heir lives. The people upon
the raft returned the farewell cheer, and as each wave dashed over
them, and they again floated on the surface, they announced their
safety with another and another shout. They had little hope indeed of
reaching the shore alive; they were standing up to their middle in
water, and every billow that rolled over them carried away one or more
of their number. Happily some of those who were washed off the raft,
succeeded in regaining it; but seven of them perished, the rest were
safely landed, and to the constant exertions of the officers to keep
up the spirits of the men, they were greatly indebted for their
preservation.

A second raft was begun on board the Crescent, but it was never
completed; the sea made a clear breach over her; the quarter-deck
became filled with water, and it was therefore necessary to launch the
jolly-boat in order to save as many lives as possible, though she
could scarcely be expected to live in such a sea. Once more, Captain
Temple and above two hundred men and officers said farewell to the
companions of their toils and dangers--once more they bade God speed
to the frail bark--their own last chance of escape--and watched it as
it was now borne aloft on the crested wave, now buried in the briny
furrow. For a time they forgot their own danger in anxiety for the
others; but they were soon recalled to what was passing around
them--the groaning of the timbers, as every sea struck the wreck with
an increasing shock, forewarned them that she could not long resist
that mighty force. There were two hundred and twenty human beings
entirely helpless to save themselves. None may know the agonies of
that hour, when even hope itself had fled--when nothing intervened
between the soul and the unseen world. The Crescent went to pieces a
short time after the departure of the jolly-boat, and every one left
on board perished, to the number of two hundred and twenty, out of a
crew of two hundred and eighty. Amongst the lost were the captain,
three lieutenants, a lieutenant of marines, nine midshipmen, the
surgeon, purser, carpenter, and gunner; two pilots, one passenger, six
women, and a child.

The surviving officers and crew of the Crescent were tried by a court
martial, at Sheerness, for the loss of the vessel, when the court was
of opinion that 'the loss of the Crescent proceeded from the ignorance
and neglect of the pilots, and that the master was blameable, inasmuch
that he did no