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this time any people on the shore could have seen the vessel five
miles north or south of her, she not being more than a mile and a
half from the beach, and having a large blue ensign at the fore-topgallant
mast-head.
At six, fired a rocket, as a signal to the shore; no answer of any
description being made, filled and stood ofi^ and on, to keep our position
during the night; fresh winds and squally, mt h heavy rain.
Sunday, 28th. Strong winds from north-west, and squally weather,
with hea-iTT rain; shortened sail to foresail, and headed to the
westward; tliirty minutes past ten, saw the island of Mocha south,
distant eight miles, sounded in fifteen fathoms ; wore to north-east,
and carried all possible sail to get out of the bight; fresh gales and
squally, mt h a heavy cross sea.
Monday, 29th. More moderate, but wiud still from the northward.
At nine A.M. spoke the Blonde, on her way to the supposed place of
the Lebu ; kept our wind, endeavouring to fetch Tucapel Head, where
we had seen the fire three days before; noon, Tucapel Point eastnorth
east, three-quarters of a mile distant; observed two fires on
Tucapel Head; tacked to the westward, to fetch the Head.
At thirty minutes past two, Tucapel Point east-north-east, nine
miles; while four men were aloft (James Bennett, gunner's mate.
Beagle; John Nutcher, boatswoin's-mate ; Jolin Macintosh, A.B.;
John Mitchell, A.B., of Blonde), bending the fore-topsail, which had
been split the previous night, the vessel gave a very heavy pitch,
which sprung the foremast, a little below the cross-trees ; and on
her recovering herself, the head of the mast snapped short off, a foot
below the fore-yard, bringing with it all above, and also the four
seamen who were aloft; the mainmast, having no support left from
the tryatic stay, and the deck-stay being aft, ready for tacking, the
great weight of the main-boom, added to the pressure of the wind
on the mainsail, brought the mainmast by the board, fore-and-aft
the deck, striking the taifrail in its fall, which again carried it away,
leaving the head of the mast hanging by the rigging oveV the stem,
strikmg hea\'ily against the rudder and the middle-piece in midships
on the deck. Fortunately, none of the seamen were seriously injured,
OS they resolutely kept their hold of the topsail-yiird, and were carried
with it into the sea, out of which they soon escaped by means of the
rigging that was hanging over the side.
Every eifort was immediately used to clear the wreck, and get
APPENDIX. 181
the temporary rigging up. to secure the stump of the foremast which
had carried away the wedges in the partners, and had about three
inches play in the step, from the heel of the mast being decayed;
nearly the whole of the standing rigging was lost, from night commg
on. and it being necessary to get the wreck clear of the vessel as
soon as possible, lest it should carry away the rudder, and otherwise
damage the hull of the vessel.
Not having an axe, or any thing but a cooper's drawing-knife, that
would cut the rigging in the eyes, which had hide on them that had
been placed there several years before, we were obUged to haul it up
taut and cut on the rail, thereby rendering it useless for any thing
but junk.
There were scarcely any nails on board the vessel; and it was
with the greatest difficulty we succeeded, by shifting two cleats up a
slippery mast, in getting a tackle each side for shrouds, and a hawser
for a stay. At eight, P.M., observed the Blonde north-west one
mile; fired a rocket, and burnt three blue lights; no answer returned.
^
At about midnight we set the jib, peak of foresaU, and Beagle s
boat sail for a main-sail; durmg the whole of this time it was blowing
fi-esh from the north-west, with heavy rain and a cross sea, wliich
caused the vessel to roU her gunwale under each time; every one
was quite exhausted, particularly those men who had been hanging
on the mast, getting the tackles secured, the watch therefore was set
until daylight.
Tuesday, 30th. Employed getting the foremast better secured, by
raising sheers with fore-yard and jib-boom, and placing a pair of
shrouds on each side, about twenty feet from the deck, and an extra
stay to set a stay-sail on, the whole kept up by a few spikes dnmi
out of the beams. At ten, A.M. strong winds from the westward, with
heavy rain; saw the north-west extreme of Mocha, bearing southsouth
east, three miles distant; wore to the north-east, to give tmie
to get more sail on the vessel, intending to weather the island, if
possible ; if not, to run to leeward, and then stretch off to the southward
and westward. Noon; wore, strong wmds and squaUy, with a
heavy head sea; at two, set foresail, double-reefed; observed the northwest
extreme of Mocha, south by east, one mile and a quarter distant.
At three, P.M., when the north-west extreme bore north-east,
the wind changed suddenly to south-west, bringing the rocks off the
v t