DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0413
SHIPWRECK OP THE ST. LAWRENCE. 375
On the following day the gale increased prodigiously.
The men being excessively fatigued, the water had risen to
its usual quantity of between four and five feet. The mate
judged from the distance we had run, that we could not
now be far from the Magdalen islands, which lie about mid-
way in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This conjecture was but
too well-founded; for in less than two hours we heard the
sea breaking upon the rocks, and soon after discovered the
principal island called the Deadman, close under our lee,
the point of which we with the greatest difficulty weathered.
Having happily cleared the mam island, we were still far
from thinking ourselves secure; for being unable, on account
of the heavy fall of snow, to see many yards ahead of the
vessel, and being in the midst of the small islands, there ap-
peared very little probability that we should pass clear of
them all in the same manner. Not being able to distinguish
any one in time to avoid it, we were obliged to leave the
vessel to the direction of Providence, and fortunately ran
through them all without damage.
During the night, the gale continuing and the sea running
very high, we were apprehensive of being pooped, which,
in fact, happened; for about five in the morning of the 5th
a large wave broke on the ship’s quarter, stove in our dead
lights, filled the cabin, and washed the master out of bed,
where he had remained ever since the commencement of the
gale. By this accident we soon discovered, from the increase
of the leaks, that the stern-post had been started by the im-
pulse of the sea. Having nothing in the after-hold, no rc-
source was left but that of attempting to stop the leaks with
beef: but this expedient proved ineffectual, and the water
gained on us faster than ever. The sailors, finding all their
endeavours fruitless, abandoned themselves to despair, and
again refused to work at the pumps any longer. They had
not, however, long remained inactive, before we persuaded,
them to make another effort to clear the vessel, when to ou|-
On the following day the gale increased prodigiously.
The men being excessively fatigued, the water had risen to
its usual quantity of between four and five feet. The mate
judged from the distance we had run, that we could not
now be far from the Magdalen islands, which lie about mid-
way in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This conjecture was but
too well-founded; for in less than two hours we heard the
sea breaking upon the rocks, and soon after discovered the
principal island called the Deadman, close under our lee,
the point of which we with the greatest difficulty weathered.
Having happily cleared the mam island, we were still far
from thinking ourselves secure; for being unable, on account
of the heavy fall of snow, to see many yards ahead of the
vessel, and being in the midst of the small islands, there ap-
peared very little probability that we should pass clear of
them all in the same manner. Not being able to distinguish
any one in time to avoid it, we were obliged to leave the
vessel to the direction of Providence, and fortunately ran
through them all without damage.
During the night, the gale continuing and the sea running
very high, we were apprehensive of being pooped, which,
in fact, happened; for about five in the morning of the 5th
a large wave broke on the ship’s quarter, stove in our dead
lights, filled the cabin, and washed the master out of bed,
where he had remained ever since the commencement of the
gale. By this accident we soon discovered, from the increase
of the leaks, that the stern-post had been started by the im-
pulse of the sea. Having nothing in the after-hold, no rc-
source was left but that of attempting to stop the leaks with
beef: but this expedient proved ineffectual, and the water
gained on us faster than ever. The sailors, finding all their
endeavours fruitless, abandoned themselves to despair, and
again refused to work at the pumps any longer. They had
not, however, long remained inactive, before we persuaded,
them to make another effort to clear the vessel, when to ou|-