The Wreck on the Andamans Part 1

The Wreck on the Andamans.

by Joseph Darvall.

PREFACE.

The Author, owing to circ.u.mstances, has had access to authentic doc.u.ments and facts, relating to one of the most remarkable s.h.i.+pwrecks which have ever happened, that of the troop-s.h.i.+ps Runnymede and Briton, on the morning of the 12th of November, 1844, upon one of the Andaman Islands.

In reading these, it struck him forcibly, that the circ.u.mstances, if thrown into the shape of a narrative, would form not only an interesting publication, but would serve as a monument of the cool intrepidity and judicious presence of mind of British officers, soldiers, and seamen, in a time of remarkable trial.

They also tend to ill.u.s.trate in a very striking manner the correctness of the cla.s.sic and poetical description of the "dangers of the sea,"

contained in that pa.s.sage of Scripture, which the Author has often observed to be listened to with great interest, when read in its course, in the churches of our seaports, and which, on that account, he makes no apology for quoting in a work, not professedly religious.

"They that go down to the sea in s.h.i.+ps, and occupy their business in great waters; these men see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For at his word the stormy wind ariseth, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep: their soul melteth away because of the trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man: and are at their wits'

end. So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, he delivereth them out of their distress. For he maketh the storm to cease: so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they are at rest; and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be."[A]

[A] Psalm cvii., v. 23-30, Com. Pr. Book.

If this little work should answer the author's intention by proving entertaining as well as instructive, he will feel that he has been rewarded for the pains he has taken in compiling it.

_Reading,_ _July, 1845._

THE

WRECK ON THE ANDAMANS.

THE DEPARTURE.

"O'er the smooth bosom of the faithless tides, Propelled by gentle gales, the vessel glides."

_Falconer._

The gallant Barque the Runnymede, of 507 tons burthen, commanded by Captain William Clement Doutty, an experienced seaman, and the property of Messrs. Hall & Co. and Ingram of Riches-court, Lime-street, London, being a remarkably staunch river-built vessel of the A 1 or first cla.s.s, left Gravesend on the 20th of June, 1844, bound for Calcutta. She had on board a general cargo and a crew of twenty-eight persons, including officers. She also carried out, on account of the Honourable East India Company, thirty-eight soldiers, with two women and one child, belonging to Her Majesty's 10th Regiment of Foot, and also Captain Stapleton, Ensigns Venables, Du Vernett, and Purcell, and one hundred and five soldiers, ten women, and thirteen children, belonging to Her Majesty's 50th Regiment of Foot. The whole of the military were under the command of Captain Stapleton; the medical officer was Mr. Bell, the surgeon of the vessel.

Every thing proceeded in the same manner as is usual on voyages in the same course, till they arrived south of the Tropics. The only casualty they met with was the death of William Bryant, a private of the 10th, on the 12th of July. He had suffered from sea-sickness ever since his embarkation. His body was committed to the deep the same evening, with the customary ceremonies. The princ.i.p.al amus.e.m.e.nts of the officers and crew were fis.h.i.+ng, shark-catching, b.o.o.by and pigeon shooting, and playing at backgammon. There were also on board the s.h.i.+p, books provided for the use of those who were disposed to read. The hour of dinner was four o'clock.

On arriving south of the Tropics, the wind, instead of backing to the westward, blew almost constantly from the north-east and east-north-east; and when it occasionally got to the westward of north, it always fell light, contrary to the usual course; and so it continued until it got to the westward, and then it freshened. In consequence of the delay occasioned by this state of things, and the near approach of the north-east monsoon, the captain, on the 21st of October, resolved to call at Penang, for the purpose of taking in an additional supply of water and other necessaries. They accordingly steered their course thither. On the 24th they saw the Island of Sumatra, bearing east-north-east about eight leagues. On the 26th, in the forenoon, they saw Pulo Rondo, bearing east-south-east, and on the 29th, at half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, the s.h.i.+p anch.o.r.ed in safety off Fort Cornwallis, in the roads of Penang, or Pulo Penang, the word Pulo signifying an island.

Penang is sometimes called Prince of Wales's Island. It is on the coast of Queda. Its capital is George Town. The East-India Company first formed a settlement here in 1786.

At Penang they remained till Sunday, the 3d of November, busily engaged in taking in sixty-one casks or about thirty tons of water, and other necessaries, and various articles of merchandize on account of cargo. They found lying here Her Majesty's s.h.i.+p Dido, commanded by the Honourable Captain Keppel.

Immediately on the arrival of the Runnymede, Captain Doutty and Mr.

Bell, together with Captain Stapleton and Ensign Du Vernett, went on sh.o.r.e, it being the duty of the latter to report themselves to the proper authorities.

It was agreed, that after the parties had accomplished their business, they should meet at the best hotel in the place and dine together.

