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

408 loss or the
Gourock. On the alarm being given, severa
wherries immediately put off; and their crews
exerted themselves to the utmost in the cause
of humanity.
The subjoined narratives of several of the
individuals so providentially saved, are the
most faithful and affecting pictures that can
be given of the consternation on board the
Comet at the awful moment she went down.
At the moment the fatal accident took
place, Mr. C. A. Anderson, the only cabin-
passenger saved, was below. Such of the pas¬
sengers as were awake were in high spirits,
narrating and listening to diverting tales.
When the concussion took place, he, with
others, instantly rushed upon deck, to learn
the cause. In the panic that ensued, he, in
obedience to the captain’s orders to all on
board, repaired aft. He was an excellent
swimmer, and calculated upon that resource
in the last extremity. While standing on the
deck, holding by a rope, he was seized round
the arm with a convulsive grasp by a person
behind him, lamenting their fate. In his
perilous situation, he endeavoured to shake
the person off, exclaiming, “Let me go;”
when, turning round to disentangle himself, he