Loss of the Margate Hoy, near the Reculvers, February the master apprehending blowing weather, judged it

7th, 1802.

THE hoy named the Margate, of Margate, John Goodborn, master, and J. Sackett, owner, was deeply laden with corn for the London market, and had on board twenty-eight passengers, besides the crew, consisting of four men.

most advisable to get under way before the flood-tide, fearing they should not be able to purchase their anchor, as the wind was increasing, and, by its blowing on shore, rendered their situation dangerous.

The wind continued to blow from the N.N.W., and as the night was very dark, they resolved to turn up under the hook of Margate Sand, with the intention of They sailed about three o'clock in the afternoon of anchoring there; but, prudent as this resolution might Saturday, the 6th of February, with not very flattering have been, it was entirely frustrated. After beating appearances as to weather; yet all of them, apparently, about with the wind and waves till about eleven o'clock, in the greatest cheerfulness, with the exception of the upon making their last tack inward, and sounding, the captain, whose melancholy countenance seemed to indi-strap of the sounding-lead broke, a very rare accident, cate a presentiment of the succeeding calamity, and particularly as it had not been in use more than two who, during the whole scene, gradually sunk under its voyages; but this disaster, so apparently trifling, afterhorrors. As the tide was on the ebb, and the wind wards proved to be the foremost in the train of others, unfavourable, they were obliged to come to an anchor as unforeseen as inevitable. They now attempted to at a little distance from Margate, where they remained get the vessel about, and to provide themselves with till eight o'clock, waiting the return of the tide: but another lead; but before they could accomplish either,

Soon after this, when the cabin was pretty deep in water, John Wood, one of the mariners, drew up a female, but not being able to keep his hold with one hand, in order to assist with the other, he grasped with both, and let down his foot among the struggling victims, which was presently seized by one of them, whose hand he caught hold of, hoping to rescue the almost dying creature from the jaws of death; but the waters swelling higher with every roll of the sea, he lost his hold, and was obliged to relinquish his generous efforts, and abandon the rest of the drowning sufferers to their fate, in order to provide for his own safety.

she struck upon one of the banks below the Reculver | great distress, uttering the most pathetic cries for his Sand. dear wife, who was in the cabin; and to add to his * Alarmed by the sudden shock, and stimulated by the painful anxiety, his son, who was a passenger with desire to use every possible exertion to preserve the them, perished with her. The unhappy husband did vessel, they let go their anchor as the only remedy not long survive this double stroke of Providence, for under these distressing circumstances, and the tide flow-while lamenting the loss of the dear objects of his affecing, she soon floated, and they got their anchor again; tions, he was suddenly swept away by the impetuosity but in hauling in the weather-jib-sheet it was broken of the waves, leaving at home five orphan children to by the fury of the wind, and the lee-jib-sheet being so mourn this melancholy disaster. much agitated, became unhooked. The master having stopped the tiller to leeward, sprang forward in order to assist in getting the jib in, but just at this instant the vessel again struck, and again they let go their anchor; but they were now advancing to the extremity of their distress, and the disastrous incidents which contributed to it began to succeed each other with more rapidity; for barely had the anchor reached the ground, when the tiller broke, and on the first attempt to repair the mischief, the rudder was unshipped, and the vessel became totally unmanageable, and violently beat upon the sand. In this perilous condition they tried the fore-pump, which they found choked, and consequently useless. Upon sounding, they found between two and three feet water in the hold, which very soon rose above the floor of the forecastle; and as they apprehended the vessel was sinking, they slipped the cable, hoisted the foresail, and dropped the gaff, in order to let her drive on shore; but having lost her rudder, they could not govern her, and she came with her broadside to the beach, and there sank, and the tide still making, the ponderous waves rolled over in a manner truly awful.

The ship carpenter, Mr. Field, was assisting to repair the tiller, but the rudder being carried away during the attempt, and the vessel consequently becoming unmanageable, he anticipated what would happen, and began to think of his own safety and that of his beloved wife, for whom he became all anxiety. He ran to a part of the vessel where he found some rattling stuff, out of which he provided two lashings for her and himself, and hastened to the cabin, with the expectation of finding her there; but in this he was disappointed, as she had taken refuge on the stack. When in the cabin he found himself nearly up to his breast in water, with the

situation became critical, for two or three of the de spairing creatures clung so fast to him, that he could not extricate himself. They were therefore drawn up together, by the exertions of the seamen, as was supposed; but the darkness of the night, the constant dashing of the waters, and his own perturbation, would not allow him to distinguish who were his deliverers, and those who were drawn up with him were soon washed off the deck.

