946
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1805.
and cheerful assistance” to Rear-Admiral (now Sir Pulteney) Malcolm, during the whole of the operations, a detail of which will be found in our memoir of Sir Edward Codrington, K.C.B.[1] Since the peace he has commanded in succession the Madagascar, Meander, and Active frigates. The following extract from a respectable periodical publication, contains an account of a miraculous escape which he experienced in the month of Dec. 1816.
“The Meander, Captain Sir James Alexander Gordon[2], is arrived at Sheerness, in a sinking state, having struck upon a shoal, lying about 18 miles S.E. of Orfordness. She sailed from Sheerness for Leith on the 16th Dec., but owing to thick weather she was obliged to anchor occasionally until the 18th. On the 19th, at 8-30 P.M. having been working to windward the whole day, endeavouring to gain an anchorage in Yarmouth Roads, it then blowing a gale of wind, breakers were reported on the lee-bow and beam; the ship, under her fore and main-top-sails and foresail, would not stay, and in falling off she struck upon the shoal, in 24 feet water: fortunately she went over it, and was immediately anchored in 17 fathoms. In a few minutes afterwards the carpenter reported nearly six feet water in her hold; ‘and here,’ says an officer belonging to her, ‘it will be necessary to pause for a moment, at the dangerous and awful situation of the ship’s company the wind blowing a gale, with a tremendous sea, the ship making upwards of 20 feet water an hour, and nearly twelve hours’ darkness before them: not a moment was to be lost, for not a hope of safety was entertained, save in the mercy of the Almighty, and the united exertions of every soul on board.’ By the zeal and energy of the Captain and his officers, and the almost unparalleled exertions of the men, the ship was kept free until the morning: during the night, most providentially, the Great Disposer of all Events had lulled the storm, and hushed the raging sea. Minute guns were fired the whole time, and every blue-light in the ship was burnt, in the hope of drawing the attention of vessels near; but it was not until long after day-light on the 20th, that several vessels were seen approaching, some of which were afterwards directed to stay by the Meander, in the event of its becoming necessary to quit her. The wind and tide being fair for Sheerness, the cable was cut, and sail made by the officers, it not being possible to remove a man from the pumps: at this moment the leaks had increased; but two sails, fitted with thrums, were then dropped over the bows, and had a wonderful effect in checking the leaks. At noon, on the ship’s arrival within signal-distance of Sheerness, her distressed state was made known, and the greatest and most prompt assistance was immediately afforded by the Captains of the different ships,
- ↑ See vol. I. note at p. 637, et seq. N.B. Captain Gordon superintended the landing of the advanced guard of the army on Isle aux Poix
- ↑ Captain Gordon was nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815.
