LOSS OF THE ROTHSAY CASTLE. 107 
in rapid succession, too clearly declaring the alarming truth, 
that the vessel was on shore ! All was in a moment confusion, 
perplexity, consternation, or despair. 
Doubtless such means as suggested themselves to the mind 
of the captain, as necessary or useful at this period of com- 
mencing peril, were tried ; but, unhappily, he does not seem 
to have availed himself of those resources which an able and 
judicious seaman might have adopted, either for the extrica- 
tion of the vessel from her .perilous condition, or for the pre- 
servation of the passengers entrusted to his charge. Every 
precautionary measure, in the event of the vessel going to 
pieces, was, by some sad infatuation, altogether neglected. 
Unfortunately there was no gun on board to awaken the at- 
tention of others to their peril ; and the simple expedient of 
hoisting a light, which might have proved useful, was unhap- 
pily rejected by the captain. But not only this, but other 
practicable resources were fatally omitted. For, had but a 
few of the slight appendages to female dress — so soon to be- 
come the sport of the waves — ^been set on fire by the light 
burning in the binacle, and thrown blazing upon the wings 
of the wind, a sufficiency of boats might have been drawn to 
the spot, in time, perhaps, for the preservation of a hundred 
lives ! 
At first, no doubt, the captain was in expectation of being 
able to effect his retreat from this perilous position, of which 
the now rising tide afforded a reasonable hope. The chance, 
however, of rendering this hope available, — as in a vessel of 
first-rate strength it would have been, had an anchor been drop- 
ped to Avindward, to which she might swing on the flood — 
was lost : so that as the tide rose, the steamer pressed higher 
and further upon the bank, till, bilged and water-logged, she 
became staked by the weight of her engine and apparatus to 
the sand. Then the work of death began ; and an hour's 
brief space scattered the upper works of the writhing vessel 
to the waves, whilst the chief multitude of the pitiable adven- 
turers were entombed in the watery gulf! And it was marvel- 
lous that any escaped. Buffeted as were the surviving few 
by a turbulent, and, at first, a broken sea; tossed as many of 
them were, — now over the wreck by which agonizingly they 
clung, and then submerged amid the rolling waves ; exposed 
as they were not only to the deluge of waters, but also to 
mortal blows from the heaving wreck around them, — it was a 
wondrous providence that any lived till the dawn, or escaped 
to tell the wondrous tale ! 