It is impossible for language to describe, in terms adequate to the reality, the dreadful scene that now presented itself. The mariners, finding that all fur-poor creatures struggling round him; and here his ther efforts to save the vessel would be useless, and that they must resign her to the fury of the wind and waves, directed all their energies to endeavour to save the passengers. The water had been pouring into the cabin from the scuttle, the companion, and the chimney, for some time, and all attempts to stop these avenues were totally defeated by the constant dashing of the sea over them; they therefore endeavoured to get the tarpaulin, which covered a stack of corn upon the deck, and by placing it over the cabin, to prevent it being His wife he found upon the stack where she had taken inundated; but as several of the affrighted passengers refuge, and lashed her to the boom with one of the cords had taken refuge on this stack, they could not so he had provided; but, in his trepidation, he was not able speedily remove the tarpaulin, and no time was to be to find the other, and bound his arm to her with the end lost, as the water in the cabin was increasing very fast, of that with which she was fastened, and in this position and many unhappy creatures were there, fainting with they remained while two or three heavy seas came over fear, and almost dying with sea-sickness. With the the vessel, which gradually swept the stack from under assistance of the seamen, some of these were immedi-them, and at last carried them both into the sea. By ately drawn out of this watery dungeon. One of the laying hold of some ropes at the side of the vessel, Mr. passenger, a Mr. Thornton, of Margate, was heard in Field managed to get back again, and lodged himself in

Wood too, one of the seamen, was so debilitated, that having a little stream to pass on his way to Reculver, whither most of them went when they got on shore, he took the precaution of going sideways through it, lest this feeble obstruction should throw him down, and he not be able to rise again.

the shrouds, from whence, in the anguish of his spirit, ance of his fellow-sufferers he was removed from his he could not forbear calling after his dear companion, dangerous position, in a state of insensibility. John who was now perishing, and who had just before embraced him, saying, "Oh, my dear, what will become of our children!" expecting they would be left orphans. There were with him and his wife on the stack, only Mr. Thornton and Mr. George Bone; the former was first washed away, and the other, who was a local preacher among the Methodists, and endeavoured to calm the fears of the wretched crew by pious exhortations, soon followed. As for the unfortunate captain, he was seen hanging by the reef-tackle, but losing his hold, he fell upon the deck, and was soon washed overboard.

One of the passengers, named John Beasley, who was a working-gardener, near Paddington, was seen leaning on the winch, to which the fore-halliards had been brought, and the foresail hove up. The sea falling heavily upon him in this situation, the halliards came off the winch, and caused the foresail to run down, upon which he was carried overboard; but the unhappy man was afterwards found under the vessel, from whence he was with great difficulty drawn out.

1

Of the twenty-eight passengers that left Margate the day before, in good health and spirits, six only survived this calamitous disaster. Of the crew, the captain was the only one that was lost.

Mother Carey's Chickens; or, the Fatal Repast. S

WE had been nearly five weeks at sea, when the captain found, by observation, that we were within one hundred and thirty miles of the north side of Jamaica. Favourable winds and smooth seas had hitherto been our constant attendants, and everything on board conspired to render the confinement and monosony of a long sea voyage less annoying than they usually are. The cabin passengers consisted of Major and Mrs. L., a new-married

Irishman; and myself. Our captain was a man of pleasing manners and liberal ideas, and formed an important acquisition to our party, by joining in all its recreations, and affording every facility to the indulgence of them.

The others were stewed along the shore, with the exception of Mrs. Owen, and her servant. Mrs. Tat-couple; Miss P., sister to the latter; Mr. D., a young nell, Mrs. Jacobs, Mrs. Edmund's son, and a youth named John Taylor, whose bodies were found in the cabin; and from the general account given by both seamen and passengers who were saved, it is probable that many were washed away at an early period, as they came up out of the cabin debilitated by sea-sickness, their fears, and their exertions to save themselves; and the waves which were constantly breaking over them became so heavy, that a hearty man in full possession of his strength could not retain his hold, unless he were so situate as to be driven against some parts of the tackling of the vessel, or so high in the shrouds as to be above the heavy pressure of the water.

The extraordinary preservation of Mr. Jesse Carroway deserves particular notice, for, after hanging a considerable time by the boom, he became so exhausted that he dropped into the sea, which, while it hurried many to a premature grave, bore him on the crown of the billow, and left him alive upon the shore. Those also who took refuge in the shrouds, were preserved in a manner equally surprising; for the great debility and weakness to which they had been reduced, by long watching and fatigue, must have proved fatal to them also, had they continued but a few hours longer in their perilous situation. One of these, John Busbridge, a passenger and a youth used to the sea, became so enfeebled, that, unable to use his arms, he was for a short time actually suspended by the feet, till, by the assist

