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NARRATIVE

OF lUK

LOSS OF THE

LADY HOBART

PACKET,

CAPTAIN W. D. FELLOWS,
WllICH STRUCK ON AN ISLAND OF ICli

AND

FOUNDERED

IN THE ATLANTtC OCEAN,

Junt 23, 1803:

AND OF THE

PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE

OF THE CREW IN '

TWO OPEN BOATS.

In which is contained a particular Account of the dreadful Eveti't :
\'VL, the Ship striking on an Island of Ice, in the Night, twic'e
theHeightof tl»e Mast-liead, when goini; at ihe Rate of Seven
Wiles an Hour; — their heaving their Guns overboard; — -getting
Two Sails under the Ship's Bottom to keep her together ; — Fiftecu
of the Crew an^ Tliroe Ladies getting into the Cutter, and Elerea
Persona into ti»e JoUy-Boat, with the utmost ditVicuUy ; — the Shin
giving a heavy Lurch to Port, and going down Head foremost;
— their being surrounded by a School of Whaler. ; — the Boats parS
iiigiua heavy Gale of Wind, and being Two NighU and Two Da,p
separated from each other, and afterwards meeting ; — 'the arna-
aing Hardships they enduied fionj the Severity of the Wcatl»*r ;
— a beautiful Bird, like a Dove, hovering over the Boat; and
their providential Arrivnl at Island - Cove, in Newfoundland
(one excepted) on the Seventh Day after they quitted the Ship.

WKITTEN BY WILLIAM DORStT FELLOMS, ESQ. COMMANDEWv

. ' ■■ '■ ■'•■■',.-*.,.,•". I '■ ' ,. ',, ', Tg .

Jllustrated ivlth a riate of the Boats leaving the Wreck, ►

LONDON:

published by JOHN FAIRBURN, 146, MiHojies.
[price sixpence.]

fc'

Printed by J. Hart,
Sa, Warwick-Square.

LOSS

OF TUX

LADY HOBART PACKET.

'N the 22(1 of June, 1803, we sailed from Halifax
for .F.ngland, steering a course to the southward and
-eastward, to clear Sable-Island. On the 24th, hamled
to the northward, to pass over the northei'n part of the
Great Bank of Newfoundland, with the intention to
keep well to the n'>rthward, that we might thereby
avoid the enemy's cruisers.

On the 26th, at 7 A. M. being then on the Grand
Bank, in lat. 44. 37* and long. 51. 20. W. Cape Race
bearing N. N. W. ^ W. 128 miles distant, discovered
a large schooner, under French colours standing to-
•wards us, with her deck full of men. From her man-
ner of bearing down upon us, we concluded she had
been apprizeu of the war, and that she took us for a
merchant brig. Cleared ship for action. At eight,
being within range of our guns, fired a shot at her,
when she struck her colours. Sent on board, and
took possession of the vessel ; she proved to be
L'Aimable Julie, of Port Liberty, of 80 tons burthen,
new and strong built, bound thither from the island of
St. Pierre, laden with salt fish, and commanded by
Cltivien Charles Rosse.

After taking out her captain and crew, I gave the
prize in charge to Lieutenants John Little and William

A 2 Hughes,

f(1 i

4 LOSS OF THE LADY HO BART.

Hughes, of his Majcstj^'s na\y, who wore passen-
gers in the Lucly Ilobart, ami who most hanclsoinely
volunteered their services with them sent two of our
own seamen, and two prisoners, to assist in navif^atinjj
the prize. iVt 10 A. M. i;aw two schooners u-head ;
fired a gun, and brou<]jlit them to : On fimling them
to be iLnglish, and bound to St. John's, J divided
the French prisoners between them, excepting the
captain, mate, and one boy, (the captain's nephew,)
■who requested very earnestly to remain on board the
Packet.

Tuesday f Jufif 23. — Blowing hard from the west-
ward, with a heavy sea and hazy weather, with inter-
vals of thick fog. About one in the morning, '.he
ship then going by the log at the rate of seven miles
an hour, she struck against an island of ice with such
violence, that several of the crew were pitched out
of their hammocks.

Being roused out of oltep hf the suddenness of the
shock, I instantly ran upon deck. The helm being
put hard a-port, the ship struck again about the chest
tree, and then swung round on her heel, her steru-
post being stove in, and her rudder carried away, be-
fore we could succeed in our attempts to haul her
off. At this time tbe island of ice appeareil to hang
quite over the ship, forming a high peek, which must
have been at least twice the height of our mast-head ;
and we suppose the length of the island to have been
from a quarter to half a mile.

The sea was now breukinr^ over the ice In a dread-
ful manner, the w.iter rusiiing in so fast as to till
the hold in a few minutes. ilove the guns over-
board, and cut away the dnrliors from the bows; got
two sails undei ilic ship's bottom ; kept buth pumps
going, and b;iling with buckets at the main-h:itchway,
in the hope of preventing her from sinking ; but in less

than

LOSS OF THE LADY HOBATIT.

b«-

than a quarter o' an liour she settled clown to her fore-
chains in the water.

Our situiition now became most perilous. Aware
of tlic (linger of a moment's dehty in hoisting out the
boats, I consulted C'aptain Thomas, of the navy, and
Mr. liargus, my master, as to the propriety of ma-
king any further efforts to save the sliip; and, as I
was anxious to preserve the mail, I requested their
opinion, as to the possibility of taking it into the boats,
in the event of our being able to get them over the
ship's side. These gentlemen agreed with me, that no
time was to be lost in hoisting them out ; and that, as
the vessel was then settling fast, our first and only
consideration was to endeavour to preserve the crew.

And here I must pay that tribtite of praise, which
tlie steady discipline and good conduct of every one oti
board so justly merit. Tvom the first moment of the
ship's striking, not a word was uttered expressive of a
desire to leave the wreck : my orders were promptly
obeyed : and though the danger of perishing was every
instant increasing, each man waited for his turn to get
into the boats, with a coolness and coiiiposure that
could not be surpassed.

