Mensies' Journal. 



Queen Charlotte Sound. 95 



close round her we found from three to six fathoms water, 

 except the Rock she struck on which had only two fathoms. 

 A small Anchor & Cable was immediately carried out from 

 the quarter & every attempt made to heave her off the way 

 she came on, but without effect, as the Tide had already 

 ebbed a little, & was now falling from her so very fast that 

 she began to heel a good deal to Starboard, on which the 

 Top Gallant Masts were took down, the yards & top masts 

 struck, & a stout spar was got over the side to shore her 

 up. — In this alarming & critical situation Mr. Broughton 

 bore down with the Chatham & came to an anchor in very 

 deep water close by us, in order to be ready with his Men 

 & Boats to give every assistance that might be necessary for 

 our preservation, & from his well known coolness & intre- 

 pidity we derivd no small consolation. As the water fell 

 from her forward, she became deeply immergd abaft & 

 heeld so considerably that part of her main Chains were in 

 the Water, so that we could scarcely stand on her deck 

 without grasping by the Rails or the Rigging, for at low 

 water she had only three feet of Water on the Rock under 

 her forefoot, while there were three fathoms & a half of 

 water under the main Chains / & five fathoms under the 

 stern post, fortunately however there was but very little 

 wind & no swell that could any wise molest us, so that we 

 waited patiently for the return of high water, but in the 

 mean time employd the Boats in sounding round us to obtain 

 a more thorough knowledge of our situation, & in carrying 

 out an Anchor & Cable into deep water to heave her off. 

 And to make certain of her floating at high water she was 

 lightened by starting 17 Ton of water & heaving a quantity 

 of Wood & Ballast over board. With these precautions we 

 had the satisfaction to get her afloat against about two 

 o'clock the next morning without receiving any apparent 

 damage & as we had very little wind & thick fog, the fore- 

 noon was chiefly employd in restowing the Booms & getting 

 up the Yards & Topmasts, on which occasion John Turner 

 one of the Seamen had the misfortune to have his right arm 

 fractured by the Mast Rope being carried away in swaying 

 up the Main top gallant Mast. About noon it cleard up a 

 little so as to enable us to ascertain our Latitude which was 

 50° 55' North & soon after a fair breeze springing up, we 

 weighed, & with the Tide of Ebb pursued our course to the 



1792. 

 Aug. 6th. 



