Horrible Encounter With Sharks.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 54, 16 January 1851, Page 3

Horrible Encounter With Sharks.

The life of the mariner has, in all times, been fertile of the most extraordina y perils and vicissitudes. Among no other class of people do we find such miraculous preservations. such singularly exciiiug exhibitions of skill and endurance ; —such heroism in the v ryjus of dentil—and suih astounding contrivances of escape even when hope itself seems hopeless. The records of every nation teem with narratives of maii'ime enterprise. Volumes have been filled with recitals of sufferings surmounted and dangers overcome. We have occasionally, transcribed some of these thrilling recitals ; hut of all the tales of the seaman's trials there is probably none on record more touching than that which we uro now about to recount, because it not only presents the most aff'-cting example of patient fortitude but of honourable obedience under the most appalling difficulty, that ever occ irrcd even in the perilous course of the seamau's career. The narrative which follows, first appeared in a book entithd "The Life of a Sailor," written by Capta : n Chamier of the lloyal Navy. We regret that we do not possess a copy of that book, and that our only mean l ! of placing it before our readers is through a turn and mutilated extract from an old English paper. In that extract there ure several gaps, but a lively recollection of the original j story will we hope enab'a us tn fill up the | defective portions of the narrative. Here it i U. "The Magpie, a small schooner, under the command of Lieut. Smith, an active intelligent officer, wus ordered to cruise between Co!orados, a shoal at the western extremity of the island of Cuba and the llavannah, in order to intercept a piratical vessel, which had committed innumerable depredations both 011 shore and at sea, and which every trader had seen, but none could accurately describe. It was a service of the utmost importance, inasmuch as the existence of the vessel rendered liighjr insurances requisite: the merchant vessels dared not sail without a convoy, and the mm-of-war were otherwise in great re,jties» in every part of Colombia, and Mexico, t frfi&lecl the merchant from the rapacity of the (I'iH'orent governments, or from the constant revolutions which threw the weak entirely in the power of the strongest without a clnnoe of assistance. "The Magpie proceeded to her destination, and there remained, in hopes of capturing the marauder. It was one evening when the soa-hrccze had lulled, sail the calm was in being which occurs licloru the land-breeze r 0111 incnccs, that tin: schooner lay upon the iilent waters without a motion, with her head towards the slioie, and about eight miles dis-j

'ant from the Colorados. .S'inilli, who swept tlie horizon with Ins gla«s fioin the mail-head of his charge, until the twilight had died into darkness, was in his cabin, Hie mate on deck, the crew talking ovit past scenes, every thing apparently in the most perfect security, when nn event occurred, which I well know I cannot paint in the flowing colours the heart-rending tale deserves. " On llie Inrho.ird bow a small black clond had hung over the land; and, in tropical clim ites, almost invariably the clouds selling on the hills is the sign of the land-breeze bring nbou* to commence. The cloud, which i>t first s.emed o.ily of small dimensions, gradually increased; and the moon, which was shining brightly just over the vapour, perhaps made it appear darker thin it really was. The mate looked at the gathering blackness without apprehension, although some loreboding of approaching mischief seemed lo remitr him unquiet and uneasy, " Mr Smith," said the mute, looking down ilio hatch-way, " I think the land-breeze is coming ort rather strong, sir, the clouds look tcry black."