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Kirby, R. S. [Editor]; Kirby, R. S. [Oth.]
Kirby's Wonderful And Eccentric Museum; Or, Magazine Of Remarkable Characters: Including All The Curiosities Of Nature And Art, From The Remotest Period To The Present Time, Drawn from every authentic Source. Illustrated With One Hundred And Twenty-Four Engravings. Chiefly Taken from Rare And Curious Prints Or Original Drawings. Six Volumes (Vol. III.) — London: R.S. Kirby, 1820

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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0209
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LOSS OF THE ABERGAVENNY INDIAMAN. 183
their proper conduct were enabled to preserve subordina-
tion. As the night advanced, the situation of all on
board became the more terrible; the Misses Evans, and
several other passengers, entreated to be sent on shore;
but this was impossible. It was as much as all the ship’s
company could do to keep the vessel afloat. In order to
tempt the men to exert their utmost powers at the pumps,
the officers stood by cheering them, and encouraging
them, by giving them allowances of liquor. At seven the
ship’s company being almost exhausted, it was thought
advisable to fire fresh signal guns, in hopes of obtaining
boats from the shore.
One boat came off from the shore, which took on board
the Misses Evans, Miss Jackson, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr.
Taylor, a cadet, all passengers. Mrs. Blair, companion
to Misses Evans, chose, in spite of all entreaties, to re-
main on board : indeed, there were many who would
have made the same choice, so little hope was there of the
boat contending successfully against the high sea in so
dark a night.
It was now about nine o’clock, and several boats were
heard at a short distance from the ship, but they rendered
no assistance to the distressed on board. The dreadful
crisis now approaching—every one on board seemed
assured of his fate. At ten the ship was nearly full of
water, and as she began gradually to sink, confusion
commenced on board. A number of sailors begged for
more liquor, and when it was refused they attacked the
spirit-room, but were repulsed by the officers, who never
once lost sight of their character, and continued to con-
duct themselves with the utmost fortitude. One of them
was stationed at the spirit-room door, with a brace of
pistols, to guard against surprise, and there remained
even whilst the ship was sinking. A sailor was extremely
solicitous to obtain some liquor, saying, “ It will be all

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