by John Marshall

“ At day-light, nothing could be seen to leeward but high foaming breakers; both vessels, however, bore up, keeping as close together as circumstances would allow. From the moment we entered the reef, the sight was indescribably grand and sublime; a hollow deceitful swell rearing its head as high as our tops, the spray dashing over us, and sheets of foaming water, in the midst of which black rocks were occasionally visible. ”

“ The lead was useless; every thing depended upon a good eye and quick helm: how many times we scraped the bottom it is impossible to say; but certain I am that every one on board then considered death inevitable, and prepared himself accordingly. No person who has ever seen the shoals of Rio Grande will say that it was possible for us to have gone through, unless we had been specially protected by the Almighty. Had the remaining brigs been wrecked no boat could have lived ”

“ At this critical period, Lieutenant Goate displayed great judgement and self-possession, in adopting the only measure by which himself and his companions could possibly be saved; destruction still appearing almost inevitable.
“The two brigs which had not struck were both very light, and a heavy swell was setting them towards the shoal: to beat off was impossible ”