Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th RegimentShipp, John
History
Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th Regiment
Shipp, John
India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947 -- Biography; Shipp, John, 1784-1834
We were again obliged to stand out to sea; but we soon cleared away, and
once more stood towards land. The day was rainy and hazy, when through
the darksome mist we beheld a sail, and soon discovered, to our great
joy, that it was the boat of a Calcutta pilot, who immediately came on
board our vessel. On examining the masts, we discovered that the
maintop-mast would not bear her sails; therefore splinters and stays
were immediately put on. The day brightened up, but the wind blew
strong; so, not being able to discover landmarks, we cast anchor for the
night. The next morning we found that we were so close to land that we
could see men walking on the sea-beach, and distinguish huts and towns
in the distance. We weighed anchor early, and stood towards Saugar, the
wind blowing a smart gale. At one time we approached so near the
breakers that we expected to go ashore, and a few minutes after we
shipped a tremendous sea, the major part of which went over the poop and
through the great cabin windows, carrying trunks, boxes, beds, and
everything before it. I was on deck at the time: the ship's stern seemed
to be fastened, and she shook much; but at last on she went. I have no
hesitation in saying that her stern struck the ground, but no injury was
done beyond sousing a few trunks and beds. We at last reached Saugar in
safety; but before we arrived there our feelings were excited to a high
pitch of sympathy by an interesting scene. Captain Larkins was standing
on the poop, close by where I stood, with his glass at his eye examining
the ships which were lying at anchor, when he suddenly exclaimed, "I
surely know that ship lying yonder: my eyes cannot deceive me--it's my
old ship, the _Warren Hastings_." The pilot was requested to go within
hail of her. All hands were upon deck; every eye fixed upon the strange
ship; and sailors and soldiers manned the rigging. The captain got the
large speaking-trumpet, and bellowed out, "What ship, a-hoy?" Answer,
"The _Warren Hastings_--what ship are you?" Answer, "The _New Warren
Hastings_." Here the shouting of the crews of both ships was quite
deafening. Our captain could not say a syllable more, but was so much
affected as to shed a tear to the memory of his old ship, which he had
manfully defended, but lost to some French ship-of-war. She had been
retaken by some of our cruisers.
A short time after this we came to anchor a little above Saugar; and the
following day we were shipped on board sloops, and sailed up the river
Hoogley, and in about a week came to anchor off Fort William, Calcutta,
and were again placed on _terra firma_. We remained in the fort about a
fortnight; and, while boats were in preparation for our conveyance up
the river Ganges, to our respective regiments, all was gaiety and mirth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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