CHAPTER XI.THE ESCAPE.
Nineteenpersons had entered the port cutter. These consisted of the second and third engineers, one fireman, the boatswain’s mate, the quartermaster, the carpenter’s mate, the steward, the boatswain’s boy, five able seamen, and three passengers. They had received their course from the now drowned Captain—N.N.E. to Brest, which was 190 miles distant, and they had compasses on board. Under the direction of King, the men agreed, that whatever might happen they would sit immoveable, except when pulling at the oars. Two worked at each oar, and they ran before the sea. Both Daniell and King deserve the highest praise for their skill in steering the feeble craft over the raging waters, but it was pleasant to find them both modest and seamanlike in all they said about it.
“I believe you took charge of the boat, didn’t you, Daniell?”
“Well, I pulled an oar sometimes, and sometimes steered. I took no particular charge of the boat, but I gave my opinion and advice now and then.”
“But you took a little of the lead?”
“Well, I did. Others also gave their opinion.”
Among the “others” who gave counsel was John King.
“How did you manage to steer?”
“Chiefly by the ‘pointers’ to the N.E.”
JOHN KING.
JOHN KING.
It was a fearful struggle for life that the brave seamen now engaged in, as, with parched lips and every nerve strained to its highest pitch of tension, they rose and fell with the greenwaves still running mountains high. It seemed almost hopeless to attempt to withstand any longer the fury of the sea, which broke over them in angry surges. As we have said, they had but a quart of water on board, and the bottles of spirits. It was a fortunate thing that young Edwards succeeded in getting hold of these and concealing them, for the probability is, that had the seamen given way to drink in their then excited state, raving delirium would have set in, and cutter and crew would soon have been at the bottom. The lad shall tell his own story, and he is worthy of lasting honour and remembrance for his part in it.
“Daniell agreed to be our hammock man. He sat by me and was pulling the bow-oar. There was a bag of biscuits weighing two cwt., two bottles of brandy, and two of champagne, some turnips and carrots, in the boat. There was some water also on board, but it was thrown out. I picked up three of the bottles and put them under my coat. Mr. Greenhill and Daniell knew I had them, but the others did not.”
“Your conduct was very commendable,” said Mr. Traill, “and you did quite right in trying to keep the bottles of spirit away from the men. You have begun your career unfortunately, but I hope you may hereafter succeed as you deserve to do.”
Thursday night came on, and the boat still drifted before the wind, and about three o’clock the next morning a regular green sea broke over them and nearly half filled the boat. One of the passengers baled out the water constantly, and after the green sea came in the water was baled out with a bucket and cans. Before daylight, and as the moon rose, the men saw a vessel close alongside. They hailed her with all their might, and were heard by those on board; but as they could present no light they could not be seen, although theycould see the ship tacking about for an hour trying to find them. The search was fruitless, and to their utter disappointment the ship was lost sight of. The men adhered to their course, and about nine o’clock sighted two vessels, but could not get near them on account of the cross seas. They rowed for one of them, however, for nearly five hours, and upon getting within hail she proved to be an Italian barque, theMarianople. The boat was very near filling when they were within twenty yards of her. They were struck by a heavy squall, so that all in the boat gave themselves up for lost. In consequence of the excitement on board—who can wonder at it?—they did not succeed in clearing one of the seas; but by only one of the men moving in the boat to bale her out, they were enabled to bale her clear, and a log line being thrown them from the barque, one by one they were drawn up on deck! The young midshipman Edwards was drawn on board by men who caught him by the collar of his coat.
The shipwrecked were in a most benumbed and perishing state, but the master of the barque, Captain Cavasa, treated them with the greatest kindness. The generous Italian could speak but little English, but his deeds have spoken so forcibly that Englishmen will be long before they forget his kind-heartedness. By his orders the men were stripped and rubbed, and clad in fresh warm garments. The good captain killed a turkey for them, besides providing tea and soup, and setting apart for them warm beds. After treating them with every kindness, he landed them at Falmouth, from which port the story of their marvellous escape, and the loss of so many precious lives in theLondon, flashed with the speed of the telegraph throughout the length and breadth of the land, producing everywhere grief and consternation unspeakable.
The following is the list of thosesaved:—
John Greenhill, engineer; John Jones, second engineer; John Armour, third engineer; Thomas Brown, fireman; W. M. Edwards, midshipman; D. T. Smith, boatswain’s mate; Wm. Daniell, quartermaster; John King, Benjamin Shield, Richard Lewis, James Gough, Edwin Quin, William Grimes, seamen; A. G. White, boatswain’s boy; William Hart, Carpenter’s mate; Edward Gardner, second-class steward; D. G. Main, passenger; John Munro, passenger; J. E. Wilson, passenger.
It is a remarkable fact, moreover, that theLondonis the first ship belonging to the famous house of Money Wigram and Sons to which any serious casualty has occurred. In a century’s experience, Messrs. Wigram have enjoyed a perfect immunity from loss, with the single exception of theTrue Briton, which belonged to a former generation of the firm, and foundered early in the present century in the same fatal bay.
But in a chapter treating of those who escaped from the wreck of theLondon, those must not be forgotten who narrowly escaped the doom which fell upon so many in the Bay of Biscay.
Some hair-breadth escapes in connection with this disaster are well known. A lady who was desirous of proceeding from Plymouth with her family to Melbourne by theLondon, had made repeated pressing applications to the owner’s agents at Plymouth, and the Captain had been consulted, but, fortunately for the applicant, had declared that his cabins were so full that he could not possibly accommodate her, a result that, at that time, caused her much disappointment. A second-class male passenger was so alarmed at the rough weather which theLondonencountered on her way down to Plymouth, that immediately on her arrival at that port he came ashore,resigned his passage, and went back to his home, thus unwittingly saving his life. A young man, as the result of some family quarrel, left his home, and took a passage by theLondon. He was advertised for, and importuned to return, his friends being unaware of his whereabouts. Messengers were sent down to Plymouth, and an influential ship’s broker in the town was employed to intercept him should he attempt to sail thence. Fortunately he was detected amongst the passengers of theLondon, and his family communicated with by the broker, the result of which was that a brother of the young man came down to Plymouth, and persuaded the would-be emigrant to forego his voyage.
May those who escaped the voyage by the doomed vessel, as well as those who got safe to land from the wreck, feel the solemnity of that life which has thus been so marvellously rescued from a watery grave.