SOUTHERN CRUISE. 141 



from the brig, to relieve our anxiety, gave us the joyful intelligence 

 that Williams and Moore had reached the shore in safety. 



Lieutenant Hartstein, on recovering from his exhaustion, informed 

 me, that on arriving at the surf and anchoring the boat, he found it 

 impossible to carry into effect the intention of getting a line on shore. 

 He then concluded that in the surf-boat, with oars, and a line from the 

 boat outside, they might land in safety. Samuel Stretch, John Wil- 

 liams, and Samuel Moore, volunteered to accompany him. They 

 strapped on their life-preservers, with which they were provided, and 

 were preparing themselves for the trial, when a wave curling without 

 them, carried them forward with rapidity ; in an instant the boat was 

 thrown end over, and they found themselves struggling for life in a 

 furious . surf. Had it not been for the life-preservers, they must all 

 have been drowned. The under-tow assisted in bringinc; Stretch and 

 himself out, (neither of whom could swim,) together with the boat. 

 Williams and Moore swam to the beach. 



The night proved dark and stormy, and the squalls were furious. 



The morning of the 21st dawned with no better prospect. All our 

 endeavours to get a supply of provisions to the party on shore by kites, 

 &c, failed, and it was now deemed advisable for the safety of the 

 brig, to slip our cables and go to sea on the making of the flood, 

 which sets out of the bay. Previous to this time, we were employed 

 in supplying the yawl with provisions, intending to leave her as a 

 buoy to our cable and anchor ; and, to prevent her from sinking, our 

 India-rubber life-spars were lashed in her. 



When the time arrived, there appeared no alteration for the better. 

 We slipped our cable, and stood out of the bay under our storm-sails. 

 A very heavy sea was encountered in the straits, and particularly in 

 the race that is formed on the Staten Land side; but we passed 

 through without difficulty or accident. When we got under the lee of 

 that island, we had smooth water, almost a calm, and moderate 

 weather. The contrast was great indeed, from the violent gale we 

 had just left. 



On the 22d and 23d we had light winds, and were drifted to the 

 northward some thirty miles, occasionally passing through rips and 

 tide eddies. We had generally between fifty and sixty fathoms water, 

 with soundings of sand, shells, and coral. 



On the 24th, it being calm, we anchored in forty-four fathoms, oft* 

 Cape St. Diego, to await the tide, and found the current running at 

 the greatest strength two and a half miles per hour. 



We did not again reach Good Success Bay until the night of the 

 25th, after five days' absence, when we found the party had got the 



