The coast became now more rugged
and our view of it was terminated by another high projecting point on the
starboard bow. Happily, before we had reached it, a light breeze enabled
us to turn the ship's head to seaward and we had the gratification to
find, when the sails were trimmed, that she drew off the shore. We had
made but little progress however when she was violently forced by the
current against a large iceberg lying aground.
Our prospect was now more alarming than at any preceding period; and it
would be difficult for me to portray the anxiety and dismay depicted on
the countenances of the female passengers and children who were rushing
on deck in spite of the endeavours of the officers to keep them below,
out of the danger which was apprehended if the masts should be carried
away. After the first concussion the ship was driven along the steep and
rugged side of this iceberg with such amazing rapidity that the
destruction of the masts seemed inevitable, and everyone expected we
should again be forced on the rocks in the most disabled state; but we
providentially escaped this perilous result, which must have been
decisive.
The dense fog now cleared away for a short time and we discovered the
Eddystone close to some rocks, having three boats employed in towing; but
the Wear was not visible.
Our ship received water very fast; the pumps were instantly manned and
kept in continual use, and signals of distress were made to the
Eddystone, whose commander promptly came on board and then ordered to our
assistance his carpenter and all the men he could spare together with the
carpenter and boat's crew of the Wear, who had gone on board the
Eddystone in the morning and were prevented from returning to their own
vessel by the fog. As the wind was increasing and the sky appeared very
unsettled it was determined the Eddystone should take the ship in tow,
that the undivided attention of the passengers and crew might be directed
to pumping and clearing the holds to examine whether there was a
possibility of stopping the leak. We soon had reason to suppose the
principal injury had been received from a blow near the stern-post, and
after cutting away part of the ceiling the carpenters endeavoured to stop
the rushing in of the water by forcing oakum between the timbers; but
this had not the desired effect and the leak, in spite of all our efforts
at the pumps, increased so much that parties of the officers and
passengers were stationed to bail out the water in buckets at different
parts of the hold.
