dare the stormy seas of those regions, in the depth of
winter. Anxiety to hasten on to the scene of active
operations induced her commander to try the only re
maining chance of making a tolerable passage ; and
confidence in his own resources, in case of difficulty,
made him bold and restless. The heavy winds from the
D 2
36 AN EXPEDIENT.
southward , which had so long prevailed, had baffled all
the usual calculations. He had himself, as well as his
chief officer, spent several years upon the coast of
Africa, yet neither of them had ever before witnessed
such weather. Could it have been foreseen, it is pro
bable that the western route, by Rio Janeiro, which is
the one more usually chosen by sailing vessels, would
have been preferred : but, under present circumstances,
there remained no other resource but the one they
adopted ; unless, indeed , they had run all the way back
to St. Helena for fuel, which would have caused far
greater delay
On the first day of their standing away, it became
more than ever apparent, that, being very light, and in
fact scarcely drawing five feet and a half of water, as
she was really flat-bottomed, the vessel fell so much to
leeward that she made very little progress on a wind
and in a heavy sea ; and, in short, that her deep move
able keels were far from sufficient to counteract this
tendency. It therefore became of the utmost im
portance to endeavour to invent some additional means
of remedying this inconvenience.
Calling to mind his former experience on the coast of
Holland, and remembering the great advantage which
the flat-bottomed Dutch vessels derive from the use of
their lee-boards, when sailing in light winds or close
hauled , with a head sea, it occurred to the commander
that something of a similar kind might be adopted on
the present occasion. The officers all concurred in this
suggestion, and, when all are animated with the same
cordial and enterprising spirit, few things are found to
AN EXPEDIENT . 37
be so difficult as they at first appear. It is the mutual
reliance upon each other, in the moment of difficulty,
which enables British seamen boldly and successfully to
brave many perils, which a moment's doubt or hesita
tion might render insurmountable.
PLAN OF A LEE-BOARD USED ON BOARD THE NEMESIS.
பே
Walr
Line
2 22 2 2 2 2
1 Main piece, made of birch , 4 inches by 12 . 6 Beam covered with iron , for lee- board to
2 Niue floats, 7 ft. 8 in . long , l1 in . broad , work on .
and 24 thick . 7 Iron clamp , extending 2 feet, tin . thick .
3 Two-inch plank. 8 After-gry, for tricing up.
4 Iron braces , lt in. thick, to strengthen it . 9 Fore-ditto , to steady heel.
5 Ring -bolt to get it in and out with.
10}Upper guys.
N.B. The chain guys were all set up with a rope and tackle .
The above wood-cut will sufficiently explain the
nature of the contrivance adopted on this occasion,
without the assistance of minute and tedious descrip
tion. It is only necessary to remark , that, in addition
to the four chains which are seen in the plan, a fifth
was found necessary , to keep the lee-board close to
the side of the vessel. It was secured to the lower end
of the lee-board at its centre, and , having then been
carried across the vessel's bottom, was fastened to the
opposite side by a rope and tackle. The whole con
38 HINTS TO STEAMERS.
trivance appears to have been very cleverly managed, and
much ingenuity was shown by the mechanics, in adapt
ing the means at hand to the necessities of the moment.
Thus equipped, the Nemesis proceeded on her voyage,
and was found to derive great assistance from this new
contrivance. It was found that her lee-way was re
duced fully one half, as ascertained by careful observa
tion. As there appeared such decided evidence of the
utility of a lee-board of this description, it is probable
that hereafter all steamers having a light draught of
water, and being very flat-bottomed, particularly if
1
bound on distant voyages, will be provided with some
thing of this kind , so that it may be shipped on or off,
as required.
Another remark, perhaps worthy of being attended
to, suggested itself on this occasion, and it has been
frequently confirmed since — namely, that no steamer,
constructed according to the model of the Nemesis,
should be sent to sea upon a long and uncertain voyage,
without having a fixed keel running the whole way fore
and aft, and bolted strongly through her bottom. This 1
would be found of the greatest possible utility at sea, 1
and it could be easily taken off, and the moveable keels
put on whenever the vessel were employed upon a coast
or in river navigation .
It may further be questionable, in the event of a
smaller steamer being intended to be sent out, whether
it would not be both safer and less expensive to send it
in pieces, and have it put together by the mechanics 1
and engineers belonging to it, at the place where it 1
might be destined for use, than to send it ready equip
THE NEMESIS IN A GALE . 39
ped, to make its own way to its destination by steam
and canvass, with all the necessary risk.
We will now once more pursue our voyage . The
south -east trade-wind, which for several days before had
brought a heavy swell, and the strong breezes of which
had gradually broken up into squalls and rain, now left
the vessel entirely, and terminated in a calm some
what suddenly, on the 14th June, in about latitude
26° 16 ' S., and longitude 0° 41 ' E. It was therefore
necessary once more to resort to steam . She was still a
thousand miles from the Cape ; but, fortunately, a light
breeze springing up on the following day, she again
trusted herself to canvass only.
