Accidents > Wonderful and surprising narrative of Capt. John Inglefield

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THE
Surprifing NARRATIVE, &c.l.
THE Ceataur left Jamaica in rather a leaky con¬
dition, keeping two hand-pumps going, and when
it blew frefh, fometimes a 1'pell with a chain-pump was
neceffary ; but I had no apprehenfion that the (hip was
not able to encounter a common gale of wind.
In the evening of the i6th of September, when the '
fatal gale came on, the fhip was prepared for the word
weather ufually met \\ ith in tV'H'e latitudes : the main-
fail was reefed and let. the top gallant malls ftruck, and
the mizzen-yard lowered down, though at that time it
did not blow very Itrong. Towards midnight it blew
a gale of wind, and the Ihip made fo much water, that I
was obliged to turn all hands up to fpell the pumps ; the
leak Hill increafing, I had thoughts to try the ihip before
the fea, happy I ihould be determined : the impropriety
of leaving the Convoy, except in the lalf extremity, and
the hope of the weather's growing moderate, weighed
againll the opinion that it was right. About two in the
morning the wind lulled, and we flattered ourfelves the
gale was breaking.
Soon after, we had much thunder and lightning from
the S. E. when it began to blow Itrong in gulls of wind,
which obliged me to haul the main-fail up, the Ihip be-
then under bare poles; tins was fcarcely done when
% gull of wind, exceeding in violence every thing of the
kind I had ever feen, or had any conception of, laid the
Ihip upon her beam-ends, they forfook the hold, and ap¬
peared between decks, fo as to fill the men’s hammock*
to leeward ; the Ihip lay motionlefs, and to all appear¬
ance irrecoverably overfet; the water increafing fall,
forced through the cells of the ports; from the preflura
of the Ikip I gave immediate directions to cut away the