Although he possessed more general information than usually falls to the lot of seafaring persons, his mind was tinctured with some of their weaknesses and prejudices. The ladies of our party had a great taste for natural history, and wished to obtain specimens of all the most interesting kinds of sea-birds. They had several times requested the captain to shoot one of Mother Carey's chickens, that they might take a drawing from it; how. ever, he always declined doing so, but never gave any satisfactory reason for his unwillingness to oblige them in this respect. At last, Mr. D. killed two of the birds, after having several times missed whole flocks of them. The captain seemed very much startled when he saw the animals drop on the waves. "Will you have the goodness to let down the boat to pick up the game?" said Mr. D. "Yes, sir," replied he, "if you'll go off in her, and never return on board this vessel. Here is a serious business! Be assured we have not seen the end of it." He then walked away, without offering to give any orders about lowering the boat; and the seamen, who witnessed the transaction, looked as if they would not have obeyed him had he even done so.

One delightful clear morning, when we were in hourly

expectation of making the land, some dolphins appeared astern.

God grant it may be so!" "There is one thing," said the captain, faintly, "I was going to tell you, that-but this sensation-I mean a remedy." "Speak on," cried the major, in breathless suspense. "It may have a chance of saving you," continued the former; "you must immediately"—He gave a deep sigh, and dropped his head upon his shoulder, apparently unable to utter a word more. "Oh, this is the worst of all!" cried Mrs. "We have only to be resigned now." "let us at least die together."

Mrs. L. soon regained her senses, and I endeavoured As the weather was very moderate, the captain to calm her agitation by remarking, that we might posproposed that we should fish for them; and a great sibly escape the fatal influence of the poison, as some many hooks were immediately baited for that purpose constitutions were not so easily affected by it as others. by the seamen. We caught large quantities of dolphin "Is there then a little hope ?" she exclaimed. "Oh! and of another kind of fish, and put all into the hands of the steward, with orders that part should be dressed for dinner, and part distributed among the crew. When the dinner-hour arrived, we all assembled in the cabin, in high spirits, and sat down to table. It being St. George's day, we made the wind circulate rapidly, and every glass increased our gaiety; in the midst of it the mate entered the cabin, and said, the 'man at the helm had dropped down almost senseless, and that ano-L. in agony. ther of the crew was so ill that he could scarcely speak. replied her husband; The captain, on receiving this information, grew very The crew had dined about an hour and a half before pale, and seemed at a loss what to reply. At last, he us, and, consequently, felt the effects of the poison much started from his chair, and hurried up the gangway. earlier than we did. Every one, however, now began to Our mirth ceased in a moment; and, after a little time, exhibit alarming symptons. Mr. D. became delirious; we sent the servant to inquire what was going forward the major lay upon the cabin floor, in a state of torpidity; upon deck. He returned immediately, and informed us and the captain had drowned all sense and recollection that the two sailors were worse, and that a third had just by drinking a large quantity of brandy. Mrs. D. watched been attacked in the same way. He had scarcely said her husband and her sister alternately, in a state of quiet these words, when Mrs. L. gave a shriek, and cried out despair. that her sister had fainted away. This added to our confusion and alarm; and the major and Mr. D. trembled so much, that they were hardly able to convey the young lady to her state-room.

I was comparatively but little affected; and, therefore, employed myself in assisting others until they seemed to be past all relief, and then sat down anticipating the horrid consequences which would result from the death of the whole ship's company.

While thus occupied, I heard the steersman call out, "Taken all a-back here." A voice, which I knew to be the mate's, immediately answered, "Well, and what's that to us? Put her before the wind, and let her go where she pleases." I soon perceived by the rushing of the water, that there was a great increase in the ship's progress, and went upon deck to ascertain the cause.

"Poisoned! my God! Do you say so? Must we I found the mate stretched upon the top of the comall die?" exclaimed Mrs. L., dropping on her knees. panion, and addressed him, but he made no reply The "What is to be done?" cried the major distractedly; man at the helm was tying a rope round the tiller, and "are there no means of counteracting it?" "None told me he had become so blind and dizzy, that he could that I know of," returned the captain. "All remedies neither steer, nor see the compass; and would, thereare vain. The poison is always fatal, except—but I begin fore, fix the rudder in such a manner, as would keep the to feel its effects-support me-can this be imagina- ship's head as near the wind as possible. On going fortion?" He staggered to one side, and would have fallen ward to the bows,' I found the crew lying motionless in upon the floor, had I not assisted him. Mrs. L., notwith- every direction. I alone retained my senses unimpaired, standing his apparent insensibility, clung to his arm, The wind now blew very fresh, and we went through crying out, in a tone of despair, "Is there no help-no the water at the rate of ten miles an hour. The night pity-no one to save us?" and then fainted away on her looked dreary and turbulent. The sky was covered with husband's bosom; who, turning to me, said, with quiver-large fleeces of broken clouds, and the stars flashed aning lips, "You are a happy man: you have nothing to grily through them, as they were wildly hurried along embitter your last moments. Oh, Providence! was I by the blast. The sea began to run high, and the masts permitted to escape so many dangers, merely that I might showed by their incessant creaking, that they carried suffer this misery?" more sail than they could well sustain.