Gradually the breeze freshened on the subsequent
days, until, at last, about the 18th, it amounted to a
moderate gale, with that high and heavy sea which all
who have visited the Cape will long remember ; threat
ening, every now and then, to break on board, or poop
the ship : but the steady little vessel rose to it like a
swan, and never shipped one heavy or dangerous sea.
Confidence in all her qualities daily increased, and,
with a strong breeze on the quarter, she was now sailing
under canvass only, at the rate of eight to nine and a
half knots an hour. The lee-board was found at all
times useful in making the ship stanch under sail ;
but, as it was constructed in haste, and only with such
materials as were at hand, it required to be repaired
and strengthened several times.
On the 20th June, in about 36° 54' S.L. and 11 ° 20 '
E.L., the wind suddenly veered round to the southward
again, and a strong current was found to be setting
40 DANGERS OF THE CAPE .
dead against her, at the rate of nearly forty miles a day ;
>
it was therefore deemed necessary again to stand away
a little more, although her distance from the Cape at
that time was less than three hundred and fifty miles.
The resolution to stand away to the westward, on the
21st, seems to have been the only judicious course ; for,
at that time, there was little probability of her being
able to reach even Saldanha Bay, which is near the
Cape, against the swell and strong current ; while, had
she been carried to leeward of that point, there would
have been no chance of her reaching the Cape at that
season of the year, without first running up to St. He
lena for coals. Had she even made Saldanha Bay, no
fuel would have been procured there.
At length, on the 29th, being still two hundred and
thirty miles from the Cape, but well down to the south
ward, and it appearing that there was sufficient fuel left
to carry her into port, the steam was for the last time
got up. On the morning of the 1st July, the remark
able land of the Table Mountain, and the conical peak
to the southward of it, were well in sight. The Neme
sis had made a long and tiresome voyage in the most
unfavourable season of the year, and the anxiety which
had been shared by all on board may well be conceived .
The dangers of the Cape, at that time of year, have not
been exaggerated ; and, indeed, none but small vessels
venture into Table Bay at all. From her small draught
of water, the Nemesis might come under this class, par
ticularly as her steam would at all times give her an
advantage over other vessels. On the 1st July, much
to the astonishment of every one at Cape Town, she
ARRIVAL AT THE CAPE. 41
was descried , late in the evening, quietly steaming into
Table Bay.
After all her trials upon this her first voyage, the
Nemesis had suffered as yet no material injury. Every
part of her machinery was in perfect order ; but, having
exhausted all her fuel, and the greater part of her water
and provisions, she was now only drawing about four
feet and a half water ; her mean immersion, on leaving
England, having been six feet. She had been ninety
five days on the voyage, principally owing to the un
usual weather she had encountered .
42 TABLE BAY.
CHAPTER III.
Table Bay - In the Winter months — Nemesis visited by the Governor
-Curiosity of the people at an iron vessel — Trip round the Bay
Scenery - Table Mountain — Crowds of natives — Cape Town— De
parture from — General remarks on the coast—Cape Lagullas - Pro
posed Lighthouse on it — Different routes to the eastward Mozam
bique Channel Orders to proceed through it - Cleared for Port
-
Essington — More “ mystery" — Tremendous gale in the Mozambique
Channel Serious accident — The vessel begins to split in two —
Wheel carried away – Weather moderates — Port Natal — Dangerous
state of the vessel— Temporary repairs — Gale increases — Cape Vidal
- Iron plates continue to split — Almost hopeless condition Exer
tions of the crew — Moderation of the gale — Providential escape —
Anchors in smooth water.
During the winter season, few vessels, and those only
of light burden, venture into Table Bay, exposed as it is
to the full fury of the north-west gales. Men-of-war,
and the few large merchant-vessels which have occasion
to touch at the Cape, prefer running into Simon's Bay,
which is on the opposite side of the long tongue of land,
or cape, which distinguishes that coast. There they lie
securely sheltered ; but the distance from Cape Town by
land is not less than eighteen miles, the greater part over
a heavy, dreary road of white sand . The communica
tion, therefore, is as tedious as the road is unattractive,
and Cape Town is little frequented during the winter
MYSTERY AND CURIOSITY . 43
months, though the season is in other respects most
inviting.
The Nemesis, however, had little cause for fear in
Table Bay, her light draught of water enabling her to
anchor in a well-sheltered cove, near the new stone jetty,
which has recently been constructed. There she lay X
snug and safe, and ready to recommence the task of
coaling. It was almost dreary to behold the dark
and gloomy-looking steamer, all alone, or nearly so,
within that noble bay. At other seasons, many stately
ships, bound to every quarter of the globe, would have
been found there. But now, almost alone at anchor,
and so near the town, all eyes were turned towards the
stranger ; and when the curious asked whence she came
or whither she was bound, or what the object of her
voyage, and why, in such a season, she should tempt the
eastern seas, none knew, and none could guess, and
“ Mystery ” was still her name.
