Recollections of my life / by Joseph Fayrer.

  • Fayrer, Joseph, Sir, 1824-1907.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Recollections of my life / by Joseph Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    38/584 (page 18)
    went below, and shortly after, when I went down, most of them were assembled in the saloon at prayers. There were several ladies and some children, and the ladies appeared very calm and tranquil. It was quite believed that the ship was going to sink, and it certainly looked very like it. The captain had scarcely been in bed since we left Bermuda, and was worn out with fatigue and anxiety. I was too restless and anxious to remain below, and went on deck again. There was a gleam of sunshine, and it was now near noon. The captain got up his sextant and took the sun: there had been no observation for some days, on account of the thickness of the weather. I took the time for him by the chronometer, and asked him what he thought. He said the only chance for us was to get into the Azores, but he feared it was impossible. When he had worked the longitude and ticked off the ship’s place on the chart, he called several of the men passengers into his cabin and told us our position and the extremity of our danger, which was obvious. He asked us whether he should try and make for the nearest of the Azores, Corvo, and run the ship on shore, or whether he should make for the harbour of Fayal, incurring the risk of sinking in doing so. I knew well enough that the former plan would be fatal, as it was a steep and rocky shore, and with Mr Drummond Hay, a passenger, called out, “Try for Fayal.” Some were clamorous for Corvo as the nearest point of land, but it was decided we should make for Fayal. I went on deck and remained there all night. The crew showed symptoms of disorder and a desire to get at drink, but the officers kept them in hand. The wind abated a little, but the sea was terrible, the ship rolling heavily and going very slowly, for the engines were hardly working: it was chiefly by press of canvas we got on. The leak, how¬ ever, did not seem to increase. We spent a fearful night, for our condition appeared hopeless. I was haunted with the thought of how the end would come, whether by drowning outright or being crushed in the breaking-up or