Historical records of the 91st Argyllshire ... - waughfamily.ca

9 1ST AKGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 103lightning ceased towards morning and the shipseemed to have worked a bed for herself on thesand, for the rolling had greatly diminished, andthere arose the hope that all on board might get1842.safe ashore.At daybreak (about 7 o'clock), it was justpossible to distinguish some people on the beachopposite the bank.Owing to the fear of the masts, spars, andrigging falling, as well as to keep as much topweight as possible off the ship's deck, the troopshad been kept below, but were now allowed tocome on deck in small numbers. An attemptwas made tosend a rope ashore, and one of thebest swimmers (a Krooman)volunteered the trialwith a rope round his waist ;but the back set ofthe surf was too much for him. A line fixed froma cannon also failed :one of the cutters was thencarefully lowered, and her crew succeeded inreaching the shore with a hauling-line. Largesurf-boats were shortly afterwards conveyed inwaggons to the place where the ship was stranded,and the following orders were given by CaptainGordon for the disembarkation of the troops:1. The women and children to disembark first(of these there were above ninety). 2. The sick