On the second day after her arrival, the governor of
the colony paid a visit on board, and, as he appeared to
take the greatest interest in all that related to her con
struction and equipment, the steam was got up, and the
whole party were carried round the bay, apparently
much to their satisfaction and enjoyment. The foremost
gun was fired in every position, and with different charges
of powder, to shew its power and range ; and the inte
rest awakened as to the future destination of the vessel
was much increased by what they then witnessed .
Had anything further been wanting to add to the in
terest of the trip, enough would have been found in the
beautiful scenery of the Table Mountain , and the Moun
44 CAPE TOWN IN A BUSTLE .
tain Lion frowning on the pretty scattered town beneath.
Varied by the foliage and the gardens which enliven it,
it slopes gradually from the mountain's side towards the
bay, looking gay and happy ; while two large batteries
near the water's edge give promise of protection. Every
thing contributed to make the day remembered ; and as
the Nemesis, returning from her trip, approached the
landing -place, thousands came to greet her. To the
astonishment of all, she ran in close to the side of the
old jetty, where no vessel had ever been seen before.
Nothing could exceed the wonder of the people at seeing
so long and large a vessel floating alongside their old
wooden pier, usually frequented only by boats. It cre
ated quite an excitement in quiet Cape Town, and the
steady, sober-thinking Dutchmen could hardly bring
themselves to believe that iron would float at all, and
still less with such astonishing buoyancy.
Scarcely had the governor and his suite landed, when
hundreds, one might almost say thousands, of curious
!
people crowded on board. The report that an iron steamer
was lying close to the town had spread so fast, and had
excited so much curiosity, that even the sick made it an
excuse for an airing ; and such a motley crowd of people
of every caste and colour as gathered round the vessel
is rarely to be met with elsewhere. The negro, the
Hottentot, the Caffir, and the Malay, with all the inter
>
mediate shades of colour, hastened down with idle curi
osity ; while the respectable Europeans and colonists,
young and old, were admitted on board, and seemed 1
delighted to gaze on something new.
As it was desirable that as much coal as possible
REPAIRS AND REFITTING . 45
should be taken on board before the vessel was compelled
to haul off, owing to the falling of the tide, no time was
lost in commencing the troublesome process. Even this
did not at all deter the visiters, who continued to suc
ceed each other in crowds, in spite of the inconvenience
they suffered. By the active assistance of the agents of
the vessel, and the hire of an immense number of coolies,
no less than one hundred tons of coal were put on board
in little less than three hours, though, of course, not
properly stowed away. AA great saving was thus made
of boat-hire and other expenses, which would have been
incurred in sending the coal out to her proper anchorage.
Several repairs were now to be made with all expe
dition. The drop, or false rudder, was first to be re
stored, and required to be much strengthened. This
was a very essential matter ; and a suggestion now oc
curred worth noticing, namely, that in the event of other
vessels of the same description being sent to sea, they
should be provided with some means of being able com
pletely to choke the rudder temporarily, or prevent
its action altogether, while at sea, in case of its being
found requisite to repair the drop-rudder. The want of
some means of keeping the rudder stationary while
repairing it at sea was frequently felt, and something
might easily be provided to effect this object.
It was also found requisite to strengthen ( technically
to “ fish ” ) both the lower masts, which were originally
scarcely stout enough for the size of the vessel, at all
events during the Cape gales, though the spars were
good, and have stood firmly ever since. The decks were
also to be caulked throughout, and, with other less im
.
46 DEPARTURE FROM THE CAPE.
portant repairs, the whole delay at the Cape amounted
to nine clear days.
On the 11th July, all being completed, she once more
stood out of Table Bay, with the cheers and hearty good
wishes of all for her success, although they wondered
what her mysterious destination could be. Night was
now fast setting in ; and, while the Nemesis is standing
away from the bay, and shaping her course for the
night well down towards the southward, we will pause
to make a few observations , which will render her sub
sequent proceedings more easily understood .
Generally speaking, among those who have occasion
to sail to the eastward of the Cape, or to touch there,
the appellation of Cape of Good Hope is made to apply
to Cape Town and Table Bay, in which it is situated.
But, strictly speaking, the Cape of Good Hope is the
extremity of a peninsula , and distant upwards of thirty
miles from Cape Town to the southward . It is the ter
minating promontory of the south - western extremity
of Africa, and completely shuts in a deep bay on its
eastern side, called False Bay, at the bottom of which
is Simon's Bay. About two miles farther to the south
ward lies the low rock not inappropriately called the
Bellows, which might also be very aptly named the Blow
hard, for Æolus himself could hardly have chosen a
more appropriate place upon which to plant his throne.
