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

9 1ST ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 191embarkation conducted with so little noise and 1852.confusion."Meanwhile Captain Salmond, thinking nodoubt to get the ship safely afloat againand tosteam her nearer to the shore, ordered theengineer to give the paddles a few backwardturns. This only hastened the destruction of theship, which again struck upon the rocks so thata great hole was torn in the bottom, letting thewater rush in volumes into the engine-room andputtingout the fires.The situation was now more critical than ever ;but the soldiers remained quietly in their places,while Colonel Seton stood in the gangway withthe women and childrenhis sword drawn, seeingsafely passed down into the cutter which thecaptain had provided for them. This duty wasspeedily effected, and the cutter was ordered to lieoff about 150 yards from the rapidly sinkingship. In about ten minutes after she first struck,she broke in two at the fore-mast, the mast andthe funnel falling over to the starboard side,crushing many, and throwinginto the water thosewho were endeavouring to clear the paddle-boxboat ;but the men kept their places, thoughmanyof them were mere ladswho had been in