Having fortunately succeeded in hoisting out the cut-
ter and jolly-boat, the sea then running high, we
placed the ladies in the former ; one of them, Miss
Cotcnham, was so terrified, that she sprung from the •
gunwale, and pitched into the bottom of the boat,
with considerable violence. This accident, which
might have been productive of fatal consequences to
herself, as well as to us all, was unattended by any-
bad effects. The few provisions which had been saved
from the men's births, were then put into the boats,
which were quickly veered astern. By this time, the
main deck forward was under water, and nothing: but
the quarter-deck appeared : I then ordered n:y men into

A 3. the

Tir

1 1.

6 LOSS OF THE LADY HOBART.

the boats ; and, having previously lashed iron pigs r.f
ballast to the mail, it av.is thrown overboard.

I now perceived the ship was sinking fast ; I called
out to the men to haul up and receive me, intending to
drop myself into the cutter, from the end of the try-
sail boom, fearing she might be stove under the coun-
ter; and I desired Mr. Bargus, who continued with
me on the wreck, to go over first. In this instance he
Replied, he begged kave to disciley my orders ; that he
must see me safe over before he attempted to go him-
ielf. Such conduct, at such a moment, requires no
comment; but I should be wanting to myself, and to
the service, if I did not faithfully state to their Lord-
thips every circumstance, however trifling ; and it is
highly satisfactory to me, to have this opportunity of
recording an incident so honourable to i. meritorious
officer.

The sea was running so high at the time we hoisted
out the boats, that I scarcely flattered myself we should
get them out in safety; and, indeed, nothing but the
steady and orderly conduct of the crew could have
enabled us to effect so difficult and hazardous an under-
taking : and it is a justice to them to observe, that not
a man in the ship attempted to make use of the liquor^
which every one had in his pov/er. Whilst the cuttei
was getting out, I perceived one of the seamen (John
Tipper) emptying a demijean, or bottle, containing
five gallons, which, on inquiry, I found to be rum.
He said he was emptying it for the purpose of filling it
with water from the skuttle-cusk on the quarter-deck,
which had been generally filled over night, and which
was then the only fresh water to be got at ; it became
afterwards our principal supply. I relate this circum-
stance as being so highly creditable to the character of
a British sailor.

LOSS OF THE LADY HOBART.

)igs of

called

I din Of to

le try-

coun-

d with

lance he

that he

o him-

ires no

and to

Lord-

id it is

unity of

itorious

hoisted
: should
but the
Id have
1 under-
that not
J hquor^
le cuttei
n (John
ntaining
»e rum.
suing it
:r-deck,
d which
became
circum-
icter of

We had scarcely quitted the ship, when she suddenly
gave a heavy lurch to port, and then went down head
foremost. I had ordered the colours to be hoisted at
the niain-top-gallant-mast head, with the union down-
wards, as a signal of distress, that, if any person should
happen to be near us at the dawn of day, our cala-
mitous situation might be perceived from her, and they
might afford us relief.

At this awful crisis of the ship sinking, when it is
natural to suppose that fear would be the predominant
principle of the human mind, the coolness of a British
seaman was very conspicuously manifested by his (John
Andrews) exclaiming, ** There, my brave fellows,
there goes the pride of Old England !"

I cannot attempt to describe my own situation, or
the sensations of my people, ex()osed as we were in two
small open boats upon the great Atlantic Ocean, bereft
of all assistance, but that which our own exertions, un-
der Providence, could afford us. We narrowly escaped
being swallowed up in the vortex. Men used to vicl-
situdes are not easily dejected ; but there are trials
which human nature alone cannot surmount. The
consciousness of having done our duty, and a reliance
upon a good Providence, enabled us to endure our ca-
lamity, and we animated each other with the hope of
a. better fate.

While we were employed in deliberating about our
future arrangements, a curious circumstance occurred,
which, as it was productive of considerable uneasiness
to us all, deserves to be particularly mentioned here : at
the moment when the ship was sinking, she was sur-
rounded by what seamen term a school, or an incalcu-
lable number of whales, which can only be accounted
for by their being known, i(t this particular season, to
take a direction for the cof\st of Newfoundland, in
quest of a small fish, called Capeland, which they de-
vour.

LOSS OF THE LADY HOBAUT.

;:1 •:

vour. We were extremely apprehensive, from their ap-
proach to the boats, that they might strike and materi-
ally damage them ; frequent instances occurring in that
fishe 'V, of boats being cut in twain by the violence of a
single blow from a whale. We therefore shouted, and
u?ed every effort to drive them away, but without
effect ; they continued, as it then seemed, to pursue us,
and remained about the boats for the space of half an
hour; when, thank God! they disitppeared, without
having done us any injuiy.

Having at lengrh surmounted dangers and diffi-
culties which baitle all description, we rigged the fore-
mast, and prepared to shape our course in the best
manner that circumstances would admit of, the wind
blowing from the precise point on which it was neces-
sary to sail, to reach the nearest land. An hour had
scarcely elapsed from the time the ship struck till she
foundered. The distribution of the crew had already
been made, in the following order, which we after-
wards preserved :«^

In the cutter, of the following dimensions, viz. twenty
feet Ion?, six feet four inches broad, and two feet six
inches deep, were embarked three ladies and myself;
Capt. Richard Thomas, of the navy ; the 1 rench com-
mander of the schooner (a vessel taken by the Lady
Hobart two days before), the master's mate, gunner,
steward, carpenter, antl eigbit seamen ; in all, eighteen.
people ; which, together Avith the provisions, brought
the boat's gunwale down to within six or seven inches
of the water. From this confined space, some idea
may be formed of our crowded state ; but it is scarcely
possible for the imagination to conceive the extent of
cur sufferings in consequence of it.

