Boon Island: including Contemporary Accounts of the Wreck of the Nottingham Galley

by Kenneth Roberts

  At this Time the Master set the Infirm, and otherwise useless Hands, to open Junk, and with the Rope Yarn, drawn from thence, thatch'd the Tent, according to the best of his Skill in that science; this serv'd to turn off 2 or 3 Hours Rain, and skreen them, from the Asperities of the cold cutting Winds. Of this Oakum likewise the Master made Swathing Bands, in which he swath'd up himself at Night, when he threw off his wet Cloaths, and obliging his Boy, swath'd in the same Manner, to lie upon him; this Device contributed much to the Conservation of his Health.

  About the latter End of December, the Carpenter, a fat Man, naturally of a dull, heavy, phlegmatic Constitution, and aged about 47; always very III from his first coming on Shore, and had since lost the Use of his Feet, now, in particular, complain'd of an excessive Pain in his Back, and stiffness in his Neck; and, moreover, was almost suffocated with an Inundation of Phlegm. He soon grew Speech'less tho' retaining his Senses, and drawing near to his End, in all Apprehension, they pray'd over him; and in all Things, to the Best of their Power, were serviceable to him in his last Moments. Dying that Night, his Body remain'd in the Tent 'till the Morning, when the Master, as usual, going out in quest of Provisions, order'd the People to remove the Corps to some distance. Finding Part of a green Hide, fasten'd to a Piece

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  of the Main yard, newly thrown up by the Sea; he first endeavour'd to eat it, but his Teeth made no Impression; at Noon returning, the Men importuned him to bring it into the Tent, and mincing it small, it was soon swallow'd down with a voracious Appetite. The Master, then observing the Carcass not carried off, began to expostulate warmly, demanding the Reason of their Disobedience: They excus'd themselves on the Score of Inability; he, imputing this to their Want of Spirit and Resolution, already the Cause of much Chagrin and Fatigue to him, and Mischief to themselves; he gave them a Rope, bidding them, make it Fast to the Corps, and his Spirits being still in a Ferment, he essay'd to draw it out himself, but was soon convinc'd of the Decay of his Strength, by not being able to stir it: Another however assisting, the dead Body, at length, was haul'd a few Paces from the Tent. The Master, afterwards, returning into the Tent, with his Powers enervated by this violent Exertion of himself, and his Mind oppressed with the most acute Sense of the various Miseries they were involv'd in, occasionally reinforced by the present melancholic Instance, was ready to expire with Faintness and Anguish; and placing himself so as to receive some Refreshment by Sleep, he observ'd an unusual Air of Intentness in the Countenances of all the People, when, after some Pause, Mr. Whitworth, a young Gentleman, his Mother's darling Son, delicately educated, amidst so great an Affluence, as to despite common Food, as he then, with Remorse of Conscience, acknowledg'd, began, in the Name of the Assembly, to court the Master's Concurrence in converting the Humane Carcase into the Matter of their Nourishment; and was immediately seconded by a great Majority, three only opposing, on account of their esteeming it a heinous Sin. This affair had been thus consulted, and concluded upon in the Master's Absence, and the present Method concerted of making it known by a Gentleman reputed to be much in his Favour. The Master remain'd in his former

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  Posture, observing an invincible Silence, whilst they were urging their Desires with irresistible Vehemence, for nothing that ever befel him from the Day of his Birth, no not the Dread and Distress of his Soul upon quitting the Wreck, when he did not expect to live a Minute, was so amazingly Shocking as this unexpected Proposal; but, after a short Interval, resuming his Reason, and concealing his infirmity for Decency Sake, he maturely weighing all Circumstances, pronounc'd in Favour of the Majority, arguing the Improbability of its being a Sin to eat Humane Flesh in a Case of such necessity, provided they were no ways accessary to the taking away of Life. The Master then acquiesing, on Condition of throwing into the Sea the Skin, and all parts discovering it to be Humane; and receiving from Time to Time their respective Portions, according to his Prescription, the People appear'd in a Transport of Joy; but all to a Man excused themselves from engaging in so odious a Work; alledging their Inability of abiding so long in the Cold, and therefore most humbly implor'd the Continuance of his good Offices, even in this very disagreeable Instance. The Master took this extremely ill, and refus'd a good while to comply; but, at last, their incessant Prayers and Tears prevail'd, and by close of the Day, with another's Assistance, he had dispatch'd this very nauseous and difficult Task. A few thin Slices, wash'd in Salt-water, were brought into the Tent, and given to every one, with a good Quantity of Rockweed to supply the Place of Bread. The First the Master eat, was Part of the Grissels that compose the Breast, having the Flesh scraped clean off, for his Stomach, as yet, abominated the loathsome Diet, though his importunate Appetite had, more than once, led him to survey with a longing Even the Extremities of his fore Fingers, and a Day or two before compell'd him to taste his own Excrements. The Mate, and the two other Opposers, refus'd to partake of the Flesh that Night, but were the first next Morning to beg an equal Share in the common

