A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook — John Shaqi
A Narrative of the Death of Captain James CookSamwell, David
History
A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook
Samwell, David
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Death and burial
under again, but in deeper water: he was, however, able to get his head
up once more, and being almost spent in the struggle, he naturally
turned to the rock, and was endeavouring to support himself by it, when
a savage gave him a blow with a club, and he was seen alive no more.
They hauled him up lifeless on the rocks, where they seemed to take a
savage pleasure in using every barbarity to his dead body, snatching the
daggers out of each other's hands, to have the horrid satisfaction of
piercing the fallen victim of their barbarous rage.
I need make no reflection on the great loss we suffered on this
occasion, or attempt to describe what we felt. It is enough to say, that
no man was ever more beloved or admired; and it is truly painful to
reflect, that he seems to have fallen a sacrifice merely for want of
being properly supported; a fate, singularly to be lamented, as having
fallen to his lot, who had ever been conspicuous for his care of those
under his command, and who seemed, to the last, to pay as much attention
to their preservation, as to that of his own life.
If any thing could have added to the shame and indignation universally
felt on the occasion, it was to find, that his remains had been
deserted, and left exposed on the beach, although they might have been
brought off. It appears, from the information of four or five
midshipmen, who arrived on the spot at the conclusion of the fatal
business, that the beach was then almost entirely deserted by the
Indians, who at length had given way to the fire of the boats, and
dispersed through the town: so that there seemed no great obstacle to
prevent the recovery of Captain Cook's body; but the lieutenant returned
on board without making the attempt. It is unnecessary to dwell longer
on this painful subject, and to relate the complaints and censures that
fell on the conduct of the lieutenant. It will be sufficient to observe,
that they were so loud, as to oblige Captain Clerke publicly to notice
them, and to take the depositions of his accusers down in writing. The
Captain's bad state of health and approaching dissolution, it is
supposed, induced him to destroy these papers a short time before his
death.
It is a painful task, to be obliged to notice circumstances, which seem
to reflect upon the character of any man. A strict regard to truth,
however, compelled me to the insertion of these facts, which I have
offered merely as facts, without presuming to connect with them any
comment of my own: esteeming it the part of a faithful historian, "to
extenuate nothing, nor set down ought in malice."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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