Scarcely have you rounded this point, which in the
present instance was passed at the distance of only four
or five miles, than, proceeding gradually to the eastward,
you soon come to a headland, ominously named Danger
Point, and thence to Lagullas, the southernmost point
CAPE LAGULLAS . 47
of the great continent of Africa, about thirty leagues
distant from the Cape of Good Hope. The land about
it is rather low, but may be seen at the distance of
several leagues, while an isolated hill, at a little distance
from it, called the Gunner's Coin, may be distinguished
much further off, and is used as a landmark for ships
passing far out at sea. The extensive bank of sand and
mud which runs out from it towards the south-east is
not readily forgotten by those who have had occasion to
experience the disagreeable pitching sea which rolls
heavily upon it. Frightful accidents to shipping have
sometimes occurred in these parts ; and the want of a '
lighthouse upon the Cape was so severely felt, that it
was resolved, at a public meeting held for the purpose at
Cape Town, to collect subscriptions from all quarters and
all countries, for the purpose of placing a beacon-light
upon a point of so much importance to the mariners of
every nation. Happily, in the eleventh hour, it is said
the government stepped forward , and, taking upon itself
the task which the benevolence of private individuals had
so generously proposed to accomplish, added one more
laurel to the wreath which the greatest maritime nation
claims to wear. In the present instance, the route of
the Nemesis lay about six or seven miles from this point ;
and, on the 14th, having got well to the eastward of it,
she once more trusted to her sails alone, and the engines
were allowed to rest.
Now it is evident that a steamer bound to Singapore,
or to any place still further eastward, would have a
choice of three routes ; either she might make her pas
sage from Table Bay towards the Straits of Sunda,
48 THE MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL .
between the islands of Java and Sumatra, trusting prin
cipally to her sails, the winds being generally strong in
those latitudes, and thereby saving her fuel ; or she
might run from the Cape up to the Mauritius, to take
in coal, which has been done by many steamers, and
thence proceed by the Straits of Malacca ; or, lastly,
she might run through the Mozambique Channel, be
tween the Continent of Africa and the island of Mada
gascar, and, touching at Ceylon for coals, proceed
likewise down the Straits of Malacca to her destination.
On the present occasion, the Nemesis had distinct
orders to choose the latter route, the season of the year
being considered the most favourable for it, and it being
thought desirable that a visit should be paid to the
island of Johanna, the most frequented of the groupe
called the Comoro Islands, situated at the northern end
of the Mozambique Channel. This island will be more
particularly alluded to in its proper place. Thence she
was to proceed direct to Ceylon for coals . But even
this was only known to her commander ; and all that
either officers or men could learn about her destination,
when they left the Cape, was that they were at once to
proceed through the Mozambique Channel, but with
what object they knew not.
It is rather remarkable that a ship's company should
have been kept so well together, considering that they
had not the slightest intimation of what their ultimate
destination was to be, though fully armed and equipped
for any service . Indeed, as if to make the “ mystery "
more complete, the vessel , on clearing out from Table
Bay, had been announced as bound for Port Essington ,
A STORM . 49
a scarcely heard -of settlement, then in its earliest in
fancy, upon the northern coast of New Holland ; - a
most improbable destination.
Let us, however, now pass on without delay to one of
the most eventful periods of her history. Six days had
scarcely passed since her departure from the Cape,
when a new and quite unforeseen danger awaited her,
and it rapidly increased, without any port being at hand
for refuge. It has very rarely happened that a ship
has been so near destruction , and yet escaped at last.
The first « few days of her passage alternated between
gales and calins ; and the high sea which she encoun
tered only gave her aa further opportunity of proving the
good qualities which she possessed as a sea-boat. Cape
Francis, on the southern side of the coast of Africa,
within the colony, near Algoa Bay, was in sight from
the mast-lead on the 14th. The barometer began to
fall on the 15th, and at length, on the following day,
had almost sunk to twenty-eight inches. Vivid flashes
of lightning now ran along the sky to the westward ;
the wind , which had been strong and steady from the
N.N.W., freshened to a heavy gale ; every appearance
threatened an increase rather than a diminution of the
storm ; and the sea became so high and heavy, that it
threatened every moment to overwhelm the long, low
Nemesis ; for the sail that could be put upon her
scarcely sufficed to keep her before the sea.
The float -boards had been taken off the wheels before
the gale commenced, and she had continued under
canvass ever since. Algoa Bay had been passed long
before the weather had become so threatening ; to
VOL . I. E
50 FEARFUL ACCIDENT .
return to it was now impossible ; the gale went on
increasing, the sea rose fearfully, and the ship's course
was slightly altered, so as to carry her further away
from the land . Her danger even at this time was
great, as she lay so low upon the sea, which heaved its
convulsive waves high above her.
