192 



THE SEA. 



of the book from which these particulars are taken. The first rendezvous ot the Bermuda 

 was to be at the Nore. 



On the afternoon of the 23rd of June, 1869, the Bermuda was towed to the Nore 

 by four ordinary Thames tugs, accompanied by H.M.SS. Terrible, Medusa, Buzzard, and 

 Wildfire. On arriving at the Nore off the lightship she found the Northumberland 

 waiting for her. The tugs cast off, and a hawser was passed to the Northumberland, 



THE BERMUDA FLOATING DOCK. 



which took her in tow as far as Knob Channel, the Terrible bringing up astern. The 

 Agincorirt was now picked up, and passing a hawser on board the Northumberland, took 

 the lead in the maritime tandem. A hawser was now passed to the Terrible from the 

 stern of the Bermuda, ! so that by towing that vessel she might be kept from swaying 

 frorn side to side. The ^'Medusa steamed on the quarter 'of the Northumberland, and the 

 Buzzard acted as a kind of floating outrider to clear the way; The North Foreland was passed 

 the same evening, at a spee&'ef-four knots an hour. Everything went well until the 25th, 

 wh en - she lost' sight of land-'-' d&'- the! Start -Eoint late in the afternoon of - that day. On the 

 28th she -was 'half- way" -across the Bay of -'-Biscay, when, encountering a slight sea and a 

 freshening witldi she' sb&wed her 1 - .first tendency to ' ! #&l]j -an accomplishment in which she was 



