Ballads of Brave Deeds By H. D. Rawnsley. With a Frontispiece and Preface by G. F. Watts |
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The Loss of the “Serpent” |
 | Ballads of Brave Deeds |  |
The Loss of the “Serpent”
H.M.S. “Serpent,” Commander H. L. Ross, sailed on Saturday, Nov. 8th, 1890, from Plymouth for the West African Station, and after encountering heavy gales was cast upon a reef called the Punta Buey, near Camarinas, on the N.E. coast of Spain, and her crew numbering nearly two hundred hands, with three exceptions, perished.
It is believed that in consequence of the heavy weather lights and bearings were unobtainable; that owing to some atmospheric disturbance, or to the presence of large quantities of iron ore in the geological formation of the coast, the ship's compass had been temporarily put out of gear, and that the set of the Atlantic current, accelerated by the westerly gale, drove the ship out of her course; while the officer of the watch, failing to make the light of Cape Finisterre, got into Camarinas Bay, wherefrom, as he missed the light on Cape Villano, escape was impossible.
One of the survivors stated that they struck at 10 p.m., when it was black as pitch; everybody kept cool, notwithstanding that the sea broke furiously over the deck and continually washed men away.
An hour after the ship struck, the Commander, seeing that all was lost, gave the men leave to save themselves as best they could, but only one man sprang into the water. Another survivor said, “as soon as we struck there was a rush on deck, but order was immediately obtained. Captain Ross was most cool and collected. He at once gave the order ‘Close all water-tight doors and clear away the boats,’ and the orders were instantly obeyed.
“The whaler from the port quarter with nine or ten men in her was lowered away, but she had barely touched the water before she was dashed against the ship's side and crushed to pieces. “There was never any panic. I wish this to be known in fairness to those that are gone.”
We sailed from Plymouth Sound
For the South and sunshine bound;
But sunless was the English sky, and surly was the sea;
And we wondered at the will
That could wish our craft such ill,
While the west was piping shrill,
And the sea-mews making landward on our lee.
Down to “hurricane,” and well
Did the wind-wise pillar tell
Of the gale that swept to meet us as we cleared the Eddystone;
Then we plunged on thro' the “Bay,”
Shipping seas and drenched with spray,
While the vessel like “a murdered man” made moan.
But the sun it came not back,
And we steamed a sightless track
Whilst the captain very grave, to the chart-room came and went;
“Land ho there above that crest!”
Little welcome! name unguessed,
“South by west, three quarters west,
Keep her steady!” so we sheered off, ill-content.
With the storm but half o'er-blown,
And we saw the captain frown,
“Where's the lighthouse of Villano, and the star of Finisterre?”
How could rough men understand
That an iron-hearted band
Would out-reach a magic hand,
And forbid the compass tell us where we were?
To his bearings hope to hold,
When no sun nor star was told,
With the whole Atlantic's fury flung upon his weather-beam?
When the ship beneath the wrack,
Like a drunkard reeling back,
Tossed bewildered in the track
And the torrent of the ocean's tidal stream?
Vainly sounded, for the deep
Blew such trumpets, while asleep
Some were lying worn and weary with the battle of the day;
And the bells went ten o'clock
As we struck with sudden shock—
Stopped full dead upon the rock
Of the cruel reef in Camarinas Bay.
Felt our “Serpent” sure was lost,
But we went each to his post;
Slammed the water-doors, heard captain—“Clear away boats! steady boys!”
Came aboard us unaware,
Stove our life-boat swung in air
All to splinters, washed her crew away like toys.
But no holding could we find,
Oh! the roaring of the wind,
And the thunder of the reef, and the crackling of the wreck!
Oh! the prayers our breath beneath
For a swift and certain death,
Ere we touched the dragon's teeth,
As, one by one, men vanished from the deck!
“Hope of saving ship is past!
Save yourselves!” but all stood fast.
“With our captain, mates, and vessel we will perish side by side.”
So the crew were cast away
On that reef, the Punta Buey;
And let Camarinas say
If braver men beneath her waves have died.
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