On the 6th of March, as she was standing in for the land, near Cape
Mensurada, at about seven in the morning, a schooner appeared in
sight, and from her endeavours to escape, left no doubt of the
illegality of her trade. Between the land and sea breeze, which set
in about eleven, it was nearly a calm, with light variable airs. The
chase took advantage of this to lighten, and casks, boats, planks,
everything that could be, were thrown overboard: after eleven the run
became very exciting, the schooner making for the land; presently she
took in her studding-sails and hauled to the wind. In-shore, lay at
anchor a man-of-war, and in a short time the chase was joined by
H.M.S. 'Rapid,' and her yawl, making now four in all. Finding the
'Bonetta' too close on her, the schooner again bore away, and by
sunset (the 'Rapid' a long way astern) both were under all sail,
running before the wind. The schooner appeared almost in their
grasp, when a tornado took all aback; every rope being manned, the
sail came in, and running off the land, they lost sight of the chase
before eight o'clock. At half-past nine, when all but the watch on
board the 'Bonetta' were in bed, a most severe shock was felt by all;
one of the watch, without orders to do so, sprang to the lead, and in
answer to the question why he did so, declared, as did the whole
watch, that the ship was on shore. Some below were completely thrown
out of their beds; no bottom was found, and the ship was at least
fifteen miles from land. It might have been the shock of an
earthquake. Could it have been the sinking hull of the lightened
schooner?