STATEMENTS OF SURVIVORS. 301 



till daylight, at which time about fifty people remained on board. As the waves came 

 the people kept decreasing 1 , until all were gone except myself. I remained on the 

 wreck until I saw a boat coming, which took me on board, and also rescued those on the 

 mast, and afterwards others. We were then taken to Beaumaris, and treated with the 

 greatest hospitality and kindness/' 



Another survivor, after detailing the facts preliminary to the disaster, said : " The waves 

 broke heavily on the vessel; the chimney became loose, and first reeled to leeward, then 

 to windward, and tumbled over with a great crash. The mainmast then went overboard, 

 and remained hanging to the vessel by the rigging. The captain still assured us we should 

 be saved, and that assistance would shortly arrive. I requested him to fire a gun ; he said 

 he had none on board. A small bell was then rung, but its noise would probably be lost 

 in the roar of the wind and waves. Some of the passengers asked the captain to hoist a 

 light; he said he had none; but we knew he had a lantern, for one of the crew took it 

 round when he collected the checks, about half an hour before the vessel struck. The 

 confusion occasioned by the falling of the chimney and the mast, together with the cries 

 and shrieks of the women and children, defies description. Men were seen taking leave of 

 their wives ; wives were clinging to their husbands ; and persons were running about in 

 all directions, uttering the most piteous and heartrending cries. From the weight of the 

 chimney, the vessel continued lying to windward, and very soon ^ after the mast went the 

 weather boards gave way ; and as the waves then swept the deck the passengers stationed 

 themselves on those parts of the vessel which lay highest. Several climbed up the mast 

 which was left standing; others got on the poop. The weather boards on the leeward side 

 were then washed away, taking with them more than thirty people, who were clinging to 

 them. The cries were now more dreadful than before, every succeeding wave sweeping 

 numbers from the wreck. I took a situation beside one of the paddle-boxes, and whilst 

 there a young man came to me with a large drum, and said it would save both of us, if I 

 held on one side and he on the other. Some females came and clung round us, but the 

 young man stuck to the drum, and told them to get hold of the first piece of timber they 

 could. ... Of what further happened I have but a confused recollection, and it appears 

 to me like the traces of a horrible dream. It seemed as if I had been in the water many 

 days, when I heard the welcome sound of a human voice shout ' Holloa ! ' to which I also 

 shouted ' Holloa ! ' Soon after I was lifted out of the water, and placed in a boat belonging 

 .to R. Williamson, Esq., who, when he was informed of the calamity which had befallen us, 

 manned two boats, and came out to pick up the sufferers. On being taken up I asked my 

 deliverers when it would be daylight, and they told me it was broad day it was about ten 

 o'clock in the forenoon. I was stone blind. Mr, Williamson and the boat's crew were most 

 kind to me. I was kept on board until I was sufficiently restored to meet my sister and 

 the other survivors at Beaumaris. I cannot omit to express my most grateful thanks to my 

 deliverers and benefactors. Their noble humanity has left an impression on my heart 

 which will never be effaced but with my existence." 



" Amidst these almost overwhelming distresses," says the Rev. Mr. Stewart, in one 

 of his letters to a friend, " involving in one general calamity men, women, children, a,nd 

 even tender infants, it is a rest to the heart to turn for a moment to some special marks 



