DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0132
110 kirby’s wonderful museum.
rock: he had proceeded to the extremity of the top-gallant-
mast, and was on the point of leaping among the bushes,
when the pole of the mast, unable to sustain his weight, gave
way, and precipitated him into the bosom of the waves : as
the fall was at least forty feet in height, it was some time?
before he made his appearance above the surface of the wa-
ter, and when he did, every one expected to see him dashed
to pieces among the rocks, but he had fortunately carried
down with him the piece of the broken mast, to which were
fastened some small ropes, and by clinging fast to them, he
preserved his head above water, at the intervals of the waves
receding, until a tackle was fixed to hoist him up. /Ml out
hopes of being saved by means of the raizen mast were now
Blasted ; and yet some decisive measure seemed absolutely ne-
cessary ; for, as the storm did not abate in the smallest degree,
we began still more to dread that the ship -would part, as
she had already bilged on the larboard side ; the whole crew
had besides been so fatigued, dispirited, and benumbed, that
they were hardly able to hold out any longer. It was in
vain to expect outward assistance, as we were not seen from
the town, and the ships which were in sight of us had it not
in their power to afford us the least aid. Some negroes did
make their appearance on the top of the rock, and we re-
quested them to descend a little way in order to receive a
rope, but whether from fear or mere stupidity, I do not
know, but in spite of all our entreaties, promises, and threats,
these creatures stood gaping in the most idiotical manner,
sometimes at us, and sometimes at themselves, without mak-
ing the least motion to approach us. Whilst we were me-
ditating in sullen silence on our situation, Mr. Doncaster, the
chief mate, unknown to any one, went out on the bowsprit,
and having reached the end of the jib-boom, was then seen to
throw himself headlong into the water; he had hardly fallen,
when a tremendous'wave threw him upon the rock, and left
him dry ; there he remained a few moments without motion,
until a second wave washed him still farther up, when cling-
rock: he had proceeded to the extremity of the top-gallant-
mast, and was on the point of leaping among the bushes,
when the pole of the mast, unable to sustain his weight, gave
way, and precipitated him into the bosom of the waves : as
the fall was at least forty feet in height, it was some time?
before he made his appearance above the surface of the wa-
ter, and when he did, every one expected to see him dashed
to pieces among the rocks, but he had fortunately carried
down with him the piece of the broken mast, to which were
fastened some small ropes, and by clinging fast to them, he
preserved his head above water, at the intervals of the waves
receding, until a tackle was fixed to hoist him up. /Ml out
hopes of being saved by means of the raizen mast were now
Blasted ; and yet some decisive measure seemed absolutely ne-
cessary ; for, as the storm did not abate in the smallest degree,
we began still more to dread that the ship -would part, as
she had already bilged on the larboard side ; the whole crew
had besides been so fatigued, dispirited, and benumbed, that
they were hardly able to hold out any longer. It was in
vain to expect outward assistance, as we were not seen from
the town, and the ships which were in sight of us had it not
in their power to afford us the least aid. Some negroes did
make their appearance on the top of the rock, and we re-
quested them to descend a little way in order to receive a
rope, but whether from fear or mere stupidity, I do not
know, but in spite of all our entreaties, promises, and threats,
these creatures stood gaping in the most idiotical manner,
sometimes at us, and sometimes at themselves, without mak-
ing the least motion to approach us. Whilst we were me-
ditating in sullen silence on our situation, Mr. Doncaster, the
chief mate, unknown to any one, went out on the bowsprit,
and having reached the end of the jib-boom, was then seen to
throw himself headlong into the water; he had hardly fallen,
when a tremendous'wave threw him upon the rock, and left
him dry ; there he remained a few moments without motion,
until a second wave washed him still farther up, when cling-