1862 - Marjouram, W. Memorials of Sergeant William Marjouram - CHAPTER III. The 'Polar Star', p 17-36

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CHAPTER III.

The "Polar Star."

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CHAPTER III.

ON the 1st January 1853, he was promoted bombardier, and ordered to return to England. He embarked on the 30th April, with the 97th Regiment, on board the Simoom. They sailed from Halifax on the 1st May; and, after a pleasant passage of eighteen days, arrived at Deal. Thence he proceeded to Woolwich, and was appointed drill-master. It was at this time that the editor of these pages first became acquainted with him, as an assistant-teacher with himself, in the regimental evening school. He was under deep conviction of sin, endeavouring to work out his own righteousness. He well remembers the first evening Marjouram ever spoke to him, and how he immediately discovered that he had found a friend to whom he could open his grief. He was at once shewn his own folly, and the simplicity of the gospel plan of salvation through Christ. From this time he learned to regard his affectionate and faithful guide in the light of a brother in Christ. An earthly separation soon took place, but that attachment remained unaltered, or rather to be deepened as it lived on; while in reference to it Marjouram used to say, after a lapse of eight years, that there had

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never been a day in which he had not remembered his friend at the throne of grace.

He was once more promoted corporal on the 13th July 1854, and placed under orders for New Zealand, with a detachment consisting of a lieutenant and serjeant, one corporal (himself,) two bombardiers, twenty-five gunners and drivers, besides women and children. They embarked on board the freight ship Polar Star, at Gravesend, on the morning of the 4th August 1854.

Little did they anticipate. the trials of that voyage. After their merciful deliverance and arrival at St Helena, he writes, 13th November 1854:--

"Man, since the fall, has been the subject of trial and suffering, and he knows not what a day may bring forth. It has lately been my lot to be placed in circumstances of danger, where possibly the providence of our heavenly Father was never more omnipotently displayed in the rescue of His suffering, helpless creatures. On the morning of Saturday the 5th, we left Gravesend, and about noon anchored in the Downs, off Deal. Next day we received our captain and doctor on board, and immediately weighed anchor. We moved very slowly down the Channel, the wind being light and contrary; two or three mornings afterwards we were in sight of the Isle of Wight, and at one time off Guernsey, and on the 12th we came to anchor in Falmouth harbour. On Tuesday the 16th we again set sail, and the next morning Old England was out of sight. Every heart beat high with the prospect of a good passage.

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Our ship sailed well, overtaking every vessel that came in sight. In about a fortnight we passed Madeira, although we did not see the island. We now began to feel the benefit of the N.-E. trades, and, about a month after leaving Falmouth, we passed one of the Cape Verde islands, off the coast of Africa. We saw one of the mountains towering high above the clouds, and it seemed to rear its majestic head to the very heavens. It was a refreshing sight, after the eye had been gazing on sky and water for a month, and wonderfully displayed the power of Him who made the earth and all things that are therein. After running down the N.-E. trades, and amusing ourselves with watching flying-fish chased by dolphins; sharks, and different kinds of sea-birds, we crossed the equator about two o'clock in the afternoon, when we were hailed by

"'Ship ahoy!'

"'Hallo!'

"'What ship is that?'

"'Polar Star. '

"'Where are you bound?'

"'New Zealand.'

"'Have you any one on board want shaving?'

"'Come on board and see.'

"We now saw his majesty King Neptune and his lady, with their tribe, issue from the forecastle. They were received by Lieutenant T-----, who welcomed them on board; after which they were mounted on a gun-carriage, and were drawn aft, where they paid their respects to

