50 THE WRECK OF THE BUTTON. 



nearly all on board, between five and six hundred;, 

 was inevitable, without some one to direct thenio 

 The principal officers of the ship had abandoned 

 their charge, and got on shore, just as he arrived on 

 the beach. Having urged them, but without suc- 

 cess, to return to their duty, and vainly offered re- 

 wards to pilots, and others belonging to the port to 

 board the wreck, for all thought it too hazardous to 

 be attempted, he exclaimed, " then I will go myself !'' 

 A single rope, by which the officers and a few others 

 had landed, formed the only communication with 

 the ship ; and by this he was hauled on board, 

 through the surf. The danger was greatly increased 

 by the wreck of the masts, which had fallen towards 

 the shore ; and he received an injury on the back, 

 which confined him to his bed for a week, in con- 

 sequence of being dragged under the main-mast. 

 But disregarding this at the time, he reached the 

 deck, declared himself, and assumed the command. 

 He assured the people that eveiy one would be 

 saved, if they quietly obeyed his orders ; that he 

 would himself be the last to quit the wreck, but that 

 he would run any one through who disobeyed him. 

 His well known name, with the calmness and energy 

 he displayed, gave confidence to the despairing mul- 

 titude. He was received with three hearty cheers, 

 which were echoed by the multitude on shore ; and 

 his promptitude at resource soon enabled him to 

 find and apply the means by which all might be 

 safely landed. His officers in the meantime, though 

 not knowing that he was on board, were exerting 

 themselves to bring assistance from the Indefatiga- 

 ble. Mr Pellowe, first lieutenant, left the ship in 

 the barge, and Mr. Thompson, acting master, in the 

 launch ; but the boats could not be brought along- 

 side the wreck, and were obliged to run for the 

 Barbican. A small boat, belonging to a merchant 

 vessel, was more fortunate. Mr. Edsell, signal mid- 

 shipman to the port admiral, and Mr. Coghlan, 

 mate of the vessel; succeeded, at the risk of their 



