Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; between 1793 and 1849Gilly, William O. S.
History
Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; between 1793 and 1849
Gilly, William O. S.
Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History -- 18th century; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History -- 19th century; Shipwrecks
The death of their commander was sensibly felt by all, for they had
long known his kindness and courage, and when his body sank below the
waves, their hopes sank also. Mr. Maclean, a mate, and now the
commanding officer, took upon himself to direct the efforts of his
comrades, and did all that lay in his power to revive their spirits;
he assured them that if they once succeeded in righting the boat, that
there was every chance of falling in with some vessel. But twenty
hours of constant fatigue, hunger, and thirst had made fearful ravages
upon the strength of the men. Night was again approaching, and Maclean
could not conceal from himself, that when darkness came on, the
chances of their being seen by any vessel passing near were further
removed than ever. The sharks had for a time taken their departure,
but they might return at any moment; for having once tasted blood,
they were not likely to be debarred from making another attack. Two
more of the men, either worn out from fatigue, or anxious to escape
from further suffering, threw themselves from their support, and were
drowned.
The burning sun again set beneath the horizon, but as yet no sail had
been seen upon the waters. Again the land-breeze passed over the
ocean, but it brought no refreshing coolness; it only reminded them of
the weary hours that had elapsed since it was so anxiously expected,
though its results were then far different from what they had hoped.
There were but four men left--Maclean, Meldrum, (the gunner's mate,)
Wilson, and another man. These had, by their united efforts, almost
managed to clear the boat of water, when, about three o'clock in the
morning, the two latter became delirious, sprung overboard, and were
either seized by the sharks or drowned. It will be remembered, that it
was Wilson who was selected by poor Smith to convey his last message
to the admiral.
The two survivors for a time forgot their own sufferings in the
horrible scene which they had just witnessed; but this did not last
long; their thoughts soon returned to the necessity of preserving
their own lives. They once more resumed their labours, and, though
nearly exhausted, did not desist until the boat was almost dry. They
then lay down to rest, in comparative security, and, let us hope, with
their hearts filled with gratitude for the mercies which had already
been vouchsafed to them, and remembering those words of our beautiful
Liturgy: 'That it may please Thee to succour, help, and comfort all
that are in danger, necessity, or tribulation.'
It is said that sometimes the criminal, the night before his
execution, forgets the fate that awaits him in a deep and refreshing
slumber. These two men, in spite of the horrors they had undergone,
fell into a sound sleep, from which they did not awake until the sun
was high in the heavens; when the horrors of their situation broke
upon them, rendered doubly painful by the temporary oblivion of the
last few hours.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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