ST. HELENA 253 



she driven to the best spot in the harbour where assistance could be 

 afiorded, but whilst every eye was upon her one of the prizes which 

 had been broken even with the water's edge was struck broadside 

 on by an enormous wave, and instead of being forced onward to the 

 beach was driven across the berth with fearful velocity head on to 

 the Descobrador. Had she struck as she was driving she must have 

 immediately sunk the Descobrador, but, like a thing of life, at the 

 critical instant she suddenly turned from the point and quietly lay 

 to, side by side with her, thereby keeping off in a great measure 

 the force of the rollers which were dashing over her. 



It would take much time to relate all the various incidents of the 

 day, but the following were most striking. About one o'clock a 

 mountain roller swept over the wharf, and, lifting the hull of the 

 Rocket (an English merchant brig condemned some months since), 

 for a moment hid all beneath it ; when it had broken, the wreck it 

 had made was truly awful — no trace of the Rocket could be 

 seen. A number of boats lying round the Rocket had all disappear- 

 ed. A large iron crane built in the lower wharf was washed 

 away, and the balcony built quite at the back of the wharf en- 

 tirely swept off. 



In this case also the merciful hand of God was shown, for the 

 height of this balcony above the reach of the water and its strength 

 had caused it to be the resort of many seeking an advantageous 

 spot for witnessing the wonderful prospect. But just half an hour 

 before it was carried away a large roller came driving about fifty 

 persons who were there (many gentlemen among the number) from 

 the spot ; not so much, even then, from any apprehension of serious 

 danger in the balcony as the disagreeable prospect of being washed 

 with the spray. The reader must understand that it was not by 

 a gradual increase of the storm, but by one sudden and enormous 

 roller that this place was swept off, and that with inconceivable 

 violence. 



At five o'clock another magnificent scene filled every beholder 

 with amazement. A large schooner prize named Quatro de Marco 

 at the westward of the harbour was by one wave torn from her 

 berth, and although turned completely over in the boiling surge, 

 thereby breaking out both of her masts, was by the same wave 

 lodged high on the shore at the West Rocks ! The two following 

 waves moved her a little further back, and her entire hull now lies 

 touching the bank of Ladder Hill, one of the most forcible proofs of 

 the force of the water. The Julia, another prize lying alongside of 

 her, followed next, but instead of being lifted over she was dashed 

 against the rocks, and two minutes from the time her cable parted 

 not an atom of her could be seen. The vessels lost were thir- 

 teen or fourteen in number, all of which were condemned prizes 

 excepting one defended, and whose condemnation is uncertain, and 

 two hulks of vessels condemned as unfit for sea, and used in 

 harbour for receiving stores, etc., etc. The Rocket before named 

 had several anchors, cables, etc., and two or three very fine boats 

 on board at the time of her loss. The ships in harbour experienced 