—" Very well," replied Smith, " keep a sharp look-out I sliull he on d"ck myself in a moment." " It is a singular fact, tlie crew, who had been engaged in relating all kinds of wonderful events about five minutes belore the catastrophe occurred, became awfully silent j not a word escaped them : there seemed a preparatory stillness for death itself) or a lespcctlul fear at its approach. " A squall of wind, which must have been fearfully strong, seemed to burst from llie cloud alongside the schooner ; it reached her before the mats c.juld call the watch into activity. The vessel was taken aback ; and Mr. Smith, as lie put his fool upon tin; Iks', step ol the ladder, Inund his schooner upse", mid scarcely time had lie to reii li the deck belore she blink lo rise no more. "The crew amounting : n all 1021, happened luckily to be on deck, wi h the exception of two who wcro drowned in the schooner ; and in one minute they found themselves struggling in the water—their home, their ship, and some of their companions, lost for ever. The wild cry lor assistance from some, of surprise from other', and fear Iron all, seemed to drown the wind ; for as if sent by I'rovidcncc to effect this single event no sooner had ilio schooner sunk than llie wind entirely ceased, a calm came on, the bright rays of the moon fell upon the wet faces ol the <.t-ug{ling j crew—most fortunately, as some would think, but in reality the mn'sl painfully unfortunate from what followed ; the boat on the booms of the schooner floated clear of the sinking vessel, and seemed prepared lor their salvation; the forc-ya'd-arm had some how git fixed 011 the gunwale, and as the schooner sunk, it naturally heeled the boal, until she was nearly upset and hall full of water, when the yard got disentangled, the schooner sunk, and the boat floated. " The only a-k of their safety was amply large enough to have saved llie 22 men who swam lo her : but such was the impetuosity occa sioned by their fright, that prudence was ovrrlooked ; and in the huriied exertion of eight or ten endeavouring to scramble in, a'l on one side, the half filled boat heeled below her gu •- wale in the water, and rolled over and over; some got across her keel- —the others held on by her—and all were safe lrom drowning. " Mr. Smith, who appears to have been a man of most consummate command and coolness, began to re ison willi his crew on the impossibility o.f their being saved, if tliey continued in their present position, for these who wero on the keel would shortly roll oil, and exertion and fatigue would soon force the others to relinquish their holds, or urge them lo endeavour forcibly to dislodge the possess ors from tll< ir quiet seßts. He pointed out the necessity of lighting the boat, of allowing only two men lo get iiito her, to bale her out, whilst the others supported by the gunwales which they kept uprigh', might remain in the water until the boat was in such n condition as lo receive more; and thus by degrees to ship the whole crew in security. '■ liven n this moment ol peril, the discipline of navy assumed its command. At the order of their officer the devoicd seamen at once relinquished their position and p-epured to rentier a cheerful and prompt obedience to all his wishes. "The sea in which the gallant fellows were immersed was known to teem with sharks, and it was therefore 11 matter of the utmost moment that nn time should be Inst in freeing the boal of water in order that they might escape from so voracious a fee. None were at that particular time to be seen, but it was well known that in, a sea so so prolific of thai dreadful enemy, they might be arno lg them in an instant. Docile, as if atill upon the deck ol their shipwrecked vessel, llie gallant cie>v lent n ready obedience to the cimiimnds of their energetic ofliecr. The boat which li id floated keel upwards wis forthwith righted and the process of bailing her out commenced. With ) llie inelfeitual means at their disposal it pro. Ed

n tedious operation. anil whilst the boat was yet scar-e oiig tliinl emptieJ tre ahum ol "S'mrlis'' was raised, and in the hurry to escape the threatened danger, si frener.il rush into the boat ensued, which yielding 'o Hie unequal pressure rolled again a helpless log upon the ocean —Some once more found refticre on her keel, whilst others clung t" ' ler uunwales for suppoit. No life was lost, bat the dorsal fin of tl.eir dread, d enemy wliii-h was seen to glisten in the cltar moonlight sufficed to sh<>»' that the alarm had not been entirely groundless " It was at lliis moment of penl Hint the influence of ail intelligent mid meritorious ollicer became conspicuous. Mr Smith pointed out clearlv and forcibly their increasing danger.