The Wager Disaster

by C. H. Layman

  When did you see the land first?

  I did not see it, being sick in my hammock, but I heard it was seen at 2 in the afternoon. I reckoned that day we were 45 leagues from the shore. There are 17 degrees of variation in that part of the world, but we were certainly embayed.[9]

  This Spanish chart of 1744 illustrates the navigational problems, discussed here at the court martial, that all seamen encountered in the South Seas at that date. The wreck of the Wager is marked, but some 70 nautical miles from its proper position. A translation of the Note includes this dire warning:

  “We cannot be certain about the line of the coast, but as far as the islands are concerned we can be, at least from information given by the Indians of Chiloé, who have seen them, and which is confirmed by Captain David Cheap from one of the frigates of Admiral Anson’s Squadron, who was wrecked amongst them between 46 and 47° latitude, believing himself more than 80 leagues distance from the coast. And since that position is known for certain, it is very likely that the coast also runs NE/SW; and until it is possible to have more certainty, or observations are made which can provide confirmation, pilots should take care to remain well outside. And in order to make it easier to know how to proceed, we have shown both one and the other version of the map up to Cabo Corzo, which is where opinions differ as to its direction, rather than giving a unanimous view on the direction from there to the south.” (See inside cover for the full chart.)

  Captain Cheap, do you think you could have carried your topsails?

  Yes, I thought so when I ordered them to be set.

  Captain Cheap, how do you reckon the land lay there?

  North and South.

  Jones states SW by S, NE by N, from the Straits of Magellan to the place where we were lost.

  On the 13th May, what latitude did you judge your selves in?

  46:40 to the best of my remembrance.[10]

  Was there any dispute among the officers about the course you steered?

  Yes, I heard some of the officers, the Lieutenant and Gunner and others, uneasy at steering for Socorro, for fear we should fall in with a lee-shore, therefore we wished to have gone to Juan Fernandez.

  Captain Cheap says by his reckoning they were 55 leagues from the shore and all the officers except the Mate made it farther, some even 90.

  What was the last land you made before you were lost?

  Sometime about the beginning of April we made land, which Frazier calls the Passage of Santa Barbara. We had an observation two days before we were lost.

  Were you desirous to make the land?

  Yes, the land of Socorro, but this was to the southward of it.

  What time did the ship strike?

  Between 4 and 5 a.m.

  Was everything done for the preservation of the ship and the people’s lives?

  Yes, everything was done.

  Captain Cheap asks, did you remember that the Carpenter told the Lieutenant he saw the land on the 13th?

  Yes, I heard the Carpenter say so, after the ship was lost.

  Did you ever hear any reason given why the Captain was not acquainted with your seeing the land?

  I cannot tell. I never heard any reason, only that it could not be the land because it bore NNW.

  Did you ever hear anybody say that they hove the lead after you wore the ship?

  No, I never heard of it.

  Lieutenant Baynes asks Jones if he does not remember that on the 1st May, the wind being fair for Juan Fernandez, which we could have fetched if we had not lain by 3 or 4 days with the wind westerly, SSW. I asked the Captain why he would not go thither, and Captain Cheap said his rendezvous was at Socorro, and there he would go if possible.[11]

  Did you know the rendezvous before that time?

  No, it never was public.

  Captain Cheap, after you told the Lieutenant the rendezvous was at Socorro, how did the Lieutenant behave then?

  I can lay nothing to his charge after that. He obeyed my orders.

  The Hon. John Byron sworn, his deposition read as follows:

  13th May at 8 a.m. when I came upon deck, I saw several bunches of rock-weed pass by the ship, upon which I called to the Carpenter who was by me and showed him them. He told me he believed he had seen the land and had showed it the Lieutenant. 14th May at half past 2 p.m. saw the land bearing NNW distant 4 leagues. We were then lying-to under a reef mainsail with the larboard tack aboard and the foreyard down; upon which the Captain wore ship, and laid her head to the westward, the wind at NNW. The Captain going forward to give directions for the fixing of new straps to the jeer blocks,[12] they being broken, and four of our starboard fore chain-plates,[13] he fell down the after hold, all the gratings being unlaid, and dislocated his arm. He was brought up and laid in the Surgeon’s cabin, as being thought by the Surgeon more proper than his own for the reducing his arm. As soon as he came a little to himself, he sent for the Lieutenant, and hearing the wind was at NW by N he ordered him to set the topsails and keep all hands upon deck all night, as the Captain has often told me. At half past 4 a.m. the ship struck, but having received no damage the officers upon deck were immediately for loosing the topsails. But it then being too late, the Captain ordered them to let go the anchor, but it not being clear, we drove upon a second reef, which broke the head of our rudder, and we had seven foot of water in the hold. So afterwards steering with our head sails, till we stuck fast on a bank near the island we got ashore upon. I do think that with the strength we had, we could have set our topsails and hauled the sheets home.

  Did you tell the Captain that the Carpenter had seen the land?

  No, I did not think it my place.

