shores of Sahara. Towards ten in the morning, they set about the
frivolous ceremony which the sailors have invented for the purpose of
exacting something from those passengers who have never crossed the
line. During the ceremony, the frigate doubled Cape Barbas hastening
to its destruction. Captain Lachaumareys very good humoredly presided
at this species of baptism, while his dear Richefort promenaded the
forecastle, and looked with indifference upon a shore bristling with
dangers. However that may be, all passed on well; nay, it may even be
said that the farce was well played off. But the route which we
pursued soon made us forget the short lived happiness we had
experienced. Every one began to observe the sudden change which had
taken place in the color of the sea, as we ran upon the bank in
shallow water. A general murmur arose among the passengers and
officers of the navy;--they were far from partaking in the blind
confidence of the captain.
On the second of July, at five in the morning, the captain was
persuaded that a large cloud, which was discovered in the direction of
Cape Blanco, was that Cape itself. After this pretended discovery,
they ought to have steered to the west, for about fifty leagues, to
have gained sea room to double with certainty the Arguin Bank;
moreover, they ought to have conformed to the instructions the
Minister of Marine had given to the ships which set out for Senegal.
The other part of the expedition, from having followed these
instructions arrived in safety at their destination. During the
preceding night, the Echo, which had hitherto accompanied the Medusa,
made several signals, but being replied to with contempt, abandoned
us. Towards ten in the morning, the danger which threatened us was
again represented to the captain, and he was strongly urged, if he
wished to avoid the Arguin Bank, to take a westerly course; but the
advice was again neglected, and he despised the predictions. One of
the officers of the frigate, from having wished to expose the
intriguing Richefort, was put under arrest. My father, who had already
twice made the voyage to Senegal, and who with various persons was
persuaded they were going right upon the bank, also made his
observations to the unfortunate pilot.--His advice was no better
received than those of Messrs. Reynaud, Espiau, Maudet, &c. Richefort,
in the sweetest tone, replied, 'My dear, we know our business; attend
to yours, and be quiet. I have already twice passed the Arguin Bank; I
have sailed upon the Red Sea, and you see I am not drowned.' What
reply could be made to such a preposterous speech? My father, seeing
it was impossible to get our route changed, resolved to trust to
Providence to free us from our danger, and descended to our cabin,
where he sought to dissipate his fears in the oblivion of sleep.
At noon on the 2d of July, soundings were taken. M. Maudet, ensign of
the watch, was convinced we were upon the edge of the Arguin Bank. The
captain said to him, as well as to every one, that there was no cause
of alarm. In the meanwhile, the wind blowing with great violence,
impelled us nearer and nearer to the danger which menaced us.--A
species of stupor overpowered all our spirits, and every one preserved
a mournful silence, as if they were persuaded we would soon touch the
bank. The color of the water entirely changed, a circumstance even
remarked by the ladies. About three in the afternoon, being in 19 30
north latitude, and 19 45 west longitude, an universal cry was heard
upon deck. All declared they saw sand rolling among the ripple of the
sea. The captain in an instant ordered to sound.--The line gave
eighteen fathoms; but on a second sounding it only gave six. He at
last saw his error, and hesitated no longer on changing the route, but
it was too late. A strong concussion told us the frigate had struck.
Terror and consternation were instantly depicted on every face. The
crew stood motionless; the passengers in utter despair. In the midst
of this general panic, cries of vengeance were heard against the
principal author of our misfortunes, wishing to throw him overboard;
but some generous persons interposed, and endeavored to calm their
spirits, by diverting their attention to the means of our safety. The
confusion was already so great, that McPoinsignon, commandant of a
troop, struck my sister Caroline a severe blow, doubtless thinking it
was one of his soldiers. At this crisis my father was buried in
profound sleep, but he quickly awoke, the cries and the tumult upon
deck having informed him of our misfortunes. He poured out a thousand
reproaches on those whose ignorance and boasting had been so
disastrous to us. However, they set about the means of averting our
danger. The officers, with an altered voice, issued their orders
expecting every moment to see the ship go in pieces. They strove to
lighten her, but the sea was very rough and the current strong. Much
time was lost in doing nothing; they only pursued half measures and
all of them unfortunately failed.
