122 FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



leeward of the foremast, clung to the iron around the stovepipe, which was 

 attached to the deck, where he was found insensible when the rest of the 

 crew were able to get on deck, with his leg broken, and splinters of the 

 shattered spars driven through his boot and into the leg. The house and 

 forecastle companion-ways were stove, and a flood of water pouring into the 

 cabin and forecastle prevented the egress of the men who were imprisoned 

 there. One man succeeded in getting out of the cabin and walked along 

 on the side of the house, holding on to the weather rail. Fortunately, in 

 about a minute and a half the vessel wore round and righted, and the rest 

 of the crew were released from their duress, when a scene of desolation met 

 their gaze. 



In capsizing, the cable had parted, involving the loss of four hundred and 

 fifteen fathoms thereof, with an anchor ; the fore-boom was broken into two 

 pieces, and the fore-gaff into three, a piece of the latter being found forward 

 of the foremast, and another portion across the bowsprit ; the signal light 

 was in pieces at the foremast head ; the saddle and all the apparatus around 

 the mast was destroyed; the foresail was badly split and the riding-sail 

 blown away ; the schooner's six dories were washed away or smashed to 

 pieces on the deck ; and the gurry-pens and everything movable on deck 

 was destroyed. Below, the fires and lights were extinguished by the water, 

 all the open stores and cooking gear were destroyed, and the bedding and 

 clothing of the crew completely soaked. As soon as possible steps were 

 taken to clear away the wreck, two of the men setting their wounded com- 

 panion's leg while the others were clearing the deck. An attempt was made 

 to lay her to, which was ineffectual, as they could not balance-reef the main- 

 sail, and she was run before the wind for about four hours. While thus 

 running she was boarded by another, though smaller, sea, and Capt. Ryan 

 had a narrow escape from being washed overboard, saving himself by cling- 

 ing to a reef-point in the foresail. The weather was very severe, and with 

 no opportunity to dry their clothes, the crew had a hard time of it for the 

 ensuing week, while endeavoring to make a port. They arrived at Canso 

 at noon on Wednesday, Dec. ist, where they landed their injured shipmate, 

 and after making a few necessary repairs proceeded to Halifax, and thence 

 home. 



