

ACTUAL EXAMPLES OF WRECKING. 239 



most of the men and many of the women are on the alert, lurking in the caves beneath 

 the cliff, or sheltered behind jutting- pieces of rock. 



" The vessel makes in steadily for the land ; the captain grows uneasy, and fears running 

 into danger ; he will put the vessel round, and try and battle his way out to sea. 



" The look-out man reports a dim light ahead. What kind ? and Whither away ? H^ 

 can make out that it is a ship's light, for it is in motion. Yes, she must be a vessel 

 standing on in the same course as that which they are on. It is all safe, then ; the captain 

 will stand in a little longer ; when suddenly, in the lull of the storm, a hoarse murmur is 

 heard surely the sound of the sea beating upon rocks ! Yes ! look ! a white gleam 

 upon the water ! Breakers ahead ! breakers ahead ! Oh, a very knell of doom ! The cry 

 rings through the ship, ' Down, down with helm round her to ! ' Too late, too late ! A 

 crash, a shudder from stem to stern of the stout ship, the shriek of many voices in 

 their agony, green seas sweeping over the vessel, and soon broken timbers, bales of cargo, 

 and lifeless bodies scattered along the beach, while the shattered remnant of the hull is 

 torn still further to pieces with each insweep of the mighty seas as they roll it to and 

 fro among the rocks. Fearful and crafty the smile that darkened the dark face of the 

 willing murderer who was leading the horse with the false light as he heard the 

 crash of the vessel and the shrieks of the drowning crew ! Fearful the smile that darkened 

 the faces of the men and women waiting on the beach as they came out from their 

 places, ready to struggle and fight among themselves for any spoil that might come 

 ashore ! A homeward-bound ship from the Indies ! Great good fortune rich spoil ! Bale 

 after bale is seized upon by the wreckers, and dragged high upon the beach out of the 

 way of the surf. But, see ! a sailor clinging to a bit of broken mast ! With his last 

 conscious effort he gains a footing on the shore, staggers forward, and falls. Is he alive ? 

 Not now ! Why did that fearful old woman kneel upon his chest and cover his mouth 

 with her cloak ? Dead men tell no tales claim no property ! " 



Alas ! the above is no imaginary or exaggerated statement of facts. 



A few examples, Avhich have occurred for the most part within the last hundred years 

 or so, are appended. They have been culled from that most rigidly correct chronicler, the 

 Annual Register : 



Lent Circuit, 1774. At Shrewsbury Assizes, bills of indictment were preferred by 

 Captain Chilcot, late of the Charming Jenny, against three opulent inhabitants of the Isle 

 of Anglesea, one of whom is said to be possessed of a considerable estate, and to have 

 offered five thousand pounds bail in order to their being tried at the next assizes on a 

 charge of piracy, when the bills were found. It appeared that on the llth September, 1773? 

 in very bad weather, in consequence of false lights being discovered, the captain bore for 

 shore, when his vessel, whose cargo was valued at 19,000, went to pieces, and all the 

 crew, except the captain and his wife, perished, the latter being brought on shore on a 

 portion of the wreck. Nearly exhausted, they lay for some time, till the savages of the 

 adjacent places rushed down upon them. The lady was just able to lift a handkerchief 

 up to her head when her husband was torn from her side. They cut the buckles 

 from his shoes, and deprived him of every covering. Happy to escape with his life, 

 he hasted to the beach in search of his wife, when, horrible to relate, her half-naked 



