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Chapter 4 - There Go the
Ships -
From There Go the Ships by George Shirley
Page 63
soon as this was found out, the soldiers cut the
ropes, and the boat fell into the sea. Hoist the true colours, and,
like Nelson at the Nile, nail them to the mast.
I have heard of some ship-owners who bought cheap life-belts, which
were made of rag and paper instead of cork, and which, when used,
would be soaked, and not support or save; instead of life-belts
would be death to any one who used them, not having buoyancy enough
to keep a man up. And be sure you store your mind with good and
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useful information, - the history
of your own country, the nations of antiquity, voyages, and travels,
and every useful book. Spurn the trash that abounds, sensational
novels and books of the Jack Sheppard type. Have the mind well
stored with good sound knowledge, and thus you will gain what
you can never lose.
I remember them putting six hundred tons of iron ballast on board
the Pitt, 74, to increase her depth in the water, because her
stores and guns were not on board; and if a captain of a merchant
ship cannot get it cargo to come home he ballasts his ship by
taking in shingle from the beach, or he is in danger of capsizing;
Zeal might spread the sails to make a quick voyage, but if no
knowledge for ballast, dangerous will be the issue.
And among the stores we do not want intoxicating drinks. I-lave
no spirits on board. It was the letting fall of a lighted candle
near a leaking spirit cask that set on fire the Kent East Indiaman
in the Bay of Biscay, when so many lost their lives. And officers
in command of ships that have been wrecked
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© Peter Smith 2009
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