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the captain. This ceremony over, they took up their station opposite a sail that had been previously filled with water. The names of those who had never crossed the line before were then called over, and those who could not pay the usual fine (viz., a bottle of grog) had to submit to the unpleasant ceremony observed on the occasion. This consisted in spreading the face over with tar and grease, which was then scraped off with a rough iron hoop, bent into the shape of a razor., The next process was an attempt to wash off the filth by plunging the victim into the sail of water, in which he was left to flounder about, and out of which he was to extricate himself in the best way he could. As none were exempted but those who paid the fine, I had to submit to this unpleasant operation, at the remembrance of which I feel a satisfaction in being able to protest successfully against any future attempt at a repetition of the dose. We suffered a great deal from heat, but, thanks be to God! from no other cause except sea sickness, of which I had my share, having never been free from it since we left England. About a fortnight after we crossed the line, we passed St Helena, although not in sight, we being far to the westward. We now began to feel the evenings very cold, the sun was behind us; and. about the end of September, we ran down the S.-E. trades. Hitherto we had been favoured with fine weather, good health, and good food; during which time we never had occasion to take in more than two reefs, our top-sails having experienced nothing beyond a good stiff breeze.

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"Had we been able to foresee the events that were at hand, with what misery we should have anticipated their arrival! But trials, as they approach, are wisely kept from our knowledge, in order that the power of an Almighty God may be the more fully displayed in our deliverance.

"On the 30th September we were visited by a heavy gale of wind, the sea running mountains high, and breaking over our vessel with a fury that defied resistance. During the night our jib-boom was carried away, but such was the roaring of the waves that we did not hear the crash. In the morning, however, we saw it trailing in the water, held on to the vessel by the sheet and halyard. Our bowsprit was also considerably sprung. The gale by this time had almost subsided, and our hopes revived. We were now (1st October, Sunday) in 31 deg. south latitude, and 25 deg. west longitude. No vessel could, I think, have made more speed than ours did, and we often congratulated one another on the prospect of a speedy conclusion of our voyage, and talked of the pleasures awaiting us in our newly-adopted country. But oh! how soon are the hopes of finite man defeated, and his intentions frustrated. At half-past eight o'clock this morning (Sunday, 1st October) the fearful cry of 'Fire!' was heard sounding through the ship; and in a few moments smoke was issuing from every hatchway. When the alarm was given, some of our passengers were in bed, others at breakfast, myself and my wife were just about to sit down on deck to ours, but what became of it I never knew. Every one was now seen running wildly

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to and fro; some with only a blanket round them, and others half dressed; women calling for their children, and wives for their husbands. The women and children were soon hurried into the cabin, which was on the upper deck, and the crew, male passengers, and soldiers, began to throw water down the hold. But we soon discovered that it was useless, as the fire was evidently gaining on us, and we were in danger of being suffocated with smoke. So the captain gave the order to batten down the hatches; and as everything we possessed was below, our worldly all was lost. Despair was now visible on every face, while each and all expected that death would soon put an end to their terror. We were in a burning ship, a thousand miles from land, while, to crown all, a heavy sea was running that would have swamped our boats the very instant they touched the water. Who could imagine our feelings at this moment? Husbands and wives, parents and children, viewing each other in dismay, expecting soon to receive the last earthly embrace. At half-past nine o'clock women and children were sent to the quarter-deck, as the smoke had now reached the cabin; here they remained until they left the ship, (three days afterwards,) exposed to the spray and cold, without any covering overhead. The smoke and steam having now reached the cabin store-room, it was thought advisable to try and rescue what we could; so the steward, and a few others, managed to get some biscuits, a bottle or two of wine, and about two quarts of brandy.

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"While this was going on, the principal portion of the crew, passengers, and soldiers, were engaged in getting the boats ready, and throwing every movable article overboard. After much labour, the long-boat was hung in slings over the side, ready to be lowered; but it was then that we saw our helpless condition, for no boat could live in such a sea. Yet a drowning man will catch at a straw; and while we felt encouraged at the launching of the boats, we seemed to forget that they would be useless. In our hurry and alarm at the cry of 'Fire!' we had destroyed the only cask of fresh water we had on deck by mixing salt water with it, and throwing it down the hold. We had some horses on deck, in a kind of box that had been temporarily erected for their use, under which was a water-tank, from which a pipe was conducted about two inches above the deck, receiving a small hand-pump. We were enabled to fill two or three casks, which, providentially, had not been destroyed; but, in order to accomplish this, two of the splendid horses had to be shot and thrown overboard. This occupied but a very short space of time. And now death appeared amongst us. One of our passengers, Mrs H-----, exchanged this scene of confusion and distress for an eternity of bliss. She had been ill ever since she embarked, and, possibly, the alarming position in which we were placed occasioned her death. She left a husband and five children to lament her loss.

