ON THE FATAL SANDS. 299 



'This failing to produce the desired effect, he then ordered them to run forward. But all these 

 exertions were unavailing ; the ill-fated vessel stuck still faster in the sands, and all gave them- 

 selves up for lost. The terror of the passengers became excessive. Several of them urged the 

 captain to make some signal of distress, which he is said to have refused to do, telling the pas- 

 sengers that there was no danger, and that the packet was afloat, and on her way, knowing well 

 that she was irretrievably stuck in the treacherous sands, and that she was rapidly filling from her 

 .leaks. The unfortunate man was fully aware of the imminent danger they were in, and we may 



charitably suppose that he made such statements to prevent a panic. The great bell was now rung, 

 with so much violence that the tongue broke, and some of the passengers continued to strike it 

 .for some time with a stone. The bell was heard at Beaumaris, for the night was clear, with 

 r strong wind; but it was not known from whence the sound came, and no trouble appears to 



have been taken. The tide began to set in with great strength, and a heavy sea beat over 

 the bank on which the steam-packet was firmly and immovably fixed. It was the duty of 



the captain now to make every possible exertion, by signals, to procure assistance from shore. 

 It is said that if a light had been shown on board the unlucky steamer, the boats from 

 upwards of twenty vessels lying at Bangor would undoubtedly have saved the larger part of 

 the unfortunate passengers. The masts should have been cut away, not merely to ease the 



vessel, but to afford some chance to the poor people. At Penmaen Point an establishment 



of pilots had been fixed by Lord Bulkeley, for the express purpose of rendering assistance in 

 .-such cases. " The world," says Lieut. Morrison, " will hardly credit the astonishing fact 

 'that their establishment is within little more than a mile and a half from the scene of 

 wretchedness, and that, the wind being fair, the boats from thence could have reached the 

 spot in about ten minutes. A single blue light burned, a single rocket fired, or even a 

 -solitary musket discharged, would have ensured this happy result." The evidence showed 

 that there was nothing of the kind. Probably no sea-going steamer, carrying 150 passengers, 

 \was ever left so utterly unprovided with proper appliances. 



The scene that now presented itself baffles description. A horrible death seemed to lie 

 the doom of all on board, and the females in particular uttered the most piercing shrieks. 

 'Some locked themselves in each other's arms, while others, losing all self-command, tore off 

 their bonnets, caps, and other portions of clothing, in wild despair. The women and 

 children gathered in a knot together, and kept embracing each other, uttering all the while 

 the most dismal lamentations. "When tired with crying," says Morrison, "they lay 

 .-against each other, with their heads reclined, like inanimate bodies. It was a few minutes 

 1 before that a Liverpool Branch pilot on board, William Jones, became aware in all its 



extent of their dreadful situation. He is reported to have exclaimed, ( We are all lost!' 

 which threw down whatever hopes any on board had till now entertained, and induced 



them to give themselves up to bitter despair. This was sadly imprudent, and little like 

 'the conduct I should have expected from such a man. He ought to have set an example 

 of preparing something in the nature of a raft, to save what lives could be saved; and as 



vessel, and literally "tip" her on that side. On one occasion in a "slough," or shallow passage, he saw a number 

 of the passengers and crew literally step out into the water and push the boat along, till, with their exertions 

 and the steam-power, she was got off the bank. 



