The Firefly, a small schooner, with a crew of about fifty men, was
proceeding on her voyage from Belize to Jamaica, on the 27th of
February, 1835. The wind had been moderate during the day, and as they
were steering a course laid down in the chart, no danger was
anticipated.
Between nine and ten o'clock at night, the greater part of the crew,
with the exception of those whose duty it was to be upon deck, had
retired below, when the seaman in charge of the watch reported to the
commander, Lieutenant Julius McDonnell, that it was very dark ahead.
He instantly went upon deck, when the sound of surf breaking upon
rocks was distinctly heard. The helm was put down, under the hopes of
staying the vessel, but as the wind was light, and a heavy swell
setting in at the time, she did not come round, but getting stern-way,
struck with a shock which made every timber vibrate, and appeared to
threaten instant destruction to the vessel. All were in a moment upon
deck; the sweeps were got out on the larboard side, the best bower
anchor let go, and the boats hoisted out, and ordered to sound, whilst
the cutter was sent to carry out the stream anchor. The cable was then
held taut, but snapped almost immediately: the best bower came home,
and the small bower was let go. In the meantime, the wind had shifted
to the northward, and was blowing in heavy squalls, and their small
bower anchor, which was their sole dependence, came home.
Everything that could be done was put into practice to save the
vessel, but all in vain; and when daylight broke, her commander saw
that there was nothing now left him but to take measures for
preserving the lives of the crew.
For this purpose, all the officers and men were set to work to
construct rafts, as the boats were not sufficient to contain the whole
of the crew. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, one raft
was completed, and the cutter and gig prepared to receive the men. The
vessel was all this time rapidly breaking up; the bolts of her keelson
and the stempost had started; the deck was broken in, and there was
but little hope of her holding together many hours.
One officer, Mr. Nopps, the master's assistant, had been placed in the
cutter, to prevent the men from taking away anything save the clothes
they had on. Eighteen were already in the boat, including Captain West
(an engineer officer) and his son, and fifteen were mustered in the
raft, which was lashed to the larboard of the wreck, when from some
accident the raft got adrift, and was carried away by the current.
This proved most unfortunate, as the raft was their great resource;
and all on board of her would inevitably have perished, had not the
cutter pushed out to their assistance. A rope was fastened to the
raft, and they attempted to tow her back to the schooner; but as the
cutter had only four oars, and the wind set so strong to the
southward, they were unable to reach the schooner.
Those who remained upon the wreck had only the gig left; and as this
could contain but a few, Lieutenant McDonnell thought it advisable to
direct an officer to take on board the sick, and proceed for
assistance to Belize, and if he fell in with the cutter to send her
back to the schooner. The gig accordingly shoved off, but again
returned, in consequence of an accident having happened to the mast;
this being remedied, she again pulled away from the wreck and having
fallen in with the cutter, communicated the orders of Mr. McDonnell
for her return. This, as has before been shown, was impossible, and
the gig having taken on board Captain West and his son, parted from
the cutter, with the intention of proceeding to Belize.
When Lieutenant McDonnell saw that the cutter did not return, he
directed and assisted the men who remained upon the wreck to construct
a second raft. This, after considerable labour, was completed by the
following morning: it was then launched overboard, and made fast to
the rocks within the reef. As the wreck still held together, Mr.
McDonnell considered it prudent to remain by her as long as possible,
in the hope that some assistance might arrive from Belize: but in this
he was disappointed. In the meantime, another and stronger raft had
been formed from the after part of the quarter-deck, which had been
broken up by the sea; this also was launched, and brought forward
under the bows. The men almost hoped against hope, but yet no
assistance arrived. Fortunately, the weather was partially moderate,
but still the sufferings, from exposure to the weather, and the
deprivation of proper food, were severely felt; and Lieutenant
McDonnell determined, under all these circumstances, to wait no
longer, and on the 4th of March everything was in readiness to quit
the wreck. A small barrel of bread was placed on the raft, but this
was immediately washed off into the sea. A beaker one-third full of
rum was then fastened more securely, and this was the only thing that
they could take with them.
All having embarked, they started with the intention of steering
towards a cay which was in sight, but the current proved too strong,
and the raft was swept into deep water. The sail was then set, and
they steered in the direction of what was supposed to be a wreck, or
vessel, in the same situation as themselves; but on nearing, it proved
to be a sand-bore, on which people were distinctly seen walking to and
fro. They immediately conjectured that these must be the crew of one
of the boats, a supposition which afterwards proved to be correct.
Every effort was made to gain the bank, but the current was too
strong, and they found it impossible to reach any part of the reef.
