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
On the following Friday, the 6th of March, they reached the sand-bore,
and having taken off the men, proceeded to the wreck, where they found
only two men, from whom they learnt that Lieutenant McDonnell, and the
rest of the people, had quitted the wreck two days previously. Pilot
boats were then sent in search, and another party explored the coast;
and after visiting Long Bay, without hearing any tidings, returned to
Belize.
In the course of two days, a boat arrived with the eight men who had
been with McDonnell, who reported that they had left that officer,
almost dead, in the wood.
Mr. Nopps again departed in a pilot-boat in search of his commander,
but when he reached Ambegris Cay, the boat was unable to beat up
outside the breakers, and it came on to blow so violently during the
night, that they were prevented from landing; the following day they
were more successful, and Mr. Nopps walked up the coast. For two days
his search proved useless, but on the third he had the pleasure of
finding Mr. McDonnell still alive, in a hut, under the care of some
Indians. After the lapse of two days, he was so far recovered as to be
taken on board the pilot-boat, and arrived next morning at Belize Bay.
It would have been happy if all connected with the Firefly had been
equally fortunate. The gig, which had been sent from the wreck to
Belize for assistance, was found several days afterwards cast upon the
beach, broken in two, and all in her must have perished.
Lieutenant McDonnell was promoted to the rank of commander in 1846,
and at present is unemployed.
THE AVENGER.
The Avenger, a steam frigate, with an armament of 6 heavy guns and 280
men, sailed from Gibraltar on the afternoon of the 17th of December,
1847. As her commander, Captain Charles G.E. Napier, was anxious to
spare the coal, the steam was reduced to the least possible degree,
leaving sufficient to work the wheels up to the rate of sailing. On
Monday, the 20th, the steamer was running with square yards, at the
rate of eight or nine knots an hour, steering about east by south,
under double-reefed topsails and reefed foresail. At eight o'clock in
the evening the usual watch was placed, with directions to keep a
careful look-out. The night was dark and squally, with a high sea
running, and occasionally loud peals of thunder were heard,
accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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