ir lives could be saved; it was but a choice of death by fire or
water: to quit the ship must be fatal; they had seen the boat and its
crew swallowed up by the yawning waves, when the tempest raged less
fiercely than now, and she was too far from the shore to afford even a
ray of hope that the strongest swimmer might gain the beach. On the
other hand, to remain on board was to encounter a still more terrible
death--a burning funeral pile amidst the waters. While they hesitated
in doubt and horror, one of their fears was relieved,--the heavy sea
that washed incessantly over the wreck extinguished the fire. The ship
continued to drive at the mercy of the waves till about ten o'clock,
when she stranded, broadside to the shore, heeling on her port side
towards the sea.

The captain then ordered the main and mizen masts to be cut away, and
the foremast soon afterwards went by the board. At this juncture, a
man of the name of Connolly, a favourite with both officers and crew,
volunteered to jump overboard with a deep-sea line attached to his
body, in order to form a communication between the ship and the shore.
He made but a few strokes ere he was borne away by the eddy and
drowned.

The ship being lightened by the falling of the masts, righted herself
and got clear off the ground: there appeared some slight chance of
preservation, and every heart was buoyed up with hope that she might
be thrown high enough upon the beach to enable the people on shore to
render them some assistance.

She was driven nearer and nearer to the land--voices became more and
more audible, so as even to be recognised--in a few minutes more,
the perishing crew might be safe--when a heavy sea struck the ship,
the orlop deck gave way, and the port side fell in--many were swept
away,--those who had the power to do so, retreated to the starboard
side.

A most heartrending scene must that have been! The people were so
benumbed with cold and exhaustion, and paralysed by fear, that many of
them could no longer cling to the ropes and spars for support, and
every wave that broke over the wreck, washed away its victims.

Many in despair leaped overboard, and attempted to swim to shore, but
the eddy caused by the wreck was so strong, that they were carried
out to sea; and in spite of the attempts made by those on board to
rescue them, they all perished. Mr. Tucker, a midshipman, lost his
life in the endeavour to reach the bow of the ship.

About half an