LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 523 



Captain Hudson, finding that the ship was leaking badly, ordered 

 the watches in gangs to the pumps, which were thenceforward 

 kept in action until the vessel was abandoned. Every possible 

 exertion was made to bring the ship's head to the sea, but without 

 much effect, for the rudder was soon disabled in consequence of the 

 iron tiller being broken off. The rudder was thus left to thresh 

 about with such violence as to threaten to tear away the stern-frame. 



At last, by heaving the shot overboard, and starting the water, the 

 ship was so much lightened that, by means of the larboard anchor, 

 which had been cast free of the ship, she was hove round with her 

 head to the sea. At low water, which occurred about dark, there 

 was only nine feet depth of water alongside. At S*" 45™ the chain- 

 cable parted, the ship was again thrown broadside to the sea, and 

 began again to strike heavily. 



At ll*" 30™ it was high water; at 1 p. m. the sea was rapidly increas- 

 ing; and at 2 a. m., the breakers were making a continued breach 

 over the vessel, by which the bulwarks were stove in, and the spar- 

 deck fl.ooded. The water was knee-deep on the gun-deck, and the 

 shot-lockers were buried in it. The night passed heavily, with little 

 hope of the ship's holding together till morning. At last the day 

 dawned, and with the coming light, and at the extreme fall of the 

 tide, the sea providentially abated. 



At six o'clock in the morning, a large canoe boarded the vessel, 

 manned by a crew of Chinook Indians, and having on board old 

 Ramsey the pilot, with a coloured boy belonging to the Vincennes, 

 of the name of John Dean. The latter, who had been left by me 

 with Mr. Waldron at Astoria, had persuaded Ramsey and the Indians 

 to come off, for the purpose of rendering assistance. The launch 

 and boats were also hoisted out, a few provisions put in them, and 

 a part of the men and officers embarked, with as little delay as 

 possible, and just as they stood, for fear of overloading the boats, and 

 thus causing the loss of all. In these, Lieutenant Perry, with Purser 

 Spieden, the sick, the naturalists, and the charts, books, and ship's 

 papers, were sent off, to be landed in Baker's Bay. The boats landed 

 all not necessary to row them, in safety ; and succeeded in making a 

 second trip, in which all who had remained on board were taken to 

 the shore, except Captain Hudson, Lieutenant Walker, the boatswain, 

 the carpenter, and about thirty men. 



Towards noon, the breakers again increased ; and the sea was 



