by John Marshall

“ We found the bottom here to be coral rock, and the water so shallow that a man might stand up in many places without being over-head.
“I wished to have got on board the ship, to let them know of the boats being safe, and what we had discovered of the reef; but the breakers between us, and the darkness of the night, cut off all hope of communication before morning. They burned blue lights every half hour, as a guide to the Bridgewater; but her light was lost to us in the boats at 11 o’clock, and after 2 in the morning it was no longer seen from the Porpoise. ”

“ Our fore-mast was carried away at the second or third shock; and the bottom was presently reported to be stove in, and the hold full of water. When the surfs permitted us to look to windward, the Bridgewater and Cato were perceived at not more than a cable’s length distance: and approaching each other so closely, that their running aboard seemed to us inevitable. ”

“ Governor King lost no time in engaging the ship Rolla, Mr. Robert Cumming commander, then lying in Sydney Cove, bound to China, to go to the rescue of the officers and men on Wreck-Reef Bank; and as Captain Flinders agreed with him, that the Cumberland colonial schooner, of 29 tons, was capable of performing the voyage to England by way of Torres’ Strait, he directed the commissary to make that vessel over to him, and to complete her from the stores of the Investigator. ”

“ I sent Lieutenant Fowler, in the Ganges brig, to station the country ships on our lee-bow, by which we were between them and the enemy; and having so done, he returned with some volunteers from them.
“We lay-to in line of battle all night, our men at their quarters: at day break on the 15th, we saw the enemy about 3 miles to windward, lying-to; we hoisted our colours, offering him battle if he chose to come down. The enemy’s four ships hoisted French colours, the line-of-battle-ship carrying a Rear-Admiral’s flag ”

“ The Ganges and Earl Camden opened their fire as soon as their guns could have effect; but before any other ship could get into action, the enemy hauled their wind, and stood away to the eastward, under all the sail they could set. At 2 P.M . I made the signal for a general chase, and we pursued them till 4 P.M.; when fearing a longer pursuit would carry us too far from the mouth of the straits, and considering the immense property at stake, I made the signal to tack: at 8 P.M. we anchored in a situation to proceed for the entrance of the straits in the morning. ”

“ The birds were chiefly oceanic, and had resorted thither to hatch their young, which afforded us an opportunity of procuring eggs in plenty. The first visit to this spot repaid us with a supply of all its delicacies, for the boat returned loaded; one turtle was caught, and the cargo was completed with eggs and birds, which was an incitement to future adventurers. ”

“ Fowler employed his people during the night in making a raft of the spare top-masts, yards, &c. with short ropes all round it, by which the people might hold on; and a cask of water, with a chest containing some provisions, a sextant, and the Investigator’s log books, were secured upon the raft.
“Of the poor Cato, we could neither sec nor hear any thing. It appeared that Captain Park, when meeting the Bridgewater on opposite tacks, stopped setting his main-sail and bore away to leeward; had he persevered, both ships must have romc upon the reef together ”

“ Lieutenant Fowler was therefore directed to take all that were saved belonging to the officers embarked with him in the Rolla; and lest any accident should happen to the Cumberland, I committed to his charge a copy of four charts, being all of the east and north coasts which there had been time to get ready; with these he took a short letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and one to the Victualling Board, inclosing such vouchers as had been saved from the wreck. ”