men as the former would apparently contain got into them, some by swiming from the wreck, whilst others were hauled off by means of oars and small spars. The booms had been rafted together immediately after the pinnace was launched; on which, after the boats were apparently filled with men, myself and 37 others remained a considerable time; but seeing no chance of getting it clear, and the wreck drifting into worse breakers, I caused the small boats to come near us, and each to take in a few more men, distributing them with each other and the pinnace till I succeeded in getting every man and boy safe off the raft, when, with three cheers, the wreck was abandoned. After pulling near 2 hours without seeing the land, guided only by a small dial compass, which one of the quarter-masters had in his pocket, we picked up a fisherman, who piloted the boats safe into Portuguese cove, where we landed about 2 o’clock, the boats containing 133 persons. The poor inhabitants of Portuguese cove behaved towards us all with every possible mark of hospitality, kindness, and attention, that humanity could dictate.”
On the 12th Nov. 1813, a court-martial was assembled on board the Victorious 74, at Halifax, “to enquire into all the particulars attending the loss of H.M. sloop Atalante, and to try Captain Hickey, the officers, and crew of that sloop for the same.” The foregoing narrative was then read, and the following proved in evidence.
That the sound of the last gun heard by the Atalante’s officers, &c. bore about W.N.W.,and appeared to have come from a distance of at least 3 miles. That every one on board supposed the guns were fired by the people on Sambro island. That Captain Hickey, relying on the accuracy of the Admiralty chart, and concluding that there was no danger to he apprehended until he shoaled his water to 10 fathoms, had at various times, and at different seasons of the year, made the coast of Nova Scotia in thick foggy weather, and, guided by the guns of Sambro island, anchored the Atalante in Halifax harbour, when one side of it could not be distinguished from the other. That Sir John Borlase Warren had recently entered the same port with ten sail of the line and frigates, during the prevalence of a thick fog. That the Atalante had parted 3 cables before she left the blockading squadron off New London. That Captain Hickey was the last person who quitted the wreck, at which time he had nothing on but a pair of drawers, a shirt, and a hat. And that many lives would have been lost, had the boats been less ably managed