In the jolly-boat, fourteen feet from stem to stern,
five feet three inches broad, and two feet deep, were
embarked Mr^ Samuel Bargiis, master, Lieut, -Colonel

George

Mil

loss OF THE LADY HOBART.

etr ap-
lateri-
in that
:e of a
c^and
Ithout
ue us,
alf an
ithout

diffi-

Ibre-
i best

wind
neces-

hud

• George Cooke, of the 1st regiment of guards; the
boatswain, saihiuiker, and seven seamen ; in all, eleven
persons.

The only provisions we were enabled to save con-
sisted of between forty and fifty pounds of biscuit;
one demijean, ' or vessel, containing five gallons of
-water; a small jug of the same, and part of a small
barrel of spruce-beer ; one demijean of rum, a few
bottles of port wine, w^ith two compasses, a quadrant,
a spy-glass, a small tin mug, and a wine-glass. The
deck-lantern, which had a few spare candles in it, had
been likewise thrown into the boat ; and the cook ha-
ving had the precaution to secure his tinder-box, and
some matches that were kept in a bladder, we were *"•
terwards enabled to steer by night.

The wind was now blowing strong from the west-
ward, with a heavy sea, and the day had just dawned.
Estimating ourselves to be at the distance of 350 miles
from St. John's, in Newfoundland, with a prospect of ^
continuance of westerly winds, it became at once ne-
cessary to use the strictest oeconomy. I represented to
my companions in distress, that our resolution, once
made, ought on no account to be changed ; and tha^
we must begin by suffering privations, which I fore-
saw would be greater than 1 ventured to explain. Tcr
each person, therefore, were served out half a biscuit
and a glass of wine, which was then the only allow-
ance for the ensuing twenty-four hours, all agreeing to
leave the water untouched us lonj^' as possible. P iring
the time we were employed in getting out the boats,
I had ordered the master to throw the main hatch tar-
puuling into the cutter ; which, being afterwards cut
into lengths, enabled us to form a temporary bulwark
against the waves. I had also renunded the carpenter
to carry with him as many tools as he could ; he had
accordii

'o-^f

put

pocket?

10 LOSS OF THE LADY HOBART.

•;•<
■^

I;'

)V -\

il- •■

ill

pockets, and we repaired the gunwale of the cutter,
•which had been stove in hoisting her out. Soon after
daylight we made sail, with the jolly-boat in tow, and
stood close-hauled to the northward and westward, in

•the hope of reaching the coast of Newfoundland, or of
being picked up by some vessel. Passed two islands of

(ice, nearly as large as the first. We now said prayers,
and returned thanks to God for our deliverance. At

, noon, observed in latitude 46. 33. North; St. John^s

^bearing about W. ^| N. distant 350 miles.

^]*ffffe(hiesda?/, June Sfi.— This day was ushered in with
Tl^nt variable winds from the southward and eastward.
We 'had passed a long and sleepless night, and I found
myself, at the dawn of day, with 26 persons looking
up to me wilh anxiety for the direction of our course,
as well as for the distribution of their scanty allowance.
'On examining our provisions, we found the bag of
'biscuit much damaged by salt water; it therefore be-
came necessary to curtail the allowance, to which pre-
caution all cheerfully assented.

'It was at this moment that 1 became i ore alive to
all the horrors of our situation. We all retu^ ed thanks
for our past mercies, and offered up prayers for our
safety.

A thick fog soon after came on ; it continued all
day with heavy vain, which, as vve had no means of
collecting, afforded us no relief. Our crowded and
exposed situation way now rendered more distressing,
from being thoroughly wet, no one having been per-
mitted to take more than a great coat or a blanket,
with the clothes on his back.

Kept the oars in both boats going con?tantTy, and
steering a W. N. W. courre, all hands anxiously look-
ing out for a strange sail. At noon> served a quarter of
a biscuit and a glass of rum to each person, St John's
bore W. byN. ^N. distant^ 310 miles. No obser-
vation.

\":f'^

LOSS OF THE LADY HOBABT. It

e cutter,
on after
ow, and
ivard, in
id, or of
slands of
prayers,
ce. At
John'*

in with
List ward.
I found
looking
• course,
owance.
bag of
ifore be-
nch pre-

alive to

d thanks

for our

nued all
leans of
led and
tressing,
een per-
blanket,

tly, and
ly look-
larter of
it John's
3 obser-
vation.

vatlon. One of the ladies again read prayers to us,
particularly those for delivery after a storm.

T/iurs(fai/, June 30.— At day-break we were all so
benumbed with wet and extreme cold, that half a glass
of rum and a mouthful of biscuit were served out to
each person : the ladies, who had hitherto refused to
taste the spirits, were now prevailed upon to take the
stated allowance, which afforded them immediate re-
lief, and enabled them the better to resist the severity
of the weather. The sea was mostly calm, with thick
fog and sleet ; the air raw and cold : we had kept at
our oars all night, and we continued to row during
the whole of this day. The jolly-boat having unfor-
tunately put off from the ship with only three oars,
and havinsc but a small sail, converted into a fore-sail
from a top-gallant steering-sail, without needles or
twine, we were obliged to keep her constantly in tow.
The cutter also having lost two of her oars in hoisting
out, was now so deep in the water, that, with the least
sea, she made little way, so that we were not enabled
to profit much by the light winds.

Some one from the jolly-boat called out there was
part of a cold ham which had not been discovered be-
fore ; a small bit, about the size of a nutmeg, was im-
mediately served out to each person, and the remainder
was thrown overboard, as I was fearful of its in-
creasing our thirst, which we had not the means of
assuaging.

