Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.
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Q. Did you ever see him from that period until he was brought on
board a prisoner from Quebec? A. No. Q. Was he brought back as a deserter? A. Yes. Q. Was every exertion made to save the whole of the crew. A. Yes. Q. In what boats were the cases of wine brought on shore. A. They were washed out of the wardroom window and drifted on shore. Q. Who was left Commanding Officer on board with the men who afterwards perished? A. There was only the Captain of the forecastle and a few other which I saw when I left the ship, and I did not suppose there were more than fifteen when I left the ship for the shore. Q. In what state were they? A. Sober, those I saw. Q. Do you know if any officer was in the gig the second time she was sent to fetch any of the people on shore? A. No. Q. How was the ship's head when you were relieved? A. West and by north. Q. Was the water perfectly smooth or was there any swell? A. It was perfectly smooth. Q. How many men were in the gig when she went off the second time? A. Six men. Q. At the time you left the ship, had you reason to think all the men would be saved by the boats? A. I supposed from the appearance of the ship. That the surf was not so great as it was when I left the ship, and had every reason to expect that everybody would have been saved. Q. How long after the ship struck ground was it before anybody began to quit her? A. Eight hours, we began to leave the ship at half past four o'clock in the morning. Q. Was it with the orders of the Captain or without orders? A. With orders from the Captain, the continuance of the ships company on board being no longer necessary and for the preservation of the lives of the ship's company. Q. Was there no arrangement made who were to go first and what officers were to superintend the men going into the boats to prevent their being overloaded? A. There were no officers named, but the whole were present on the larboard side of the quarter deck and in the main chains when the boats were loading. Q. What was the state of your Captain's health on the thirtieth? A. He appeared to be very unwell, and was lowered down into the boat by ropes. Howell asked: Q. Did you see the condition I came on shore in from the wreck when the ship parted? A. I did not. Q. Did you hear Captain Galloway tell me to go away about my business for he would give me no grub? A. No, when he came for grog, he was desired to go to his duty not to go away. |
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