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  Allowance. The Mater, to prevent Dispute, distributed it by Lot, with the utmost Impartiality; and to take off any Aversion, enjoin'd them to call it Beef; tho' this last Precaution was needless, since they devour'd it in a rapacious Manner, and crav'd greater Quantities than consisted with health, and the Extent of their small Stock; and, in a few Days, Lame and Infirm as they were, he found himself oblig'd to remove the Pieces and Quarters to a craggy Eminency of difficult Access, as likewise to hold a stricter Hand, and exercise all the Authority he had taken at their Request, over them, which their present Impotence, and his comparative Strength, empower'd him to maintain; for on a sudden, he perceiv'd an Alteration on their Dispositions, infinitely to the worse, from a quiet, peaceable, affectionate Temper, a resign'd, submissive, religious Frame of Mind; the Majority grew fierce, brutish, barbarous, Impatient in their Afflictions, and Refractory to Command, using ill Language, Oaths and Imprecations, so that the Master almost repented he had not turn'd the dead Carcass adrift in the Sea, instead of reserving it for Food, since attended with such detestable Effects; however, this Deportment convinc'd him of the absolute Necessity of keeping a strick Watch over the Remainder of the Body, since he had Reason to apprehend future Want would drive them to sacrifice one another's Lives to their inexorable Hunger, and the Prolongation of their miseries a few Days would infallibly have terminated in this dreadful Event. This Nutriment had also an ill Effect upon their Ulcers and Sores, endangering a Mortification more than ever; and herein the Master incurr'd as great a Risque as any, having the Ends of his Fingers torn, and his Nails dislocated, on his first Recovering the Rock, and they had ever since been constantly employ'd in Building the Tent, Boat, and Raft, and a daily Acquisition of Victuals, without either Ease of Medicine to supple and heal them. To remedy this Inconvenience, the Master tried an Experiment of his own Conception, that suf-

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  ficiently answer'd the Intention, viz. He applied Plaisterwise to the distemper'd Part, first cleansed and wash'd in Salt-water, the Fat taken off from the Kidneys of the Deceased, reduc'd to a proper Consistence, by working it with a Stone on a smooth Place of the Rock; and this proved a cooling, mollifying Medicament, giving much Ease to the Patient, and, peradventure, from something of this kind, improved by the Hands of the Learned, may be prepar'd an excellent Digestive.

  The Close of the old Year left them in a most forlorn Condition; the Master's Brother attack'd with Convulsive Fits, and frozen in several Fingers; Mr. Whitworth, his Friend, in both his Feet, so that he oft, express'd himself willing to compound for Life with the Loss of a Limb, the Master, through Sympathy with them, and Concern at the ill Success of every Enterprize for Deliverance, together with the daily Care and Fatigue unavoidably revolving upon him, became diminish'd in his Strength, and dissipated in the Faith and Resolution of his Mind; the rest of the People, half frozen, more than half famish'd, distemper'd, ulcerous, dispairing, unable to help themselves; yet Murmur
ing, Prophane, and Blasphemous. In a Word, labouring under a Complication of the greatest Evils, Cold, Diseases, Famine, Prospect of Death, and Dread of Damnation.

  But the Almighty, whose Mercies endure for ever, was graciously pleas'd to extend his undeserv'd Favour, for on the 2d of January, in the Morning, as the Master was creeping out of the Tent, he saw a Shallop half Way from Shore, standing directly towards the Rock, under a brisk Gale of Wind, and immediately crying out, a Sail, a Sail, unable to utter more thro' an Ecstacy of Joy; not a Soul amoungst them, how Weak and Infirm soever, but instantly thrust out his Head to see so desirable a Sight, and to express the Raptures diffus'd throughout the whole Company, upon the Prospect of so sudden and unexpected a Deliverance, outstrips the Powers of Tongue and Mind; 'twas Life from the

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  Dead, The Master kept walking on the Rock to direct their Good and Welcome Friends to the properest Anchorage; but they not understanding his Signs, let go in a very indifferent place, about 100 Yards S.W. off the Island, the Swell of the Sea not permitting a nearer Approach, their Anchor coming Home, they were obliged to weigh, and stand off 'till Noon, in Expectation of smoother Weather on the Flood; in the mean Time the weak and disorder'd Minds of the poor Creatures on the Rock were strangely hurry'd with fluctuating Passions, thro' Fears of Miscarriage, and Hopes of Deliverance.