At noon, we judged ourselves to be on the nerth-
eastern edge of the Grand Bank, St. John's bearing
W. by N. one-fourth N. distant 246 milds. No ob-
servation. Performed divine service. ' j*

' . ■ - " -^

Fridai/, Jul?/ 1 . — During the greater part of the last

twenty-four hours it blew a hard gale of wind from
the W. S. W. with a heavy confused sea from the

same

It LOSS OF THE LADY HOBART.

■■'si

ihl

If.

same quarter ; thick fog and sleet throucrhout ; the
weather excessively cold ; for, tliC spray of the sea
freezing as it flew over the boats, rendered our sit^ra-
tlon deplorable. It was then at this time that we
ill felt a most painful depression of spirits ; the want
of nourishment, and the continued cold and wet wea-
ther, had rendered us almost incapable of exertion.
The very confined space in the boat would not
allow of our stretching our limbs, and several of the
men, whose feet were considerably swelled, repeat-
edly called out for water. On my reminding them
of the resolution we had made, and of the absolute
necessity of our persevering in it, they acknow-
ledged the justice and propriety of my refusal to
comply with their desire, and the water remained
untouched.

At the commencement of the gale we stood to the
northward and westward ; but the cutter was so low
in the water, and hack shipped so much sea, that we
were obliged to cast oft' the jolly - boat's tow - rope,
and we very soon lost sight of her i" the fog. This
unluCi.j circumstance was niodurtive of the utmost
distress to us all. We had been roused to exertion
from a double motive ; and the uncertainty of ever
meeting again the companions of our misfortunes
produced in us the most lively affliction. To add to
the misery of our situation, we lost with the boat not
only a considerable part of our stores, but with thera
our quadrant and spy-gla&s. At about four A. M.
the gale increasing, with a prodigious heavy sea, we
brought the cutter to, by heaving the boat's sail loose
over the bow, and veering it out with a rope bent to
each yard-arm, which kept her head to the sea, so as
to break its force before it reached us.

In the course of this day there were repeated ex-
clamations of a strange sail, although I knew it was

ill

LOSS OF TUh: LADY IIOBAIIT. 13

3ut ; the
the sea
it sitMu-
that we
:he want
v^et wea-
;xertlon.
Lild not
x] of the
repeat-
US them
absolute
icknow-
fusal to
emahied

d to the

so low

that we

W^ r- rope,

y. This

; utmost

exertion

of ever

sfortunes

) add to

boat not

ith thera

r A. M.

sea, we

sail loose

e bent to

ea, so as

;ated ex-
V it was

next to an impossibility to discern any thing, owing to
the thickness of the log ; yet they were urged fiom
the several seamen with such iij^parent certainty of
tlieir object, thiit I was induced to put the boat be-
fore the wind to convince them of their error ; and as
1 then saw in a very strong point of view the conse-
quences of such deviations, 1 took occasion to re-
monstrate with them upon the subject ; I represented
with all the force of which I was capable, that the
depression arising from disappointment infinitely ovcr-^
balanced the momentary relief proceeding from such
delusive expectations, and I exhorted them not to
allow such fancies to break out into expression. Under
all these circumstances, the ladies particularly, with a
heroism that no* words can describe, afforded to us the
best ex&mples of j)aticnce and fortitude.

We all joined in prayers, which tranquilised our
minds, and afforded us the consolatory hope of bet-
tering our condition : on these occasions we were all
bareheaded, notwithstanding the incessant showers.
At noon, St. John's bore W. by N. I N. distant 148
miles. No observation.

Saturday, July 2.— It rained hard during the night,
and the cold became so severe, that almost every one
in the boat was unable to move. Our hands and
feet wcje so swelled, that many of them became
quite black, owing to our confined state, and the con-
stant exposure to wet and cold weather. At day-
break I served out about the third of a wine-glass of
rum to each person, with a quarter of a biscuit, and,
before noon, a small quantity of spruce-beer, which
afforded us great relief.

During the first part of this day, it blew strong from
the southward and westward, with foggy weather ; to-
wards noon, moderate breezes from the northward and
eastward.

14 LOSS OF TIIK LADY IIORAIIT.

At half past eleven A. M. a sail was discovcrcJ to
the eastward, standing to the noitli-wcst. Our jov
at such a sight, with tlie immediate hope of deliver-
ance, gave us all new life. I immediately ordered the
])cople to sit as close as possible, to prevent our liaTin""
the appearance of being an armed boat ; and, having
tied a lady's shawl to the boat-hook, I raised myself
as well as I could, and from the bow waved it as
long as my strength would allow me. Having hauled
r lose to the wind we reared each other fast, and in less
than a quarter of an hour we perceived the jolly-boat.
Our not havinor recof^nised her sooner was owinjr to
an additional sail having been made for her, out of one
my bed-sheets, which had been accidentally thrown
into the boat, and was set as a bonnet to the fore-
sail.

I cannot attempt to describe the various sensations
of joy and disappointment which were by turns ex-
l)ressed ©n all our countenances. As soon as we ap-
proached the jolly-boat, we threw out to her a tow-
rope, and bore away to the north-west.

We now mutually Inquired into the state of our re-
spective crews, after the late dreadful gale ; those in
the jolly-boat had suffered from swelled hands and
feet, like ourselves, and had undergone great anxiety
on our account, concluding us to have perished.
The most singular circumstance was, their having
steered two nights without any light; and our meeting
again after such tempestuous weather could not have
happened but from the interposition of Providence.
I'earing a similar accident, we made a more equal
distribution of our provisions ; and, having received
from the jolly-boat two bottles of wine and some
biscuit, we gave them some rum in return.