When it was discovered that the danger of the Medusa was not so great
as was at first supposed, various persons proposed to transport the
troops to the island of Arguin, which was conjectured to be not far
from the place where we lay aground. Others advised to take us all
successively to the coast of the desert of Sahara, by the means of our
boats, and with provisions sufficient to form a caravan, to reach the
island of Saint Louis, at Senegal. The events which afterwards ensued
proved this plan to have been the best, and which would have been
crowned with success; unfortunately it was not adopted. M. Schmaltz,
the governor, suggested the making of a raft of sufficient size to
carry two hundred men, with provisions; which latter plan was seconded
by the two officers of the frigate, and put in execution.
The fatal raft was then begun to be constructed, which would, they
said, carry provisions for every one. Masts, planks, boards and
cordage were thrown overboard. Two officers were charged with the
framing of these together.--Large barrels were emptied and placed at
the angles of the machine, and the workmen were taught to say, that
the passengers would be in greater security there, and more at their
ease, than in the boats. However, it was forgotten to erect rails,
every one supposed, and with reason, that those who had given the plan
of the raft, had had no design of embarking upon it themselves.
When it was completed, the two chief officers of the frigate publicly
promised, that all the boats would tow it to the shore of the Desert;
and, when there, stores of provisions and fire-arms would be given us
to form a caravan to take us all to Senegal. Why was not this plan
executed?--Why were these promises, sworn before the French flag, made
in vain? But it is necessary to draw a veil over the past. I will only
add, that if these promises had been fulfilled, every one would have
been saved, and that, in spite of the detestable egotism of certain
personages, humanity would not now have had to deplore the scenes of
horror consequent on the wreck of the Medusa.
On the 3d of July, the efforts were renewed to disengage the frigate,
but without success. We then prepared to quit her. The sea became very
rough, and the wind blew with great violence. Nothing now was heard
but the plaintive and confused cries of a multitude, consisting of
more than four hundred persons, who, seeing death before their eyes,
deplored their hard fate in bitter lamentations.
On the 4th, there was a glimpse of hope. At the hour the tide flowed,
the frigate, being considerably lightened by all that had been thrown
overboard, was found nearly afloat; and it is very certain, if on that
day they had thrown the artillery into the water, the Medusa would
have been saved; but M. Lachaumareys said, he would not thus sacrifice
the king's cannon, as if the frigate did not belong to the king
also.--However, the sea ebbed, and the ship sinking into the sand
deeper than ever, made them relinquish that on which depended our last
ray of hope.
On the approach of night, the fury of the winds redoubled, and the sea
became very rough. The frigate then received some tremendous
concussions, and the water rushed into the hold in the most terrific
manner, but the pumps would not work. We had now no alternative but to
abandon her for the frail boats, which any single wave might
overwhelm.--Frightful gulfs environed us; mountains of water raised
their liquid summits in the distance. How were we to escape so many
dangers? Whither could we go? What hospitable land would receive us on
its shores? My thoughts then reverted to our beloved country. Then
starting suddenly from my reverie, I exclaimed: 'O terrible condition!
that black and boundless sea resembles the eternal night which will
engulf us! All those who surround me seem yet tranquil, but that fatal
calm will soon be succeeded by the most frightful torments. Fools,
what had we to find in Senegal, to make us trust to the most
perfidious of elements! Did France not afford every necessary for our
happiness? Happy! yes, thrice happy, they who never set foot on a
foreign soil! Great God! succor all these unfortunate beings; save our
unhappy family!'
