Having closed the general scene, we think it will not be
unacceptable to our readers if we notice the conduct of some
individuals. A quartermaster belonging to the ship, by the
name of McGregor, had his wife on board; they were a
respectable couple and greatly attached to each other.
McGregor from his affectionate solicitations for her safety,
endeavoured to persuade her, while the ship lay on the shoals,
to go ashore in one of the boats which came off from the
Island, as his mind would be more at ease, could he put her in
a place of safety. To his solicitations she replied, 'that she
never would abandon him; if it was his lot to perish, she
wished not to survive him.' Finding it in vain to urge her
further, he desisted from the attempt and she afterwards
shared the common fate. A considerable time after the ship had
foundered a man was discovered swimming towards the wreck. On
his approaching near it was found to be McGregor; he informed
his comrades who were hanging by the wreck, that he had swam
towards the shore; that he had ventured as far as he could
with safety into the surf, and found if he went further he
should be dashed to pieces, and he cautioned them all to avoid
making a like attempt, but if possible to hold by the wreck.
He himself gained the main shrouds and remained there till the
mast gave way, and then met the same fate as his unfortunate
consort, whose death he was continually deploring while on the
shrouds.
Dunlap relates another instance which occurred, which though
it may appear ludicrous after the distressing scenes we have
noticed, is so descriptive of that cool thoughtlessness of
danger which so often distinguishes our British tars that it
would be inexcusable to omit it. Daniel Munroe, one of the
survivors had as well as Dunlap got into the fore-top. After a
while he disappeared and it was concluded that he had been
washed away with many others; after an absence from the top of
about two hours, he suddenly popped his head up through the
lubber hole to the surprise of Dunlap, who enquired where he
had been; he said he had been cruising about for a better
berth; and it appeared that, after swimming about the wreck
for a considerable time, he had returned to the fore shrouds,
and crawled in on the cat-harpins and had actually been to
sleep there more than an hour, and he said he was and really
appeared to be greatly refreshed.
Mr. Brennan of the Dockyard, who had gone aboard with Mr.
Rackum, after the sinking of the ship, had got on the maintop
and remained there till the mainmast gave way and was never
after seen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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