DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0211
LOSS OF THE ABERGAVENNY INDIAMAN.
185
inhuman conduct, was, that they were fearful that every
person on board, being eager to save himself, the whole
would attempt to jump in, overload the boats, and sink
them. The cause which produced this apprehension is
too singular to be omitted. Cornet Burgoyne perceiving
that the spirits of his fellow-sufferers began to droop,
cheered them with a song adapted to their situation, on
which they all joined in the chorus; and the crew of the
boats alarmed at what they conceived such ill-timed
merriment, concluded that it could only be the consequence
of desperation.
About twelve o’clock, a sloop that had been attracted
to the spot by the signa] guns, came to anchor close to
the ship, sent a boat, and took off all the persons that
were above water, about twenty at a time, and conveyed
them to Weymouth. So far were the people from
crowding improperly into the boat, that they got off the
shrouds one by one, and then only as they were called
by the officers who were with them. When the boat was
about to depart for the last time, a person was observed
nearly at the top of a mast in the shrouds. He was called
to but made no answer, on which Mr. Mortimer the
sixth mate, insisted that the boat should not put off till
he had attempted to rescue the unfortunate man. The
generous youth immediately ascended the mast, and
found that the object of his compassion was Serjeant
Heart, of the 22d regiment, whose wife and infant had
already perished. Mr. Mortimer brought him down on
his back in a state of total insensibility, from the incle-
mency of the weather. On their arrival at Weymouth,
the utmost exertions were used to recover him, and though
they so far succeeded as to renew pulsation, and to enable
him to take some wine, he expired the same day.
The sloop that came from the shore, after having
taken most of the people from the tops, was scudding
Eccentric, No. IV. b b with
185
inhuman conduct, was, that they were fearful that every
person on board, being eager to save himself, the whole
would attempt to jump in, overload the boats, and sink
them. The cause which produced this apprehension is
too singular to be omitted. Cornet Burgoyne perceiving
that the spirits of his fellow-sufferers began to droop,
cheered them with a song adapted to their situation, on
which they all joined in the chorus; and the crew of the
boats alarmed at what they conceived such ill-timed
merriment, concluded that it could only be the consequence
of desperation.
About twelve o’clock, a sloop that had been attracted
to the spot by the signa] guns, came to anchor close to
the ship, sent a boat, and took off all the persons that
were above water, about twenty at a time, and conveyed
them to Weymouth. So far were the people from
crowding improperly into the boat, that they got off the
shrouds one by one, and then only as they were called
by the officers who were with them. When the boat was
about to depart for the last time, a person was observed
nearly at the top of a mast in the shrouds. He was called
to but made no answer, on which Mr. Mortimer the
sixth mate, insisted that the boat should not put off till
he had attempted to rescue the unfortunate man. The
generous youth immediately ascended the mast, and
found that the object of his compassion was Serjeant
Heart, of the 22d regiment, whose wife and infant had
already perished. Mr. Mortimer brought him down on
his back in a state of total insensibility, from the incle-
mency of the weather. On their arrival at Weymouth,
the utmost exertions were used to recover him, and though
they so far succeeded as to renew pulsation, and to enable
him to take some wine, he expired the same day.
The sloop that came from the shore, after having
taken most of the people from the tops, was scudding
Eccentric, No. IV. b b with