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NAVAL HISTORY of GREAT BRITAIN - Vol II
1797
95


situation of the ship : whereupon the master, in much agitation, ran to the man at the wheel, and took it from him, with the intention of wearing the ship ; but, before this could be effected, the Tribune struck.

Signals of distress were immediately made, and were as promptly answered by the military posts and ships in the harbour. Some military boats, and one from the dock-yard, with Mr. Rackum, the boatswain of the ordinary on board, reached the ship ; but none of the other boats were able to pull against the heavy wind and sea. By lightening the ship, the Tribune, at about 8 h. 30 m. p.m., began to heave, and at 9 p.m. swang off from the shore ; but without her rudder, and with seven feet water in the hold. By active exertions at the chain-pumps, the leak appeared to decrease, and the best bower-anchor was let go ; but it failed to bring the ship up. The cable was then cut, and the jib and foretopmast stay-sail set. The south-east gale had by this time greatly increased, and was fast driving the ship to the western shore. To prevent that, if possible, the small bower was let go, in 13 fathoms, and the mizenmast cut away.

It was now about 10 p.m. ; and, as the water continued to gain upon the ship, little hope remained of saving the Tribune or the lives of her unhappy crew. About this time two officers of the Fusiliers, who had come from Halifax, quitted the sinking ship : which continued to drive before the storm towards the shore ; the tremendous noise of the billows, as they dashed against the precipices that lined it, presenting to those, who might escape perishing with the vessel, nothing but the expectation of a more painful death. After making two dreadful lurches, the Tribune went down, and left, struggling for their existence, upwards of 240 men of her complement, besides other persons from the shore, and, what so augmented the horrors of the scene, several women and children. Mr. Galvin, who, when the ship sank, was below, directing the men at the chain-pumps, was washed up the hatchway and thrown into the waist, and thence into the sea. As he plunged, his feet struck a rock; but, presently ascending, he swam to gain the main shrouds. In his way thither, he was suddenly caught hold of by three poor wretches. To disengage himself from these, he dived into the water, and, on again rising, swam to the shrouds. Upon reaching the main top, he seated himself, with others, on an arm-chest that was lashed to the mast. The fore top was at this time occupied by about 10 persons; and there were upwards of 100 clinging to the shrouds and other parts of the wreck. Owing to the severity of the storm, however, and the length of a November night, nature became exhausted, and the persons on the shrouds, one by one, dropped and disappeared. The falling of the mainmast, soon after, midnight, had plunged more than 40 persons into the waves, and only nine, besides Mr. Galvin, succeeded in regaining the top ; which now rested on

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