In the night, or rather about three o'clock in the
morning of the 17th, a tremendous sea at length struck
her upon the larboard quarter. Her whole frame
quivered with the blow ; and so violent was the shock,
that the first impression of all on board was, that the
ship had been actually riven asunder. The violence of
the blow made her broach to the sea and wind ; but,
happily, she was got before it again as speedily as
possible . It was no time to hesitate, or to be idle ;
every man was on deck, ready and anxious to use his
best exertions ; and it is in such moments of trial that
the true British seaman shows the hardy, oaken stuff of
which he is made.
As daylight dawned, the injuries which the vessel had
received were soon discovered . The starboard paddle
wheel had been seriously damaged ; in fact, a conside
rable portion of it had been nearly carried away, and
only hung by a very small attachment, by which it was
then dragging through the water.
Scarcely had the necessary means been adopted to
save this portion of the wheel, when another and more
serious injury was found to have happened to the body
of the ship itself. An immense perpendicular crack
was discovered on both sides of the vessel, just before
the after paddle or sponson beam , extending almost
FEARFUL ACCIDENT . 51
entirely through the second iron plate from the top,
and also through a small portion of the upper one.
These had been broken asunder with such violence, that,
at the worst point of the injury, the plate had bulged
outwards in such a manner, that one portion of the
broken surface projected to the extent of about two
inches, leaving a most formidable opening in the ship's
side. In reality, the ship had begun to separate amid
ships, from one side to the other. There was every
probability, too, that the crack, which at this time was
nearly two feet and a half in length, would rapidly
extend itself by the working of the ship, unless the
weather moderated very speedily. There was every
cause for alarm, and little prospect of being able, even
temporarily, to repair so serious an injury in the then
state of the weather.
It was evident that the broken paddle-wheel could not
long hold together, and scarcely any one thought it pos
sible to save the broken portion of it from being lost.
But aa little ingenuity, stimulated by the necessity of the
moment, often suggests the most effectual contrivances,
which are, after all, the most simple. The great object
was to secure it temporary in some way or other ; so
that, as soon as the rim became completely broken
through, the mass might hang suspended by some other
means from the ship's side. The vessel was rolling
heavily, so that there was little chance of being able
to pass a rope round it ; but the ingenious thought
quickly suggested itself, that one of the large boat
anchors would make a capital fish - hook for the purpose.
With this, one of the arms was at last caught hold of,
E 2
!
52 HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS .
and supported, until the rim was completely torn
through ; and then, by means of a stout tackle, the
large broken portion of the wheel was, with some diffi
culty, hauled on board .
So far there had been good fortune in the midst of
trouble, for, had this portion of the wheel been entirely
lost, there is good reason to fear, as will presently be
seen , that with only one wheel , which might also have
easily become injured, the unfortunate Nemesis would
very probably have been unable to outlive the still worse
weather which she afterwards encountered, and would
have scarcely reached a port, even in aa sinking state.
And here we may make two observations. First, that
the practice of taking off the float-boards under sail,
which, in some steamers, is made a regular exercise for
the men, at all times materially weakens the paddle
wheel, particularly in a heavy sea, and may endanger it
altogether. Secondly, that an additional paddle-ring,
running round the centre of the paddle-arms, and tying
them together, contributes very much to the strength
of the wheel ; and further, that the paddle-centre should
never be made of cast iron . It is the most important
part of the whole wheel, and should have the utmost
strength , which wrought iron alone can give it. It
should here be mentioned , that even on this occasion
eight only, out of the sixteen float-boards, had been
removed , otherwise very probably still more serious
damage would have happened . In order to provide
against the recurrence of any similar accident, orders
were subsequently given , to prepare several small bars
of iron, which were to be screwed on in the place of
PORT NATAL . 53
every second float -board removed ; so that, if eight
float-boards were taken off, four small bars of iron would
be put on in their places. Thus the wheel would not
lose its proper support and connection . But, from the
experience which had now been gained , it was rarely
afterwards thought expedient to take the float-boards
off at all, and certainly only in smooth water, and with
>
every appearance of settled weather.1 The portion of
the paddle- wheel which had been torn away on this
occasion comprised no less than six of the paddle
arms, or about two- fifths of the entire circumference of
the wheel . This large mass of iron could not have
weighed less than fifteen to sixteen cwt.
On the following day, the 18th, the weather mode
rated considerably, and the vessel proceeded, with the
help of one wheel only, at the rate of about four knots
an hour. In the mean time, every possible effort was
used to get the broken wheel repaired ; and, in the
short space of three days after the accident, the broken
portion was got over the vessel's side with extraordinary
labour, and was ultimately secured by bolts in its ori
ginal place.
