Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.
| Articles on the wreck of Harpooner |
Quebec Mercury #53, Page 421. Tuesday, December 31, 1816. | ||
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| To the Editor of the Quebec Mercury, | ||
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Sir - If you think the following account of the providential
escape of the captain and four men belonging to the brig Nerina,
worth your notice, or the public's, you will please give it an
insertion in your paper. About the 27th of November last, the brig Nerina left Quebec, and near the Traverse, she became fast in the ice, and ultimately grounded on Goose Island. The passengers; three ladies and one gentleman, with the crew, got all safe on shore with much difficulty. The day after, Captain Jeffreys determined to return to the brig, and save as much as possible. He did do, and sent one boat of baggage, &c., on shore, and proposed to stay on board all that night, and return on shore in the morning, with the long-boat, loaded with stores, &c. He accordingly did leave the brig in the morning, and proceeded toward the shore, but the ice making so fast, and the frost being intense, the boat became fixed, and endeavouring to clear her, broke all their oars but one, which was reserved for the last resource, (to steer her). The ebb tide coming in, they soon drove out of reach of assistance. They had in the boat about 20 blankets, and several seaman's hammocks and bedding, with one keg of gin, and a few pounds of raisins. In this state they drove through the Traverse, where the tides run always very strong, at the east entrance of which, and on the middle bank, the ice grounded, and the tide caused the ice to force up on each side of them, so high, that they expected every moment it would fall and crush them to pieces. Their situation was now horrible, when providentially the whole mass cleared the ground, and drove into deep water. This happened the first night. Now, Sir, remark the drift of the boat, she passed near the east end of Coudre Island, and all along the north sands, to the northward of Hare Island, White Island, and Red Island, until to the eastward of Pointe Mille Vaches, with a strong westerly winds and an intense frost. They employed themselves in walking on the ice in the day time, and sleeping all together at night, one man keeping watch and released every half hour, to bail the boat, which had began to make water. On the morning of the fourth day, the captain, having the watch, remarked an opening in the ice; they at last got clear by the ice breaking up, they made a sail with two blankets, and ran before a strong northwest wind for the south shore, and about four P.M., landed between the east end of Barnaby Island, and the west part of Father Point, and met with every assistance and comfort for Mr. Trudelle, of Rimouski parish, Two of the seamen had given themselves up for lost, and laid down accordingly, on the second day, by which they were both much frozen in their feet. The mate was a little frozen, but the captain landed without accident. Now, Sir, the boat must have drove at least 60 leagues, they were in her four nights, and five days, and of course must have all perished, had they not been fortunately well supplied with covering. These men have truly reason therefore to be thankful. They have surely "seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." |
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| Quebec, December, 1816. | ||
| Quebec Mercury #53, Page 421. Tuesday, December 31, 1816. | ||
| LOSS OF THE HARPOONER. | ||
| Saint John, Newfoundland, November 20. | ||
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On Sunday, the 10th instant, the hired transport Harpooner,
Joseph Bryan, master, from Quebec, bound to England, was totally
lost at St. Shott's, near Cape Pine (where H.M.S. Comus was lately
wrecked.) The Harpooner sailed from Quebec on Sunday, the 27th October, having on board 385 men, women and children, independent of the ship's company, principally the 4th Royal Veteran Battalion, under the command of Captain Prime and Lieutenant Mylrea, one of the oldest subalterns in his Majesty's service; he is 70 year of age, and was the last person who quitted the wreck, having remained there 19 hours. She had also detachments of the following regiments: Royal Artillery, Artillery Drivers, 70th, 76th, 99th, 103rd, De Whiteville's and Glengary Fencibles, under the command of Captain Willock, 103rd Regiment. They had moderate weather down the river and gulf, and at the time she went on shore, was going about 5 knots, supposing they had been much to the eastward; the fog for several days had prevented an observation being taken. She struck about 9 o'clock at night, when the master called all hands forward, which brought her by the head, and occasioned her to swing round with her stern to the shore. The wind increased and blew a heavy gale; the masts were cut away, and the large boats stove to pieces soon after she struck. The stern boat having been lowered down, some of the crew succeeded in getting on shore, but could not return through the great surf. The vessel lay on her beam ends, and the sea made passage over her. At this time she took fire in the cabin, by the candle falling on some spirits, and by the fire from the cabin stoves; the water soon extinguished it. The people collected on deck, clinging to the weather side and other parts of the ship, forming a solid mass. |
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G.R. Bossé© |
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