1830. 



LOSS OF THE THETIS. 



69 



broke ; but the lee yard-arm irons (boom-irons) actually struck 

 fire from the rocky precipice as they grated harshly against it, 

 the boom ends snapping off like icicles. 



All three masts fell aft and inward, strewing the deck with 

 killed and wounded men. An immense black barrier impended 

 horribly, against which heavy breakers were dashing with an 

 ominous sound ; but the ship''s hull was still uninjured. Sen- 

 tries were placed over the spirit-room ; a sail was hoisted upon 

 the stump of the main-mast ; the winches were manned ; guns 

 iired ; rockets sent up, and blue-lights burned ; the quarter- 

 boats were cleared away to be ready for lowering ; and an 

 anchor was let go ; but the water was so deep, that before she 

 brought up, her stern drifted upon a more shelving part of the 

 rock. Several men then tried to land ; but, in jumping ashore, 

 many slipped, and were drowned in the surf, or crushed 

 against the rocks. The stern and lee quarter boats were dashed 

 to pieces, as the surf hove the ship against the cliff, and no 

 boat was then available ; for the others were either stove, or so 

 covered with wreck, that they could not be used. Finding that 

 the anchor, which had been let go, did no good, but seemed 

 to keep her tailing upon the rocks, the cable was slipped, after 

 which her head fell off to the westward. It was then found 

 that the water was gaining, and the winches were worked. 

 Successive waves threw her starboard quarter upon the rocks ; 

 and the effects of repeatedly striking were soon but too appa- 

 rent, as the water burst open the spirit-room hatches. 



At this moment a small opening appeared, into which the 

 ship providentially drove. It was at first thought that this 

 was the opening into Cape Frio Harbour ; but it proved to be 

 only a very small cove, or indentation of the rocky cliffs. While 

 drifting close along the rocks into this cove, a hawser was 

 passed ashore, by which afterwards several persons landed. 

 The ship struck heavily in the cove, gave some tremendous 

 yawns, and sunk. As she then lay upon the rocky bottom, 

 each succeeding wave broke over and just covered her. By a 

 violent surge, the rock to which the hawser above-mentioned 

 had been made fast, was torn away ; and, for a short time, all 



