cxxxviii BIOGRAPHY OF THE VICTORY'S CREW. 



ANTHONY BUCK, Seaman. 



Anthony Buck was born in 1807, at Whitby ; is five feet seven inches and three- 

 eighths high, slenderly made, strong features, with dark eyes, complexion, and hair. He 

 liad been at sea eleven years before he joined the Victory in 1829: he was seven voyages 

 in the whale fishery, but latterly in the Manchester to the Mediterranean. This man, 

 when he entered, appeared to be in perfect health ; but in 1831, while at the river Lind- 

 say, he was seized with epilepsy, and it turned out that he had been at the hospital of 

 Malta for the same complaint. His entering with us was therefore an act of folly to him- 

 self and cruelty to us, which was as unaccountable as inexcusable ; he was of course a 

 burden to us ever since he was seized with the first fit, and was very near being numbered 

 among the dead. His father was a sailor in the merchant service, but we did not know of 

 any other relations. He became latterly nearly blind, and he was one of those we had to 

 carry on a sledge after leaving Fury beach. Besides his wages, he received a share of 

 a small subscription ; but under the circumstances the Admiralty did not entertain his 

 petition for additional remuneration, and he returned to his parish. 



JOHN WOOD, Seaman. 



John Wood was born in 1809, at East Wemyss, in Fifeshire: he is five feet seven 

 inches high, stout made, his complexion and hair fair, with blue eyes, and flat broad face. 

 He served four years to the sea in the American trade, sailing from Kirkaldy ; he was 

 afterwards several voyages in the West India and Quebec trade, and joined the Victory 

 in 1829. In July the same year he broke his leg, by jumping from the ship to the 

 launch to secure her while towing, and we were therefore deprived of his services during 

 the remainder of the outward voyage; and he was never a useful man. He was attacked 

 with scurvy every winter, and was nearly perishing from the efi^ects of that malignant 

 disease at Fury beach, from whence we had to carry him on a sledge to Batty bay. His 

 constitution was not calculated for such an expedition, or indeed for the sea service ; and 

 he retired, after receiving his wages, for which he had done so little, to his friends in the 

 North. 



