342 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



a homeward-bound fleet. He believed that the ships 

 had been detained too long, "and," he added, "it is well 

 if some of us do not share the fate of the Minotaur." 



Within a few days the Hero was lost, also on the 

 North Haaks, with every soul on board. She sailed 

 from Wingo Sound on i8th December 181 1, in company 

 with the Grasshopper, a 1 6-gun brig, the Prince William, 

 and the Egeria. On the 2Oth the stormy weather had 

 dispersed the ships, and the Hero and Grasshopper were 

 left with about eighteen merchantmen to convoy. That 

 was two days before Christmas. Just before noon 

 Captain Newman signalled to the Grasshopper to come 

 within hail. He believed that they were on the Silver 

 Pits, well towards the English coast, a repetition of the 

 mistake made by the Minotaur, and directed that the 

 course should be altered to the south-west. This course 

 was kept till 10 p.m., then the signal was made to alter 

 it to two points to port. 



The weather was bitterly cold, with heavy squalls of 

 snow and sleet. The Grasshopper was going at the rate 

 of nine knots when, at half-past three in the morning, 

 she was seen to be in broken water. All hands were 

 turned up, and almost immediately the vessel struck. 

 Suddenly she fell into three fathoms of water, and was 

 anchored by letting the best bower go. She struck again 

 in a few minutes, and struck repeatedly while she remained 

 in that position. 



It was at this dangerous and exciting time that the 

 attention of the people of the brig was called to the 

 position of the Hero, which was about a mile away, 

 firing guns and burning blue lights. For half an hour 

 these signals were made, and it was supposed that the 