  At Flood the Vessel coming nigh, cast Anchor by the Master's Directions in a commodious Place, within Call of the Island; where the Master gave them an Account of their Miseries in every Respect, except the Want of Provisions; concealing this, least an Apprehension of being constrain'd to abide on the Rock, thro' any Extremity of Weather should deter them from coming on Shore to their Assistance: observing also, they were unprovided of a proper Boat to carry them off, he earnestly requested them to furnish him with Fire, if they could not possibly accomplish their immediate Deliverance, Hoisting but a small Canoe, one Man came off, and gaining the Rock with Abundance of Difficulty, the Master assisted to haul the Boat on Shore, and perceiving no Eatables therein, enquir'd of the Man, If he could help him to Fire? He reply'd in the Affirmative, after some Hesitation, occasion'd by his Astonishment at the Master's thin and meagre Aspect. Several other Questions being alternately resolv'd, as, What Day of the Week it was? ie., and, in particular, a Relation made of the Manner of finding the Raft and dead Corps, which mov'd the Government to send them out on the present Design; as they were passing on towards the Tent, the Man casting his Eyes on the Remains of the Flesh, expos'd to the Frost on the Summit of the Rock, express'd his Satisfaction at their not being destitute of Provisions; and the Master acquies'd

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  in the Justice of his Sentiments, without unravelling the Mystery. Arriving at the Tent, he was perfectly affrighted at the ghastly Figure of so many dismal Objects, with long Beards, nothing but Skin and Bone; wild staring Eyes, and Countenances, fierce, barbarous, unwash'd, and infected with Humane Gore. After kindling a Fire, with much Labour, the Master accompany'd the Man to his Boat, intending to go on Board with him, and afterwards fend for the Rest, one or two at a Time, and carry them all off that Night; both getting in, the Sea drove the Canoe with such Force against the Rock, as overset her in the Water, whereby the Master, so greatly reduced in his Strength, was a long while unable to recover himself, and narrowly escap'd Drowning. The good Man, making a second Attempt alone, recover'd the Shallop with Difficulty; having solemnly assur'd them at parting, of coming again the next Day with better Accommodations, if Weather permitted.

  Now again, as an Allay to their newly conceiv'd Joy, they beheld their worthy Friends in the Shallop, standing away from the Shore without them; but the infinitely Wise and Good God, whose sole Prerogative it is to appoint the Time, as well as Means, of Man's Deliverance, by frustrating the present Appearance, effectually secur'd the Accomplishment of their Preservation, for the Wind coming about to S. E. blew very hard, and the Night proving exceeding Dark, the Vessel was stranded in returning, and the Men, with much Hazard, escaped to the Main Land; but had these helpless Wretches been there, they must have perish'd in all probability. Immediately upon their Landing, an Express was sent to Portsmouth, on Piscataqua River, and the good People there laid hold on the first fair Weather to hasten to their Relief. In the mean Time, tho' they had Reason to believe their Condition known, and therefore to expect a speedy Assistance; yet their Flesh being near spent, the next Day proving Stormy, and the Uncertainty of such bad

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  Weather's Continuance, all serv'd to revive their Griefs, and exercise their Patience; however, the Misery of their Circumstances was much allieviated by the Advantage of Fire to keep them warm, and broil their Meat, from thence assuming a much more Savoury Relish.

  The Fire was made in the middle of the Tent, and hemm'd in with Stones to prevent its Excursion; the Fewel-Ropes cut into short Lengths, and brought up to the Tent by the Master. At the first making of the Fire, no Vent being contriv'd for the Smoke, the People were almost suffocated, several Fainting away, and others grew extreme Sick; but an opening being made in the Top of the Tent, the ill Effect ceased. A Constant Watch of two at a Time, continually attended the Fire; and were statedly relieved every two Hours, tho' subject to some Inequality, being reckon'd by Computation.

