524 DE FUCA'S STRAITS AND 



making a breach in all directions over the ship, which was filling 

 fast, the water having risen above the level of the berth-deck. The 

 masts were cut away, and the vessel lay a complete wreck, with 

 nothing standing but the stump of the mizzen-mast. 



Lieutenant Emmons, who had charge of the boats, was, during 

 this time, using every possible exertion to make a third trip, but 

 without success ; and the crews of the boats were the anxious wit- 

 nesses of the condition of the ship, without being able to relieve those 

 on board from their perilous situation. They persevered, however, 

 in their fruitless and laborious endeavours, until one of the boats, in 

 charge of Mr. Lewis, the gunner, was thrown end over end, and with 

 her crew engulfed. Lieutenant De Haven was fortunately close at 

 hand, and succeeded in saving those on board; all of whom were 

 injured, and one of them severely, by the breaking of his hip-bone. 



The intense excitement both of those in the vessel and in the boats 

 at this moment, may be readily imagined. The accident was seen 

 from the ship : Captain Hudson was satisfied that any immediate 

 attempt to relieve him and his companions must be fruitless ; and 

 that the only chance that remained, was to preserve the boats for a 

 future occasion. 



He, therefore, ordered the ensign to be hoisted on the stump of the 

 mizzen-mast, as a signal for the boats to return to the land ; which 

 was obeyed by them, although with the feeling that they were aban- 

 doning; their commander and those with him to their fate. Those on 

 board, on the other hand, were released from their anxiety for the 

 boats, on which alone they could depend for being relieved, if the 

 wreck should remain together for a few hours. Of this, however, the 

 prospect was far from promising, amid the struggle between the 

 waters of the great river and those of the mighty ocean, when every 

 surge seemed to forebode the utter dissolution of the fabric of the ship. 



The light articles were now removed to the spar-deck, to give them 

 a chance of reaching the shore by the action of the waves and winds, 

 should the ship go to pieces. 



In the midst of this trying scene, the ordinary routine of ship's 

 duty was carried on, even to the piping to dinner. It is needless for 

 me to say any thing in praise of the conduct of Captain Hudson, and 

 I have simply to refer to the letters I received from the officers and 

 naturalists, in reply to a call I made upon them, for the aspect in 

 which the transactions presented themselves to those present; and 