"After all that I have stated had been performed, we were left each to his own thoughts.. We had stopped

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every hole and crevice with the manure that was in the horse-box, (this was very useful,) but we could not prevent the smoke from escaping. About this time I went to the captain and asked, him if he had any objection to our having our usual Sunday-morning service. He said, 'Not the slightest.' As the doctor had usually performed this service, I requested him to begin; but, after he had read, a few sentences from the Prayer-book, I discovered that he was quite unfit. I accordingly read the 107th Psalm, and afterwards engaged in prayer; and thus ended our solemn morning service.

"The things which had been taken from the cabin, such as biscuits, shirts, socks, and coats, belonging to the passengers, were distributed to the most destitute of clothing amongst us; and it now only remained for us to prepare ourselves, as calmly as we could, for whatever might lie before us. We were compelled to close the cabin doors, and thus the poor woman who had just expired was burned in the berth in which she lay.

"We could not tell how the fire had originated; but as we had a quantity of hay down in the hold for the use of the horses, which it was reported had been taken on board damp, we thought it possible that this might have occasioned the calamity. All were now told off for the boats, sixty for the launch, twenty-one for the pinnace, and fourteen for the gig. This was done, however, merely to satisfy the people, for the boats were not capable of holding more than half the number mentioned. But the secret determination of the soldiers was, that the women and

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children should first leave the ship with a sufficient number of men in charge of them. We now discovered that we had neither sails nor masts, nor yet any holes made to receive the row-locks, and our carpenter could find only one hammer and chisel. As the system we had adopted to prevent the admission of air had so far proved beneficial, it was proposed to cut small holes through the deck into which we inserted funnels. Through these we poured water and then set the pumps to work to discharge it from the hold, returning it through the funnels; this we continued to do until we left the ship. In the evening we were told off into two watches, Lieutenant T------ and Sergeant C------ had charge of the first, and the first-mate and myself of the second; we relieved each other every two hours.

"With night fast approaching, we were steering towards Rio Janeiro, and out of the usual track of vessels, having seen none for some weeks. Oh, how anxiously was every eye directed towards the horizon long as a glimmer of day-light remained; but all in vain. Alone in her ruin rode on our burning ship, the smoke issuing from every aperture. We saw the sun go down but with little prospect of ever witnessing another sunrise. My dear wife and myself now committed ourselves to God in prayer, trusting that, if He was about to remove us from all earthly troubles, He would take us to that place where the weary are at rest. We continued our labours without a moment's pause during the night, and, praised be the Lord! once more beheld the day. We now began to suffer

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from the heat, while the water which we were passing through the hold was also getting hot. This induced us to believe that it must be coming in contact with the fire. We managed to get a little refreshment; but the water which we took from the tank had become so nauseous in consequence of the vapours from the burning cargo, that we could scarcely drink it. Our women and children had also suffered a great deal from the cold during the night; no sleep could be obtained. Thus Monday passed away. Another sun rose and set--another day of apprehension and alarm. We had killed one of our sheep, but could not get it properly cooked, as we had no coal on deck. Ever since the fire broke out, the mast-head had carried our flag of distress, and been frequently occupied by lookouts, with a powerful telescope to scan every part of the horizon. We were beginning to feel cold, faint, and exhausted with incessant exposure and wet, yet another night of weariness and toil awaited us.

