| Title: | John Marshall, Quebec, to His Wife, Ireland. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3689 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | marshall, john/96 |
| Year | 1829 |
| Sender | Marshall, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | sailor |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Quebec, Canada |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | husband-wife |
| Source | The Belfast Newsletter, Friday, 17 July, 1829 |
| Archive | The Central Library, Belfast |
| Doc. No. | 9809263 |
| Date | 01/05/1829 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 13:10:98. |
| Word Count | 1282 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | SHIPWRECK OF THE HIBERNIAN Extract from a letter from John Marshall, one of the sailors of the brig Hibernian, of Portaferry, addressed to his wife, dated May 1st, 1829. In this letter a more full account of the wreck is given than was formerly received. We regret to say that the person to whom it was addressed, had, from anxiety concerning her husband's fate, combined with other causes, paid the debt of nature before it arrived:- I shall proceed to give an authentic account of our dreadful catastrophe. We sailed from Quebec on 28th October, 1828, with a fair wind, all hands in good spirits, and for two days and nights the wind was fair and the passage promising; but the wind came a-head, with constant succession of storms, rain and fogs, and so continuing, until the morning of 7th November. About four o'clock A.M. we struck off the west point of Anticoste, an island in the Gulf of St Lawrence, 150 leagues below Quebec. The Island is 90 feet long by 20: You may imagine what our feelings were at the moment-they are easier felt than described. Our fine ship a total wreck, and our gallant captain-for I can say that a braver Captain never crossed the western ocean-using every possible means for the preservation of both lives and property. Between six and seven we had day light, and at the express desire of the Captain, acting in conjunction with our brave officers, we got our boat overboard to try to save our lives; but, she filling alongside, those in the boat returned to the ship. We succeeded in getting another boat out, in order to reach the shore, with a rope on board to haul her to and from the vessel. John Beggs, Matthew Doran, James Scott, and myself, through heavy breakers, effected a landing, and when the boat was hauled back, nothwithstanding the skilful exertions of those on board, she was stove alongside, which rendered that scheme abortive. They then tried if the drum would come ashore, and failed in that likewise. By this time the flood required us to retire to the beach, a quarter of an English mile distant, and there await what should happen those on board. As the island is uninhabited, with the exception of two provision posts, as they were called, we were out of the reach of any house, and, as we thought, any assistance; but, in going along the shore, we saw a signboard "Three Leagues East to Provision Post", which gave us some comfort. The tide now rising, our fine ship began to look very deplorable - top gallant and topsails, foresails and mainsail, jib, foretopmast - main - yard slings gone, and it almost down, the bottom coming out of her, the timber floating ashore, and the sea flying continually over her. At this time they cut away her mainmast and foremast and her bottom being cut out under the bindings of her middle deck, she came further up, which made those on board have less to fear. By this time we on shore were somewhat dried with the wind, and we made a little cabin of branches and trees to afford some shelter for the night. Towards the evening the bell was trung on board, just as we had done with the little cabin; so we went to the ship, it being low water, and got on board, to the great joy of the Captain and crew, and ashore some provisions and clothes, we encamped in the little cabin, for the night, on the cold ground, with nothing to cover us. That being Friday, Saturday was spent in getting the useful things on shore, such as bread, beef, beds, clothes, that remained, and so the captain and John Warnock went in search of the provision post; but, as it was more than double three leagues, after a tiresome journey, they returned disappointed. On the following day, Mr. Murphy, the mate, Alex M'Cappin [McCappin?], the carpenter, James Scott, and myself, set out in quest of water it, and after a journey of twenty miles or more, we came to the provisions post. The provision posts were established 18 years ago, for the preservation of those who may be cast away, bound to or from Quebec; and, as it has often happened castaways have been lost in trying to gain the main land, or dying with hunger on the island. George III established this asylum, or undoubtedly we must have been reduced to great distress, as it was impossible, without great danger, to get to the mainland, being so late in the fall of the year. We returned on Monday and met the Captain going to it, and on his return his orders were, to get such of the materials as were saved, and take them round to the Post; and steadily obeying his orders, we got a temporary sail made for the long boat, and got some of the best materials of the ship that were saved, in her. The Captain, John Warnock, Thos. M'Mullan [McMullan?], R. Higgins, and Wm. [William?] Braniff, set sail for Provision Post about two hours before night; but a terrible night came on of snow and wind, and they, losing sight of the land, were obliged to come to anchor in the open sea, and there wait for daylight; but the sea running high, kept them continually bailing, to keep her up, and when daylight came they were obliged to cut away the cable and run for the shore; but the tide being a great way out, they could not come near the shore, notwithstanding her being lightened of cargo. The place she came in was four miles beyond the house, and through the fatigue of the night, and what with the snow and constant spray that flew over them, the captain when the boat struck the ground, could scarcely speak, and they, getting him on their backs, had to travel to the middle of their thighs in water for half a mile before they could reach the shore, and by the time they had got there he had nearly expired; so they stopped there till he was no more. Then they endeavoured to go to the house but it being so far from them, Warnock was not able to travel, and the rest of the men being much fatigued, they thought they would have had to leave him on the road; but Braniff, getting to the house, procured a sleigh with which he arrived just in time to save Warnock's life, and so got them all to the house; but when there they thought the poor fellow would not recover, as his feet were frost-bitten, and for three or four months he was unable to walk. The next day they brought the remains of our brave and much loved Captain to the house. He died on the 13th November, and was buried on the 16th, (Sunday) in a burying place belonging to the person who keeps the Provision Post, as decently as the place would allow. When we were all assembled together there, we were truly a pitiful looking set, being well aware that we would not get off the island that winter, nor get word sent home, gave us great uneasiness, knowing the anxiety of mind and body you must have, thinking we were all gone. We put over a very solitary winter in a small house, where the snow had free access to our beds, and a small allowance of provisions, half a pound of pork, half a pint of peas, and a pound of flour, per day, and this in the frozen regions of North America. We passed a dull winter, but thanks be to him that ruleth; for all his mercies ! All hands are now in Quebec, thank God for it; and I will come home as soon as I can. Do not be uneasy, but you must be in trouble. You must excuse me for not writing correct, as the tears sometimes dim my sight, and leave me at a loss what to say. |
