DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0208
182
LOSS OF THE ABERGAVENNY INDIAMAN.
East Indies. The weather proving unfavourable, and
with a strong contrary wind, they made the best of their
way for Portland Roads. In consequence of the severe
gales they experienced, it was not till the 5th at noon
that they reached the entrance of the roads, when the
Commodore made the signal for those ships which had
pilots on board, to run for the port. The Abergavenny
not having any, was obliged to wait three hours till a
pilot arrived, on which she likewise bore up for the
Roads. The weather had become tolerably moderate,
and notwithstanding a strong ebb-tide was setting in, no
disaster was at this time apprehended. In a few minutes,
however, the ship struck on the shambles of the Bill of
Portland, about two miles from the shore. Capt. Words-
worth, and his officers imagined that the ship might be
got off without sustaining any material damage, and ac-
cordingly no signal guns of distress were ordered to be
fired for upwards of an hour and a half, when twenty
were discharged. AU this time the people were free from
alarm, and no idea prevailed that it would be necessary
to hoist out the boasts. About five in the evening things
bore a still more unfavourable aspect; the carpenter an-
nounced that a considerable leak was discovered near the
bottom of the chain pumps, which it was not in his
power to stop. The pumps being all in readiness, were
set a going, and a part of the crew endeavoured to bale
at the fore-hatch, but all their attempts to keep the water
under, were in vain.
At six the inevitable loss of the ship became more and
more apparent; other leaks were discovered, the wind
had increased to a gale, and the severe beating of the
vessel upon the rocks, threatened immediate destruc-
tion. The Captain and officers were far from shrink-
ing from the perils around them. They gave their
orders with the greatest* firmness and coolness, and by
their
LOSS OF THE ABERGAVENNY INDIAMAN.
East Indies. The weather proving unfavourable, and
with a strong contrary wind, they made the best of their
way for Portland Roads. In consequence of the severe
gales they experienced, it was not till the 5th at noon
that they reached the entrance of the roads, when the
Commodore made the signal for those ships which had
pilots on board, to run for the port. The Abergavenny
not having any, was obliged to wait three hours till a
pilot arrived, on which she likewise bore up for the
Roads. The weather had become tolerably moderate,
and notwithstanding a strong ebb-tide was setting in, no
disaster was at this time apprehended. In a few minutes,
however, the ship struck on the shambles of the Bill of
Portland, about two miles from the shore. Capt. Words-
worth, and his officers imagined that the ship might be
got off without sustaining any material damage, and ac-
cordingly no signal guns of distress were ordered to be
fired for upwards of an hour and a half, when twenty
were discharged. AU this time the people were free from
alarm, and no idea prevailed that it would be necessary
to hoist out the boasts. About five in the evening things
bore a still more unfavourable aspect; the carpenter an-
nounced that a considerable leak was discovered near the
bottom of the chain pumps, which it was not in his
power to stop. The pumps being all in readiness, were
set a going, and a part of the crew endeavoured to bale
at the fore-hatch, but all their attempts to keep the water
under, were in vain.
At six the inevitable loss of the ship became more and
more apparent; other leaks were discovered, the wind
had increased to a gale, and the severe beating of the
vessel upon the rocks, threatened immediate destruc-
tion. The Captain and officers were far from shrink-
ing from the perils around them. They gave their
orders with the greatest* firmness and coolness, and by
their