Lieutenant McDonnell, who had been suffering some days from ill
health, was now so exhausted that he was obliged to be supported upon
the raft. He was, therefore, unable to give any commands; and, after a
short consultation, it was considered best to stand out to sea, in the
hopes of falling in with some vessel. The night had set in, and they
steered a course westward. On the following morning a white bottom was
seen, but immediately afterwards the raft was again in deep water. All
this time they had nothing to eat; their sole subsistence being a
small quantity of rum, which was served out at stated intervals.
The following morning, about eight o'clock, land was observed right
ahead, and they endeavoured to steer in that direction; but their
progress, from the heavy construction of the raft, was necessarily
very slow, and it was not until sunset that they found themselves
about nine or ten miles from the shore. All the next night they stood
in the same direction; and about four or five o'clock in the morning,
as near as they could guess, they were cast by the surf upon the
beach. Utterly prostrate with the fatigues they had undergone, they
threw themselves upon the sand, and soon found in sleep a brief
forgetfulness of their past cares and troubles. They did not awake for
many horn's, when, upon looking around, they discovered that the
commander was absent. This, however, gave them no uneasiness, as it
was supposed that he had gone in search of assistance. The first
object was to proceed in quest of water, of which they stood in most
need. They had gone for more than a mile without finding anything to
moisten their lips, or any signs of habitation, when one of the men
discovered a cocoa-nut tree: here was both food and drink, and with
avidity they seized upon the fruit, and found relief from their most
urgent wants.
Amongst the party who were cast on shore were Mr. Malcolm, a master's
assistant, and Mr. Price, a merchant; these, with the rest of the men,
proceeding a little further into the woods, became so fatigued that
they were obliged to return to the place where they were first cast,
whilst their companions prosecuted the search for Lieutenant
McDonnell, whose continued absence had given the greatest alarm.
About one o'clock, some of the men returned, but brought no tidings of
the commander; they said that the rest of the men had determined to
walk round the cay, as they conjectured the place on which they were
cast was Ambegris Cay, and more especially as Mr. Price, who had been
long a resident at Honduras, had assured them that to the south-east
there was a plantation belonging to one of his friends.
About two hours afterwards the men returned, but neither their
endeavours to find a habitation nor any traces of Lieutenant McDonnell
had been successful. They said that it had been their intention to
walk round the cay, but from the appearance of the coast, they did not
think it was possible to do so that day. It was then proposed that
they should rest where they were during night, and renew their search
at an early hour next morning.
Whilst they were sitting on the beach, one of the men thought he saw
Mr. McDonnell running in the surf, about half a mile distant. Ritchie,
the gunner's mate, immediately proceeded in the direction where he was
supposed to be, and found that unfortunate officer in a state of
delirium. He endeavoured to persuade him to come down to where the
rest of the men were assembled, but a few incoherent words were his
only reply. Ritchie was, therefore, obliged to return to his comrades
for assistance; and having communicated the sad condition of their
officer, they all proceeded together to the spot where he was last
seen, but found no traces of the commander. Search was made in every
direction, but in vain; and as night was approaching, they were
reluctantly obliged to return to the place which they had fixed upon
as their rendezvous. In their way thither they gathered some more
cocoa-nuts, and having satisfied their hunger and thirst, lay down to
rest, under the canopy of heaven, and with no softer bed than what the
sandy beach afforded.
The next morning the men again declared their intention of walking in
search of the plantation mentioned by Mr. Price. Mr. Malcolm, who had
become the senior officer in the absence of Mr. McDonnell, advised
them to remain where they were, and to build a hut, and dig a well for
water; he assured them that, as long as there was a plentiful supply
of cocoa-nuts, they could not starve, and that the chances were,
assistance would arrive. All was, however, to no purpose; they would
not listen to any argument, and even disregarded his authority. It was
as much as he could do to insist upon their first going in search of
their commander.
After a long time employed for this purpose, they discovered Mr.
McDonnell asleep beneath a parmetta tree. Upon hearing footsteps
approaching, he awoke, but in such a feeble state that he was unable
to rise without assistance, and from the wildness of his manner, there
was too much reason to fear that his reason had fled. They gave him
some cocoa-nut milk, which he eagerly drank, and this appeared to give
him some relief. With difficulty they made him comprehend that they
intended to proceed to the plantation for assistance, but he refused
to join them, alleging that a boat was coming for him. In a short time
he appeared a little more collected, and agreed to join the
expedition. There still remained a small supply of rum, and a portion
of this being poured into some empty cocoa-nuts, it was distributed
equally amongst the men, and they all commenced their journey, the men
about 200 yards ahead, and Mr. McDonnell, supported by Malcolm and Mr.
Price, brought up the rear.
After proceeding in this way about two miles, Mr. McDonnell's strength
utterly failed, and he sank down upon the ground, declaring that he
could go no further; every entreaty was urged to persuade him to make
another effort, but both the powers of the mind and body had deserted
the unfortunate officer, and Malcolm and his companion were at a loss
to know what course to pursue. After a brief consultation they
determined to leave Mr. McDonnell, and as soon as they reached the
plantation, which Mr. Price declared could not be far distant, return
with assistance.
