93 LOSS or THE ROTHSAY CASTLE. 
LOSS OF THE STEAM-PACKET ROTHSAY CASTLE. 
The personal Narrative of John A. Tinne, Esq. one of the 
twenty-one Survivors from the Wreck. 
On Wednesday, the 17th of August, 1831, 1 went on board 
the Rothsay Castle steamer, at ten o'clock, the hour appoint- 
ed for her sailing ; but we were detained till near twelve, by 
taking in a carriage belonging to Mr. and Mrs. F. This de- 
lay made us lose the greatest part of an ebb tide, which might 
have borne us far on our destination, and enabled us perhaps 
to pass the dangerous bank on which the steamer grounded 
before dark. I noticed the estimable individuals who were 
the causes of our detention, conversing cheerfully with the 
passengers about them, among others with poor de S. and J. 
L. ; but shortly after we were out of the river I went below, 
and took possession of one of the sofas, which I did not leave, 
except for a short interval toward the close of the day. I 
was trying to keep off sickness by sleep, but was frequently 
disturbed by the conversation of people about me, and other 
causes ; I particularly recollect the rumbling noise occa- 
sioned by the engine, which struck me as being louder than 
1 had ever heard it in a large steamer. There Avas water 
running to and fro with the motion of the vessel, as if be- 
hind the sofa, which some of the passengers, who inquired 
about it, were told was hilge water : it increased toward the 
latter part of the day, and I think some one remarked its run- 
ning out on the cabin floor ; but the explanation that had been 
given satisfied me, and I did not trouble myself about it. 
Sometime in the course of the day a person called to the 
Captain down the skylight, " Captain, there seems a great 
deal of danger; I Avish you would turn back:" to which the 
latter answered, " There seems a great deal of fear, but no 
danger ;" and then, addressing those about him in the cabin, 
proceeded to say, "that it would be no use turning back, as 
they would have to come over the same ground again." They 
seemed to agree with him, and to join in a laugh, as if against 
the vain fears of a timid landsman. It was bio win o* a head 
wind, and the tide was by this time strong against us ; and 
we were laboring a good deal, and must have made very littJe 
way, but there seemed to be no alarm among those around 
me. The dinner was served about three, but I did not ioin 