I was filled with dread lest we should strike upon | should find my worst anticipations concerning my comrocks, or run ashore, and often imagined that the clouds panions too fatally realised.

which bordered the horizon were the black cliffs of some desolate coast. At last, I distinctly saw a light at some distance-I anticipated instant destruction-I grew irresolute whether to remain upon deck, and face death, or to wait for it below. I soon discovered a ship a little way a-head-I instinctively ran to the helm, and loosened the rope that tied the tiller, which at once bounded back, and knocked me over. A horrible crashing, and loud cries, now broke upon my ear, and I saw that we had got entangled with another vessel. But the velocity with which we swept along, rendered our extrication instantaneous; and on looking back, I saw a ship without a bowsprit, pitching irregularly among the waves, and heard the rattling of cordage, and a tumult of voices. But, after a little time, nothing was distinguishable by the eye or by the ear. My situation appeared doubly horrible, when I reflected that I had just been within call of human creatures, who might have saved and assisted all on board, had not an evil destiny hurried us along, and made us the means of injuring those who alone were capable of affording us relief.

I immediately discovered the captain lying on one side of the cabin quite dead. Opposite him was Major L. stretched along the floor, and grasping firmly the handle of the door of his wife's apartment. He had, I suppose, in a moment of agony, wished to take a farewell of the partner of his heart, but had been unable to get beyond the spot where he now lay. He looked like a dying man; and Mrs. L. who sat beside him, seemed to be exhausted with grief and terror. She tried to speak several times, and at last succeeded in informing me, that her sister was better. I could not discover Mr. D. anywhere, and therefore concluded, that he was the person who had leaped overboard the preceeding night.

On going upon deck, I found that everything wore a new aspect. The sky was dazzling and cloudless, and not the faintest breath of wind could be felt. The sea had a beautiful bright green colour, and was calm as a small lake.

Four of the seamen were dead, but the mate and the remaining three had so far recovered as to be able to walk across the deck. The ship was almost in a disabled About midnight, our fore-topmast gave way, and fell state. Part of the wreck of the fore-topmast lay upon upon deck with a tremendous noise. The ship immedi- her bows, and the rigging and sails of the mainmast ately swung round, and began to labour in a terrible had suffered much injury. The mate told me, that the manner, while several waves broke over her succes- soundings, and almost everything else, proved we were sively.

on the Bahama banks, though he had not yet ascertained on what part of them we lay, and consequently could not say whether we had much chance of soon falling in with any vessel.

I had just resolved to descend the gangway for shelter, when a white figure rushed past me with a wild shriek, and sprung overboard. The darkness prevented me from discovering who had thus committed himself to the deep, The day passed gloomily. Much of our time was emin a moment of madness. As the sea continued to break ployed in preparing for the painful, but necessary duty, over the vessel, I went down to the cabin, after having of interring the dead. About ten at night, we began to closely shut the gangway doors and companion. Total commit the bodies to the deep. There was an awful darkness prevailed below. I addressed the captain and solemnity, alike in the scene and in our situation. I all my fellow passengers by name, but received no reply read the funeral service, and then we dropped the corpses from any of them, though I sometimes fancied I heard overboard, one after another. When these last offices of moans and quick breathing, when the tumult of the respect were performed, we retired in silence to different waters without happened to subside a little. I began to parts of the ship. catch for breath, and felt as if I were immured in a large coffin, with a number of corpses, and was doomed to linger out life beside them. The sea beat against the vessel, with a noise like that of artillery, and the crashing of the bulwarks driven in by its violence, gave startling proof of the danger that threatened us. I groped for my bed, and lay down in it, and, notwithstanding the 'horrors that surrounded me, gradually dropped asleep.

About midnight, the mate ordered the men to put down our anchor, which, till then, they had not been able to accomplish. They likewise managed to furl most of the sails, and we went to bed, under the consoling idea, that though a breeze did spring up, our moorings would enable us to weather it without any risk.

I was roused early next morning by a confused noise upon deck. When I got there, I found the men gazing When I awoke, I perceived, by the sunbeams that intently over the side of the ship, and inquired if our shone through the skylight, that the morning was far anchor held fast? "Ay, ay," replied one of them, advanced. The ship rolled violently at intervals, but the "rather faster than we want it." On approaching the noise of the wind and waves had altogether ceased. I bulwarks, and looking down, I perceived, to my horror got up hastily, and almost dreaded to look round, lest I and astonishment, all the corpses lying at the bottom of