On the 20th, she passed within forty miles of Port
Natal (become so famous as the place the eminent
Dutch farmers, from the Cape Colony, have attempted
to make independent.) But there was little chance of
being able to make the necessary repairs in such a
? It should be remarked, that the engines of the Nemesis were not
fitted with the improved apparatus for disconnecting the shaft, which has
now become in frequent use. The operation was, consequently, tedious
and inconvenient.
1
54 PERILS OF THE NEMESIS .
place. As the weather had now moderated, although
there was still a heavy sea, it was thought better to
continue her voyage ; as, in case of need, she would
have Delagoa Bay, belonging to the Portuguese, to
take shelter in . There she would be certain of finding
good anchorage, and a convenient place to lay the vessel
on shore, to ascertain the real extent of the damage she
had sustained. But she was not permitted even now to
reach the port without encountering other dangers; and
it seemed almost as if the elements conspired to make
her voyage hazardous and uncertain, beyond what is
usually experienced.
The dangerous condition of the vessel, after the iron
plates on both sides had begun to open, could be con
cealed from none on board ; but, as long as the weather
was moderate, there appeared little doubt of her being
able to reach Delagoa Bay without very great risk of
foundering. On the following day, however, the 21st, the
wind again began to freshen from the north -east, an un
usual quarter at that time of the year. Again the mighty
sea arose, and damped the reviving hopes of all, and the
heavy cross swellcould be looked on only with deep alarm .
Gradually, the opening in the ship's sides, which
hitherto had been sufficiently limited to cause her to
take in but little water, began to extend itself in an
alarming manner. Indeed, it was impossible to guess
where it would stop, or how any efficient means could
be adopted to check it. Both sides were so bad that it
1 was difficult to say which was worst. The vessel was
evidently working amidships, as it is called ;; or, in other
words, it had not only opened up and down, but was
TEMPORARY EXPEDIENTS .. 55
moving in and out from side to side. Moreover, the
.
weather threatened to become rather worse than better ;
and, to add to the difficulty, the furnace of the larboard
boiler was now found to be likewise injured, and, in
fact, could scarcely be used at all. Thus it became more
and more uncertain whether the engines could be kept
working, so as to pump the water out of the hold ; to
say nothing of urging the vessel along.
Temporary expedients were at once to be resorted to ;
repairs were wanted at various parts at the same time,
and every hand on board was now to be occupied day
and night in contriving means to keep the vessel afloat.
In short, the danger was so evident, that, from the highest
to the lowest, all alike were eager to emulate each other's
efforts. The heavy sea which, since the change of wind,
had met the full current, and rolled heavily behind the
vessel, threatened to break over her every instant. To
provide as well as possible against this danger, four
breadths of stout plank were secured , as strongly as
possible, over the stern and along the quarters, in order
to keep the sea out, or at all events to break its force.
So heavy was the sea, that at this time the main rudder
was sometimes completely out of water, and at the same
moment the jib-boom was under it.
In the midst of this, with the hope of relieving the
strain, by diminishing the top weight at the extremities,
the aftermost or large stern gun was with great labour
dismounted from its pivot-carriage, and safely deposited 1
in one of the after coal-bunkers ; and the bower anchors,
which had already been brought in-board, were now
dragged further amidships. This eased the ship a little.
56 HOPES AND FEARS .
But gradually as the day advanced, so did the wind
increase, and hourly the sea became more dangerous. It
was now running so high, that at times it fairly stopped
the engine, and it became necessary for an engineer to
stand by constantly, to help to turn it over the centre.
An attempt was, however, made on the 22nd to
effect a temporary repair to the ship's sides, which were
straining very much. For this purpose, two or three rivets
were cut out on each side of the crack in the plates,
and a portion of a new iron plate was with difficulty fixed
on the outside, upon the worst part, and bolted through
into a piece of stout oak plank, placed across it on the
inside. The openings had by this time extended down
wards more than threefeet and a half, on both sides of
the vessel .
On the evening of the 23rd, the ship was wore round,
to try to stand off from the land for the night, but was
found to make so much water upon the larboard -tack, that
it was impossible to keep her in that position , and the
only resource was to stop the engine, and make her lie
to under sail all night. The anxiety of all on board may
be imagined, but can scarcely be described ; none shrunk
from the heavy task of duty, but all felt that their situ
ation was one of extreme danger and uncertainty, though
not as yet of despair.
They were, at this time, at no great distance from
Cape Vidal ; but a tremendous current was setting to
* the south-west, at the rate of more than fifty miles a
day, and helped to throw up a very heavy, dangerous
sea . At length the morning dawned once more, and, as
the day advanced, the north-east gale had moderated ;
IMMINENT DANGER. 57
and gradually it declined, until, in the afternoon , the
wind changed round towards the south-east. The re
pairs to the damaged wheel were by this time com
pleted , and although the injury to the ship's sides was
hourly increasing, the hopes of all on board redoubled
as they saw the double power of both wheels once more
at work. But Delagoa Bay, for which they struggled
still so hard, was not less than two hundred miles distant.
