N01264:108
Compassions called for. An essay of profitable reflections on miserable spectacles
Compassions called for. An essay of profitable reflections on miserable spectacles. : To which is added, A faithful relation of some late, but strange occurrences that call for an awful and useful consideration. Especially distresses and deliverances, of a company lately shipwrecked on a desolate rock, on the coast of New-England. ; [Three lines of Scripture texts]Compassions called for. An essay of profitable reflections on miserable spectacles. : To which is added, A faithful relation of some late, but strange occurrences that call for an awful and useful consideration. Especially distresses and deliverances, of a company lately shipwreck'd on a desolate rock, on the coast of New-England. ; [Three lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green, 1711
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When the Day appeared, it presented us with a dismal Spectacle, a doleful little Spot in the Sea, of about an Hundred yards square, with only some ruins of our last Nights Shipwreck cast up, or dashing against it; and a Miserable number of us without Food or Shelter; saving some small pieces of Cheese, we picked from among the Sea-weed, and some old Canvas we spread on the Crags of the Rock to stow under at Night: part of our yards came a shore, with our Cables and some Junk ⟨p. 52⟩conger'd about them, and our Anchor so Weighed by 'em, that a send of the Sea would show it above Water; and some part of the Stern, with several pieces of Plank and Timber. The next Morning, (13th) One Martin Downs our Cook dyed; and the best burial we could give him was to lay him where the Sea would carry him away: The rest of our Men were generally so ill and bruised, that but 4 or 5 of us were able to attempt any thing for our safety. This day finding some more Plank and Canvas sent us a shore, we built a sort of a Tent, where we housed our selves from the Wind and Weather. The 14th. after having Sang a Psalm, and been at Prayers, (which devotion we observed every Morning & Evening,) we attempted to get Fire, by rubbing the dryest Sticks of Fir we could get together; which proving ineffectual, we made a sort of a Drill, whose motion was more violent, but our Wood was so water-soaken, that we laboured in vain: and were extremely pinched with the Cold for want of it, insomuch that our Feet swelled, and many of them were nipped with the Frost: This evening therefore I cut off my Boots, and desired the Men to get their Shoes off, but so frost-bitten and blistered were some of their Legs, that in pulling off their Stockings, they flayed off skin and all; and some of the Nails of their Feet: which we wrapped up as warm as we could in Ovum & Canvas. This Day the Sea flowing high came into our Tent, and carried away part of it; that we were necessitated to remove it to the highest Crags of the Rock. From about this time, (for I can't remember exactly the Day of every occurrence) as often as the ⟨p. 53⟩Weather would permit, we hoisted a Staff & white Flag upon our Tent, in hopes that some Vessel passing by might discover it. And now the Mercy of God sent us a shore three small Cheeses, which at the desire of the Company, I dealt forth daily to every man an equal allowance of.
When the Day appeared, it presented us with a dismal Spectacle, a doleful little Spot in the Sea, of about an Hundred yards square, with only some ruins of our last Nights Shipwrack cast up, or dashing against it; and a Miserable number of us without Food or Shelter; saving some small pieces of Cheese, we pick'd from among the Sea-weed, and some old Canvas we spread on the Craggs of the Rock to stow under at Night: part of our yards came a shoar, with our Cables and some Junk