My father perceived my distress, but how could he console me? What
words could calm my fears, and place me above the apprehensions of
those dangers to which we were exposed? How, in a word, could I assume
a serene appearance, when friends, parents and all that was most dear
to me were, in all human probability, on the very verge of
destruction?--Alas! my fears were but too well founded. For I soon
perceived that, although we were the only ladies, besides the Misses
Schmaltz, who formed a part of the Governor's suit, they had the
barbarity of intending our family to embark upon the raft, where were
only soldiers sailors and planters of Cape Verd, and some generous
officers who had not the honor (if it could be accounted one) of being
considered among the ignorant confidants of MM. Schmaltz and
Lachaumareys. My father, indignant at a proceeding so indecorous,
swore we would not embark upon the raft, and that, if we were not
judged worthy of a place in one of the six boats, he would himself,
his wife and children, remain on board the wreck of the frigate. The
tone in which he spoke these words, was that of a man resolute to
avenge any insult that might be offered to him. The governor of
Senegal, doubtless fearing the world would one day reproach him for
his inhumanity, decided we should have a place in one of the boats.
This having in some measure quieted our fears concerning our
unfortunate situation, I was desirous of taking some repose, but the
uproar among the crew was so great I could not obtain it.
Towards midnight, a passenger came to inquire of my father if we were
disposed to depart; he replied, we had been forbid to go yet. However,
we were soon convinced that a great part of the crew and various
passengers were secretly preparing to set off in the boats. A conduct
so perfidious could not fail to alarm us, especially as we perceived
among those so eager to embark unknown to us, several who had
promised, but a little while before, not to go without us.
M. Schmaltz, to prevent that which was going on upon deck, instantly
rose to endeavor to quiet their minds; but the soldiers had already
assumed a threatening attitude, and holding cheap the words of their
commander, swore they would fire upon whosoever attempted to depart in
a clandestine manner. The firmness of these brave men produced the
desired effect, and all was restored to order. The governor returned
to his cabin; and those who were desirous of departing furtively were
confused and covered with shame. The governor, however, was ill at
ease; and as he had heard very distinctly certain energetic words
which had been addressed to him, he judged it proper to assemble a
council.--All the officers and passengers being collected,
M. Schmaltz, there solemnly swore before them not to abandon the raft,
and a second time promised that all the boats would tow it to the
shore of the Desert, where they would all be formed into a caravan. I
confess this conduct of the governor greatly satisfied every member of
our family; for we never dreamed he would deceive us, nor act in a
manner contrary to what he had promised.
About three in the morning, some hours after the meeting of the
council, a terrible noise was heard in the powder room; it was the
helm which was broken. All who were sleeping were roused by it. On
going on deck every one was more and more convinced that the frigate
was lost beyond all recovery. Alas! the wreck was for our family but
the commencement of a horrible series of misfortunes. The two chief
officers then decided with one accord, that all should embark at six
in the morning, and abandon the ship to the mercy of the waves. After
the decision, followed a scene the most whimsical, and at the same
time the most melancholy that can be well conceived. To have a more
distinct idea of it, let the reader transport himself in imagination
to the midst of the liquid plains of the ocean: then let him picture
to himself a multitude of all classes, of every age, tossed about at
the mercy of the waves upon a dismasted vessel, foundered, and half
submerged, let him not forget these are thinking beings with the
certain prospect before them of having reached the goal of their
existence.
Separated from the rest of the world by a boundless sea, and having no
place of refuge but the wreck of a grounded vessel, the multitude
addressed at first their vows to heaven, and forgot, for a moment, all
earthly concerns. Then suddenly starting from their lethargy, they
began to look after their wealth, the merchandise they had in small
ventures, utterly regardless of the elements which threatened them.
The miser, thinking of the gold contained in his coffers, hastening to
put it in a place of safety, either by sewing it into the lining of
his clothes, or by cutting out for it a place in the waistband of his
trowsers. The smuggler was tearing his hair at not being able to save
a chest of contraband which he had secretly got on board, and with
which he had hoped to have gained two or three hundred per cent.