  Did you ever tell the Lieutenant?

  I cannot say whether I did or not.

  Did you endeavour to make more sail after the foreyard was swayed up?

  We set our foresail, but never attempted to set the topsails. Our yard was swayed up about 7 or 8 p.m. before we struck.

  When you put the ship about did you see any bay within you?

  Yes, a very deep bay, but we had but just entered it.

  After you wore did you ever know or hear whether the lead was hove?

  Yes, I do think there were soundings, but I cannot remember them.

  Captain Cheap says Campbell the Midshipman told him there was no water in 20 fathom of line.

  Did the ship go off from the shore after you wore?

  I believe not. I think she went wholly to leeward.

  Do you think the ship would have bore her topsails?

  Yes, with all the reefs in I do think she would. At least it should have been tried, I think.

  Thomas Hamilton, Lieutenant of Marines, sworn, his deposition read as follows:

  Some days before our shipwreck I was told we were in or near the latitude of our rendezvous, the island of Socorro. We lay-to at night and made sail in the day. On the 13th May I heard the officers talking of seaweed which they saw, and at 3p.m. of the 14th was told they saw land, and had wore the ship, and stood to the westward. I went upon deck and saw the land upon our weather bow, bearing about NW, 4 or 5 leagues as I imagine. The Captain was upon deck and uneasy about the rigging of the foremast, being disabled; he gave orders about it and at last went forward himself. He fell down the after hatchway, pitched upon head and shoulders. Both were much bruised, and his left shoulder put out, so that the head of the bone came down below his armpit. After the shoulder was reduced with infinite difficulty and torture to the Captain, as soon as he recovered himself and was a little easier, he sent for the Lieutenant, but I know not what passed. The Surgeon gave the Captain a composing cordial, and he fell asleep. About 9 or 10 all was quiet and no officer came to the Captain, nor I heard of no apprehension of danger, but about 4 a.m. the stroke of the ship upon the rocks awaked me. I ran to the Captain; he bid me send the Lieutenant. Not finding him, I returned, and the Captain bid me order to let go the anchor, but it was not clear. We struck again, and set fast till the tide rising hove us off. I think
it was here we broke our rudder, and our headsails and a strong tide carried us clear when we were just upon the rocks, almost touching. At last we set fast on a small island. I understood from the Captain that our misfortune was owing to the Lieutenant not setting the topsails as ordered, and which I believe was the truth, for I never heard it contradicted.

  After you wore ship, did you see or know whether they hove the lead?

  No, I know not, nor did I hear the Captain’s orders to the Lieutenant to set the topsails. I have heard some of the people say that the Lieutenant disobeyed the Captain’s orders by not setting the topsails and saved their lives.

  John George, Mariner, sworn, his deposition read as follows:

  On the 14th May 1741 it was my watch upon deck, when about 4 o’clock a.m. the ship struck upon a rock on the coast of Patagonia. It blew very hard right on the shore, and we had but eight men in the watch and those very weak. We had our courses set, and the ship crippled very much with that sail, but it was as much in my opinion as she could bear, but we were forced to carry what sail we could, to endeavour to claw it off the shore. I do think we were too weakly handed to have set the topsails and hauled the sheets home, but if we could have done it, I don’t think the ship could have carried them.

  Did you ever know, or see, or hear that the lead was hove when you wore the ship?

  No.

  Why do you think you could not carry your topsails?

  Because there was a great sea, violent squalls of wind, and the ship lay gunnel-to with reefed courses.

  Could the ship at any time have carried her topsails when you first wore, till she was lost?

  No, it blew a hurricane of wind, but it was my first voyage, and I can’t say much, but her gunnel was even with the water, and I don’t think she could bear more sail.

  John King, Boatswain, sworn, his deposition read as follows:

  On the 14th May 1741 between 4 and 5 a.m., it blowing very fresh and we under our courses, the ship ran upon a sunken rock from whence she beat to a small island and there lay fast. I know of no order for setting our topsails, but had we had orders to set the main-topsail I am of opinion the ship would not have carried him, there was such a gale of wind. I think the ship could not bear him set, nor had we strength enough I think to do it. At this time the Captain had put out his shoulder and was not upon deck.

  Did you ever hear the lead was hove from your wearing the ship to your striking?

  I can’t remember the lead ever was hove till we had struck, then we hove the lead and had 14 fathom water.

  Could the lead have been hove and you not heard of it or known it?

  No, certainly it could not, for I was then upon deck.

  Did you ever hear the deep-sea line ordered to be stretched forward after you wore?

  No, I never did.

  Did you ever hear that the Captain ordered the Lieutenant to set the topsails?

  The Lieutenant came upon deck and said the Captain had ordered if it was possible to set the topsails. I said it was impossible to loose them in the brails, they would have split to pieces, nor could the ship carry them, nor had we any strength. We had not above three seamen in one and four in the other watch besides marines.

  How many marines had you in a watch?

  I don’t know.

