CAPE HORN 



dropped, but it fell on a rocky bottom, and was useless. 

 The lead was often thrown to ascertain by the soundings 

 whether we yet dragged. A heavy Cape Horn sea was 

 now setting into the harbor, and as the ship reared and 

 plunged with each passing wave we feared that every 

 lurch would snap the cables or drag our anchors. Our 

 fears were too well grounded ; the fact was evident by 5 

 P.M. that she had dragged. We still hoped that the wind 

 would soon abate and thus, in part, quieted our fears. 

 But the night was one of great anxiety most dismally 

 dark with frequent squalls of hail and rain. At one time 

 the wreck of the vessel appeared inevitable. The wind 

 came out from the southeast, blowing in upon the land 

 and setting in towards a long reef mostly concealed by 

 heavy breakers. Had we dragged but little, or parted 

 our cables, the ship at a single crash would have been in 

 pieces among the rocks. Our situation would have been 

 little less critical had the winds favored our getting out 

 to sea upon the parting of the cables. The ocean a few 

 miles to leeward was literally sprinkled with rocky islets, 

 and guided by the furies of a tempest we should have 

 hoped in vain, in midnight darkness, to have threaded 

 our way among them, or even in the misty light of the 

 day just passed. So profusely were these rocks strewed 

 over this region that a part has been named the Milky 

 Way, in allusion to the countless stars in the celestial 

 Milky Way. The Furies and Jupiter rocks are similar 

 clusters; and together they make a continuous line of 

 dangers off the whole southwest shores of Tierra del 

 Fuego. 



' There were few, if any, on board who did not have 

 some anxious thoughts about the chances and means of 

 getting ashore, in case the vessel should strike. There 

 was little ground, however, for the faintest hope of life 

 in this event ; the cold waters would have benumbed the 

 most vigorous; and if perchance one or two had reached 

 the shores they would have met a more miserable death 

 by being dashed among the rocks, or by starvation upon 

 these bleak and barren lands, his the happiest lot who 

 was soonest dead. To avoid all disquietude when death 

 comes so near is scarcely possible; but, thanks to the 

 saving grace of our dear Redeemer, I looked with little 

 dread on its approach. I committed myself to the care 



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