Our hopes of deliverance had now been buoyed up
to the highest pitch. The ^excitement arising from

our

4
.f

vcixvl to
3ur joy
(kliver-
leied the
r bavin iiC
1, having
i myself
ed It as
g hauled
[id in less
>lly-boat.
)win£j to
lut of one
Y thrown
the ibre-

sensations
:urns ex-
LS we ap-
:r a tow-

Df our re-
; those in
lands and
it anxiety
perished.
;ir having
iir meeting
I not have
rovidence,
lore equal
9 received
and some

buoyed up

,Bing from
our

LOSS OF THE LADY IIORART. 15

cur joy began perceptibly to lose its effect; and to a
state of artificial strength succeeded such a despon-
dency, that no entreaty nor argument could rouse
some of the men to the common exertions of making
bail.

To the French Captain and several of the people,
who appeared to have suffered most, I i.ow, for the
first time, served out a wine-glass full of water. I
had earnestly cautioned the crew not to taste the salt
water, but some of the unhappy men had, neverthe-
less!, taken large draughts of it, and became dcliiious ;
some were seized with violent c'ramps, and twitching;
of the stomach and bowels. I acraiii took occasion to
point o»it to the test of them the extreme danger of
such indiscretion. '

Performed divine service. At noon, St. Joiin's bore
W. by N. ^ N. distant IIO miles. No observation of
the sun.

Sunda-<tJuh/ 3. — The cold, wet, hunger, and thirst,
which wc now experienced, are not to be described,
and made our situation very deplorable. At 8 P. M.
having a strong breeze from the southward, we stood
on under all the canvass we could spread, the joUyw
boat following in our wake, and pulling her oars to
keep up with us. The French Captain, who for some
days had laboured under a despondency which ad-
mitted of no consolation, jumped overboard in a fit of
delirium, and instantly sunk. The cutter at this time
%vas going through the water so fast, and the oars be-
ing lashed to the gunwale, it would have been impos-
sible to attempt to save him, even had he floated.
One of the other prisoners in the jolly-boat became so
outrageous that it was found necessary to lash him to
the bottom of the boat.

The melancholy fate of the poor captain, whom I
had learnt to esteem, affected me at first most sensi-

B 2 bly

\i] '

1 y

t .

11 [•■

IG LOSS OF THE I,ADV flOBART.

bly — more, peiluips, than any otlicr person ; tor, on
the day on which 1 was making the (Ustrlbution in the
boats, and was considering in which I shoul<l phire
him, he came to me, with tears in his eyes, to implore
me not to leave him to perish with tiie wreck, f
assured Tiim that I never had entertained such an
idea ; that, as I had been the accidental cause ot'
his misfortunes, 1 would endeavour to make hs
situation as easy as I could, and that, as we were all
exposed to the same dangar, we would surrive or
perish together. 'I'his assurance, and the hope of
being speedily exchanged, if ever we reached the land,
operated for a v/hile in {juieting his mind ; but his I'or-
titude soon forsook him, and the raw spirits to which
he had not been accustomed,producingin him the most
dreadful intoxicating etFects, hurried on the fatal event.

We were all deeply affected by this circumstance ;
the most trifling accident or disappointment was suf-
ficient to render our irritable state more painful ; and I
>vas seized with such a melancholy, that 1 lost all re-
-collection of my situation for many hours, a violent
shivering had seized me, which returned at intervals ;
and, as I had refused all sustenance,, my state was very
alarming: towards night, I enjoyed, for the first time,
three or four hours sleep, a perspiration carae on, and
I awoke as from a dream, free from delirium, but
painfully alive to all the horrors that surrounded me.

Ths sea continued to break over die boats so much,
that those who had force enough were obliged to b.de
without intermission. Tliose who sat in the stern of
the cytter were so confiniid, that it was difficult for any-
one to put his hand into his pocket, and the greater
part of the crew lay in water upon the bont's bottom.

The return of dawn brou^iht us no relief but its

light. The sun had never cheered us but once durinf-;
the whole of our perilous voyage ; and those who ha.d

a few

rr.

LOSS OF THE LADY IIOBART. 17

for, on
tion in the
ould pUice
to implore
\vri'("k. I
I such an
I cause of

make Irs
,ve were all

suvyive or
vc hope of
ed the land,
but his Tor-
ts to which
im the most
: fatal event,
cumstance ;
ent was suf-
inful ; and I
1 lost all re-
's, a violent
at intervals ;
ate was very
he first time,
arae on, and
leliiium, but
landed me.
lats so much,
jliged to bale
. the stern of
fficult for any
i .the greater
).nt's bottom,
relief but its
t once duiinf-;
lose who had
a few

a few hours of interrupted sleep, awoke to all the
consciousness of wretchedness and misery.

A very heavy gale of wind came on from the south-
ward, with so tremendous a sea, that the greatest
vigilance was necessary in managing the helm, as the
slio-htest deviation would have broached the bouts to,
and consequently must have hurried on our destruction.
We scudded before It, expecting every returning wave
to overwhelm us, but, through the Providence of Al-
mighty God, we weathered the storm, which began to
al;ate towards night. We had nearly run the distance
we had supposed ourselves from St. John's ; but,
owing to the thickness of the fog, we were prevented
from discerning to any great extent.

Towards evening we passed several pieces of rock-
weed, and soon after Captain Thornas saw the wing
of a Hackdown, an acquatic bird that frequents the
coast of Newfoundland, and is much eaten by the
fishermen. This event afforded us great hopes of our
approaching the land ; and all hands were eagerly em-
. ployed in observing what passed the boats. About
this time a beautiful white bird, web-footed, and not
\inlike a dove in size and plumage, hovered over the
mast-head of the cutter ; and, notwithstanding the
pitching of the boat, it frequently attempted to perch
on it, and continued fluttering there until dark.
Trifling as this circumstance may appear, it was con-
sidered by us all as a propitious omen.

The impressive manner in which it left us, and re-
turned to gladden us with its presence, awakened in us
a superstition, to which sailors are at all tinaes said to
be prone ; we indulged ourselves on this occasion,
witli the most consolatory assurances, that the same
hand, which had provided this solace to our distresses,
would extricate us from the danger that surrounded

us,

There

^,1 .

