THE FATE OF THE CREW. 445 



chart, guided by which he boldly steered for the reefs. 

 Unfortunately, however, for him the weather was so clouded 

 on approaching the Barriers, that he could obtain no obser- 

 vation for the latitude, and yet it would appear that the 

 ship was in a very favourable position. 



"About ten o'clock in the morning the reefs were sud- 

 denly perceived right ahead, upon which the ship was hove 

 up in the wind and both anchors let go, and the cables paid 

 out to the end ; but as the depth was probably unfathom- 

 able they had no effect, for she drifted on the reef and fell 

 over on her beam ends. The chief mate then cut her 

 masts away, but the bottom was soon bilged, and every 

 thing destroyed by the water, which broke over the decks, 

 and the ship became a perfect wreck. Happily the upper 

 part of the vessel kept together, on which the crew and 

 passengers collected. Soon after she struck, a vessel 

 was observed three or four miles to windward, high and 

 dry upon the reefs, with her masts standing, and royal yards 

 across, and sails set, in which position she must have been 

 left by her crew.* 



" During the confusion that existed, one of the quarter 

 boats was lowered, but immediately swamped ; by which 

 one man, named Price, was drowned. Soon afterwards, 

 three of the crew, viz. G. Pigott, the third mate ; L. Con- 

 stantine, the carpenter ; and W. Gumble, one of the sea- 

 men, put sails, provisions, and water, and arms, and all the 

 carpenter's tools, into the other quarter boat, and lowered 

 her down ; and kept near the wreck during the day and 

 following night. The next day R. Quin and J. Wright, 

 two seamen, joined them, after which they refused to take 

 any more ; although six of the crew made their way over 



* The Flora, Sheriff, master. 



