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and presently poor Davidson

"drank

The stifling wave, and then he sank."

B- still stretched out for the shore; we saw him swimming until he seemed almost to touch the beach, then all motion in him suddenly ceased. Some man, bolder than the rest, at the risk of being carried out by the retiring surge, dragged his body to land. We could see the white skin suddenly bathed with crimson-his manly breast gushed with blood. We found afterwards that he had been dashed on a pointed rock with such force as to break in his breastbone: how he contrived to swim for several minutes after such an injury is astonishing.

He never stirred or gave the slightest sign of life after he was got out of the water. He was one of those who were forbidden to tread the promised land. His attempt was indeed a gallant one, but he trusted to his own efforts alone; he had not adopted the means of safety recommended by the captain, and so he perished.

B

Though poor B― had died in his endeavour to render assistance to his shipmates, he had succeeded in establishing the means of communication with them; but in the hurry and anxiety

consequent on his lifeless body being rescued from the greedy waves, some stupid fellow had unfastened the line from his person, thrown the end carelessly on the ground, and the next receding wave drew it back into the sea, thus rendering his sacrifice of life utterly unavailing.

The "Intrepid" had gone ashore at about three-quarters flood. As the tide rose she forged higher on the rocks, striking with great force; so much so, that at about 10 o'clock she parted amidships. The after part falling over on its side, and being swept by the heavy seas, soon broke up altogether, and the fragments shortly strewed the beach in every direction. The fore part of the ship became wedged in the rocks, and, as the tide fell, was left nearly dry. In this portion of the wreck the crew and passengers now took refuge; such of them at least as survived, for several had already gone to their last account, besides the three adventurous men whose melancholy fate I have just related, and the two who were lost off the topsail-yard during the night.

The carpenter, a steady, quiet, middle-aged man, but of rather an eccentric turn of mind, and strange notions on religious subjects, had exerted himself bravely until the ship struck.

He had then carefully sounded the well, found that the water flowed into the ship with a volume the pumps could not contend against, and was convinced that the vessel must soon become a perfect wreck. Under these circumstances he coolly got into his hammock, passed a few turns of the lashing round his body, and in this, his self-prepared coffin, awaited his fate, closing his eyes in sleep in time only to open them in eternity. His hammock was slung in the steerage, and no more was seen of him from the time the vessel broke in two, until his body, enshrouded as I have described, was picked up some distance from the scene of his death about ten days afterwards, and readily identified by some of his late shipmates.

The under steward and two seamen fell victims to their own cowardice and intemperance. Taking advantage of the confusion, they got at some of the spirits stowed beneath the cabin, and drank so deeply that the steward and one man fell insensible near the scene of their guilty folly. The other seaman, a man of powerful frame and steady brain, had sufficient consciousnessness left to enable him to appreciate his danger, and make an effort for the preservation of his life. When

C

he found the ship parting he sprang on deck, and made for the forecastle; but the vessel opening almost beneath his feet, he had to leap across the chasm as his only chance of safety, missed his footing, and fell between the wreck, to rise no more.

The carpenter was a strong man, in the prime of life, and perfectly sober. It is probable, had he made an effort, his life would have been saved, and he might also have rendered good service to some of the weaker people around him. But he disbelieved in the possibility of rescue from his peril, did not stir a finger to accomplish it, and perished wilfully through his folly.

The other three men were lost from yielding to the temptation of the moment. They could not control their appetites, and suffered accordingly. It is probable, however, that in the case of the steward at least, fear and despair were the primary causes of death. He was not generally an intemperate man; but flew madly to the bottle to drown the miserable feelings he was labouring under, and died a wretched victim to his dread of death.

The gale, which had reached its greatest fury at the time of high water, began sensibly to subside as the tide receded, and it become evident

that no time was to be lost if the survivors of the ill-fated vessel were to be rescued.

Immediately on the wreck being discovered, the officer commanding the district had sent to the nearest station for a life-boat and rocket gun, which were placed on waggons and driven to the top of the cliff, whence they were, with some difficulty, lowered to the beach.

After several abortive attempts, a rocket, with a small line attached, was thrown over the vessel, and to this line was quickly fastened the end of a stout hawser, having others attached in like manner to it, and which were thus dragged on shore, amidst the encouraging cheers of the spectators, faintly returned by the poor fellows on the wreck.

An effort had been made, at the same time, to launch the boat; but she filled above her thwarts, and was with difficulty hauled upon the beach again.

Both ends of the hawsers having been made fast, they formed a frail suspension-bridge, the end on shore being made fast on the top of the cliff. But although all hands clapped on it, and even got horses and tackles to assist in stretching it, from its great span the centre of it dipped in the waves.

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