"Still, notwithstanding all our sufferings, we had many causes of gratitude. We had been running towards land at the rate of eight or nine knots an hour, ever since the commencement of the fire. We had no sickness among us, neither had any of us sustained any serious injury. We had also an allowance of biscuit, wine and brandy for each, which preserved us from starvation; we still felt our lives precious; and the presence of our wives and children urged us on to effort and endurance, almost beyond our strength. So passed Monday night. Tuesday came, and found the fire quickly gaining on us,

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inasmuch as the pitch was beginning to melt in the deck-seams, and the water was becoming too hot for the hand. That, too, which we had been drinking, was now so disagreeable, that not even our great thirst could induce us to use it. At length the evening drew on, --none can imagine the exact thoughts of each as he worked at the pumps. Thus much, however, I can undertake to say, that there were men on board who had long denied the existence of an eternal God, and the immortality of their souls, but who now shrank from the thought of appearing before Him Whom they had so long rejected. My own reflections often carried me far away to the land of my birth, where those I loved had received that fond farewell which now appeared to be the last. On self-examination, I asked myself the question, 'Am I in the faith? Have I built my hopes of salvation upon the rock, Christ Jesus?' I bless God, that although my life was still precious to me, and to be guarded still by every human effort, I felt an inward peace which cast out all fear, and gave me resignation to the Divine will. On being relieved from my watch, I took my Prayer-book from my pocket with the intention of reading. But imagine my delight, --on the very first page to which I turned, I saw inscribed that ancient promise of glorious encouragement-- 'God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble,' (Psalm xlvi. 1.) I shouted it to all around me, and then read the Psalm aloud. Possibly some who heard it will remember it on their death-bed.

"This evening I was thinking of our misfortune, and

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of God's mercy through Christ, when, about six o'clock, it pleased the Lord to gladden our ears and cheer our hearts with the blessed cry of 'A sail on the weather-bow!' All lungs and throats were instantly strained, and three vehement cheers resounded over the waters. As night was fast closing over us, the men were admonished not to build their hopes too high, for fear the vessel should not see our signals. Having a little powder in reserve, we at once commenced upon our guns; but as these did not attract attention, we fired two blue-lights from the deck, and one--our last--from the fore-yard. I will not attempt to describe the sickening eagerness with which we watched its effect, or yet the unutterable joy with which, after a weary ten minutes' interval, we witnessed a similar light burning from the deck of the other vessel. Now woke up the grateful hymn, 'Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!' We soon saw our deliverer bearing down upon us, and in half-an-hour were hailed by

"'Ship, ahoy!'

"'Hallo!'

"'Do you want any assistance?"' Yes!'

"'All right, I '11 go about and lie to.

"Captain W----- and Lieutenant T----- ordered the

boat to be lowered, and soon we saw it alongside the vessel. She proved to be the Annamooka, Captain H----- from Callao, bound for Cadiz with a cargo of guano. The captain promised to stand by us all night; but, in the meantime, it was thought advisable to remove the women

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and children. I volunteered my services as a boatman for this purpose, and, after three trips, we had the unspeakable joy of seeing them safe in the cabin of the Annamooka. It was no easy task to conduct the boat from ship to ship, for a very heavy sea was running, and although the vessels were not more than half a mile apart, yet frequently neither was visible. But, thanks be to God, no accident occurred. The next morning, October 4, our pigs and sheep were sent on board, and at noon Captain H----- paid us a visit, and after inspecting our ship with Captain W----- and Lieutenant T-----, came to the conclusion that it would be better to abandon her at once, as she could not hold together much longer. The boats being all ready, the order was given to open the hatches, and it was then that we discovered the actual state of things. The pent-up flames raced along the main-deck with great fury and caught the rigging. Twenty of us with difficulty got into the launch, being slowly towed along by the skiff, while the burning ship, which we had left in full sail, seemed endeavouring to compass our destruction, by bearing down upon us.