This understanding led to the following entertaining incidents. On landing, the parties stepped into palanquin-carriages. The Captain and the Doctor went one way, and their military friends, another. After finis.h.i.+ng their business, the Captain and his companion went in quest of their friends, desiring the Malay boy, who had charge of their carriage, to take them to the hotel. The lad replied, "I stand," and off they set. After a number of turns and windings, amongst most beautiful scenery, they arrived in front of a very well planned house, and were told by their conductor "this was house." They thought it remarkable that a hotel should be in such a retired situation.

However, upstairs they ran, and sure enough they found their military friends there.

They were congratulating them upon their good quarters, when a lady appeared, to whom they were introduced as the lady of the commandant, whose house it was, and were speedily convinced of their mistake, which produced a hearty laugh. They then, by signs, tried to make their palanquin-boys comprehend that it was a hotel they wanted, and not a private house. These said they understood "Master," and away they all four went towards the town. At a short distance from this the boys stopped at another large building, which appeared more like a hotel than the former. They questioned the lads as to this house, who replied, "All right," so they entered. They met an old gentleman, who requested them to pa.s.s into an inner room, where he introduced them to Captain Keppel, who received them most kindly. Their introducer proved to be Captain Quin, of Her Majesty's s.h.i.+p Minden, who was on his way home on sick leave in the Dido, and the mansion proved to be the Admiralty-house. Captain Keppel, with great kindness, invited the party to a ball and supper, to be given by him on the following evening, to the inhabitants of Penang, previously to his sailing for England.

On leaving the Admiralty-house, the party were directed to a place little better than a booth, and denominated by the natives a punch-house, a name given to all low taverns in India, but which was dignified with the name of "The Albion Hotel." In the only sitting-room of this place they found the officers of the Dido at dinner. Of this meal they would have been disappointed, had not those gentlemen kindly invited them to partake of their fare, which consisted princ.i.p.ally of curries of various kinds. So poorly was the place furnished that no two articles were alike; chairs, plates, dishes, gla.s.ses, knives and forks, were all odd ones, of different colours and sizes. The badness of this accommodation arises from the circ.u.mstance that those who call at the island are hospitably entertained, during their stay, at the houses of those residents to whom they happen to be introduced. For this reason a good hotel cannot be supported. After the dinner, which went off with a good deal of fun and mirth, some of the party "chartered ponies for a cruise" in the interior of the island. Penang is remarkable for piebald ponies.

The next evening the party from the Runnymede repaired to the admiralty-house, pursuant to invitation, and were hospitably received by Captain Keppel and his officers. There they met the whole of the respectable inhabitants of the island, both civil and military, with their families. The rooms were handsomely decorated, and dancing was kept up with great spirit, enlivened by the harmonious strains of Captain Keppel's private band. This was succeeded, at midnight, by a champagne supper, which, for excellence, might have borne a comparison with any civic entertainment in London. Between three and four in the morning the ladies began to move off, and some of the youngsters, by way of further amus.e.m.e.nt, sat down to a second supper. At daylight the Dido was apeak, under all sails, and by eight o'clock, was leading down the north channel with skysails set for Old England. Her captain and officers carried with them the good wishes of all they left behind at Penang.

THE WRECK.

"The wind blew hard, the sea ran high, The dingy scud drove 'cross the sky, Down topsails, boys, the gale comes on, To strike top-gallant-yards they run."

_Dibdin._

At 9 o'clock, A. M., of Sunday, the 3d of November, 1844, the Runnymede weighed from Penang-roads with a light southerly wind, and made sail through the north channel. At noon the wind came in from seaward. At midnight, on Monday the 4th, she was abreast of the Ladda Islands, with a barque in company. On Friday, the 8th, the weather was unsettled, with heavy rain. All the small sails were stored, and the royal yards sent down. At noon the sun was obscured. Sat.u.r.day, the 9th, the breeze increased, with every appearance of bad weather. Took in the top-gallant sails, and reefed the topsails, and took in the jib and spanker. At noon the sun was obscured. Sunday, 10th, the barometer falling fast, with the gale increasing, close reefed the topsails. At noon heavy gusts. The courses were taken in and furled. At 6 the fore-topsail was taken in, and the s.h.i.+p hove-to under the main topsail and the main trysail. All the sails were re-secured, the top-gallant yards sent down, and everything prepared for the storm, which it was evident was now approaching. At noon the sun was again obscured, the lat.i.tude being, by log, 11 6" north, and the longitude 96 0" east.

The wind now blew a hurricane. The barometer was 29, and falling. The main-topsail was taken in, and the s.h.i.+p left under the main topsail only. At half-past three the fore and main top-gallant masts were blown away. The wind was south, and so very severe that the main trysail was blown to atoms, and the s.h.i.+p was lying-to under bare poles, and laying beautifully to the wind, with her helm amids.h.i.+p and perfectly tight. The hurricane was accompanied with a deluge of rain.