• }
'.' I

if ^

i I

. 1 ' '

lii

18 LOSS OF THE LADY IIOUART.

There bclnij every reason to coucIik'.c ourselves wcM
in with the hind, the few th.it were able to move were
now culled upon to make a last effort to save their
lives by rowing, and take advantage of the little
breeze we then had. It was stroiif^dy urged to them,
that, if the wind should come oH the whore in the
morning, and drive us to leeward, all efforts to re-
gain it might be too late; as, independent of our
feeble state, the provisions, with every economy, could
not last more than two days ; and that the water,
which had as yet remained untouched, (excepting in
the instances before mentioned,) could not hold out
much longer. VVe had now been six days and nights,
constantly wet and cold, without any other suste-
nance than a quarter of a biscuit and one wine-glass
of fluid for twenty-four hours. The imen, who had
appeared totally inditt'erent as to their fate, sum-
moned up resolution, and as many as were capable
of moving from the bottom of the boats applied to
the oars.

Mondai/^ July 4. — As the day dawned, the fo^ be-
came so thick that we could not see very far from
the boat. During the night, we had been under the
necessity of casting otf' the jolly-boat's tow-rope, to
induce her crew to exert themselves by rowing. We
again lost sight of her, and I perceived that this un-
•Jucky accident was beginning to excite great uneasi-
net=s among us. We were now so reduced that the
most" trifling remark, or exclamation, agitated us very
much.

I therefore found it necessary to caution the i)eopIe
against being deceived by the appearance of land, or
calling out till we were quite convinced of its reality,
more especially as fog-banks are often mistaken for
land. Several of the poor fellows, however, repeatedly

( exclaimed

LOSS OF THE LADY IIOBAUT. I9

SclvCK WcM

novo were
save tlicir
the little
U) thctn,
ore ill the
orts to re-
nt of our
jiTiy, could
tiic water,
cepting in
t IhjIcI out
and nights,
ithcr sustc-
wine-glass
, who had
late, sam-
ple capable
applied to

the fog be-
:ry for^from
n under the

)vv-rope, to
wing. We
iiat this un-
reat uneasi-
:ed that the
ateu us very

I the i)eoplc
of land, 01*
f its reality,
nistaken for
r, repeatedly
exclaimed

exclaimed they heard brcaki-rs ; others, the firing of
puns; and the soumls we did hear rescinl)K.d the latter
so much, that I concluded sonic vessel hud got on
shore and was niakiuG: signals of distress; the noise
uftcr wards proved to be the blowing of whales, of
•wliich we saw a great number.

Soon after day-light, the sun rose in view for the
second time since wc quilted the wreck. It is wor-
thy of remark, that, during the period of seven days
that wc weie in the boats, wo never had an opportu-
nity of ijking an observation, eit'^er of the sun, moon,
or stars, nor of dryiig our cloc'.*«. The fog at length
beginning to disperse, we instantly caught a glimi)sc
of the land> witliin a mile distance, betwcMi Ketile-
Cove and Iiland-(!ov.', in Conception-Bay, 14 leagues
from the harbour of John's. Almost at the same
moment we had the inexpressible satisfaction to dis-
cover the joli boat, and a schooner in shore standing
ort' towards us,

J wish it were possible for me to describe our sen-
sations at this ir.terostinjjr moment. From the constant
"watching and fatigue, and from the languor and de-
pression arising from our exhausted stat;', such accu-
mulated irritability was brought on, that li)e joy of a
speedy relief aiiected us all in a most reiviurkable way ;
many burst into tears, some looked at each other with
a stupid stare, as if doubtful of the reality of what
they caw ; several were in such a lethargic state, that
no consolation, no animating language, could rouse
them to exertion.

At this afiecting period, though overpowered by my
own fecUngs and impressed with the recollection of
.our sufferings and tiie sight of so many deplorable
objects, I proposed to offer up our solemn thanks to
Heaven for our miraculous deliverance. Every one
cheerfully assented ; and, as soon as 1 opened the

Prayer-

, 1

1 J»

• )

. .t

20 LOSS OF THE LADY IIOBART.

Prayer-book, (which I had secured the last time I
went down to my cabin,) there was a universal si-
lence ; a spirit of devotion was so singularly nnani*
fested on this occasion, that to the benefits of a reli-
gious sense in uncultivated minds, must be ascribed
that discipline, good order, and exertion, which even
the sight of land could not produce.

The service being over, the peoj)le requested to have
a pint of grog each ; but, fearful of the consequences
of such an indulgence, I mixed some rum and water
very weak, and distributed to every one a small
quantity.

The schooner being: now within hail, and having
made our situation known, she hove-to, and received
us on board j our boats being taken in tow. The men
could now with difficulty be restrained from taking
large and repeated draughts of water ; in consequence
of which, several felt great inconvenience from the
sudden distention of their stomachs; but, by being af-
terwards more cautious, no other bad effects followed.

The wind havinjj blown with ^xtsX violence from
oft* the coast, we did not reach the landing-plt^ce at
Island-Cove till 4 o'clock in tke evening. All the
womsn and children in the village, with two or three
fishermen, (the rest of the men being absent,) came down
to the be?ch, and, appearing deeply affected at our
wretched situation, assisted in lifting us out of the
vessel, and afterwards in carrying us up the <^vaggy
Tocks, over which \ve were obliged to pass, to get to
their habitations.

It was a most fortunate circumstance for us that
we fell in with the land about Island-Cove ; a very
few miles farther to the northward, the coast is inac-
cessible, and lined with dangerous reefs of rocks,
which, if we had seen them in the night, we should
have pushed for ; for, our situation having become so

desperate^

't time I
/ersal si-
lly mani-
)f a rcli-
ascribed
lich even

[d to have
[sequences
Imd water
a small

id having
1 received
The men
nm taking
nsequencc
from the
f being af-
s followed,
lence from
ig-pl^ce at
. All the
vo or three
lame down
;ed at our
out of the
the <ivaggy
, to get to

)r us that

ire ; a very

LSt is inac-

of rocks,

we should

become so

desperate^

LOSS OF THE LADY HOBART. 21

desperate, I had resolved to land at the first place we
could make; in that case we must have ail perished.

