302 THE SEA. 



of divine mercy. I am sure, my very dear friend, the following incident, related to me 

 by the father of the boy, will deeply affect you. He was near the helm with his child, 

 grasping- his hand, till the waves, rolling over the quarter-deck, and taking with them 

 several persons who were standing near them, it was no longer safe to remain there. 

 The father took his child in his hands and ran towards the shrouds, but the boy could 

 not mount with him. He cried out, therefore, ' Father ! father ! do not leave me ! ' But 

 finding that his son could not climb with him, and that his own life was in danger, he 

 withdrew his hand. When the morning came, the father was conveyed on shore with 

 some other passengers who were preserved, and as he was landing he said within himself, 

 1 How can I see my wife without having our boy with me ? ' When, however, the child's 

 earthly parent let go his hand his Heavenly Father did not leave him. He was washed 

 off the deck, but happily clung to a part of the wreck on which some others of the 

 passengers were floating. With them he was almost miraculously preserved. When he 

 was landing, not knowing of his father's safety, he said, ' It is of no use to take me on shore 

 now I have lost my father/ He was, however, carried, much exhausted, to the same house 

 where his father had been sent, and actually placed in the same bed, unknown to either, 

 till they were clasped in each other's arms." 



Among the victims was that of a lady entirely unknown. The body of this poor creature 

 had been picked up near Conway, and it was evident that she had been one of fortune's 

 favourites, though destined to a death so cruel. She was elegantly and fashionably attired, 

 wearing rich earrings, gold chain and locket, three valuable rings in addition to her wedding- 

 ring, and so forth. In a day or two she was buried in a common deal shell, and followed to 

 a nameless grave by strangers. 



It appears, by the pilot's statement, that early in the afternoon he had been invited by 

 the steward to take some refreshment with him, and in the course of conversation a very strong 

 opinion was given by the steward that Captain Atkinson never intended to reach Beaumaris, 

 and that the voyage he was now making would be his last. By the expression " intended " 

 he explained was meant expected, and the result proved the opinion to be too fatally correct. 

 Tired by what he had gone through before entering the packet, the pilot lay down in the 

 forecastle to sleep. He was aroused by a sensation beyond all others most dreadful he 

 felt the vessel strike, and his experience told him all was over. Hastily rushing upon deck, 

 his courage and coolness were for a moment quite overcome. " I saw," said he, " the quality 

 huddled together in the waist of the vessel; and the praying and crying was the most 

 dreadful sight to witness. The waves broke over on both sides, and took away numbers at 

 once. They went like flights, sometimes many, sometimes few; at last the bulwark went, 

 and none were left." 



The vessel had scarcely struck when the two stays of the chimney broke. These, 

 after many ineffectual efforts, were again made fast; but they soon gave way a second 

 time, and the chimney fell across the deck, bringing the mainmast with it. The mast, 

 it is stated, fell aft along the lee or larboard side of the quarter deck, and struck overboard 

 some of the unfortunate creatures who had there collected. The steward of the vessel and 

 his wife lashed themselves to the mast, determined to spend their last moments in each 

 other's arms. Several husbands and wives seem to have met their fate together, whilst 



