Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 659

1842.

Loss of the Madagascor.

637

ferred Mr. Oliver and the others to the second cutter, and received an equal portion of Lascars from her into the first cutter. But from the high cross sea that was running, this was found impracticable; for had the two boats come in collision, it would have been inevi- table destruction to both. Preparing the boats and embarking occupied from 4 till 5 o'clock of the morning of the 20th of Sep- teinber, when I finally quitted the unfortunate Madagascar.

Ten minutes after, the vessel was in flames from the funnel to the after part of the skylight in the quarter deck, and the main mast gone and hanging over the side. The weather at this time was threatening and unsettled, with a strong northeast gale and high sea. Being so near the equinox, I thought it most advisable to steer for the land in hopes of falling in with a fishing boat, as I had passed several the day before; but in this I was disappointed, the unfavor- able aspect of the weather probably preventing their remaining out at sea. At 10 minutes to 10 A. M., the steamer blew up with a loud report, and we saw the immense column of smoke from the explo sion, being I suppose about twelve miles from her at the time. had been my wish to have remained close by, and have seen the last of this ill fated vessel, but the state of the sea and weather would not admit of doing so without almost certain destruction to all those in the two boats.

It

The second cutter was in company with me for several hours when I suddenly lost sight of her; the sea at this time (about noon) was very high, and I came to the conclusion that she must have swamped; for in my own boat, although I had packed the men around the gunwale of the boat as close as they could possibly sit together, as being the best means available of keeping out the water, still several seas broke in, and it was with the greatest difficulty she was kept free. At one time, having shipped a heavy sea, the boat apparently became water-legged; so that we scarcely ven- tured to hope that we should succeed in freeing her. We could show no other sail than a blanket, and with great difficulty kept the boat from being overwhelmed by the heavy cross sea that was running.

We reached the land near Breaker Point about 10 o'clock P. M. During the night we had several narrow escapes, from being strand- ed on the reef and scattered rocks off the Point. At one time the rocks were not more than six or eight feet from the boat, with a high rolling sea dashing against them, while the dark and gloomy right, the unsettled weather, and all of us drenched to the skin from spray and tops of the seas combing over us, added to the horrors of our

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