*, demonstrating that unless the boat were rghted and freed of wa'er not a soul could hope to escape from tin* peiils that environed them. Once more tin' gallant band rendered a prompt obedience to their officers wishhut one among them continued to fling to the keel whence he was pushed by his nv>rc manly fellows. Smi'h urged them, for their own sakes, not lo give way again to « sudden panic but to labour diiigmMy and fearlessly iu bailing out the boat. 1 hinging that lie might only increase llie prevailing alarm by endeavouring It. persuade Ihi'in tliat sharks did not abound, ho very pnuhntly strove lo encouiago lhfin by oxplaiu'ng the cowardly nature t-f their (oe, and by assuring them that the l>;st nml surest w.iy of tightening these monsters was to lio'd on by the gunwale mid keep up a vigi>i„ns splashing their legs. " Oiiee nu.re l.atl hope begun to d wn. the brat w.is clear t. i-mit', and Cur men Wire hard at work loibeaiance, and a little more obedience, and ilicy were safe. At this moment iliofo in the watir urged their messmates in tlie bo;it t<» coniinue bai!in<» with unremitted exritiou, "hen 11 noise was heard close by then', aim ultoul fifteen sharks came right in amongst iliem. The panic was ten limes mine dreadful than before: the boat was again upset by the siintiltaneousendeavour to escape the danger : and the twenty-two sailors were again devoted to destruction. «' At first, the sharks did not seem inclined to seize their prey, hut swam amo.igst then), playing ill the water, sometinirs leaping about and rubbing against tl eir vi l . tints. Ibis was of short duration—a loud shriek Itom one ol the men announced bis sudden pain ; a shark had seized him by the leg, and severed it entirely from the belly. N<> sooner had the blood been tasted, than the long dreaded attack took plate j another inul another shriek proclaimed the loss of limbs; some it was suppo-cii, sunk from the liar nlont all were in dreadful pti il. . ... '• Mr. Smith even now, when of all liotrtule deaths the most hoirible sepmed <o await him, gave his orders with clearness and coolness ; and lo the everlasting honour ol the poor departed crew be it known, they were obeyed: again thebo.it was lighted, and egiin t>w> men w-eie in li.-r. Incredible as it may appear, siiU however it is true, that the v«.ic« of tlie i flici r was heard ami ft the dai g«r ,■ and the survivors actna Iv, as before dun.: to the gunwale and k-p- the bo.u uprigh'. Mr. Smiih himse-f held by the stern, and checied and npplaud. (I his men. The sliniks luid la?tfcd lhebhiod.ar.il »eiv not to be driven from their feast; in one short moincn', when Mr. Smith ceased splashing, as he looked into the boat to wa'ch It.e progies-, a shark ?< r/ed both his legs, and hit tliein ..ll'jnsl above the knees. Hum.in nature wis not strong enough to bear the luiineuse pain without a groan ; but Smi'.h cndiavciiied to conceal the misfortune ; nature, true to ho-sell resisted thsen. dcavour and the groan was deep and audible. The crew had long respected ilieir gallant commander ; they knew his worth and his courage j ou heating him express his pain, and seeing him relinquish bis ho_d to sink, two of the men grasped their dying ollicer, and placed him in the stern sliee s. Kvtn now in almost insuppoiuWe ago that gallant officer forgot his own sulKrings, and thought only of rescuing il.e remain ng lew from the untimely fciave which awt.iled them : lie told tli'in agan of il.eir only hope, dcn'ored their perilous s,tite, anil concluded With the e words : " If any of' y«n survive this fatal night, and return to Jainnca, te'l the admiral (Sir Laurence Halsted) tl.nt I was in seariholthe piivuteer. when this lamentable occurrence took place; tell him, I hope I have a'ways done my duty, and that I here the endeavour of some of the men to pet into the boat, gave her a heel on one side ; the men who were supporting poor Smith, relinquished him for a moment, anil lie rolled overboard ami was drowned. Hi' last bubbling cry was soon last amidst the shrieks of his former companions—he sunk to list) no mote. With liini died evei > hope : nlMiiit two of the crew gave way lo loud exerratiens and cursings. Some who bad not been so seriously injured by the monsters of the deep, endeavoured to get upon the keel ol the boat, which was ogain upset; biu worn out wiili excessive

