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MARCH, 1902.]
THE WRECK OF THE DODDINGTON," 1755.
115
Monday Septr 1. Moderate Breezes Easterly and Some Rain wbich Hinders The Carpenter from Working.
Tuesday 24. Light Breezes Wterly and Cloudy Wear with Some Rain. The Boat went Out a Fishing. Return'd with Only 3 Fish. The Carpenter at Work on the Timbers, the people Opening the Kiln, and Carrying Wood for Another.
Wednesday 3d. The first part Light Airs Eterly and hazey Wea!. Latter wind Wterly. About 8 o Clock this Morning Neale Bothwell and 2 others, Sett (set] Out for the Main in the Small (Jolly] Boat, & 4 Men on the Cattamaran a fishing. In About 2 hours the Cattamaran Came in, not liking the looks of the Wear and Brought in 3 Dog Fish & a Shark. 'An Ugly Accident happened to the Carpenter, by Cutting his Legg to the Bone and it was with much Difficulty Stopp'd the Blopd. Kept a Fire in the Highest part of the Island all Night for a Signall to the Boat, but she is not Returned.
Thursday 4. Fresh Gales from N W to SW, so that I did not Expect the Bout. Carpenter at Work on the Timber, people Carrying Plank round. In the Evening it Blew so hard that our large Cattamaran broke loose And by baving no Boat, to Send out, Lose (Lost] her.
Friday 5th. Fresh Breezes & Variable. People Employ's Bringing Over peices of Topmasts in order to Make a Cattamaran Large Enough to Bring Any thing from the Main, in Case the [Jolly] Boat Succeeds.
Saturday 6th, Light Airs & Calm all Day. [Are] So am in great Hopes (therefore] of Seeing The Boat. At Noon Grew Very Uneasy at not Seeing of her, but Just as we were going to Dinner, two of the people Came Running Over the Island, Calling out the Boat, the Boat, which I was greatly Rejoyced at, and Indeed Every Body Else. But [our Joy) it was soon lessen'd : for Upon looking with the Glass, Could See but one man Rowing with Both Oars. (Wel Therefore Conjectured immediately that the Other Two was (were detained; but Soon After Saw Two [in the Boat] which Gave us Spirits Again, thinking the Other might not be well. So [we Rest Myself Satisfied, till (She came the Boat comes in, Which She did was) in About an Hour after, With two only [2 of them) which was were] Rosenburry & Taylor. As Soon as they Stept Out [they] of the Boat fell on their Knees to Thank God for their Deliverance [& safe Return to] this Island Again, Bad as it was. They Were Very Much Spent with Rowing And want of water & provissions. [We] Therefore helped them to the Tent & Gave them some Fish, which we dress'd Against [their Coming in] they come in, which they Eat Very hearty [heartily] & Went to Sleep. [We] Did not Care to Ask any Questions till tbey Awoke; when they Gave the following Account. When th[@]y Were of the way Over [they) let go their Killock and Each Took half a Cake & & draught of water; and then Rowed Again. About 3o Clock got Round The point where I was in hopes, was a Harboar (the Land Appearing Double were) but it Proved no such thing. [They] Row'd round Another bat Still Found no Harbour. [Only]83 A Very Large Sarf all along Shore. Aboat 4 o Clock, they Pulld in Shore. Detrimin'd [Detrimining] to Land [which they did), but it proved Fatal to Bothwell: for as Soon as
52 'Only' written over word erased.