The different fishing-huts were constructed of pine-
logs. The three ladies, Colonel (-ooke, Capt. Thomas,
the master, and myself, were conducted to t!ie house
of Mr. Lilly, a planter, who received us with grciit
attention and humanity. This small village atForded
neither medical aid nor fresh jirovisions, of which we
stood so much in need ; potatoes and salt-tish being
the only food of the inhabitants. I determined, there-
fore, to lose no time in proceeding to St. John's,
having hired a small schooner for th^t j)urjK)se. On the
7th of July we embarked in three divisior.s, placing the
most infirm in the f-chooncr ; the master's mate iia-
ving charge of the cutter, and the boatswain of the
Jolly-boat; but such was the exhaused state of nearly
the whole party, that the day was considerably ad-
vanced before we could get under weigh.

At two P. M. made sail, with the jolly-boat in
tow, and the cutter in company, and stood along the
coast of Newfoundland with a favourable breeze.
Towards dusk it came on to blow hard in squalls ott'
the land, when we lost sight of the cutter, and were
obliged soon after to come to anchor, outside of St,
John's harbour. We were under great ai)prchension3
for the cutter's safety, as she had no grapnel, and lest
she should be driven out to sea; but at day-light we
perceived her and the schooner entewng the harl^our ;
the cutter, as we afterwards learnt, iiavii^g had tlie aood
fortune to tall in vi^ith a iishing-vcsi^ei, to which they
made fast durine the niiiht.

Tlie ladies, Col. Cooke, Capt. T'iomas, and mv-
sclf, conducted by iMr. Lilly, in the jolly-boat; ha-
ving left the schooner w.- re she anchored, notwith-
standing the badness as well as the extreme darkness
of the night, reached the shore about midnight. — \Vc

wandered

5S LOSS OF THE LADY HOBART,

Ijil

1 )

r •

m !

•H

■ I

<1i

% }i

n s

wandered for some time about the streets, there beinsj
no house open at that late hour, but were at length
admitted into a* stnall house, where we passed the re-
n.a n 'er of the night on cliaiis, there being but one
miserable bed for the lac^'^s.

Early on the following morning, our circumstances
])eing made kiiown, hundreds of people crowded
down to the landing-place. Nothing could exceed
their surprize, on seeing the boats that had carried
29 person.s such a distance over a boisterous sea ; and,
when thty beht!d so many miserable objects, they
could not conceal their emotions of pity and concern.
I waited on BrigadierrGeneral Skerrilt, who com-
manded the ijarrison, and who immediately, upon be-
ing informed of our situation, ordered down a party
of soldiers to take the people out of the boats, and,
with the utmost kindness and humanity, directed beds
and every necessary article to be prepared for the crew.

The greatest circumspection was found necessary in
administering nourishment to the men. Several of the
crew was so .much frost-bitten as to require constant
surgical assistance ; and it was determined they should
continue at St. John*s until they were in a fit state to
he transported to Halifax ; I hired a schooner for that
purix)se.

Being anxious to return to England, I engaged the
cabin of a small vessel bound to Oporto, and on the
11th of July 1 embarked with Mrs. Fellowes, Col.
Cooke, Capt. Thomas, Mr. Bargus, (the master,) and
the Colonel's servant, who, during the voyage home,
lost several of his toes, in consequence of what he had
suffered. The master's mate I left in charge of the
ship*s company, and he was directed to conduct them to
Halifax, where they would be enabled to return by the
first opporii.inity to their own country.

After

LOSS OF THE LADY HOBAUT.

lere being:

at length

led the re-

Ig but one

lumstances

crowded

lild exceed

i.'id carried

sea ; and,

ijects, they

d concern.

who com-

', upon be-

;n a party

boats, and,

rected beds

>r the crew.

leeessary in

iveral of the

ire constant

they should

I fit state to

ner for that

■%l

After taking leave of our hospitable friends at St.
John's, and alter recommending to their protection the
companions of our hardships, we put to sea with fa-
Tourable weather. During a voyage of 1 5 days we
had a few ditiicultics to encounter, such as pumping
continually, the vessel having sprung a leak in a gale
of wind ; and we were obliged to throw overboard a
considerable quantity of her <vrgo of salt fish.

On the 26th of July, we fell in with an American
ship, the Bristol Trader, of New York. The owner,
Mr. Wm Cowley, being told our distressed situa*
tion, and that we had been shipwrecked, immediately
hove-to ; and, with a benevolence and hnmanity that
will ever reflect the highest hono-. n his character,
received us on board, and brough safe to Bristol ;
where we had the happiness to arrive on the 3d of
August,

mgaged the
and on the
lowes, Col.
master,) and
yage home,
what he had
large of the
duct them to
eturn by the

List

After

- 1,

Ifv! J 3

LOSS OF THE LADY IIOBART.

V 'il

■'?

1^ :!'

List of Namrs of ihe S/ifp*s Compann^ S\c. of /th
Mqjf-sii/s Ptic/cct Lady Hob art, saced hi the
Ijtfdfs,

William Dorset Fellowes, Esq. commander.

Mr. Samuel Hargns, master.

Mr. Robert Jenkins, muster's mute.

Peter Germain, gunner.

Be •'j'lmin Saule, boatswain.

.]ohn (lurd, carpenter.

Francis Larnbrick, sail-muker«

Thomas Bell, ship's cook.

r.dward Roberts, captain's steward.

Richard Harris, captain's servant.

.John Harris, seaman.

