stick by her, succeeded in saving all the crew, except four persons.
This danger past, Captain Bennett endeavoured to heave in the larboard cable again; but when it came up to the bows, some part of the hawser was found twisted round the chain, which prevented it coming in-board. The hawser soon parted, and the boatswain, who, after being slung by Captain Bennett himself, had obstinately persisted in going over the bows without a rope round his body, was knocked overboard by the end of the chain, and drowned before any assistance could be given him. As day-light broke, the bay presented a scene of devastation. All the shipping had signals of distress flying, having lost anchors and cables; several boats were drifting about, upset; two fine brigs were on shore; the Madras, a large merchant ship, which had parted her cable on the 9th, was riding in the surf near them; and the unfortunate Sarah lay bottom up in the N.E. part of the bay.
It is worthy of remark, that the commander of the Sarah, now a Brazilian commodore, had very recently been pointing out to Captain Bennett the great danger of lying in Table Bay at that season, and the certainty, as he thought, of a small brig like the Cygnet foundering, should she be caught there in a heavy north-wester. At the same time, he directed Captain Bennett’s attention to the majestic appearance of the Sarah; spoke much of her patent cables, patent anchors, &c. and consoled him with the remark, that in the event of any thing happening to the Cygnet, the Sarah would be near to render assistance. Poor man! he little thought how soon his ship, which was not insured, would need the like from that humble little “tenny.” Captain Bennett subsequently received a letter from him, of which the following is a copy:
“Morrison’s Hotel, Cape Town, 15th July, 1822.
“Sir,– It would be an injustice to my own sentiments, did I not seize the first leisure opportunity my late calamity has spared me, to express to you in this way, as I have already had the honor of doing personally, the sense of gratitude I feel at the humane, prompt, and effective succour you bestowed on my ship at a moment when your own was placed by her is a critical and perilous situation.
