'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎161] (180/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
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went down very suddenly, and the ship was kept away N. by
E. during the night. At eleven a.m. on the 1st of August,
there being a strong gale with a heavy sea, the tiller got
jambed hard a-starboard, and could only be cleared at last by
breaking up the deck over the head of the rudder, and cutting
away all the slide groove. Matters were got to rights again
about 1.30 p.m.; but, during the whole of this time, the ship
had been rolling about almost a helpless log on the water, the
fore and main topmasts being struck. The delay occasioned by
this accident was, in all probability, in some measure, the cause
of the loss of the ship that night, as otherwise the high land of
Guardafui would have been sighted early in the evening. About
eleven p.m., the officer of the watch went down to Commander
Powell and reported that the ship was close ashore. The
captain proceeded on deck, and turned the hands up, but it was too
late as the ship was in the midst of breakers, with the high land
of Guardafui distant about eight miles on the larboard quarter.
A heavy sea now struck the 6 Memnon,' and she went on shore
with a tremendous crash, broadside on; the engines were in
stantly shattered, her back broken, and the engine-room
swamped. The ship then fell over on her starboard side,
which was then to windward, and the deck thus became fully
exposed to every sea that struck her. The lee fore-rigging,
which was taut from the laying over of the ship, was imme
diately cut, when the foremast went over the side to windward;
the same was done with the mainmast, but it would not go
until the body of the mast had been cut into about eight inches,
when it also fell over the side, carrying with it the starboard
cutter, and the funnel followed immediately afterwards. The
ship then forged rather nearer the shore. Lieutenant Leeds, and
a few hands, lowered and manned the port cutter, but the line
they carried paid out so fast that it was lost, and with it that
hope of establishing a communication with the shore. The
boat and party, however, landed in safety under the lee of the
ship. The seas now came sweeping over the ill-fated ' Memnon,'
which continued rolling and striking heavily. Little could be
done, but wait patiently for daylight, which all hands did
without noise and confusion, though the night was bitterly
cold, and there was great danger of the ship suddenly breaking
up. All that could be got at, such as beds, trunks, &c., were
thrown overboard on the chance of their being washed ashore.
About three o'clock a.m., the ship began to show signs of
breaking up, as the framework was evidently loosening, and
the deck planks were opening and closing. Commander Powell
then commenced endeavours to establish a communication with
the party on shore; and, after failing to do so by means of a
rocket and kite, succeeded in veering a line ashore, made fast
to a spar, which the party there secured; a hawser was soon
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