THE HELM OF THE MEDUSA IS BROKEN BY THE WAVES--IT IS DETERMINED
TO ABANDON THE WRECK OF THE FRIGATE--THE MILITARY ARE PUT UPON
THE RAFT--THE GREATER PART OF THE OFFICERS GO INTO THE BOATS--THE
PICARD FAMILY ARE ABANDONED UPON THE MEDUSA--PROCEEDINGS OF M.
PICARD TO GET HIS FAMILY INTO A BOAT.
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 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 this 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 wrecks 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
trousers. 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 over board 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 any thing with them;
those were searching the cabins and store-rooms to carry away every
thing that was valuable. Ship-boys were discovering the delicate wines
and fine liqueurs, 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 ingulf us. At last the uproar was at its height; the
soldiers no longer listened to the voice of their 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, whilst 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 daughter and his wife. Afterwards
the captain's boat received twenty-seven persons, amongst 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
that 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 into the yawl,
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 stepmother, 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 endeavoured to preserve amidst our misfortunes, were seized
and thrown over board by the sailors of the yawl, who told us we would
find in the pinnace every thing which 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 labouring for a long while. Our
trunks, our linen, and various chests of merchandise of great value, in
a word, every thing 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 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,
endeavoured to counterfeit the man of gallantry.