At 4 P. M. the wind s.h.i.+fted to the south-east, and was blowing so terrifically that all the hatches were obliged to be battened down, the sea making a fair breach over the vessel. The starboard-quarter boat was washed away. About half-past 6 P. M. there was a lull, and it was nearly calm, the wind backing to the south-west, and the sea became comparatively quiet. The barometer having fallen as low as 28 45", the s.h.i.+p was kept away north by east, and the topsails re-secured, portions of them having blown adrift. At 8 P. M. the wind began to blow again, and within half an hour the hurricane was as severe as before. The larboard-quarter boat was torn from the davits and blown across the p.o.o.p, carrying away the binnacle and crus.h.i.+ng the hencoops in its pa.s.sage. At 9 P. M., the hurricane still increasing, the foremast broke into three pieces, and carried away with it the jib-boom, the main and mizen topmasts, the starboard cathead, and mainyard, the main and mizen masts alone standing. At 10 P. M. the wind and rain were so severe that the men could not hold on upon the p.o.o.p. The soldiers were engaged in baling the water out of their quarters between decks, whither it had been forced down the hatches.

In other respects the s.h.i.+p was quite tight and free from leak, proving herself to be a capital sea boat. The pumps being attended to drew out the water which was forced down the hatches, mast-coats, and topside forwards.

During the hurricane, numbers of land-birds were driven on board--a case not uncommon during storms--and an owl and a hawk were observed perched on the swinging table on the p.o.o.p, without shewing any alarm at the presence of the s.h.i.+p's company. It was not noticed what became of them. This circ.u.mstance tended to shew the intensity of the tempest on sh.o.r.e, which must have forced these birds out to sea, a distance not much less than two hundred miles from any land.

_Monday, 11th._--The hurricane was equally severe, the wind south-east, and the barometer as low as 28 0". The gusts were so terrific, mixed with drift and rain, that none of the people could stand on the deck. Advantage was therefore taken of the lulls to draw the s.h.i.+p out, and clear away the wreck of the masts. As the starboard bower-anchor was hanging only by the shank-painter, and its stock, which was of iron, was working into the s.h.i.+p's side, the chain-cable was unshackled, and the anchor was cut away from the bows. At noon, lat.i.tude, per log, 11 6" north longitude 95 20" east, the barometer apparently rose a little. No observations had been able to be made since the 7th. The hurricane was equally severe in gusts, and the s.h.i.+p perfectly unmanageable from her crippled state, but rode all the time like a sea-bird on the waves, notwithstanding the sea was apparently running from every point of the compa.s.s. The crew observed a large barque ahead of them which had lost its topmast and mainyard. They feared at first that she would not go clear of them. Happily, however, she drifted past ahead of them. This vessel afterwards proved to have been the Briton, of which we shall presently have occasion to speak. They also saw a brig to leeward, totally dismasted. From her appearance it was judged that she must soon have foundered, and every soul on board perished. At 4 in the afternoon the barometer fell to 27 70", and c.u.mmin's mineral sympiesometer left the index.

The hurricane was now most terrific; the part of the p.o.o.p to leeward and the cabin-doors and the skylights were literally torn away, and every moment they expected the p.o.o.p itself to be carried off. None but those who have witnessed so awful a tempest at sea could form an idea of the weight and destructive power of the wind, crus.h.i.+ng and beating every thing to pieces, as if it had been done with a heavy metallic body. At 8 P. M. the soldiers and sailors could not stand at the pumps, but were obliged to bale out the water from between decks.

_Tuesday, the 12th._--At the turn of the day the hurricane still continued, and the rudder was gone. At 1 A. M. they felt the s.h.i.+p strike, and gave themselves up for lost, expecting every moment to be engulphed in the depths of the ocean.

But it pleased Him, whom the winds and the sea obey,

"Who plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm,"

to decree otherwise, and, at the moment of impending destruction, the s.h.i.+p and all her inmates were saved.

After a short time, it was discovered that the s.h.i.+p was thrown on a reef of rocks, and had bilged; and although the water entered her through the holes which the rocks had made, and filled her up to the lower beams, yet that it soon smothered, and, the bilge pieces keeping her upright, she lay comparatively quiet. But being fearful that she might beat over the reef into deep water, they let go the larboard bower-anchor, and shortly afterwards found the water leaving her.

After this all hands fell asleep, being exhausted with fatigue and hards.h.i.+p. Captain Doutty and the military gentlemen were in Captain Stapleton's cabin, which was the only one habitable. Captain Doutty felt too anxious to rest long, but lay watching whilst all was still, except the beating of the waves and the rain on the p.o.o.p. He then went out in front of the p.o.o.p. He could discern nothing but the surf breaking heavily on and around his unfortunate vessel. He then lay down again, wis.h.i.+ng earnestly for the break of day.

THE DELIVERANCE.

"The night is gone, and o'er the sea, The morning sun s.h.i.+nes peacefully; Again 'tis calm, again 'tis still, Noiseless as gentle summer's rill."