DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0217
LOSS OF THE SYLVAN.
189
“ Towards the close of Wednesday evening, when a fog
which had arisen, was in some measure dissipated, and
when the sea had somewhat abated, the mast of the vessel
could be descried from the shore of Oysterhaven, with
something of the appearance of a man clinging to the rig-
ging. Night, however, and the tempestuous sea which still
prevailed, rendered it impossible to make any effort to afford
assistance; and those who witnessed the perilous situation
of the unfortunate being, did not doubt but a few hours, nay
minutes, would terminate their suspense and his life. The
night closed: it was one of great horror; there was a high
wind and heavy rains; it was generally dark, save when now
and again a gleam of moonshine made the scene more vi-
sibly terrific. The morning broke without any abatement
having taken place in the violence of the elements; but the
boats from Oysterhaven, which had witnessed the scene of
the preceding night, were early in motion, and rowed in a
tremendously heavy sea, towards the islands. As they pro-
ceeded, they encountered several pieces of wreck, and did
not doubt that the unfortunate person, who had been seen
clinging to the rigging, had met that fate which appeared
to be inevitable ; upon nearing the islands, however, they
could discern, upon one of them, something with the ap-
pearance of a human being, moving backwards and for-
wards ; and upon approaching as close as the heavy surge
would admit them, they distinctly saw that it was a man or a
boy. To relieve him at the moment was impossible. The
destruction of the boat and crew would have been the cer-
tain consequence of any attempt of the kind ; for the sea
still continued dreadfully agitated, and the wind extremely
high. These circumstances being communicated to Mr.
Cramer, living near Oysterhaven Bay, he immediately had
them made known to Mr. Newman, the sovereign of Kin-
sale ; and about ten o’clock on Thursday morning, the king’s
boat, stationed at Oysterhaven, with Mr. Maunsell, a gentle-
man of the revenue from Kinsale, young Mr. Holmes, and
189
“ Towards the close of Wednesday evening, when a fog
which had arisen, was in some measure dissipated, and
when the sea had somewhat abated, the mast of the vessel
could be descried from the shore of Oysterhaven, with
something of the appearance of a man clinging to the rig-
ging. Night, however, and the tempestuous sea which still
prevailed, rendered it impossible to make any effort to afford
assistance; and those who witnessed the perilous situation
of the unfortunate being, did not doubt but a few hours, nay
minutes, would terminate their suspense and his life. The
night closed: it was one of great horror; there was a high
wind and heavy rains; it was generally dark, save when now
and again a gleam of moonshine made the scene more vi-
sibly terrific. The morning broke without any abatement
having taken place in the violence of the elements; but the
boats from Oysterhaven, which had witnessed the scene of
the preceding night, were early in motion, and rowed in a
tremendously heavy sea, towards the islands. As they pro-
ceeded, they encountered several pieces of wreck, and did
not doubt that the unfortunate person, who had been seen
clinging to the rigging, had met that fate which appeared
to be inevitable ; upon nearing the islands, however, they
could discern, upon one of them, something with the ap-
pearance of a human being, moving backwards and for-
wards ; and upon approaching as close as the heavy surge
would admit them, they distinctly saw that it was a man or a
boy. To relieve him at the moment was impossible. The
destruction of the boat and crew would have been the cer-
tain consequence of any attempt of the kind ; for the sea
still continued dreadfully agitated, and the wind extremely
high. These circumstances being communicated to Mr.
Cramer, living near Oysterhaven Bay, he immediately had
them made known to Mr. Newman, the sovereign of Kin-
sale ; and about ten o’clock on Thursday morning, the king’s
boat, stationed at Oysterhaven, with Mr. Maunsell, a gentle-
man of the revenue from Kinsale, young Mr. Holmes, and