26 BIOGRAPHY. 



On one occasion he was on board a vessel named the 

 Pollux, and bound from Civita Vecchia to Leghorn. In 

 the night of the same day, an accident befell tlie Pollwx, 

 almost exactly resembling that in which the ill-fated 

 Princess Alice was destroyed. The night was peculiarly 

 calm, the stars were shining brightly, and everything ap- 

 peared to be in security, when all on board were startled 

 from their sleep by a violent shock. A steamer, named 

 the Mongibello, from Leghorn to Civita Vecchia, had run 

 into the Pollux, and cut her nearly in two, the cutwater of 

 the Mongibello having actually forced its way into Water- 

 ton's cabin. 



Fortunately for the passengers, most of them, including 

 Waterton and his family, were sleeping on deck. As is 

 too often the case under similar circumstances, the officials 

 on board the offending vessel lost their presence of mind, 

 and were actually sheering off from the wreck. Had it 

 not been for the courage and skill of Prince Canino (Charles 

 Bonaparte) the loss of life must have been very great. 



He was a passenger on board the Mongibello, knocked 

 the steersman off the wheel, took the helm himself, and 

 laid the vessel alongside the sinking Pollux. Only one 

 life was lost, that of a man who had a large sum of gold 

 sewed in a belt round his waist, and was drawn under 

 water by the weight. 



In this shipwreck, although Waterton's life was saved, 

 he and his party lost their wardrobes, money in cash, and 

 letters of credit, books, writings, passports, and works of 

 art ; the last mentioned loss being irreparable. Fever and 

 dysentery were the results of the shipwreck, and did not 

 loosen their hold until long afterwards. 



Another time, he fell into Dover harbour while about to 

 embark on board the steamer. Any one who has walked on 

 cliffs on a dark night is aware of the difficulty of distinguish- 