fatigue, and smaitingf under I In* keen pain, ibev gave up ,this chance o! safety, and were either eaten immediately by llie sharks, or courting death, which appeared inevitable, threw themselves I'rum tbeir only support, and were drowned " At ciirhl o'clock in the evening the was upset; it was calculated by the* two survivors, thtt their companions had all died bv nine. The sharks seemed satisfied for the mntiunl; and they with pliant heart resolved to profit by the precious time in order to save themselves : they righted the boat, and one over the hows, anil tbe other ovci the stern they found th'-mselvis although | nearly exhausted, yet idive,and in comparative >e;-urity ; thev bih'njj, and soon |cd the boat enough not to be easily upset, when bo'h s.tt down to rest. Iho return of riie sharks \v ; is the signal (or lb-, ir return to labour. Tim voracious monsters endeavoured lo upset the boat ; they swan* by its side in s?emir.g anxiety for their prey, bu<, after •v.tiling some time they s'p ilrall>( l—the.two lesi'Uid seamen found themselves, free Ir<»ni tluir insatiable enemies, and, by the b!es*ing ..f Noil, saved. Tired as lln-V were, they continued their labour until the bo.it was neatly drv, hen both lay down to re-tt, the or.e forward and the ollnVafi ; so completely had fear operated 0:1 their minds, that they did not due even to move, dreading that an ineauiiou* step mi'iht have capsized the b >at. Thev soon, it l , spite ol the honors they bad witnessed, fell into a sound s't-cp -:iud day had dawned before thev awoke to h »r-------rilde reflectii n*, and apparently worse da->-Tbe si-bt that met their eyes was anything hut cheering—a'one, in u frail bark. Mi b >nt f'M»l or water, n scorching sun i blazing ficeely upon them—not a vestige cf n sail to speed thrm c;u their way thcr I ch.it.co of rescue seemed but p.)or indeed. We cannot recol'ect how lonn they were left i tossing thus destitute. —-let it: stillice that the pangs of hunger and of thirst had become i suppoitable a «d that they eye I ench o'her with the pxtrc-m lv of despair. The one continued to occupy his place in the bow a"d the other in the stem of the boat, when suddenly a sail appiarcd in sight. To their inexprcssible j>Y it approached nearer and nearer. Ft was cicnr, however, that tbeir boat had not been seen, and that by the course she was steering the vos.d would shortly pass and have "hem to their file. They had neither! sail nor oar to t-uid.* their boat, nor any of wrenching her linings to servo for p ddles. They .struggled fiercely but vainly | |io tear out her thwarts for that purpose, but ( sank back overcome by the exertion*. At length the one the other, j telling him there was but one faint chame cf 'escape, fnd that come what might he would , attempt it or perNi. M If we remain thus • lie mie must die lo become f'«od for I lie Otliir. I "ill strive hard to avert the dreadful necessity. I "ill swim in a shilling dilution towards tin; brig, —1 lliink I can tut her oil' before she parses. If I succeed we slmll b.itli be saved. If not I shall but perish a (• w hours to-n: r. Should you discover any shirk-* aroun I m"tier no cry lest it should unnerve i.v, 1 must, do my host to avoid them. l'r.iy w.:h me," said the Ijr.ive fellow on his and imploring the merciful proli-c'ion ol his .Maker, " and now, God bliss you !" Willi this the poor sai'or sli|)|ieil quietly into 'he se i, and swain lustily in a direction to cross the bu<; in her course. In this he happily succeeded, and placed himself imnn'di.itelv across her bows 30 ns to be ready to taUe "advantage ot the assistance. he expected at once to receive. In viiin, however, hn shouted ; not a soul made answer to his cries—sho drew rapidly onwards—already hall'her length was passed—not a rope was f here of wliii h he eould lay linld - lie fr.mtiely endeavoured to dig his nails into her sides, but all in vain—the l ist means of safely eluded his grasp —the brig passed onwards —no hand was si retched foith in re-cue —hu was struggling in her wake, when, in the agony of despair he uttere.l a terrible shriek and sprang half way out o f the water. At that very mo. nient a head was thrust over the t;i 11Vnil and In; was saved. The brig was imui'Jilialely hove to. and the poor fellow bavin;' hcen cirefully besrowed, his comrade in the bo it was liiitbiviih r.sciivd. Tins is no tale of the The seamen of the ill-hi ted " iMagpin " having flfierwurds been sah-ly landed in Jamaica. There, in ronipliuici' with the practice ol the liii'ish Navy, thev were tried ty Court Mariial for the loss of their ship It was at that trial that the afleetinf; incidents which we hive just narrated wire made ki.o wi. These brave men were not only honourably acquitted, but were advanced iu the service of whieh they hnd proved tliems.lv.'S such exemplary ai:d deierving membei3.