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"It has pleased almighty God to spare me to give you an account
of the disaster that has befallen the unfortunate officers and men
who left Quebec in the Harpooner. I wrote you by the pilot,
informing that he had left us near Bic, from thence we proceeded,
and the day after met with bad weather, which continued to the 10th
November, when we were wrecked off St. Shotts, on the rocks. At a
quarter past nine at night, the ship struck and beat over the first
reef, and on the second she struck and soon filled, drowning many
that were in their berths asleep in less than half an hour. Those
that could get on deck made the best of their way. At this time,
the wind and weather that was somewhat moderate, on our striking,
became boisterous, and it could not be ascertained from the
distance we were, what land it was we had brought up. In this
situation, death staring everyone in the face, we remained during
the night, when at intervals, the sea, beating over us, carried
several overboard. At half past 10, the masts were cut away and
the ship drove further over the rocks, where we discovered the
mainland, continued drifting in. The force by which she was
striking every minute, threatened the final dissolution of everyone
upon the wreck, all our boats washed overboard with the exception
of the jolly boat, and a sea running, that, even had the boats been
got out in a perfect state, they could not have been used, only in
the destruction of them and such as might have ventured to leave
the unfortunate vessel. Thus situated, we remained waiting for the
dawn of the day; two hours before which the only boat was lowered
down at the stern, when the mate and four seamen ventured in her to
go round the rock, where it was supposed by the channel of the
water that a small inlet or bay might be found. Providence thus
interposing in our favour, affording these a forlorn hope of
protection, the boat pushed off, and it was more than an hour
before we discovered the men who had climbed up the rock, hailing
us. These men and that of getting a rope to them become a great
object to everyone, but how to effect this in such a storm! Means
were tried of sending the log line overboard. This could not be
found by those on shore, it being so dark. A thought struck the
captain of the ship. We had a fine bulldog on board, the property
of an officer of the Artillery. A rope was tied around the middle
of the animal, and he was put over the stern in safety. He was
more than five times washed from the rock and at last succeeded
climbing up to where the mate and men were standing. The rope
being got at, a larger one was hauled from the ship to the shore,
upon which at about five in the morning, the first man was saved by
being dragged along it to the opposite rock. After this the people
began to be impatient and pressed upon one another so much that
many were lost in thrusting towards the stern to get near the rope.
I left the wreck about nine in the morning, upon the rope, where I
was on my exist to the shore, alike with others, immersed in the
water, and under it four times. Still holding on, until I got to
the foot of the rock when the sea overwhelmed me before the men on
shore could lay hold of me by the collar of my coat. Fortunately
one of the men more venturous than the others stepped nearer the
bottom toward the sea, and caught hold of my coat. In the hurry it
tore and I was let go again. The surf shortly after drove on the
rock, I was seized and brought almost lifeless to the top. The
Brigade Major has just called on me to say that the vessel will
sail in a minute or two, so I must conclude, by saying I am well
and the sufferers in this affair are numerous. The only one of
Armstrong's family that has survived is Miss Armstrong. Lieutenant
Wilson is drowned and three children. I cannot say more than that
you shall have a letter by the Hydra that is expected to sail from
hence in a day or two." |
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