Identifier: tragedyofseasors01ellm (find matches)
Title: The tragedy of the seas; or, Sorrow on the ocean, lake, and river, from shipwreck, plague, fire and famine
Year: 1848 (1840s)
Authors: Ellms, Charles
Subjects: Shipwrecks
Publisher: Philadelphia, W. A. Leary: Boston, W. J. Reynolds & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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e:in broken accents, the dying wretch implored for mercy —mercy in a plague ship! He was swayed over the side, suspended for a moment in mid air, as the seaman on the yard drew forth the knife from his girdle, opened it with his teeth, and severed the cord: a splash, one faint struggle, and the wild waves rolled over him forever. I affect no mawkish sentiment, nor describe any over-wrought feelings; but never, to the latest hours of my existence, will that mans look be effaced from my memory — never will the chill of horror which crept over me at the enactment of the last part of the tragedy be forgotten. I rejoined my companions; but felt faint and sick. Almost indifferent to my own fate at the moment, I listened with apathy to an old Greek merchant, who was relating the manner in which the plague had been broughton board. What will not man risk for gain? Our commander, six days before we left, had received, and kept concealed in a boat towing astern, five plague patients from an-

Page 331 We arrived at Alexandria on 13 March and procured a passage on the Espirito Santo bound to Leghorn, and sailed on the day of our arrival. We had been seven days at sea when one of crew took ill and died the following evening. Some days later the vessel was redirected to Rhodes. We learnt from two Turks that in place of Rhodes the vessel had been wrecked on the coast of Karamania, near Castle Rosa (Castle Rossa), and about 70 miles from that island. They also told us that there was no village nearer than 6 miles. Later... Page 341. We were 3 days on a boat making Rhodes. Location of the shipwreck thought to be in the Antalya Province

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IMAGE: A Man, whilst sick with the Plague, is drawn up to the Yard Arm, and cut down by a Maltese Sailor. An account of a plague ship (an Italian brig) the Espirito Santo by Lieutenant A. Nott of the East India Company. The ship was wrecked near Castle Rosa, on the coast of Karmania, in the Mediterranean Sea; March 1833. —-Page 332.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF A TURK. 335 other vessel; and although, when the ship sailed; but two survived, those two were permitted, without mention being made of it, to mix with the crew. Under such circumstances, the only wonder is, that it should have concealed itself so long. Those who had indulged the hope that their riddance of the last patient had exterminated the pestilence, were again doomed to disappointment. Ere the sun had set, two more were attacked, and about eight o'clock a third: all were transferred to the long-boat. Not a hope of our escaping if we remained at sea wasnow cherished, and the vessels head was accordingly put for Rhodes. In the course of an hour, the Mohammedan portion of the crew were already wrapped in slumber; the Christians (principally Italians and Greeks) were either scattered or in silent groups; here and there a solitary i

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