DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0133
LOSS OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND PACKET. Ill
ing to some roughness in the cliff, he effectually preserved liis
hold; he remained there a few minutes to recruit himself, and
then began to scramble up the rock. Mr. Doncaster’s preser-
vation was most miraculous ; all the ship’s company were
unanimous in declaring that it was next to an impossibility;
it seemed indeed a singular interposition of Providence In
our behalf. In about half an hour he, with infinite difficul-
ty, reached the summit of the cliff: most anxiously had we
been watching every step which he took, and praying for
his safety, conscious that our preservation depended solely
upon it. He immediately came round to that part, of the
precipice which was over against our quarter, and descend-
ing a little way, he received a rope thrown from the main-
top ; this he fastened to some trees on the top of the cliff,
and we passed the other end of it to the head of the mizen
top-mast; this being done, a few of the most expert seamen,
warped themselves up on it, carrying with them the end of
another rope, upon which a tackle whs bent, and which they
fastened also to the trees; the other end of the tackle was
made fast to the mizen mast, and the fold of it passed to the
crew upon deck : by means of this rope, which we fastened
round our waists, and the first rope, by which we supported
ourselves, warping along it with our hands, we were all in
the space of three hours safely hoisted to the top of the cliff,
except a few of the most active seamen, who were left to
the last, and obliged to warp themselves up as the first had
done. The whole ship’s company, consisting of Captain Law-
rence, Mr. Lawrence, the master, Mr. Doncaster, the chief
mate, Mr. Lowrie, the surgeon, with twenty-four seamen and
petty officers, and three passengers, Mr. Verchild, Mr. Wood,
and Lieutenant Webber, of the Artillery, having now assem-
bled on the rock, we took leave of our vessel, and bent our
way towards the town ; nor did our difficulties end here, the
whole plain before us, in consequence of the rain which had
fallen, and still was pouring down in great abundance, pre-
sented the appearance of a large lake, through which we
ing to some roughness in the cliff, he effectually preserved liis
hold; he remained there a few minutes to recruit himself, and
then began to scramble up the rock. Mr. Doncaster’s preser-
vation was most miraculous ; all the ship’s company were
unanimous in declaring that it was next to an impossibility;
it seemed indeed a singular interposition of Providence In
our behalf. In about half an hour he, with infinite difficul-
ty, reached the summit of the cliff: most anxiously had we
been watching every step which he took, and praying for
his safety, conscious that our preservation depended solely
upon it. He immediately came round to that part, of the
precipice which was over against our quarter, and descend-
ing a little way, he received a rope thrown from the main-
top ; this he fastened to some trees on the top of the cliff,
and we passed the other end of it to the head of the mizen
top-mast; this being done, a few of the most expert seamen,
warped themselves up on it, carrying with them the end of
another rope, upon which a tackle whs bent, and which they
fastened also to the trees; the other end of the tackle was
made fast to the mizen mast, and the fold of it passed to the
crew upon deck : by means of this rope, which we fastened
round our waists, and the first rope, by which we supported
ourselves, warping along it with our hands, we were all in
the space of three hours safely hoisted to the top of the cliff,
except a few of the most active seamen, who were left to
the last, and obliged to warp themselves up as the first had
done. The whole ship’s company, consisting of Captain Law-
rence, Mr. Lawrence, the master, Mr. Doncaster, the chief
mate, Mr. Lowrie, the surgeon, with twenty-four seamen and
petty officers, and three passengers, Mr. Verchild, Mr. Wood,
and Lieutenant Webber, of the Artillery, having now assem-
bled on the rock, we took leave of our vessel, and bent our
way towards the town ; nor did our difficulties end here, the
whole plain before us, in consequence of the rain which had
fallen, and still was pouring down in great abundance, pre-
sented the appearance of a large lake, through which we