Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p1.djvu/405

 aground close to the beach, but also secured to the fort by a chain from the mast-head, and another from the stern-post under water. Every effort to set fire to her on deck failed in consequence of the heavy rain of the preceding night; but Mr. William Ferguson, acting boatswain of the Hazard, a most gallant and intrepid man, succeeded in lighting a fire below, which, rather sooner than he expected, communicated with the magazine, when she instantly exploded. Poor Ferguson, whilst in the act of regaining the deck, was blown up a considerable way into the air; but fortunately he fell clear of the wreck into the sea; from whence he was picked up in a perfectly naked state, his skin quite black, and his mind in a state of derangement. At the moment of the explosion, the boats, with the exception of the Hazard’s pinnace, were quitting the schooner; the latter was waiting under the bow for Lieutenant Robertson (who was thrown by the concussion into her, but not much hurt) and Mr. Ferguson, whom he had, but an instant before, called to down the main-hatchway. These, we believe, were the only casualties occasioned by the blowing up of the vessel; six valuable men, however, were killed by the enemy’s shot, and eight others wounded; of this number, three were slain and two dangerously wounded in the pinnace. The following is an extract of Captain Cameron’s official report:

“In justice to the officers and men employed on this service, I cannot omit particularizing the very gallant manner in which they approached the schooner, under a very heavy fire of grape from the battery, and of grape and musketry from the privateer, until they were nearly alongside, when the enemy quitted her, and joined a long line of musketry, and two field-pieces, on the beach, to the fire of which they were exposed during the whole time they were preparing to blow her up, at a distance of not more than ten yards.

“The privateer had one long 18-pounder on a circular carriage, and two swivels, and appeared to have from 80 to 100 men: she was about 100 tons, coppered, and apparently new. It is impossible for me to express my ideas of the very gallant manner in which Lieutenants Robertson and Flin conducted themselves on this occasion; and they speak in the highest terms of Messrs. (John Stuart) Brisbane and Hunter, midshipmen of this ship; Mr. Ferguson, boatswain; and Mr. Scott, mate of the Polarus; who, as well as every individual employed, were volunteers on the service.” 