306 THE SEA. 



In these . trying moments, the captain, mate, and crew, endeavoured to perform their 

 duties, and used every exertion in their power to weather the dreadful storm ; but the water 

 gained incessantly on the pumps, and the vessel continued to fill, and, being almost on her 

 broadside, the deck was nearly perpendicular. The sea broke over her continually, and the 

 passengers crawled about on hands and knees. Spolasco inquired of M'Arthur, the chief 

 engineer, entreating him to let him know how the water stood in the engine-room. He 

 seemed much exhausted, and said, "We're getting the water down to the plates of the 

 engines ; the fires are re-kindled, and we'll soon have steam on/' For a time this was 

 successfully done. 



Lieut. Nicolay was the first to announce " Land at last ! " to the passengers, and all 

 hearts beat with joy at the welcome news. But they were greatly puzzled, and indeed 

 mortified, that they were unable to ascertain what land it was. Some said that it was 

 Poor Head, others that it was Kinsale, and others that it was Youghal, and others again 

 that it was Cork Harbour. But the vessel was now utterly unmanageable. 



The captain again did his best to re-make Cork Harbour, but it was out of his power, 

 the sails having been blown to ribbons, and the fires put out owing to the repeated shipping 

 of the seas. The engines went on pretty well when they commenced working a second time, 

 but they shortly became less and less powerful from the cause just assigned. About three 

 o'clock in the afternoon she had drifted near some rocks, the vessel being then nearly on 

 her beam ends. It was all that the passengers or crew could do to hold on the bulwarks 

 or ropes, and from the terror depicted on every countenance it was evident that the crisis 

 was at hand. The vessel struck, and a simultaneous thrill of horror passed through every 

 breast. Two gentlemen were, it was believed, washed overboard at this time. 



A heavy sea then struck abaft the paddle-box, carrying off all before it. The doctor 

 descried poor Nicolay on the top of a wave, like a mountain over them, as it were riding 

 on, and buffeting in vain with his gigantic enemy. An awful and terrific scene was 

 witnessed while grasping his child and the companion. " I believe," says he, " it was the 

 same sea, or one instantaneously succeeding it, that struck the companion, and carried me 

 and my dear little charge across the deck. Had it not been for the remnant of the bulwarks, 

 viz., two uprights, across which a deck-form was forced, which proved the simple means of 

 saving our lives at that period were it not for this circumstance, my child and myself must 

 have perished with Nicolay and others. Several fragments of deck-rigging fell upon us 

 such as ropes, spars, splinters, &c. ; and it was with the utmost difficulty that I was enabled 

 to extricate myself and child from them, in doing which I lost a shoe. It is worthy of remark 

 that I had not worn shoes for more than six months before, having put them on that morning^ 

 considering that they would contribute to my ease while on board. My little boy also lost 

 a shoe and cap owing to this circumstance. I now ought to remark, before I proceed further 

 with this painful narrative, that immediately, or rather before, the engines stopped the second 

 time from the vessel filling with water, the .engineers and firemen came upon deck, from the 

 impossibility of their remaining any longer below, the steam gradually going down, and the 

 engines consequently decreasing in power till they came to a stand. All further efforts on 

 their part being unavailing, and destruction being inevitable, all rushed upon deck, leaving 

 the engines in order to save their lives." 



