THE "BIKKENHEAD" PARTS IN TWO. 75 



in everything possible. Sixty soldiers were immediately detailed for the pumps, in three 

 reliefs ; sixty more to hold on the tackles of the paddle-box boats, and the remainder were 

 brought on the poop, so as to ease the fore-part of the ship, which was rolling heavily. 

 The commander of the ship ordered the horses to be pitched out of the first-gangway, and the 

 cutter to be got ready for the women and children, who were safely put on board. Just 

 .after they were out of the ship, the entire bow broke off at the fore-mast, and the funnel 

 went over the side, carrying away the starboard paddle-box and boat. The other paddle-box 

 boat capsized when being lowered, and their largest boat, in the centre of the ship, could 

 not be got at, so encumbered was it. Five minutes later, the vessel actually " broke in two" 

 literally realising Falconer's lines : 



" Ah, Heaven ! Behold, her crashing ribs divide ! 

 She loosens, parts, and spreads in ruin o'er the tide." 



" She parted just abaft the engine-room, and the stern part immediately filled and went down. 

 A few men jumped off just before she did so; but the greater number remained to the 

 last, and so did every officer belonging to the troops." A number of the soldiers were 

 crushed to death when the funnel fell, and few of those at the pumps could reach the deck 

 before the vessel broke up. The survivors clung, some to the rigging of the main-mast, 

 part of which was out of water, and others to floating pieces of wood. When the Birkenhead 

 divided into two pieces, the commander of the ship called out, "All those who can swim, 

 jump overboard and make for the boats I" Two of the military officers earnestly besought 

 their men not to do so, as, in that case, the boats with the women must be swamped ; and, 

 to the honour of the soldiers, only three made the attempt. 



The struggles of a part of them to reach the shore, the weary tramp through a country 

 covered with thick thorny bushes, before they could reach any farm or settlement; the sufferings 

 of thirty or more poor fellows who were clinging, in a state of utter exhaustion, cold, and 

 wretchedness, to the main-topmast and topsail-yard of the submerged vessel, before they were 

 rescued by a passing schooner, have often been told. The conduct of the troops was perfect ; 

 .and it is questionable whether there is any other instance of such thorough discipline at a time 

 of almost utter hopelessness. The loss of life was enormous, only 192 out of 638 being 

 saved. Had there been any panic, or mutiny, not even that small remnant would have escaped. 



Turn we now to another and a sadder case, where the opposite qualities were most 

 unhappily displayed, and the consequences of which were proportionately terrible. 



On the 17th of June, 1816, the Medusa, a fine French frigate, sailed from Aix, with 

 troops and colonists on board, destined for the west coast of Africa. Several settlements 

 which had previously belonged to France, but which fell into the hands of the English 

 during the war, were, on the peace of 1815, restored to their original owners; and it was 

 to take re-possession that the French Government dispatched the expedition, which consisted 

 of two vessels, one of which was the Medusa. Besides infantry and artillery, officers and 

 men, there was a governor, with priests, schoolmasters, notaries, surgeons, apothecaries, 

 mining and other engineers, naturalists, practical agriculturists, bakers, workmen, and thirty- 

 eight women, the whole expedition numbering 365 persons, exclusive of the ship's officers 

 and company. Of these the Medusa took 240, making, with her crew and passengers, a 

 total of 400 on board. 



