by C. H. Layman
In eight days we got to Oporto, and made application to the English consul, who after hearing the hardships we had gone through, gave us each three days’ maintenance, and a quarter of a moidore.
On 28th April 1746 we embarked on board the Charlotta snow, Captain Henry Miller, bound for London, under convoy of the York and Folkestone men-of-war, and arrived at London on the 8th July following; three only of the eight left on the Patagonian coast, Samuel Cooper, John Andrews, and myself, being so happy as to see once more their native country.
Campbell writes:
After this unlucky affair (the near-successful mutiny by the Indians) nothing occurred to us but what is common at sea till we arrived on the coast of Portugal, when the appearance of some ships put the Spaniards into a great fright, and they immediately confined me and the other prisoners. They were under arms three days and three nights, and it is certain they had good reason for their fears. For in the first place the ship was very rich, having upwards of five millions of dollars on board, though not all registered. Secondly she was in great want of hands, and those that were on board were very weak and sickly.
20th January 1746, we arrived at the port of Corcubion, near Cape Finisterre, where I waited twenty days while the ship went round. Coming to Ferrol, I was ordered to Madrid, where on the day after my arrival I was introduced to one of the Ministry, who after asking me some questions ordered me to a room till further notice. Two days after I was called for again, and he inquired of me the particulars of Mr Anson’s voyage, to which I answered in general that I was only a petty officer in the fleet, and that all my business was to do as I was ordered by my superiors. When they made me offers of entry into their service I plainly refused, telling them that I would rather be a common sailor in the service of my own King than an officer under another. When I begged to be set at liberty and to go home by the way of Portugal, the minister said he would acquaint His Majesty with my demand, and that I should soon have an answer.
Next day I waited on the same minister, and he ordered me to go to the Secretary of War’s office, where I should have a passport to Lisbon. I went directly and got the passport with fifteen dollars for my travelling charges; then I would have set out immediately, but the weather being bad was obliged to stay at Madrid five days longer. When I did set out I found it almost impossible to travel, the heavy rains had so spoiled the roads. But the most disagreeable circumstance was the lightness of my purse, which rendered my journey very uncomfortable indeed.
At last it pleased God that I got safe to Lisbon, where I no sooner arrived than I waited on the English consul, who told me that the Edinburgh, Commodore Coats, was going from thence to England. Hereupon I waited on the Commodore, and desired my passage home, which he readily granted. After staying at Lisbon only three days, I embarked for England, and in six more arrived at Plymouth, thus happily surmounting, through the mercy of the Almighty, a long and unfortunate voyage of five years and eight months.
From Plymouth I went to Portsmouth in the same ship, and proceeded directly to London, where I arrived at the beginning of May 1746; and informed the Lords of the Admiralty of my arrival by a petition to their Lordships. Speaking at the same time with Mr Corbett, Secretary to the Admiralty, I found to my great surprise that Their Lordships had been told by Captain Cheap that I was in the Spanish Service! That this was a false assertion the public will hardly require any other proof than the reading of the foregoing narrative. If I had been in the Spanish service, how could I have acquired a passport (which I sent enclosed in a letter to Mr Secretary Corbett) from a minister of Spain, and how could I likewise arrive here in England so soon after the Captain? Upon the whole I hope that what I have here written will be sufficient to satisfy the public of my innocence, and clear me of what is so wrongfully laid to my charge.[12]
To summarise this complex and interlocking story, we have followed the 29 long-boat survivors home, and we can leave for the present Lieutenant Baynes and Gunner Bulkeley in England awaiting an uncertain future, and no doubt hoping their Captain will never return to bring charges of mutiny.
Midshipman Morris and two others have also come home after an absence of five years spent mostly as Indian slaves and prisoners of the Spanish. Midshipman Campbell too has now returned, protesting his innocence against the suspicion of treason in having joined the Spanish navy. And back on Wager Island, long before Campbell was to leave his compatriots in dubious circumstances, Captain Cheap and a small party are assessing their chances of survival in dire conditions on a deserted shore. John Byron, who is just setting off in the long-boat, takes up the tale.
The red track is that of the Speedwell. The blue track is that followed by Cheap, Byron, Campbell and eventually Hamilton. The green route is how Campbell then reached the Asia in Montevideo in company with some Spanish officers.
1 This was probably a jaguar, now extinct in this area.
2 Presumably a puma.
3 Rhea.
4 Morris is a little coy about this. Campbell says that the survivors told him later that they had fathered several children.
5 Blaeberries, blueberries, or bilberries.
6 The Assiento was a contract between Spain, Britain and some other nations for the procurement of slaves for the Spanish in South America. It functioned even in wartime.
7 It is astonishing that these two midshipmen from the Wager should meet here after four and a half years of almost unbelievable perils and hardships on different sides of the continent.
8 For a discussion of the authorship of this passage describing the Indian insurrection, see Appendix B.
9 Don Joseph Mindinuetta (other sources call him Pedro de Mendinueta) was captain of the Guipuscoa, 74, the most powerful ship in Pizarro’s squadron. Her ship’s company mutinied and ran the ship on to the coast of Brazil, where she became a total wreck. Subsequently Mindinuetta took command of the Esperanza, 50, and finally got round the Horn in early 1743 – but Anson had gone.
