LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 493 



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 neces- 

 sarj' 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 car- 

 penter, and about thirty men. 



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

 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 witnesses 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 



2R 



