In the middle watch (which was in charge of the second mate) between 2 and 3 o'clock a. m., the man at the helm saw white water and spoke to the second mate, who was sitting in the quarter boat, but he made no response. On seeing it again the man, who had at first supposed it to be a fish breaching, became satisfied that it was breakers, and sung out lustily to the officer, who sprang to the deck, but before a general alarm could be sounded, the ship struck on a coral reef. All hands were immediately called and the topsails clewed down. By this time the sea was making a clean breach over the vessel, and it was with the greatest difficulty that we could get about the decks, while nothing could be done to relieve the ship. Mr. Drew, the second mate, immediately commenced clearing away his boat preparatory to leaving the vessel. The captain advised him to wait until daylight, but he persisted in leaving immediately and got clear of the ship with the boat's crew without accident, and pulled inside the reef into smooth water. By the time daylight appeared every hope of saving the ship was abandoned. We got the starboard boat ready to lower and, watching a favorable opportunity, got clear of the vessel, narrowly escaping being swamped by a breaker which half filled the boat. We bailed her out and pulled into smooth water. Now two boats, with the captain, second mate and ten men, were safe, leaving the mate, William Shaw, and balance of the crew remaining on the ill-fated ship, which lay nearly upon her beam ends, with the sea continually breaking over her, and with only the weather boat in which to make their escape. The boat was got ready, and the mate, stationing two men at the falls, picked the most favorable time and lowered down. The forward tackle was unhooked, and the boat's head swung around, but the after-tackle fall got foul and before it could be cleared, a huge breaker rolled the boat over, precipitating the crew into the water. At the same time the two men who had been stationed at the falls jumped overboard and all struck out towards the boats. We pulled up as near as prudent and rescued them all, though some were badly bruised, and one lad named Barzilla Swain had his arm broken by a cask before leaving the ship. Though we were now all clear of the ship alive, it was with heavy hearts that we gazed back upon the wreck of what had so lately been our home. Land was in sight about three leagues off, and we headed towards it but soon found that a reef, forming a sort of hollow square about three miles long by two wide, enclosed us. We followed the reef around until we came to an opening through which we all safely passed. The water inside this reef was perfectly smooth and appeared deep.