  The Men now urg'd the Master, to enlarge their Allowance of Flesh; and he in part comply'd but not to their Satisfaction: in the night, as he lay amongst the People, asleep to all appearance, he overheard the Two that had the Watch, whispering with something of an earnest Accent; and soon after perceiv'd One creep out of the Tent, and e're long returning with a Part of their small Stock, tho' the Flesh lay at a considerable Distance; the Rock was rough and uneven, and this very fellow for some Time past, especially when any thing was commanded to be done, had no other way of moving but on his Hands and Knees; as they were busie in broiling their Purchase, the Master suddenly starting up, seiz'd it, and forthwith acquainting the whole Company, it was proposed to inflict an exemplary Punishment, but as the Case then stood, they came off with a severe Reprimand.

  And now when they came to [so] low an Ebb in the Article of Provisions, that the whole Remainder of the Flesh was allotted for the next Repast; as it pleas'd God, the Wind abated in the

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  Night of the 3d of January, and early on the 4th in the Morning, whilst at their Devotions, they were agreeably surpriz'd at the Report of a Musquet, and looking out, saw a Shallop near the Rock. They came to an Anchor, and having a good Canoe, the Master's much esteemed Friends, William Long of Old-England and Jethro Furber of New-England, both Masters of Ships, with three others, soon came on Shore, the Master standing at the Waterside to receive and welcome them to that desolate island. After first Salutations past, and learning the summary State of their Case, having look'd about as far as Curiosity prompted, they first took the Master on board of the Shallop, and then, being very brisk, strong Men, brought the rest, two or three at a time, most of them on their Backs, from the Tent to the Canoe, tho' none of them were free from Vermin; and in two Hours time they were all on board to their Worthy Friends Satisfaction, and their own inexpressible Joy. The first Sustenance they received, was a bit of Bread and a dram of Rum each, and soon after a Mess of Water-Gruel every one, prepar'd in sufficient Quantity by a charitable Gentlewoman, whose Husband own'd the Shallop, and this was excellently accommodated to their Condition, and prov'd of Singular Benefit; for the Wind being contrary, and blowing a Gale, they were obliged to carry much Sail, which rendered the poor hunger-starved Wretches extremely Sea-sick; and the Water-Gruel promoting a Facilitie in vomiting, serv'd to cleanse their Stomachs, after which they grew excessively hungry and Ravenous.

  In the Close of the Evening they got within the Mouth of Piscataqua River; and the Master hir'd a Canoe to carry Mr. Whitworth and himself to their Lodgings at Mr. Furber's with greater Expedition. By eight a-Clock they landed, and the Master being shew'd the House, ran directly in, to the terrible Affrightment of the Gen
tlewoman and her Children, who took the first Opportunity of making a fair Escape, and left all to his Dis-

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  cretion; and he, tho' emaciated to a Skeleton, yet being in perfect Health, was unmercifully hungry, and therefore taking occasion to rumage the Pot on the First, found the Contents to be Beef and Turnips, resolving thereupon to stand Cook for once; before the Men that row'd them up arriv'd with Mr. Whitworth, whom they were obliged to carry, he had taken up the Turnips and spread on the Table to render them Mouth-meat, and some small Portion he had already secured in his Belly; but the People unacceptably intervening, restrain'd him from eating any more at that time. The Mistress of the Family, learning who they were return'd to the House, and the Master, with his Friend, was put into a Room apart. Soon after, they were visited by Mr. Packer, Practitioner in Physick and Surgery, by especial Order of the Government, whose Administrators, by an Excess of Generosity, had Sent out, that Day, two other Vessels to their Assistance in case of Necessity; and now, in farther Prosecution of the same Pious and Charitable Care, Lodgings, Food, and Nurses were provided for the People, during their infirmity, and Cloaths, Linnen and Woollen, given them upon their Recovery, all at the Publick Expence: and had not their unworthy, intemperate Behavior, plainly evinc'd them to be guilty of In gratitude toward God and Disregard to Man, they were upon the Point of receiving yet farther Instances of their Charity and Christian Compassion. The Gentlemen, most forward in promoting this generous Benevolence towards the Distress'd, were, the ever to be Respected John Plaisied and John Wentworth, Esqrs, to their own considerable private Charge, tho' the Master and Mr. Whitworth, having sufficient Credit, bore their own Expences.