, to heave by her. The ship soon after paid off, with her head to the eastward; and we hauled up the main-sail, shivering the other sails, to let her go round off without acquiring headway: before she paid off to the southward, she again struck fore and aft, and remained fixed at last with her head due south. Breakers were then upon each bow, and we had from 5 to 15 fathoms in the starboard chains, and only 2 fathoms at times both a-head and a-stern. Having chocked the rudder, the top-masrs were struck; and we began hoisting the boats out, the lower-yards having been kept up for that purpose. At this time the ship did not strike violently, and had only made 19 inches water. Unfortunately the wind freshened from the N.N.W., and the sea began to break with great force, which soon knocked the rudder off: we secured it with hawsers. It was now 9 o’clock, and we only waited the schooner’s anchoring, to attempt heaving off; and in the mean time began hoisting out the long-boat: during which period the ship made water very fast; and the violent shocks she received, rendered it doubtful whether the masts would stand. The water increased so much upon the pumps, that before the long-boat was out we had 7 feet water in the hold. At this time the schooner had anchored near us in 25 fathoms, and the Master returned on board, when the ship suddenly changed her position, swinging round from S. to N. by E., and striking more violently than ever. Before we could carry our hawsers to the schooner, the carpenter reported the water up to the orlop-deck, and the ship having bilged forward; we therefore gave up the idea of attempting to heave off, for had we succeeded, the ship must inevitably have foundered. The spare pumps were down the fore hatchway, but the water still increasing upon the gun-deck, rendered all our exertions useless. The officers were unanimous with me in opinion, that nothing could be done to save the ship; and to cut away the masts would have no effect upon her, as she was settling fast forward from her being bilged, as we imagined, in her larboard bow. It now became highly necessary to preserve the people, and the boats were ordered ready for their reception; while they were employed trying to collect arms and ammunition, with armourer’s and carpenter’s tools; but the ship laying nearly on her beam ends, and the gun-deck being full of water with the washing of the bulk-heads to and fro, chests, &c. prevented their saving many. On one side of the ship we had only 6 feet water, and on the other 3½ fathoms. The fore part of her was immersed in the sea, and the surf breaking over the upper-deck. As nothing more could be procured for the present, the crew were sent into the boats, which was happily effected without any accident; and soon after 11 o’clock they reached the schooner in safety, but with the loss, both officers and men, of every thing belonging to them. The pinnace returned for myself and the remaining officers; and at half an hour after midnight we quitted the Providence, leaving her a perfect wreek to the mercy of the sea.”

This disaster having taken place during the S.W. monsoon,