Accidents > Dangers of the deep, or, Narratives of shipwreck and adventure at sea

KEKT EAST INDIAMAN. 387
and the great subordination observed, with
few exceptions, by the troops, this proper pre¬
caution was afterwards rendered unnecessary.
Arrangements having been considerately
made by Captain Cobb for placing in the
first boat, previous to letting it down, all the
ladies, and as many of the soldiers’ wives as it
could safely contain, they hurriedly wrapt
themselves up in whatever articles of clothing
could be most conveniently found; and I
think about two, or half-past two o’clock, a
most mournful procession advanced from the
after-cabins to the starboard cuddy port, out¬
side of which the cutter was suspended.
Scarcely a word was uttered—not a scream
was heard—even the infants ceased to cry,
as if conscious of the unspoken and unspeak¬
able anguish that was at that instant rending
the hearts of their parting parents—nor was
the silence of voices in any way broken, ex¬
cept in one or two cases, where the ladies
plaintively entreated permission to be left be¬
hind with their husbands. But on being as¬
sured that every moment’s delay might occa¬
sion the sacrifice of a human life, they suc¬
cessively suffered themselves to be tom from
the tender embrace, and with the fortitude