Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1830. LOSS OF THE THETIS. 69 broke ; but the lee yard-arm irons (boom-irons) actually struck fire from the rocky precipice as they grated hai'shly against it, the boom ends snapping off like icicles. All three masts fell aft and inward, strewing the deck with killed and wounded men. An immense black barrier impended horribly, against which heavy breakers were dashing with an ominous sound ; but the ship's hull was still uninjured. Sen- tries were placed over tlie spirit-room ; a sail was hoisted upon the stump of the main-mast ; the winches were manned ; guns fired ; rockets sent up, and blue-lights burned ; the quarter- boats were cleared away to be ready for lowering ; and an anchor was let go ; but the water was so deep, that before she brought up, her stern drifted upon a more shelving part of the rock. Several men then tried to land ; but, in jumping ashore, many slipped, and were drowned in the surf, or crushed against the rocks. The stern and lee quarter boats were dashed to pieces, as the surf hove the ship against the cliff, and no boat was then available ; for the others were either stove, or so covered with wreck, that they could not be used. Finding that the anchor, which had been let go, did no good, but seemed to keep her tailing upon the rocks, the cable was slipped, after which her head fell off to the westward. It was then found that the water was gaining, and the winches were worked. Successive waves threw her starboard quarter upon the rocks ; and the effects of repeatedly striking were soon but too appa- rent, as the water burst open the spirit-room hatches. At this moment a small opening appeared, into which the ship providentially drove. It was at first thought that this was the opening into Cape Frio Harbour ; but it proved to be only a very small cove, or indentation of the rocky cliffs. While drifting close along the rocks into this cove, a hawser was passed ashore, by which afterwards several persons landed. The ship struck heavily in the cove, gave some tremendous yawns, and simk. As she then lay upon the rocky bottom, each succeeding wave broke over and just covered her. By a violent surge, the rock to which the hawser above-mentioned had been made fast, was torn away ; and, for a short time, all