DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0127
LOSS OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND PACKET. 103
road of St. John’s, waiting for the mail, which was expect-
ed to come on board that day.
“ His Majesty’s ship Serapis, a44, armed enflute, lay about
two miles further out, waiting to convoy the packet down
to Tortola. The wind had been blowing very fresh from
the north during the night, and at noon had considerably
increased. His Majesty’s ship De Ruyter, an old 74, which
had lately been brought there to be fitted up as a prison
ship, lay at anchor in Deep Bay : she had a very weak crew
on board, and made signals of distress to the Serapis ; a boat
came on board the packet at twelve o’clock, from the latter
vessel, requesting the aid of some men, in order to assist them
in relieving De Ruyter; but this Captain Lawrence could
not with propriety grant.—At this time we struck our top-
gallant masts, and at two p. in. we let go the best bower
anchor,having been hitherto riding with the small bower only.
“ The gale continued to increase, and at six o’clock it blew
a perfect storm from the N. W. by W. when we struck our
yards and top-masts.
“ The men had hardlyfinished this work, whenitwas disco-
vered that the vessel had parted her best bower cable ; this
surprised and alarmed us exceedingly, as the rope was nearly
new, and we had been assured that the bottom of the road-
stead was a hard sand; it must havebeen cut upon a ship’s an-
chor, or on a bed of coral. We immediately bent the remain-
ing part of it to the stream anchor, and the stream cable to
the kedge. The wind continued to rage with unabated vio-
lence, the ship pitched immoderately, and dreading lest the
cable should give way, at ten o’clock we let go the two re-
maining anchors. Every thing had now been done for the
safety of the ship that was in the power of the crew; the
rest we confided to Providence, and having recommended
ourselves to the protection of the Almighty, we remained
idle, but anxious spectators of the scene before us, and
awaited the event in silent dread. To men who were so deeply
VOL, V. P
road of St. John’s, waiting for the mail, which was expect-
ed to come on board that day.
“ His Majesty’s ship Serapis, a44, armed enflute, lay about
two miles further out, waiting to convoy the packet down
to Tortola. The wind had been blowing very fresh from
the north during the night, and at noon had considerably
increased. His Majesty’s ship De Ruyter, an old 74, which
had lately been brought there to be fitted up as a prison
ship, lay at anchor in Deep Bay : she had a very weak crew
on board, and made signals of distress to the Serapis ; a boat
came on board the packet at twelve o’clock, from the latter
vessel, requesting the aid of some men, in order to assist them
in relieving De Ruyter; but this Captain Lawrence could
not with propriety grant.—At this time we struck our top-
gallant masts, and at two p. in. we let go the best bower
anchor,having been hitherto riding with the small bower only.
“ The gale continued to increase, and at six o’clock it blew
a perfect storm from the N. W. by W. when we struck our
yards and top-masts.
“ The men had hardlyfinished this work, whenitwas disco-
vered that the vessel had parted her best bower cable ; this
surprised and alarmed us exceedingly, as the rope was nearly
new, and we had been assured that the bottom of the road-
stead was a hard sand; it must havebeen cut upon a ship’s an-
chor, or on a bed of coral. We immediately bent the remain-
ing part of it to the stream anchor, and the stream cable to
the kedge. The wind continued to rage with unabated vio-
lence, the ship pitched immoderately, and dreading lest the
cable should give way, at ten o’clock we let go the two re-
maining anchors. Every thing had now been done for the
safety of the ship that was in the power of the crew; the
rest we confided to Providence, and having recommended
ourselves to the protection of the Almighty, we remained
idle, but anxious spectators of the scene before us, and
awaited the event in silent dread. To men who were so deeply
VOL, V. P