weecks on the pxtrbeck coast. 261 



aware, who had the opportunity of seeing at a later period the 

 nature of the articles thrown ashore. Porter and beer casks, 

 trusses of hay, ladies* boots, Government ammunition, corks, 

 calico, cloth, brilliant kerchiefs for the Negro taste, cask 

 heads, staves, sal ammonia, slates, soda water, cases of Geneva, 

 looking glasses, champagne, casks of brandy, parasols, and 

 casks filled urith coal, were among the particular component 

 items of this very general cargo. 



Having parted with her pilot at Deal, the *' Hardy" pro- 

 ceeded down channel without adventure, and the last occasion 

 on which bearings were got, was on the evening of Saturday, 

 January 19th, when the Needles Lighthouse bore N.E., and 

 Durlstone Head N.W. She headed to S.E. till midnight, 

 about which time foggy weather came on ; and then N.W. till 

 about 8 a.m. of the 20th, when, in the very act of going about, 

 the vessel struck about midships, on one of the numerous 

 Freshwater Ledges. The exact spot can hardly be ascertained, 

 as the mififortime occurred at low water, and she may have 

 somewhat drifted in-shore as the tide rose. But the distance 

 was probably about from 300 to 400 yards from the land, and 

 about the same distance from the reef on which the **Tyne" 

 steam-ship struck in 1857. The first shock was of great 

 violence ; so as, in the words of the Mate, to lift him six inches 

 off his feet, and with the heave of the sea, which was nmning, 

 for that coast, high, she bumped and bumped so as rapidly to 

 fill with water. The rudder was unshipped and the stern post 

 started; so that from the first stroke there was no chance of 

 saving the vessel, which rapidly filled some 7 feet. At this 

 time the weather was very thick indeed, and no one had any 

 idea what their position was. There was on board no gun, or 

 any means of making themselves heard. A small revolving 

 pistol was thought useless for that purpose. One cannot help 

 regretting that its effect was not tried, since as matter of fact 

 it was known to the shepherd at work among his lambs in the 

 field opposite the wreck, that a vessel was on shore there; but 



