Thrilling Stories of the Ocean | Page 7

not casting anchor there. Another help the captain
rejected, and bitterly did he lament it when it was too late.
No sooner had the pilot boat departed, than the commodore at Deal
despatched two boats to endeavor to board the ship. The captain
obstinately refused to take any notice of them, and ordered the crew to
let the vessel drive before the wind. This they did, till the ship ran so
close in shore, that the captain himself saw the imminent danger, and
twice attempted to put her about, but in vain. On the first of the
projecting jetties of Dymchurch-wall the vessel struck. I would not if I
could grieve your young heart with a detail of all the horrors that
ensued; the devoted ship continued to beat on the piles, the sea
breaking over her with such violence, that the pumps could no longer
be worked.
The foremast soon went over the ship's side, carrying twelve seamen
with it, who were swallowed up by the billows. The rudder was
unshipped, the tiller tore up the gundeck, and the water rushed in at the
port-holes. At this fearful moment most of the passengers and crew
joined in solemn prayer to the Almighty. Morning came, but it was
only to witness the demolition of the wreck.
Many were the efforts made by the sufferers, some in the jolly boat,
some on a raft, others by lashing themselves to pieces of timber,
hogsheads, and even hencoops, to reach the shore; but out of four
hundred and seventy-two persons who a few days before had left the
coast of Holland, not more than eighteen escaped the raging billows.
The miserable remnant received generous attention from the inhabitants
of the place, who did all in their power to aid their recovery.
[Illustration: BURNING OF THE KENT EAST INDIAMAN.]

BURNING OF THE KENT EAST INDIAMAN.
This picture represents the burning of the Kent East Indiaman, in the
Bay of Biscay. She had on board in all six hundred and forty-one

persons at the time of the accident. The fire broke out in the hold
during a storm. An officer on duty, finding that a spirit cask had broken
loose, was taking measures to secure it, when a lurch of the ship caused
him to drop his lantern, and in his eagerness to save it, he let go the
cask, which suddenly stove in, and the spirits communicated with the
flame, the whole place was instantly in a blaze. Hopes of subduing the
fire at first were strong, but soon heavy volumes of smoke and a pitchy
smell told that it had reached the cable-room.
In these awful circumstances, the captain ordered the lower decks to be
scuttled, to admit water. This was done; several poor seamen being
suffocated by the smoke in executing the order; but now a new danger
threatened, the sea rushed in so furiously, that the ship was becoming
water-logged, and all feared her going down. Between six and seven
hundred human beings, were by by this time crowded on the deck.
Many on their knees earnestly implored the mercy of an all-powerful
God! while some old stout-hearted sailors quietly seated themselves
directly over the powder magazine, expecting an explosion every
moment, and thinking thus to put a speedier end to their torture.
In this time of despair, it occurred to the fourth mate to send a man to
the foremast, hoping, but scarce daring to think it probable, that some
friendly sail might be in sight. The man at the fore-top looked around
him; it was a moment of intense anxiety; then waving his hat, he cried
out, "A sail, on the lee-bow!"
Those on deck received the news with heart-felt gratitude, and
answered with three cheers. Signals of distress were instantly hoisted,
and endeavors used to make towards the stranger, while the minute
guns were fired continuously. She proved to be the brig Cambria,
Captain Cook, master, bound to Vera Cruz, having twenty Cornish
miners, and some agents of the Mining Company on board. For about
one quarter of an hour, the crew of the Kent doubted whether the brig
perceived their signals: but after a period of dreadful suspense, they
saw the British colors hoisted, and the brig making towards them.
On this, the crew of the Kent got their boats in readiness; the first was
filled with women, passengers, and officers' wives, and was lowered
into a sea so tempestuous as to leave small hope of their reaching the
brig; they did, however, after being nearly swamped through some
entanglement of the ropes, get clear of the Kent, and were safely taken

on board the Cambria, which prudently lay at some distance off.
After the first trip, it was found impossible for the boats to come close
alongside