Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

64 BOAT UPSET AXD LOST. Feb. 18S7. The people in the cutter were anxiously watching her labour- ing movements, when she disappeared ! They hastened to the spot — saved three men ; but the other two had gone down. Poor Ainsworth was still clinging to the gig's gunwale when his shipmates eagerly approached ; but letting go his hold from extreme exhaustion, and being heavily clothed, he sunk from their sight to rise no more. He had been cheering the drowning crew, and trying to save his companions, till the moment his grasp relaxed. Just before Ainsworth himself let go, Mr. Hodgskin lost his hold, ex- claiming, " Ainsworth, save me !" when, exhausted as he was, with one hand he rescued his friend, and, directly afterwards, his strength failing, sunk. This addition of three people to the already loaded cutter, made her cargo more than was safe, therefore Mr. Williams, who commanded her, very prudently bore up for the first con- venient landing-place, and happily succeeded in reaching the only part of the beach, between Lomas Bay and Cape Valentyn, where a boat could land. The following morning, the weather being more favourable, they crossed under sail to Freshwater Bay, and thence pulled to Port Famine. This melancholy disaster was much felt by every one. Ains- Avorth was a deserving officer, and highly esteemed. Corkhill was captain of the forecastle, and had served in the Polar voyages under Sir Edward Parry. On the Sunday following, the colours were hoisted half-mast high, and the funeral service was read after morning prayers : for although to recover the bodies was impossible, their watery grave was before our eyes ; and the performance of this last sad duty was a melancholy satisfaction. " Ours are the tears, tho' few, sincerely shed, When ocean shrouds and sepulchres our dead." A tablet was subsequently erected, on Point St. Anna, to record this fatal accident.