64 BOAT UPSET AND LOST. Feb. 18.^7. 



The people in the cutter were anxiously watching her labour- 

 ing movements, when she disappeared ! They hastened to the 

 spot — saved three men ; but the other two had gone down. 

 Poor Ainsworth was still clinging to the gig's gunwale when 

 his shipmates eagerly approached ; but letting go his hold from 

 extreme exhaustion, and being heavily clothed, he sunk from 

 their sight to rise no more. 



He had been cheering the drowning crew, and trying to save 

 his companions, till the moment his grasp relaxed. Just before 

 Ainsworth himself let go, Mr. Hodgskin lost his hold, ex- 

 claiming, " Ainsworth, save me !" when, exhausted as he was, 

 with one hand he rescued his friend, and, directly afterwards, 

 his strength failing, sunk. 



This addition of three people to the already loaded cutter, 

 made her cargo more than was safe, therefore Mr. Williams, 

 who commanded her, very prudently bore up for the first con- 

 venient landing-place, and happily succeeded in reaching the 

 only part of the beach, between Lomas Bay and Cape Valentyn, 

 where a boat could land. 



The following morning, the weather being more favourable, 

 they crossed under sail to Freshwater Bay, and thence pulled 

 to Port Famine. 



This melancholy disaster was much felt by every one. Ains- 

 worth was a deserving officer, and highly esteemed. Corkhill 

 was captain of the forecastle, and had served in the Polar 

 voyages under Sir Edward Parry. On the Sunday following, 

 the colours were hoisted half-mast high, and the funeral service 

 was read after morning prayers : for although to recover the 

 bodies was impossible, their watery grave was before our eyes ; 

 and the performance of this last sad duty was a melancholy 

 satisfaction. 



" Ours are the tears, tho' few, sincerely shed, 

 When ocean shrouds and sepulchres our dead." 



A tablet was subsequently erected, on Point St. Anna, to 

 record this fatal accident. 