Another, selfish to excess, was throwing overboard all his hidden
money, and amusing himself by burning all his effects. A generous
officer was opening his portmanteau, offering caps, stockings, and
shirts, to any who would take them. These had scarcely gathered
together their various effects, when they learned that they could not
take anything with them; those were searching the cabin and
store-rooms to carry away everything that was valuable. Ship-boys were
discovering the delicate wines and fine liquors, which a wise
foresight had placed in reserve. Soldiers and sailors were penetrating
even into the spirit-room, broaching casks, staving others and
drinking till they fell exhausted. Soon the tumult of the inebriated
made us forget the roaring of the sea which threatened to engulf us.
At last the uproar was at its height; the soldiers no longer listened
to the voice of the captain. Some knit their brows and muttered oaths;
but nothing could be done with those whom wine had rendered furious.
Next, piercing cries mixed with doleful groans were heard--this was
the signal of departure.
At six o'clock on the morning of the 5th, a great part of the military
were embarked upon the raft, which was already covered with a large
sheet of foam. The soldiers were expressly prohibited from taking
their arms. A young officer of infantry, whose brain seemed to be
powerfully affected, put his horse beside the barricadoes of the
frigate, and then, armed with two pistols, threatened to fire upon any
one who refused to go upon the raft. Forty men had scarcely descended
when it sunk to the depth of about two feet. To facilitate the
embarking of a greater number, they were obliged to throw over several
barrels of provisions which had been placed upon it the day before. In
this manner did this furious officer get about one hundred and fifty
heaped upon that floating tomb; but he did not think of adding one
more to the number by descending himself, as he ought to have done,
but went peaceably away, and placed himself in one of the best boats.
There should have been sixty sailors upon the raft, and there were but
about ten. A list had been made out on the 4th, assigning each his
proper place: but this wise precaution being disregarded, every one
pursued the plan he deemed the best for his own preservation. The
precipitation with which they forced one hundred and fifty unfortunate
beings upon the raft was such, that they forgot to give them one
morsel of biscuit. However, they threw towards them twenty-five pounds
in a sack, while they were not far from the frigate; but it fell into
the sea, and was with difficulty recovered.
During this disaster, the governor of Senegal, who was busied in the
care of his own dear self, effeminately descended in an arm-chair into
the barge, where were already various large chests, all kinds of
provisions, his dearest friends, his daughters and his wife.
Afterwards the captain's boat received twenty-seven persons, among
whom were twenty-five sailors, good rowers. The shallop, commanded by
M. Espiau, ensign of the ship, took forty-five passengers, and put
off. The boat, called the Senegal, took twenty-five; the pinnace
thirty-three; and the yawl, the smallest of all the boats, took only
ten.
Almost all the officers, the passengers, the mariners and
supernumeraries, were already embarked--all, but our weeping family,
who still remained upon the boards of the frigate, till some
charitable souls would kindly receive us into a boat. Surprised at
this abandonment, I instantly felt myself roused, and, calling with
all my might to the officers of the boats, besought them to take our
unhappy family along with them. Soon after, the barge, in which were
the governor of Senegal and all his family, approached the Medusa, as
if still to take some passengers, for there were but few in it. I made
a motion to descend, hoping that the Misses Schmaltz, who had, till
that day, taken a great interest in our family, would allow us a place
in their boat; but I was mistaken: those ladies, who had embarked in a
mysterious incognito, had already forgotten us; and M. Lachaumareys,
who was still on the frigate, positively told me they would not embark
along with us. Nevertheless I ought to tell, what we learned
afterwards, that the officer who commanded the pinnace had received
orders to take us in, but, as he was already a great way from the
frigate, we were certain he had abandoned us. My father however hailed
him, but he persisted on his way to gain the open sea. A short while
afterwards we perceived a small boat among the waves, which seemed
desirous to approach the Medusa; it was the yawl. When it was
sufficiently near, my father implored the sailors who were in it to
take us on board, and to carry us to the pinnace, where our family
ought to be placed. They refused. He then seized a firelock, which lay
