It is my belief that, if proper measures had been taken the moment the
fire was discovered, it might have been extinguished, and if not, its
progress might have been retarded. The ship had a large quantity of
coals among her cargo, and there is no doubt it originated in it by
spontaneous combustion. Some said it had been smouldering away ever
since we left Liverpool. What would have been our sensations had we
known that we had a volcano on board? When some of the passengers saw
that the object of our exertions was to fill the hold with water, they
began to cry out that the quickest way would be to start the water-tanks
on deck. The captain, on hearing this, immediately exclaimed that if
they did so they would repent it, for without water they could not live,
and that this was the only fresh water at which they would shortly be
able to get. On learning their mad design, he should instantly have
placed some of the crew on whom he could depend, with arms in their
hands, to guard the tanks, and with orders to cut down any one who
should attempt to touch the bungs. Instead, he contented himself with
pointing out the folly of the proceeding.
His words were not heeded; and without any attempt to prevent them,
several of the madmen started the water from the tanks. "Hurrah!" they
shouted as they performed this feat. "The fire will now be put out, and
we shall be saved." The hidden fire laughed at their puny efforts, and
the wreaths of smoke came forth as dense as ever.
A consultation among the officers was now held; and it was their opinion
that we were in as good a position as could be for being fallen in with
by ships crossing the Atlantic, and that therefore we should continue as
we were--hove to. We all watched with deep anxiety the progressive
increase of the smouldering furnace below us. Fortunately the flames
did not begin to burst forth.
Dreadful as the day was, it passed more rapidly than I could have
expected. There was nothing to mark the time; there were no regular
meals, no bells struck, no watches set. The captain, on seeing the want
of effect produced by the water thrown on the cargo, abandoned all hopes
of saving the ship, and thought only how he might best secure his own
safety. The stern-boat was, as I have said, towing astern. I now saw
him go aft, and with the aid of some of the people, to whom he had
spoken privately, he lowered down the starboard-quarter boat, having
first put into her compasses, provisions, and water. The first mate
meantime baled out the other quarter boat, and in like manner
provisioned and stored her. Three hands being placed in each, they were
veered astern. The captain and mate knew that these men would not
desert them, because without their assistance they would be unable to
find their way to any port.
I took my spell at the pumps, and on several occasions the captain
passed me and gave me a scowl, by which I knew that he recognised me,
and probably contemplated leaving me behind in the burning ship; at
least so I thought at the time, and resolved to frustrate his kind
intentions. The captain next gave orders to the crew to hoist out the
long-boat, as the sea had gone down sufficiently to enable this to be
done without risk. The long-boat is stowed on the booms amidships, and
it requires tackles to the yard-arms, and considerable exertion, to
launch her. It was the first time I had ever observed Captain Swales
and Mr Stovin really energetic in their exertions when they were
getting this done; and I very soon found that they had a reason for it,
as they intended to take possession of her for themselves, and those
they most favoured. She at length was launched and dropped astern; and,
being hauled up under the cabin windows, the ladies and other cabin
passengers were lowered into her. She was likewise provisioned; and
compasses, charts, sails, and oars were placed in her.
I thought that the captain, as a precautionary measure, wished to place
the passengers in comparative safety; but what was my surprise, to see
him lower himself into the boat, and drop her astern, virtually
abandoning all command of the ship! This vile example was followed by
Mr Stovin, who took possession of one of the quarter boats. The
greater part of the crew, and all the steerage and second-class
passengers, still remained in the burning ship, of which Mr Bell now
took the command. When the people saw the captain deserting them, they
rushed aft, some with piteous cries, exclaiming, "O captain dear, save
us! save us!" Others cursed him as a traitor for leaving them to their
fate; and I believe, had they known what he was about to do, they would
have torn him in pieces before they would have let him go. [See Note
1.] He shouted to them in return, that he was not going to desert them,
but that his presence was required in the boat. I have always held that
the captain should be the last man to quit the deck of his ship; and
every true seaman thinks the same, and would scorn to do otherwise.
"A pretty job, this is," observed Dick Derrick, who was working away at
the pumps close to me. "We were nearly squeezed to death by the ice a
few days ago, and now it seems we are to be roasted with fire. Are you
prepared for death, Peter?"