Historia
y Arqueologia Marítima
Transcripciones de los Libros de Registro del Consulado Británico en Buenos Aires
Brig "William
the Fourth", George Milne - 1835
FO 446/4, LDS microfilm 1494331, folio 136 - 137,
pages 272-275
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Se transcribe la deposicion hecha por George
Milne, capitan del Brig "William the Fourth", de Lyne, de unas 208 tons.
viniendo de Liverpool para Valparaíso con carga general. Describe las
tormentas que los acosaron cerca del Cabo de Hornos, que les rompieron
caso todos sus palos y partes de cubierta, luego de dos meses de luchar
en la zona; trataron por lo tanto de llegar al puerto mas cercano, Monte
Video. Para el 4 de Octubre, leyendo 40 fathoms en la linea pensaron que estaban a salvo, suponiendo que estaban la Norte del Cabo Corrientes, cuando encallaron, ya que estaban a 18 leguas al Sur de este cabo, rompiendoseles el timon y perdiendose el buque. La ultima pagina de esta deposicion falta. |
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Protest extended,
" William the Fourth", George Milne
By this Public Instrument of Declaration and Protest Be it Known to all whom it may concern that on the twenty first day of January in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred & thirty five personally came & appeared in the British Consulate at Buenos Ayres in South America George Milne master of the Brig of vessel called the "William the Fourth" of Lyne of the burthen of 208 tons or thereabouts (who duly noted his Protest in this office on the 13th day of January 1835) together with John Percival mate - who declared that the said vessel being laden with a general cargo they the said appearers sailed on the 25th day of April of last year on board the said Brig from the Port of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster bound direct to the Port of Valparaiso in Chile and proceeded on the voyage without any[thing] worthy of notice occurring until the 24th day of July when they arrived off St. John's Point, Staten Land. On the 1st day of August Cape Horn bearing NW distant about 18 miles, they experienced at this time a continuation of strong gales, ship under close reefed topsails & often Foresail & Gore Topsail hauled. On the 10th of August the gales still continuing from the SW wore ship to the WNW & NW under double reefed topsails, winds variable, wore ship again to the Southward & Westward. On the 18th observed in Latitude 59° 15' South Long 74° 30' West, heavy gales which lasted until the 20th lay to, this gale was from the WSW lying up NW making a course about NE the ship drifting & shipping great quantities of water, pumps carefully attended to, as occasion required.
On the 24th more
moderate wore the ship to the Southward & Westward again. Wind WNW
blowing heavy gale close reefed the sails, squally with very
changeable weather with snow & hail, took in & set sail as occasion
required tacking on the most favourable tack for making Westing. Saw
Cape Horn bearing North, very stormy weather.
On the 22nd saw the Cape again bearing WNW distant about 10 leagues,
heavy gales with a high sea. At 11 am shipped a heavy sea on board
broke the wheel, carried away all the rails and quarter boards,
split the main trysail, broke the vans? of the main boom, bobstay
chains all having given way the ? still increasing four of the chain
plates of the main rigging gave way and likewise of the fore
rigging. On the 3rd & 4th days of October the gale increased from the ESE to E had sounding 40 fathoms at this time they supposed themselves to the northward of Cape Corrientes and lying up NE to NNE with the variation Easterly one point and a quarter, but in this they were deceived being about 18 leagues to the southward of the said Cape Corrientes. At 1 am on the 5th day of the same month the vessel struck and broke her rudder, heavy breakers coming over the ship and sinking heavily, cut away the masts so that she should lay easier which she did at daylight about a cable's length & a half from the shore having had no observation for five days previous that that on which the vessel was wrecked. And the said
appearer further declared that the said Brig at the time of her
sailing form Liverpool aforesaid upon the said intended voyage was
tight staunch strong and had her hatches well and sufficiently
caulked and covered & was well and sufficiently provided & furnished
with all things needful & necessary for the said voyage, and that
they the said appearer and the rest of the ship's company used their
utmost endeavours to preserve the Brig and cargo from damage THE NEXT PAGE OF THE REGISTER BOOK IS MISSING - but we can safely assume that the last lines state something to the effect that "the losses shall be paid by those whom it may concern as being occasioned by the reasons aforesaid and not through any insufficiency or neglect of the vessel, her tackle, furniture or crew" . |
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Este sitio es publicado por Carlos Mey - - Martínez - Argentina |
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Direccion de e-mail: [email protected] |