by chance upon deck, and swore he would kill every one of them if they
refused to take us, adding that it was the property of the king, and
that he would have advantage from it as well as another. The sailors
murmured, but durst not resist, and received all our family, which
consisted of nine persons, viz. four children, our step-mother, my
cousin, my sister Caroline, my father and myself. A small box filled
with valuable papers, which we wished to save, some clothes, two
bottles of ratafia, which we had endeavored to preserve amidst our
misfortunes, were seized and thrown overboard by the sailors of the
yawl, who told us we would find in the pinnace everything we could
wish for our voyage. We had then only the clothes which covered us,
never thinking of dressing ourselves in two suits; but the loss which
affected us most was that of several MSS, at which my father had been
laboring for a long while. Our trunks, our linen and various chests of
merchandize of great value, in a word, everything we possessed, was
left in the Medusa. When we boarded the pinnace, the officer who
commanded it began excusing himself for having set off without
forewarning us, as he had been ordered, and said a thousand things in
his justification. But without believing the half of his fine
protestations, we felt very happy in having overtaken him; for it is
most certain they had no intention of encumbering themselves with our
unfortunate family. I say encumber, for it is evident that four
children, one of whom was yet at the breast, were very indifferent
beings to people who were actuated by a selfishness without all
parallel. When we were seated in the long boat, my father dismissed
the sailors with the yawl, telling them he would ever gratefully
remember their services. They speedily departed, but little satisfied
with the good action they had done. My father hearing their murmurs
and the abuse they poured out against us, said, loud enough for all in
the boat to hear, 'We are not surprised sailors are destitute of
shame, when their officers blush at being compelled to do a good
action.' The commandant of the boat feigned not to understand the
reproaches conveyed in these words, and, to divert our minds from
brooding over our wrongs, endeavored to counterfeit the man of
gallantry.
All the boats were already far from the Medusa, when they were brought
to, to form a chain in order to tow the raft.--The barge, in which was
the governor of Senegal, took the first tow, then all the other boats
in succession joined themselves to that. M. Lachaumareys embarked,
although there yet remained upon the Medusa more than sixty
persons.--Then the brave and generous M. Espiau, commander of the
shallop, quitted the line of boats, and returned to the frigate, with
the intention of saving all the wretches who had been abandoned. They
all sprung into the shallop; but as it was very much overloaded,
seventeen unfortunates preferred remaining on board, rather than
expose themselves as well as their companions to certain death. But
alas! the greater part afterwards fell victims to their fears or their
devotion.--Fifty-two days after they were abandoned, no more than
three of them were alive, and those looked more like skeletons than
men. They told that their miserable companions had gone afloat upon
planks and hen-coops, after having waited in vain forty-two days, for
the succor which had been promised them, and that all had perished.
The shallop, carrying with difficulty all those she had saved from the
Medusa, slowly rejoined the line of boats which towed the raft,
M. Espiau earnestly besought the officers of the other boats to take
some of them along with them; but they refused, alleging to the
generous officer that he ought to keep them in his own boat, as he had
gone for them himself. M. Espiau, finding it impossible to keep them
all without exposing them to the utmost peril, steered right for a
boat which I will not name. Immediately a sailor sprung from the
shallop into the sea, and endeavored to reach it by swimming; and when
he was about to enter it, an officer who possessed great influence
pushed him back, and, drawing his sabre, threatened to cut off his
hands, if he again made the attempt. The poor wretch regained the
shallop, which was very near the pinnace, which we were in, my father
supplicated M. Laperere, the officer of the boat, to receive him on
board, and had his arms already out to catch him, when M. Laperere
instantly let go the rope which attached us to the other boats, and
tugged off with all his force. At the same instant every boat imitated
our execrable example; and wishing to shun the approach of the
shallop, which sought for assistance, stood off from the raft,
abandoning, in the midst of the ocean, and to the fury of the waves,
the miserable mortals whom they had sworn to land on the shores of the
Desert.