They then once more resumed their journey, the men proceeding ahead
as before; in the middle of the day they stopped to rest, and again
resumed their march until about an hour before sunset, when they
arrived at two cocoa-nut trees; and as these formed not only a place
of shelter, but also a means of procuring food, they determined to
remain there for the night. The men who had climbed up the trees, and
were gathering fruit, descried a pond, or creek, in the wood, about
half a mile distant. Mr. Price then observed, if that was the case,
they were on the mainland, and not on Ambegris Cay.
They were now in a great dilemma, for they were uncertain which way to
proceed, and Mr. Malcolm endeavoured to persuade the men to return to
the beach, assuring them that it was quite useless their proceeding
any further, for they did not know where they were going; but they
turned a deaf ear to every argument, declaring that they would walk as
long as they were able. Mr. Price, the merchant, agreed with the rest
of the men, and urged them to continue their journey, in the hopes
that they might be seen by some coasting boats going to Belize. This
was Saturday night; and after toiling all day, they had only walked
ten miles from where they had left Mr. McDonnell. The next morning Mr.
Malcolm again entreated the men to remain, but it was of no avail, and
they recommenced their march.
The men continued to walk together until Tuesday evening, subsisting
upon cocoa-nuts, which they gathered on their way, when Malcolm was
obliged to be left behind, as he was unable to walk any further. The
next morning he was found by some natives, and taken to Ambegris Cay,
where the men had arrived the previous evening.
We must now return to the fate of the cutter, which it will be
remembered left the wreck on the morning of the 28th of February,
taking the raft in tow. They endeavoured to return to the schooner,
but the current proving too strong, they were obliged to abandon the
attempt, and ran before the wind until they made a sand-bore, on the
south end of the reef, about an hour afterwards.
They then cut the raft adrift, and landed the men that were in the
cutter, sending the boat back with two men to carry the rest off the
raft, as it was impossible to bring the raft to the sand-bore. It was
about seven o'clock in the evening when they were all safely landed,
the cutter being at this time in such a condition, that she could not
have floated, even in smooth water, without baling.
They then dragged the boat up the beach, where they remained until
daylight next morning, the 1st of March. Mr. Nopps, master's-assistant,
who was the commanding officer of the party, determined to leave the
majority of the men on the sand-bore, and proceed to the wreck; he
accordingly started with five men in the cutter, in hopes of reaching
the schooner, but as it blew strongly from the northward, and the boat
had no jib or mizen, and the mainmast and sprit sprung, they found it
impossible to beat to windward. In this condition, as there was no
appearance of the wind abating, and nothing to eat except some salt
pork, and only two beakers of water, one of which had been drunk during
the night, Mr. Nopps considered it his duty to take the boat with these
five men, and run for the first place they could fetch, hoping to reach
Belize, which was nearly before the wind.
For two days they scudded before the wind, without being able to set
any sail, and had passed at least forty miles to the southward of
Belize, before the wind abated; during this time they suffered
severely from want of water, the last beaker having been finished,
and the salt pork increasing their thirst. It was not until twelve
o'clock on Tuesday, the 3rd of March, that they arrived in Belize
roads, and were taken on board the Fly.
Here they received every attention that was necessary, and Mr. Rogers,
the master of the Fly, accompanied by Mr. Nopps, was despatched in the
Governor's schooner to the assistance of the men who were left on the
sand-bore, and of the others who were still supposed to be upon the
wreck.
On the following Friday, the 6th of March, they reached the sand-bore,
and having taken off the men, proceeded to the wreck, where they found
only two men, from whom they learnt that Lieutenant McDonnell, and the
rest of the people, had quitted the wreck two days previously. Pilot
boats were then sent in search, and another party explored the coast;
and after visiting Long Bay, without hearing any tidings, returned to
Belize.
In the course of two days, a boat arrived with the eight men who had
been with McDonnell, who reported that they had left that officer,
almost dead, in the wood.
Mr. Nopps again departed in a pilot-boat in search of his commander,
but when he reached Ambegris Cay, the boat was unable to beat up
outside the breakers, and it came on to blow so violently during the
night, that they were prevented from landing; the following day they
were more successful, and Mr. Nopps walked up the coast. For two days
his search proved useless, but on the third he had the pleasure of
finding Mr. McDonnell still alive, in a hut, under the care of some
Indians. After the lapse of two days, he was so far recovered as to be
taken on board the pilot-boat, and arrived next morning at Belize Bay.
It would have been happy if all connected with the Firefly had been
equally fortunate. The gig, which had been sent from the wreck to
Belize for assistance, was found several days afterwards cast upon the
beach, broken in two, and all in her must have perished.
Lieutenant McDonnell was promoted to the rank of commander in 1846,
and at present is unemployed.