then took the launch in tow,
and endeavoured to pull her out; but the force and rapidity of the
current rendered it impossible to do so. The situation of the Crescent
became every instant more perilous; the gale had increased, and the
wind, which had veered round to the north-west, blew direct on shore,
forcing the vessel further on the shoal. As a last attempt to save the
ship, the captain directed that the bower anchor should be let go, and
the ship lightened by heaving the guns, shot, balls, &c., overboard.
Little good resulted from this step; and then the water was started
and the provisions thrown overboard out of the fore and aft holds.
Pumping now became useless, as the water had risen to the hatches; and
when at last the cable parted, all hopes of saving the vessel were
abandoned, and at half-past six in the morning of the 6th of December
the masts were cut away by the captain's orders, and she lay a
helpless wreck. The boats which, until this time, had been lying off
in tow, broke their hawsers; and when the people on board found it
impossible to regain the ship, from the force of the current, they
made for the shore, and fortunately all succeeded in reaching it, with
the exception of one of the cutters, which was lost with all her crew.
Lieutenant Henry Stokes, who was in one of the other boats, fearing
that she would be capsized, jumped overboard, and attempted to swim on
shore, but had not strength to buffet with the waves, and was drowned.
The storm continued to increase as the day advanced, and the men on
board the wreck being completely exhausted, they piped to breakfast,
and a dram was served round. At one o'clock, P.M., a raft was
commenced, and in about an hour it was completed and launched, and
placed under the charge of Lieutenant John Weaver, of the Marines, Mr.
Thomas Mason, clerk, and Mr. James Lavender, midshipman. The crew of
the raft was composed chiefly of the sick, or those least capable of
exerting themselves for their own preservation. When the raft left the
ship, the captain and gallant crew of the Crescent gave three hearty
cheers to their companions, whom they were never likely to behold
again. It is hard to say which of the parties was in greatest peril,
or nearest to destruction; but in all such cases, those who are
obliged to wait for the awful moment, are subjected to more intense
mental suffering than those who act, and are enabled to take any
measures, however perilous, for saving t