As night closed in again, the angry wind began to howl,
and burst upon the fated bark in heavy gusts and
squalls. And all around was dark and solemn, as the
fate which seemed again to threaten misery and de
struction.
The only sail she now carried was torn away in shreds,
and the steam itself had little power to stand the fury
of the winds and waves. At length it lulled : again she
moved, and yet again the mighty storm increased , and
with alternate hopes and fears the morning's dawn was
looked for. She heaved and strained most fearfully,
the leaks increased , the openings spread, and yet she
floated . 'Twas hoped that, as the day advanced, the
storm would yield ; but hour after hour, as it passed,
had brought no sign of change or promise of amend
ment. Their danger was at this time imminent ; but it
became so evident to all that the only chance of safety
lay in using unremitting exertions, and labouring day
and night with hearty good-will, that their very efforts
produced confidence, which, in its turn, redoubled all
their strength. Nevertheless, it seemed as if new dan
gers were constantly in store.
The gallant vessel still maintained her character as a
58 THE PERIL INCREASES .
good sea -boat. But the leaks continued to increase, her
sides strained and opened fearfully, and the apertures
had by this time extended upwards completely to the
deck, and downwards far below the water-line . As the
vessel heaved and rolled from side to side, the broken
edges of the iron plates sometimes opened to the extent
of an inch, while their lateral motion, as the vessel
worked , in the part that had bulged, was frequently not
less than five inches. As the storm increased, it was
found that in the short space of two and a half hours,
and in spite of every exertion to strengthen the part, the
openings on both sides had further increased in length
no less than eighteen inches.
The motion of the vessel, in such a pitching cross sea,
was very quick ; and every time the sides opened, the
rush of wind and water through them was terrific.
Luckily, the engines were still able to work , and conti
nued to pump the water out very fast, although the open
ings were actually close to the engine-room itself. But
the dangerous state of the vessel was appalling, not only
from the fear of her separating amidships, but from the
chance of the bilge-pumps becoming choked, or the fires
being put out by the rush of water.
The struggle was evidently to be one for life or death ;
and who could then forget his God, his home, and all he
loved on earth, or hoped in heaven ? Yet each one
struggled hard for rescue ; and, as he strove and worked
his utmost, clinging to the bark he hardly thought to
save, not one but whispered forth his silent prayer, and
felt his strength redoubled . Every man was hard at
work, trying all the resources which invention and the
CONSOLATION ! 59
impulse of danger could suggest, to keep the vessel from
breaking asunder. And yet so desperate did the attempt
appear, that, for one passing moment, it seemed as if
their efforts were fruitless, and the courage even of the
stoutest heart began to fail. The utmost strength of
man appeared powerless to save amid so many trials.
She groaned and worked tremendously, and reports N
were brought in quick succession from different parts of
the vessel, that she was fast breaking up in pieces.
Many trembled in their hearts, that dared not show their
fears, because alarm becomes contagious, and tends to
paralyze the strongest arm. But some retired, and for t
a moment prayed to Him, who only now could save ;
and others tried to hold their pen, and tell their last and
parting tale, yet paused and faltered in the effort.
In this dilemma, it was still necessary to inspire the
drooping spirits of the men with some new exertion.
The captain tried to smile, and, by a cool, collected
manner, sought to awaken hope which in secret he him
>
self could scarcely feel. “ You may smile, sir,”, said one
of the sturdiest of the men, a hardy boiler-maker by
trade, “ but you don't know the nature of iron ; how
should you ! " (as if in pity of his ignorance ), and then 1
1
added, as if for comfort, “ Ah, sir, when once it works
and cracks, as our sides are doing now , it's sure to go
on ; nothing can stop it . "
However, it was evident that talking about it would
not mend the matter, and all that could be said was,
“ The greater our danger, the more must our exer
>
tions be increased to counteract it.” And increased
they were. Every officer and man set-to again in ear
60 EXPEDIENTS .
nest, to try to keep the ship together; amongst them
: the chief officer, Lieutenant Pedder, was by no means
the least conspicuous, though every officer and man was
working with his utmost strength, in every quarter where
his services could be most effectual. The captain's voice
encouraged while his hand assisted. One party was
employed to nail down thick planks and spars upon the
deck, fore and aft, over the broken part of the ship ;
others were busy bolting the ends of them into the
sponson-beams, between the paddle-boxes ; while ano
ther party, engineers and firemen , were busy strength
ening the ship's sides below.
