The Ship Now Drove Without Either Sails
Or Rudder, At The Mercy Of The Winds And Waves, And Was Filled By The Sea
Which Continually Beat Over It; Insomuch That The Crew, Worn Out With
Constant Labour, Anxiety, And Watching, Were Scarcely Able To Keep The
Water Under.
On heaving the lead they found water at 80 fathoms; on which
they spliced all their four cables on
End, and rode at anchor for the space
of forty hours; when one of die crew, terrified at the dreadful working of
the ship occasioned by the winds and waves, cut the cable at the
forecastle, and the ship now drove about as before. On the 4th December,
four large waves broke in succession over their ill-fated vessel, and
filled it so full of water that it seemed just ready to sink. By exerting
their utmost strength and resolution, the crew baled the water out, though
it reached to their waists, and at length succeeded in emptying the vessel
entirely. On the 7th, the tempest increased with such violence, that the
sea flowed into the ship uninterruptedly from the windward, and their
speedy destruction seemed quite inevitable; so that they were now of
opinion their only chance of safety was by cutting away the mainmast, which
might lighten the ship. This was done therefore immediately; and a large
wave fortunately carried the mast and yard clear away, by which the ship
worked with considerably less strain and violence. The wind and waves too,
now became less violent, and they again baled out the water.
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