LOSS OF THE KENT. 15 
deck with Col. Fearon, Capt. Bray, and one or two other offi- 
cers of thti 31st regiment, to assist in opening the ports, I 
met, staggering toward the hatchway, in an exhausted and 
nearly senseless state, one of the mates, who informed us that 
he had just stumbled over the dead bodies of some individuals 
who must have died from suffocation, to which it was evident 
that he himself had almost fallen a victim. So dense and 
oppressive was the smoke, that it was with the utmost diffi- 
culty Ave could remain long enough below to fulfill Captain 
C-obb's Avishes ; Avhich were no sooner accomplished than the 
sea rushed in with extraordinary force, carrying away in 
its resistless progress to the hold, the largest chests, bulk- 
heads, &c. 
On the one hand stood death by fire, on the other death by 
water; the dilemma Avas dreadful. Preferring always the 
more remote alternative, the unfortunate creAV were at one 
moment attempting to check the fire by means of water ; and 
when the Avater became the most threatening enemy, their 
efforts AA^ere turned to the exclusion of the waves, and the fire 
was permitted to rage Avith all its fury. 
The scene of horror that noAv presents itself,- baffles all 
description — 
^ " Then rose from sea to sky the wild fareA^ell ; 
" Then shrieked the timid, and stood still the brave." 
The upper deck was coA'ered Avith betAveen six and seven hun- 
dred human beings, many of whom, from previous sea-sick- 
ness, AA'ere forced on the first alarm to flee from below in a 
state of absolute nakedness, and Avere noAV running about in 
quest of husbands, children, or parents. 
While some were standing in silent resignation, or in stu- 
pid insensibility to their impending fate, others Avere yielding 
themselves up to the most frantic despair. Some on their 
knees Av^ere earnestly imploring, Avith significant gesticulations 
and in noisy supplications, the mercy of Him, whose arm, they 
exclaimed, AA^as at length outstretched to smite them ; others 
Avere to be seen hastily crossing themselves, and performing 
the various external acts required by their peculiar persuasion, 
Avhile a number of the older and more stout-hearted sailors 
suddenly took their seats directly oA'er the magazine, hoping, 
as they stated, that by means of the explosion, Avhich they 
every instant expected, a speedier termination might thereby 
be put to their sufferings.* 
* Captain Cobb, with great forethought, ordered the deck to be scut- 
