THE SEA. 



Unconscious that there crept 

 Through the still air the stealthy steps of Fate. 



" Oh God, that fearful crash ! 



The stout ship reels, her planks disrupted wide ; 

 Fast through the yawning gash 



The green sea pours its dark, resistless tide. 

 What followed then, heart, 



Thou scarce may'st realise ! 'Tis well for thee : 

 Ne'er would that sight depart 



From gentle mind that had been there to see. 



" For maddening terror reigned ; 



Honour, and manhood, and calm reason fled, 

 And brutal instincts gained 



The mastery ; and even shame was dead. 

 Each one, to save his life 



Would give to death the lives of all beside ; 

 Nor cared in that fell strife 



What awful end his fellows might betide.* 



" Yet 'mid that wild despair 



Nobility of soul found room to stand, 

 And lustre bright and rare 



Enfolds the memory of Knowles and Brand ; 

 Who, face to face with death, 



Save of dishonour, showed no coward dread, 

 Brave hearts to the last breath, 



They joined the galaxy of Britain's dead." 



The shock was described by the survivors as like the concussion of a very powerful 

 cannon. The reader will here make his own reflections. Immediately after the collision 

 the steamer cleared the ship, and before many of the terrified people below could reach the 

 deck she was out of sight. Most of the passengers were awakened by the shock, and a 

 fearful panic ensued. Captain Knowles acted with singular calmness, prompt itude, and 

 decision. He caused rockets to be sent up, bells to be rung, and other signals of distress ; 

 but the gun to be fired would not go off, the touch-hole being clogged. Meantime he 

 directed the boats to be launched, giving orders that the safety of the women and children 

 should be first secured. There was a disposition to set these orders at defiance, and, on some 

 of the crew crowding to the davits, with a view of effecting their own safety, Captain 

 Knowles drew a revolver, and declared he would shoot the first man who attempted to save 

 himself in the boats before the women were cared for. Most of the crew seemed to understand 

 that the captain was not to be trifled with ; but one man, Thomas Biddle, refused to obey the 



A part of the crew behaved in a most cowardly manner, and thought only of saving themselves, although 

 Captain Knowles and Mr. Brand, the chief officer, who stood nobly by their posts, did all in their power to shame 

 these recreants, and themselves went down with the ship. The lines quoted above were written by a graduate of 

 Pembroke College, Cambridge, whose promising career was cut short by death at an early age. The poem, described 

 as "A Fragment," is given in full in The Lifeboat tor February 1st, 1878. 