John Aiidrew, ditto.

John Anderson, ditto.

V. Martin, ditto.

John Tipper, ditto.

William Trigido, ditto.

Christian M' Cleaver, ditto.

John Watson, ditto.

Timothy Donohough, invalided seaman.

liichard Pierce, ditto.

Charles Rosse, French prisoner of war, afterwards

drowned.
G. Goslin, French prisoner.
V. Franpois, ditto.

The passengers on board the Lady Hobart were
Mrs. Scott, Miss Cotenham, Mrs. Fellowes, Lleut.-
Col. Cooke^ aq^ Captain Richard Thomas of the

Navy. J^

'■? <

-^i:

LETTERS,

■i -ill

LETTERS, &c.

CONCERMINO THB

LOSS

OF HIS majesty's PACKET

LADY HOBART,

St. John^s, Nexofoiaidlaud^
Sir, . Jul// 9, 180^.

IT is with extreme concern I have the honour to
inform you of the total loss of his Majesty's packet
LadyHobart, under my command, on the morning
of the 28th of June, at sea, in lat. 4^. 33. N. and
Ions. 44. W. from Greenwich, on an island of ice.

The accompanying narrative of our proceedings,
from the time of the ship's foundering, will, I trust,
be a sufficient testimony to their lordships, that no
exertion on my part, or that of my officers and ship's
company, was wanting, both as to preserving the ship
from sinking, as well as the total impossibility of
saving the dispatches.

The sufFerings and hardships undergone by us all
have been indeed greater than it is possible for my
pen to describe. After remaining three days at Island-
Cove, the place where we first made the land, there
being no medical assistance for the people, I embarktjd
in a small vessel I hired for the purpose, and arrived
here yesterday.

With the exception of two women and myself, they
are still in a most wretched condition ; aud several^ it

c is

I'll

^-•1

LETTERS, Sfc.

is feared, will lose their toes and fingers. As soon
as they are in a state t<% be nmoved, 1 intend procecvl-
ing Tiom hence a schooner <b Halifax, with a view
to obtain a paj in one of the packets, as there are

no vessels about / sail from hence for England, and
none that could accommodate so great a number. I
trust their Lordships will approve of what 1 have con^
fidered it rny duty to do by these unfortunate men.

Brigadier Gen. Skerritt has been so kind as to give
"US quarters in the garrison, and has issued rations for
oui suppoit, as well as maintenance to Halifax, at the
pxpense of Government, for which, I shall give re-
ceipts.

I should be wanting in gratitude, were I not to
make particular mention of the kind and humane
attentions we have all experienced from General Sker-
ritt, the officers of the garrisorj, and many of the
inhtibitants of St. John's.

I have the honour, &c.

Wm. Dobset Fello"*ve£;.

F. F/eeling, Esq,

*#>^»«^>«^^.^^k

General Post'OJice, I'Sl/i Aug, \S03,

Dear Sir,

Having laid your affecting aud interesting narra»
tlve before my Lords the Postmaster-General, I am
commanded to send you a copy of their Lordships'
minutes thereon. I assure you, I enter fully into all
their Lordships* feelings for your past sufferings ; and
entertain the same sense of your patience, fortitude,
and perseverance ; and I beg you to Believe I have

pleasure

f^fmi-jsfiit

As SOOR

id proceeJ-
ith a view
IS there are
gland, and
lumber. I
I hav£ con-
ate men.
id as to give
d rations for
aVifax, at the
aall give re-
re I not to
and humane
general Sker-
many of the

T Fello>ves

9lh Aug, 160:

iteresting narra.
-General, I am
their Lordships'
;r fully into all
sufterings; and
ience, fortitude,
3 Believe I have
plcame

LIvHTRS, &:c.

«r

pleasure in witnessing tiie prc-motion which hns so
quicky siicceeded tlie mcan;c.it of your difficulties and
^'^. danf'ers. My Lords cannot fail to take into their fa-
vourable consiilerution the very meritorious conduct
of your officers and crew.

Believe me, &c.

F. Feeeling.

Capt. Fcllowcs.

We have perused this report with a mixcil sentiment
of sympathy and admiration. We are satisfied, that;,
in the loss of the packet and of the public corres-
pondence, no blame is imputable to Capt. Fellowe?,
to his officers, or to his seamen. In their exertion,
after the ship had struck on the floating mass of ice,
and in their subsequent conduct, they appear to have
shewn all the talents and virtues which can distin-
guish the naval character.

; Let a proper letter be written in our names to the
friends ar>d family of the very worthy French officer
who perished. And we shall be solicitous to leaia
the entire recovery of the other passengers* who met
luch dangers and difficulties with the most exemplary
ibrtitude.

\ Mr. Freeling will return the narrative to Captain
If'ellowes, with our permission to him to communi-
cate it to his friends, or, if he shall think proper, to
give it to the public. It cannot fail to impress on
i^e minds of all, who may read it, the benefit of re-
ligion and the consolation of prayer under the pres-

^1^

sure

LETTERS, &c.

-i

«: '-ii

sure of calamity ; and also an awful sense of the in-
terj)osition and mercies of Providence in a case of
extreme peril and distress. To seamen it will more
particularly shew that discipline, order, generosity of
mind, good temper, mutual benevolence, and patient
exertion, are, under the favour of heaven, the best
safeguards in all their difficvJties.

With respect to Capt. Fellowcs,, we feel highly
gratitied in having v. in our power so immediately to
give him a promotion, which we have reason to be*-
lieve will be particularly acceptable.

(Signed) Auckland.

C. SrENCEE*

Augrnst 16, 1803.

THE E^O.

■V. i

w«

J. il. tiART, Printer, 23, Warwick-Square.

.>v

>f the in-
a case of
will more
lerosity of
nd patient
, tUc best

eel higlily
lediately ta
ison to be-

:kland.

Square.