Wreck of HMS Mermaid, 1759
“The following is an account of the misfortune that befell his Majesty’s ship Mermaid on the 5th [December 1759], and of her situation, on the 10th, as given by Captain Hackman himself. ‘His Majesty’s ship Mermaid, under my command, sailed from Charles Town the 1st instant, with a pilot for Providence, having Governor Shirley on board, and orders to land him at Providence; but unfortunately on the fourth day, at five o’clock in the morning, we fell in with the land and breakers all about us, so that we could not clear them any way, therefore were forced to come to an anchor, all standing, veer’d out half a cable, and furled our sails, struck top-masts and yards to make the ship ride easy, let go the small bower, and veer’d out one third of a cable on it, and two thirds of the best bower, the breakers right astern about half a cable’s length, and the ship striking several times.
At 8 at night the small bower parted, we were forced to heave a head, to clear the ship of the rock under her bottom, and let go the sheet anchor, veer’d out one third of a cable on it, and near two thirds of the best bower, and bent the small bower cable to the spare anchor, and rode between the sheet and spare anchors.
At 6 in the morning parted the spare anchor, so that we had nothing left to ride it out, but the sheet anchor and not above have a cable on it, with one strand cut by the rocks; could not veer any more cable, the gale still continuing at N.E. right on shore, so that the officers and company came begging we might throw overboard the guns and cut the cable, as it was high water and the only time, without any other prospect, to save their lives:
I agreed with them, for the preservation of so many lives; and by the providence of Almighty God, after heaving overboard our guns, and cutting the cable, beat over a great number of rocks, with the loss of all our capital anchors, the mizzen-mast and rudder, and almost every thing on deck hove over-board, which the people thought might contribute to save their lives, if they had been beat off two stages that had been built in the morning for as many to get on as could; and the rest were to take their chances with myself and officers; but thank God we have not lost one man, and if vessels could be sent us from Providence, we may save a great many of the ships stores and furniture, ship and all with good pilots. We are now riding between the stream anchor and the ketch anchor: he ship floats every tide, and makes very little water.’ Dated at an island in lat. 27.20 N. near the Bahama Bank, Dec. 10, 1759.
By Capt. Adams, who arrived here last night from Providence, we learn, that his Excellency General Shirley, with the Honorable Mr. Bradford, arrived there safe on the 31st ult. in five days from the key where they were cast away, in one of the vessels which Mr. Gambier, president of the Bahamas, had dispatched for them.
Soon after the General’s arrival at Providence, two other of the vessels sent by Mr. Gambier, with skilful pilots to assist his Majesty’s ship in distress, brought in most of the Mermaid’s powder, shot, and some of her sails, &c. and gave hopes that not only the ships company and furniture would be saved, but that they should likewise be able to get the ship out of her dangerous situation, and bring her into port.”
—New-York Gazette, 4 February 1760
TMT: William Shirley (1694-1771) served as governor of the Bahama Islands from January 1760 through November 1768.
Posted in Bahama Islands, Royal Navy, shipwreck |