  How many persons had you in each watch, marines and seamen?

  Sixteen in both watches, as well as I remember.

  Have you anything to say against your Captain, of remissness or neglect, or being any ways deserving censure for the loss of the ship?

  No, the Captain behaved very well. I have nothing to say against him or any other officer.

  Were you upon deck when you wore ship, or were you on the Sick List?

  Yes, I was upon deck. I assisted in fitting the jeer blocks, and swaying the foreyard up. I saw the Captain in the steerage, when he had received his hurt, and was upon deck when the ship struck, and had done my duty two or three days.

  John Bulkeley, Gunner, sworn, his deposition read as follows:

  14th May at 2 p.m., being on the foreyard assisting in handing the foresail, saw the land bearing NW half N, at the sight of which I acquainted Captain Cheap, on which he instantly gave orders to sway the foreyard up, set the sail and wear the ship to the southward which we were three hours about. The Captain seeing the weakness of the people and want of strength, he coming forward to assist himself, fell off the ladder and unhappily dislocated his shoulder. At 8 o’clock of the same evening the Captain sent for the Lieutenant and myself, and said, Gentlemen, you are sensible of the danger the ship is in and the necessity of making sail being on a lee-shore; therefore I desire you will use your utmost endeavour to crowd her off, and if possible set the main-topsail. But the violence of the gale would not permit of making more sail without endangering the ship. At 4 a.m. the Master and myself relieved the Lieutenant, he having had the middle watch. About an hour after the ship struck, at which time we could not discern half her length for the storm of wind and rain.

  The ship striking, the Captain sent several times up with orders to let go the anchor, which was impossible to be done. The ship a short time after bilged and grounded where it was impossible ever to get her off. We could not if the weather had permitted have set our topsails for want of strength, for in the two watches we could muster no more than 13 hands, petty officers and all.

  Did you ever hear any directions for stretching the deep-sea line or was the lead hove when you made the land NW half N?

  No.

  Why did you not heave the lead?

  The Master was in the watch with me, and it was his business.

  After the ship struck upon the first rock and went off again, how did you keep her?

  Upon a wind close-hauled till we struck again, which broke our tiller, then we steered with our sails, and she ran ashore the third time before the wind.

  How came you not to let go your anchor?

  The cable was foul.

  Captain Cheap says the cable was across the cathead.[14]

  How long after you struck the first time was it before you struck the second time?

  Half an hour.

  Do you know if the Lieutenant acquainted the Captain from time to time of the bearings and of all the transactions?

  It was so dark no bearings could be seen. I don’t know what he did with the other transactions.

  Was the Boatswain upon deck, and did he keep all hands upon deck?

  Yes.

  Have you anything to object to the conduct of the Captain or officers, or to his proceedings in all respects for the good and preservation of the ship and crew?

  I believe not. I can lay nothing to the charge of any officer.

  Did you ever hear any reason given for not heaving the lead?

  No, never. I believe it was forgot.

  Do you believe the ship could at any time, from the time of wearing to her striking, have carried even her main-topsail?

  I think she could not till 12 at night, then my watch was out.

  John Cummins, Carpenter, sworn, his deposition read as follows:

  On the 13th May 1741 about nine in the morning I went to inspect the chain-plates on the starboard side. After going on the forecastle, I saw the land, and showed it to the men of the forecastle, and immediately acquainted the Lieutenant with it, he not allowing it to be land because the bearing was NNW. I answered, Sir, may we not be embayed. The Hon. John Byron answered, True, Carpenter. About 4 in the afternoon the Captain going down the ladder of the quarterdeck fell down and dislocated his shoulder, and was laid in the Surgeon’s cabin. About 8 at night the Captain sent to me to acquaint me I must take the middle watch with the Lieutenant. I was called out at 12 o’clock, went on deck, but dismal dark. Pumped ship at seven glasses.[15] At 4 the Gunner relieved the Lieutenant. About half past, being between sleep and waking, I felt a shock as though the sea took the ship under the main chains. Immediately the Gunner acquainted me the ship had struck, I got out of bed, cal
led to my Mate to step in the well and see what water. He answered, No water. I was for letting go the anchor; Mr. Jones, Mate, answered, If you let go the anchor we shall perish. The ship ran till about half past 5 then set fast. I heard nothing of setting the topsails but am of opinion we had not strength enough to have set them and hauled home the sheets, nor would the mast have borne the sail for it blew a hurricane.

  There was no examination of the Carpenter following the reading of his deposition. The court then questioned the Lieutenant.

  Mr. Baynes, how came you not to acquaint the Captain that the Carpenter saw land?

  I did not think it was land, it looked like dark, between two heavy clouds, which very soon disappeared.

  The Carpenter says the sight of it was soon gone, though it must be the land.

  Did you hear the lead ordered to be hove?

  No; not till after we had struck.

  Lieutenant Baynes is asked how he came not to cast the lead.

  He says he could not believe it was land, it so soon disappeared, and by his reckoning they were 70 leagues off.