n below.
Several of the men who were throwing down water fell from suffocation
with the buckets in their hands. To give more air to the men so
employed, the lower-deck ports were hauled up; but this rather
increasing than diminishing the density of the smoke, they were closed
again, and the after-hatchway shut down. The carpenter's attempt to
scuttle the after-part of the ship was also ineffectual.

Ten or fifteen minutes only had elapsed after the first alarm had been
given, before the flames raged with such fury, that it was impossible
to hoist out the boats; the jolly-boat had fortunately been lowered in
obedience to the captain's orders when he first went upon deck. As the
flames burst up the main-hatchway, dividing the fore from the
after-part of the ship, the captain ordered all hands to the
forecastle, and seeing that it was utterly beyond human power to
prevent the destruction of the vessel, he desired every man to provide
for his own safety.

The silent plague through the green timber eats,
And vomits out a tardy flame by fits;
Down to the keels, and upwards to the sails,
The fire descends, or mounts, but still prevails;
Nor buckets pour'd, nor strength of human hand,
Can the victorious element withstand.
DRYDEN'S _AEneid, Book V_.

The luckless ship was now wrapped in flames from amidships to
taffrail, and the scene of horror is beyond the powers of description.
Hundreds of human beings were assembled together on the forecastle,
bowsprit, and sprit-sail-yard. No boat had yet come to their
assistance. Their perilous situation had levelled all distinction of
rank; men and officers were huddled together, watching with despairing
hearts the progress of the fiery element, which threatened to hurry
them so quickly into eternity. Volumes of black smoke rose in huge
pillars from all parts of the ship, whilst far above the hissing and
crackling of the flames, as they ricked the masts and rigging, rose
the shrieks and death yells of the hapless men, who, unable to gain
the forecastle, had sought safety aloft, where the flames had now
reached them.

Some, rather than endure the horrible suspense, trusted themselves to
the mercy of the waves, and by plunging overboard, ended their lives
and sufferings in a watery grave. Many, in their agony, fell on their
knees, imploring God for that help which they despaired of receiving
from mortal agency. Perhaps these men would