There was a very tragic incident during one of the _Ariadne's_ cruises early in 1872. She was bound for the Mediterranean, and one morning, while under sail off Cape Finisterre, the hands were turned up about 7 a.m. to reef topsails, the wind rising rapidly with an ugly sea. A man fell overboard from the main-topgallant yard, and the second cutter, a ten-oared boat, was immediately manned, as is customary under such circumstances, at the davits, and, in spite of the heavy sea, was safely lowered and pulled for the man, who had got hold of the lifebuoy. Sub-Lieutenants Jukes and Talbot both sprang into the boat when she was being manned, vying with each other in being first at the post of danger. It was immediately decided to get up steam, which, however, took three hours or more, and the cutter being compelled for safety's sake to head the sea, while the ship drifted to leeward, they were separated by about four miles by the time the ship commenced to steam to windward. As she neared the boat the latter was turned round in order to steer alongside, and was immediately caught on the broadside by two heavy seas, the first of which filled her with water, while the second capsized her, all the crew being thrown out. Some got hold of oars, while others held on to the boat. The first cutter was immediately manned, Lieutenant Bromley and Mr. Egerton, midshipman, jumping into her; but ill-luck attended this attempt at a rescue, as the boat, when being lowered, was lifted by a sea, and one tackle came unhooked, leaving her dangling by one end. All managed, however, to get safely on board, except one seaman, who was unfortunately drowned. Meanwhile, men slung over the side were doing their utmost to get hold of the crew of the second cutter, and everything handy that would float was thrown to them; the ship, however, could not be kept up to the wind, and dropped once more to leeward. Half an hour elapsed before she could regain her position, and then it was quickly apparent that only a few of the unfortunate crew of the cutter had been able to hold on; two were clinging to the bottom of the boat and two or three to the floating gear. The ship stopped close to windward and gradually dropped down; the two men on the boat managed to get safely on board; one man who had secured himself to two oars floated close to the stern of the ship, and Mr. Ellis, boatswain, made a gallant attempt to save him, going overboard with a rope round him. He seized the poor fellow's flannel singlet, the only garment he had on, but the ship lifted away from them, dragging both out of the water, the flannel, alas! giving way, and the huge hull of the frigate, reeling back again and plunging downwards, caught them both under the flat of the counter. The gallant boatswain was dragged on board insensible, but the man he had risked his life to save had disappeared.