The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-02-02

lnOuSn the WrllHlnS OF the uech uuuer
their feet told them that the vessel was
in her death throes.
Hardly had the cutter cleared the gang
way with her precious freight when the
Birkenhead broke squarely in two just
forward Of the engines, and the forward
part, sliding off the rock, plunged like
shot into the depths of the ocean. 1t
was seen that there was no time to bring
any more boats alongside, and the order
was given for all who could to save them
selves. Even then, when all discipline
was thrown aside, the habits of years Of
rigid training ruled all the actions of the
soldiers. There was no unmanly rush for
the two remaining boats, and those who
could swim aided their comrades to places
in them and on bits of floating wreckage.
The boats were quickly filled beyond the
point of safety and pulled away from the
vessel leaving those on board facing
death by the CHASTITY light of the blue
lights and rockets which had been show
cred upward since the ship first struck.
Death was not long in coming for most
of the poor fellows. Five minutes after
the forward part of the vessel had gone
down she broke again just aft of the
mainmast. The after part heeled over
ard sank, and moment later the main
body of the vessel slid from the rock and
plunged beneath the waves, Colonel Sc
ton standing calmly by the gangway and
going down with it to a brave mans
grave. In a little more than 20 minutes
from the time the vessel struck the rock
there remained of her no vestige but the
floating wreckage, which covered the wa
ter, and the main topmast, which pro-
jected above the surface. On this many
of the men took refuge, while others sup
ported themselves on pieces Of wreckage
or on life preservers, with which they
had previously provided themselves, and
started for the shore, which was some
two miles distant.
1t was too far for most of the poor fell
lows, and of nearly 300 who started for
the shore most gave it up and sank be-
fore completing the distance. But there
was another death which lurked in the
waters between the rock and the shore
death sudden and horrible and which left
the survivors with shaken nerves and
failing courage. The sea was infested
by sharks, and nearly all who had strip
ped off their clothes were eaten by
them. Many a poor fellow, swimming
alongside with a comrade, heard q sud-
den rush and a cry and found himself
with only bloody eddy beside him and
a creeping dread at his heart that he
might be the next to meet such a fate.
And even with the shore safety was
not gained. 4 heavy swell and strong
undertow and a rocky and difficult coast
were but a part Of the dangers with
which they had to contend. For q long
way out from the shore the sea was filled
with great masses of seaweed, which
I IL a. h. how
and slipped under their feet as they
struggled toward the shore, and many
who had almost reached the land gave
up, disheartened, and met their death in
the clinging weed.
Gradually, one after another, they drag
ged themselves from the water and gath.
cred together on the firm land, and when
it became certain that there were no more
to come there were in that party but GO
out of all who had stood on the deck of
the Birkenhcad when she went down.
But little could be done for them at the
fishing station at Point Danger, and they
were obliged to tramp for more than 20
miles through a rough and broken coun.
try to the house of Captain Smalds, for
merly of the Seventh Dragon guards. |
Here they were well cared for and two
days later were taken off by II. NJ. s.
Rhadamanthus, sent from st. Simon's
Bay.
The fate Of the other survivors was
much easier. The three boats under
Lieutenant Richards, when they pulled
away from the wreck, had made for st.
Simon's Bay, as they were all so heavily |
loaded as to make the attempt to land in
the heavy surf inshore one of great dan
ger. They rowed all night and at dawn
were picked up by the schooner Lioness. |
Captain Ramsden, who after taking them
on board at once started for the scene of /
the wreck. On arriving there, early In
the afternoon, the main topmost was
found to be still standing, with 40 men
clinging to it. These were taken off. but
there was no sign of any other survivors
One hundred and twenty-five were tax
en- by the Lioness from the boats and /
from the mast. Sixty-eight succeeded il
reaching the shore. OF the others of the /
Birkenhead's great company all perish
ed; but, to the credit of British courage
be it said, there was in this number moi
one woman or child. Captain Wright
the senior surviving military officer, re
manned for two days at the scene Of the
wreck for the purpose of burying thu
bodies. Many came ashore, but the great
er number sleep in unmarked but not un
honored graves.-Short Stories.