To understand this latter part of the condition of
affairs, it must be explained that, what in a wooden ship
X would be called the ribs, are, in an iron one, called the
“ angle-irons.” They are, in fact, strong angular bars,
extending up and down the ship's sides like ribs , having
a flat surface, to which the plates of iron are bolted.
These angle-irons, or ribs, are seventeen inches distant
from each other, and at about the centre, between two
of them , the crack had taken place in the plates of
iron. The accident had occurred precisely in the weak
est part of the vessel, amidships ; and it would seem pro
ble that, as there was a heavy cross sea in the Mozam
bique Channel when the misfortune happened, the head
of the vessel was held firm in the hollow of one sea at
the moment the top of another sea struck her heavily on
the quarter. It made her frame quiver ; and her length
and shallowness rendered her the more liable to suffer
injury from a similar blow. The mode in which the
permanent repairs were afterwards effected will be ex
EXPEDIENTS. 61
plained in the fifth chapter, p. 78 , together with the
method by which the recurrence of a similar accident
has been provided against in vessels more recently con
structed .
As regards the temporary repairs, it was evident that
two contrivances were necessary for holding the broken
plate together in its proper position : one that would
prevent the two broken edges from separating more
widely from each other ; the other, which would prevent
them from overlapping, or crossing one another.
In the first place, small blocks of wood were fixed across
between the angle-irons from one to the other, in such
a manner that they crossed each other like the letter X,
and gave support against the working of the ship, and
the tendency of the plates to overlap each other. Next,
strong bolts or bars of iron were passed through the
angle-irons from one to the other, and tightened by
means of a nut and screw at their extremities. By these
means, the angle- irons, being now strongly connected
together, were made to hold the edges of the broken
plates in contact between them, which, as long as the
bolts held good, would be quite sufficient as a tempo
rary repair. But all these contrivances were adopted
with extreme difficulty, and during a gale of wind, when
all attempts of the kind appeared desperate. Fortunately,
towards morning of the next day, the 26th, the gale
slightly moderated1 ; and these repairs being now com
pleted, as well as circumstances would permit, rendered
her in all respects stronger, so that she strained much
less than before.
By this time the land was not far distant, and the
62 SAFE AT LAST.
hopes of those who had most despaired revived again.
By degrees the haze began to clear ; and now what new
sensations crowded in the anxious mind ! what thrills
of joyous gratitude, as the straining eye first caught the
doubtful land ! The heavy sea had gradually diminished
as the Nemesis approached the coast, and she at length
ran into smooth water, near a bold cape. Never was the
sound of the running out of a cable after an almost
hopeless voyage heard with greater joy than on this
occasion. She was now safe at last, and rescued from
an almost desperate fate. Congratulations were mutual ;
and it may well be said that those who toil and share
X
their fears and hopes together become more firmly
bound in sympathy and friendship.
CAPE INYACHE . 63
CHAPTER IV . .
Anchors off Cape Inyache - Delagoa Bay - Slave Settlement of the Por
tuguese - English River - Alarm of the people at the approach of a
Steamer - Portuguese Fort - Hostile preparations -- Salute -Awk
-
ward mistake - Aide -de-camp's Visit - The Governor's civility. –
Openly encouraging the Slave -trade - Slaver in the River - Parsee
-
Merchant as interpreter — Poisonous atmosphere — White man dies
where the black man thrives - Trade in ivory and gold -dust
Governor afterwards removed for abetting the Slave -trade - Threat
Presents from Governor - Description of English River— The Temby
-Dundas — And Mattoll Character of the country and origin of
-
pestilence — Native tribes in the neighbourhood — Hollontontes—
Thievish propensities — Nemesis hauled on shore — Plague of locusts
Sky darkened by them — Came by a North -east and went away
by a South -west wind — Native feast of locusts — Dance and song.
The anchorage which the Nemesis had now so pro
videntially reached was situated close to Cape Inyache,
at the entrance of Delagoa Bay. This settlement, which
still belongs to the Portuguese, was once famous in the
annals of slavery, as one of the principal marts in which
that revolting traffic was carried on . It is still far from
being undeserving of the stigma which attaches to its
name, although it has greatly fallen from its once
thriving condition . It is situated on the eastern coast
of Africa (see map), and at daylight, on the morning of
the 27th July, 1840, the Nemesis steamed into the
64 DELAGOA BAY.
river which runs into the bay, and is known by the
name of English River.
The Portuguese have a small fort near its entrance,
from which the approach of the steamer was no sooner
discovered than a mighty stir was made. Steamers had
scarcely even been heard of, much less seen . The object
of her visit none could guess ; but all were conscious of
partaking more or less in both the sins and the profits
of the slave - trade ; and, therefore, all regarded the
approaching vessel as no friendly visiter. Guns were
made to bear, ammunition was got into readiness, and
every thing would have looked very formidable had it
not been fully known that a single shot from the stern
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.