10 Spanish sources give the number of casualties as 60, being 20 killed and 40 injured.
11 Old seafaring term for the Spanish port of Corunna or La Coruña.
12 For an assessment of this, see p267-268.
Part 4
The Captain and his Few
Chapter 17
Preparations to Struggle North
Back to Wager Island, 13th October 1741. The long-boat, cutter and barge are about to depart with Lieutenant Baynes, Gunner Bulkeley and 79 men. The Captain has been arrested and deprived of his command, ostensibly for the shooting of Midshipman Cozens, but in reality because he has insisted on a plan of going north to capture a Spanish ship and rejoin the Commodore, whereas the popular opinion is that going south offers the only chance of survival. The Captain is at the last minute left behind with Mr Hamilton of the marines and Mr Elliot the Surgeon, both of whom refuse to leave him. Byron, who had thought the Captain was being taken in custody with the company in the long-boat, takes the opportunity to slip away in the barge to rejoin his Captain, and eight men including Campbell agree to go with him. Plans are made to go to the north.
From Midshipman Byron’s narrative
The long-boat was now launched and ready for sailing, and all the men embarked except Captain Pemberton with a party of marines, who drew them up upon the beach with intent to conduct Captain Cheap on board; but he was at length persuaded to desist from this resolution by Mr Bulkeley. The men too, finding they were straitened for room, and that their stock of provision would not admit of taking supernumeraries aboard, were now no less strenuous for his enlargement[1], and being left to his option of staying behind. Therefore, after having distributed their share in the reserved stock of provision, which was very small, we departed, leaving Captain Cheap, Mr Hamilton of the marines, and the Surgeon upon the island.
I had all along been in the dark as to the turn this matter would take; and not in the least suspecting but that it was determined Captain Cheap should be taken with us, readily embarked under
that persuasion. But when I found that this design, which was so seriously carried on to the last, was suddenly dropped, I was determined upon the first opportunity to leave them, which was at that instant impossible for me to do, the long-boat lying some distance offshore at anchor. We were in all eighty-one when we left the island, distributed into the long-boat, cutter, and barge; fifty-nine on board the first, twelve in the second, in the last ten.
It was our purpose to put into some harbour, if possible, every evening, as we were in no condition to keep those terrible seas long; for without other assistance our stock of provisions was no more than might have been consumed in a few days. Our water was chiefly contained in a few powder-barrels. Our flour was to be lengthened out by a mixture of seaweed; and our other supplies depended upon the success of our guns and industry among the rocks.
Captain Pemberton having brought on board his men, we weighed. A sudden squall of wind having split our foresail, we with difficulty cleared the rocks by means of our oars, bore away for a sandy bay on the south side of the lagoon, and anchored in ten fathom. The next morning we got under way; but it blowing hard at W by N with a great swell put into a small bay again, well sheltered by a ledge of rocks without us.
At this time it was thought necessary to send the barge away back to Cheap’s Bay for some spare canvas, which was imagined would be soon wanted. I thought this a good opportunity of returning, and therefore made one with those who went upon this business in the barge.
We were no sooner clear of the long-boat than all those in the barge with me declared they had the same intention. When we arrived at the island we were extremely welcome to Captain Cheap.
The next day I asked him leave to try if I could prevail upon those in the long-boat to give us our share of provision. This he granted, but said if we went in the barge they would certainly take her from us. I told him my design was to walk it, and only desired the barge might land me upon the main, and wait for me till I came back. I had the most dreadful journey of it imaginable, through thick woods and swamps all the way; but I might as well have spared myself that trouble, as it was to no manner of purpose. They would not give me, nor any one of us that left them, a single ounce of provisions of any kind. I therefore returned, and after that made a second attempt; but all in vain. They even threatened that if we did not return with the barge they would fetch her by force.
It is impossible to conceive the distressed situation we were now in, at the time of the long-boat’s departure. I don’t mention this event as the occasion of it; by which, if we who were left on the island experienced any alteration at all, it was for the better; and which in all probability had it been deferred might have been fatal to the greatest part of us. But at this time the subsistence on which we had hitherto depended chiefly, which was the shellfish, were everywhere along shore eaten up; and as to stock saved from the wreck, it may be guessed what the amount of that might be, when the share allotted to the Captain, Lieutenant Hamilton, and the Surgeon was no more than six pieces of beef, as many of pork, and ninety pounds of flour. As to myself and those that left the long-boat, it was the least revenge they thought they could take of us to withhold our provision from us, though at the same time it was hard and unjust.
For a day or two after our return there was some little pittance dealt out to us, yet it was upon the foot of favour; and we were soon left to our usual industry for a farther supply. This was now exerted to very little purpose for the reason before assigned; to which may be added, the wreck was now blown up, all her upper works gone, and no hopes of any valuable driftage from her for the future. A weed, called slaugh, fried in the tallow of some candles we had saved, and wild celery, were our only fare; by which our strength was so much impaired that we could scarcely crawl. It was my misfortune too to labour under a severe flux, by which I was reduced to a very feeble state; so that in attempting to traverse the rocks in search of shellfish, I fell from one into very deep water, and with difficulty saved my life by swimming.
