Prince George

Posted by Brian on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 16:55

Letter from a midshipman of the Prince George
On Thursday the 13th about half an hour past one in the afternoon, we were alarmed with fire in the boatswains fore store room, which put us all into great disorder; and it being a very thick fog, we could not see one ship in the fleet. We kept firing guns of distress and no ship appeared in sight for an hour, we were all in the greatest consternation; but the fog then dispelling, the Glasgow hailed us, to whom we told our condition, and earnestly begged of them to save our lives. The fire still increasing, we were obliged to hoist out our boats, which from our confusion were near 3 hours fixing to the tackles etc. everybody being engaged in preparing to save himself. The poop, stern and quarter galleries, with the sides,were lined with men and boys, crying out in a most moving manner to be assisted. During this time out of 23 sail of ship's, we had but 3 boats to our assistance, and those would not come near the ship for fear of being sunk, the poor fellows continually jumping over-board, great number of whom were drowned in our sight. We got our boats out, which never returned after going once, by this time the fire had communicated itself to the middle gun deck, and nobody could go down below, everyone expecting his death every minute, either by fire or water, and were taking leave of each other. Soon after going out of the Admiral's cabin, I saw the flames coming out in the hatchway of the upper gun deck; I returned immediately, and took my leave of the petty officers that were there, and went over the starboard stern ladder, to save myself by swimming, and thanks be to Almighty God reached a boat and was taken up. I had just got clear of the ship when the flames became general, and those poor unhappy wretches that could not swim, were obliged to remain upon the wreck, with the fire falling down upon them. Shortly after the masts went away, and killed numbers, and those that were not killed by the masts, tho't themselves happy to get upon them. But the ship rolling by reason of the great sea, the fire had communicated itself to the guns, which swept them off the deck in great numbers, they being all loaded and shotted.

Posted by Brian on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 16:21

1758/04/13 accidentally burnt in the Bay of Biscay
Letter from the master of a merchantman under convoy of Admiral Broderick
Thursday, April 13. Ushant bearing 60 leagues distance, at noon I saw Admiral Broderick hoist a signal; of distress; upon which I made what sail I could, and went down on him. At one in the afternoon I could discern the Pr. George on fire; at two drew pretty near her, but thought they might have quenched the fire. At 3 o'clock I saw plainly there was no quenching it. I was within a hundred yards of her stern, but durst not venture along-side, the sea beating high, besides, the going off of her guns, and danger of blowing up. At four in the afternoon the Admiral was taken up swimming by a merchant ships boat, as then the ships that had boats were all out, and a good many of them lost. The weather providing bad, towards night I was within pistol shot and there remained some time; and picked up 4 of her crew; and had not two of my men run away with my boat the night before we sailed from St Helen's, I am confident I could have saved 60 or 80 of them at least, as I was all the time nearer to them than any ship in the fleet. What made me venture so near was, that I knew my ship went well and was under good command. At six, what a dismal sight, the masts and sails all in a blaze; hundreds of soles hanging by the ropes along-side, I could count 50 of them hanging over in the stern ladder, others in the sea on oars and pieces of wood, a melancholy spectacle; besides the dismal cries from the ship which still ring in my ears. Half an hour past 6, flames broke out at her broadside, and in less than five minutes, every bit of her was in flames, and so continued till 7, when she over set but did not sink. I then ran within 20 yards of her, but my people compelled me to go further off, for fear on striking on the wreck. All I can further say of it, there never was a more socking sight; pray God that I may never see the like again. It was very grievous to me that I could not save more of her men, without running the risk of sharing her fate. The 18th of April at the Glasgow, a 20 gun ship hoisted the signal for all masters of merchant ships to come on board, where the Admiral had his flag hoisted, to know how many people we had saved amongst us, and to deliver them up. Bt the then list it appeared, by the Admiral Capt. Payton, and about 253 men were saved.