23 a Sunday, Saw a Ships Mast in Forenoon & Just at Night A Large
Jamaica Puncheon Floating we hoisted out our Boat^e & went in Persuit
of it but Could not Get it we Suppos^d it was full of Rum this
Afternoon a Large Swell brok & Soon after A fine Breese Which
Increas^d harder in the Morn^g.
24^th Sun about two hours high we Saw white water in About a Mile
Under our Lee Bow we Saw the Breakers which was on the Bahama Banks
which Surpris^d our Officers & Men Greatly we Put our Ship About & had
the Good Fortune to Clear them the wind Blew harder we Struck Top
Gallant Yards & Lanch^d Top Gallant Masts Lay too Under one Leach of
the Four Sail Got 6 Nine Pounders Down in the Lower hold & Cleard the
Decks of unecessary Lumber The Wind Continued verry hard The air was
Verry Thick Just before Night the Sea Came in Over our Larboard Nettens
on the Gangway. All the officers Advis^d to Cut away the Main Mast
which we Did, Just at Dusk, All the hope we had was that it would not
Blow harder, but it Continued harder till After Midnight About one
oClock it Seemd to Blow in whirlwinds which oblig^d us to Cut away our
Four Mast & Missen Mast. Soon after the Wind Chang^d to the Eastward
which Greatly Encourag^d us Being Much Affraid of the Bahama Banks the
fore Mast fell to the windward & Knock^d our Anchor off the Bow So
that we Cut it away for fear it would Make a hole in the Bow of the Ship
our Fore Mast Lay along Side for two hours After it fell, it Being
Impossible to Get Clear of it We Bent our Cables for fear of the Banks
that we Might try to Ride it out if we Got on.