As the Captain was now freed by the departure of the long-boat from the riotous applications, menaces, and disturbance of an unruly crew, and left at liberty to follow the plan he had resolved upon of going northward, he began to think seriously of putting it in execution; in order to effect which, a message was sent to the deserters[2] who had seated themselves on the other side of the neighbouring lagoon, to sound them whether they were inclined to join the Captain in his undertaking; and if they were, to bring them over to him. For this set, the party gone off in the long-boat had left a half allowance proportion of the common stock of provision. These men upon the proposal readily agreed to join their commander; and being conducted to him, increased our number to twenty.
The boats which remained in our possession to carry off all these people were only the barge and yawl, two very crazy bottoms; the broadside of the last was entirely out, and the first had suffered much in a variety of bad weather she had gone through, and was much out of repair. And now as our Carpenter was gone from us, we had no remedy for these misfortunes but the little skill we had gained from him. However, we made tolerable shifts to patch up the boats for our purpose. In the height of our distresses, when hunger, which seems to include and absorb all others, was most prevailing, we were cheered with the appearance once more of our friendly Indians, as we thought, from whom we hoped for some relief; but as the consideration was wanting, for which alone they would part with their commodities, we were not at all benefited by their stay, which was very short.
The little reserve too of flour made by the Captain for our sea-stock when we should leave the island was now diminished by theft. The thieves, who were three of our men, were however soon discovered, and two of them apprehended; but the third made his escape to the woods. Considering the pressing state of our necessities, this theft was looked upon as a most heinous crime, and therefore required an extraordinary punishment; accordingly the Captain ordered these delinquents to be severely whipped, and then to be banished to an island at some distance from us. Before this latter part of the sentence could be put in execution, one of them fled; but the other was put alone upon a barren island, which afforded not the least shelter. However we, in compassion, and contrary to order, patched him up a bit of a hut and kindled him a fire, and then left the poor wretch to shift for himself. In two or three days after, going to the island in our boat with some little refreshment, such as our miserable circumstances would admit of, and with an intent of bringing him back, we found him dead and stiff.
I was now reduced to the lowest condition by my illness, which was increased by the vile stuff I ate. When we were favoured by a fair day, a thing very extraordinary in this climate, we instantly took the advantage of it, and once more visited the last remains of the wreck. Here our pains were repaid with the great good fortune of hooking up three casks of beef, which were brought safe to shore. This providential supply could not have happened at a more seasonable time than now, when we were afflicted with the greatest dearth we had ever experienced, and the little strength we had remaining was to be exerted in our endeavours to leave the island. Accordingly we soon found a remedy for our sickness, which was nothing but the effects of famine, and were greatly restored by food. The provision was equally distributed among us all, and served us for the remainder of our stay here. We began to grow extremely impatient to leave the island, as the days were now nearly at their longest, and about mid-summer in these parts; but as to the weather, there seems to be little difference of seasons.
Chapter 18
Foul Weather Defeats Them
Wager Island, 15th December 1741. The 17 survivors set out in the two small boats to attempt the perilous crossing of the bay. Foul weather defeats them again and again, and they suffer desperate hunger and cold. The yawl is overturned and lost with one man drowned. There being insufficient room for all in the barge, four marines are left ashore.
From Midshipman Byron’s narrative
The day being tolerable, we told Captain
Cheap we thought it a fine opportunity to run across the bay. But he most desired two or three of us to accompany him to our place of observation, the top of Mount Misery, when looking through his perspective,[3] he observed to us that the sea ran very high without. However this had no weight with the people, who were desirous at all events to be gone. I should here observe that Captain Cheap’s plan was if possible to get to the island of Chiloé; and if we found any vessel there to board her immediately, and cut her out.[4] This he certainly might have done with ease had it been his good fortune to get round with the boats.
We now launched both boats and got everything on board of them as quick as possible. Captain Cheap, the Surgeon, and myself, were in the barge with nine men, and Lieutenant Hamilton and Mr Campbell in the yawl with six. I steered the barge, and Mr Campbell the yawl; but we had not been two hours at sea before the wind shifted more to the westward, and began to blow very hard and the sea run extremely high, so that we could no longer keep our heads towards the cape or headland we had designed for. This Cape[5] we had had a view of in one of the intervals of fair weather, during our abode on the island, from Mount Misery; and it seemed to be distant between twenty and thirty leagues from us. We were now obliged to bear away right before the wind. Though the yawl was not far from us, we could see nothing of her, except now and then upon the top of a mountainous sea. In both the boats the men were obliged to sit as close as possible, to receive the seas on their backs, to prevent their filling us, which was what we every moment expected. We were obliged to throw everything overboard to lighten the boats, all our beef and even the grapnel, to prevent sinking.