"We had not quitted her, however, more than ten minutes, when the main-mast went over the side, tearing the fore-top and mizzen-top with it, and ripping up the decks, so giving greater vent to the maddened flames. In two or three minutes all the masts went over, and the vessel was in a livid sheet of flame from stem to stern. Our fears were now great, that we had only escaped from one kind of destruction to be overtaken by another. The

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Annamooka, in order to escape the fire and smoke, had stood off to some distance, so that the distance between us was evidently increasing. The sea, too, was rising, and night was rapidly coming on; our men were nearly exhausted; we could use no oars in our boat, and the skiff that was towing us was almost powerless. We shipped some heavy seas, and the rain was pouring down in torrents, while, to heighten our apprehensions, an enormous shark followed in our wake, within an oar's length of our stern. I think it was the largest I ever saw. After beating about in this manner for some time, we were observed by the Annamooka, a boat was immediately despatched to our assistance, and we were soon safe on board. My heart was raised in grateful praise to Almighty God, on looking back at the dangers we had just escaped. Let him who would ridicule the idea of the superintendence of Divine Providence, reflect on this simple illustration, furnished by the experience of myself and my fellow-sufferers, of a truth so very full of comfort, before he ventures to nourish his unbelief. Any one who has taken a long voyage will know that it is possible for a ship to be even months at sea without seeing either land or vessel. And should any fatal accident befall it, its fate would, in all probability, never be known. Might it not have been so with the Polar Star?

"Then, too, as regards the manner of the timely rescue. I had it from an officer of the Annamooka that she had been more than a fortnight on the opposite tack to the one she was on when we saw her. Then let me 'thank

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the Lord for His goodness, and His wonderful works to the children of men.' Is not this a direct interposition of Providence?

"Another similar instance, confirming the truth that God's providence does display itself in wonderful deliverances, occurs to my recollection. It was published in the American papers at the time the event took place. A vessel was lost off the American coast, at some distance from land; the catastrophe occurred in the night. No other ship was in sight, and all hope of deliverance was gone. It happened that a vessel passed shortly afterwards, at some distance from them, the captain of which, with his chief officer, was walking the quarter-deck. While they conversed a bird flew directly into the captain's face. No particular notice was taken of this, until the bird had repeated its singular performance. The captain contented himself, however, with, a mere passing remark on the circumstance, and, having lit his cigar, continued his walk. A few minutes afterwards, the little stranger renewed its visit, and then flew away. His attention was now thoroughly aroused, and being convinced, from the repetition of the occurrence, that some mysterious meaning lay beneath it, and that a silent appeal was being made to him, gave orders, with no apparent cause, that the ship should be immediately put, about. After sailing on the altered tack for about twenty minutes, he suddenly found himself among hundreds of drowning victims, who had managed to swim after their vessel had gone down. In commenting on this remarkable event,

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after the work of deliverance had been accomplished, he emphatically declared that he was induced to change the course of his ship solely by the significant circumstance of the bird's visit, and, above all, by its twofold repetition, and that he was perfectly ignorant at the time of any vessel being near.

"But to return to my narrative. After the boats had been hauled up, and the vessel was fairly in full sail, the Polar Star suddenly disappeared.

"We now steered for St Helena, where we arrived eighteen days afterwards, having suffered from want of food, clothing, and accommodation. On the morning of the 20th of October we saw the island before us, like a huge rock in a mist. About two P. M., being abreast of the coast, Captain W-----, Lieutenant T-----, and eight men, left the vessel, it being their opinion that they could reach land by nightfall, and so acquaint the authorities with our condition, as our water and biscuit were now all but exhausted. After the life-boat had left, we stood well on to the eastward, thinking that by a long stretch we might be able to fetch the anchorage on the starboard tack; but in this idea we were mistaken. On the afternoon of the 21st, when about ten miles off, the harbourmaster with the doctor put out, and came on board, kindly offering to take us in. They informed us that our boat had only reached James' Town that morning, the poor fellows having been exposed to a very heavy sea all night. When they made their appearance, at eight o'clock that morning, they caused no little alarm among the in-

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habitants, who were not accustomed, to see so small a craft come into their harbour, distant as it was some thirteen hundred miles from the mainland of Africa. At eight o'clock P. M., the 21st, we anchored off James' Town, and the night being dark we could discern nothing but a mass of perpendicular rocks rising high above us. On Sunday morning, the 22d October, the company of artillery stationed at St Helena, having heard of our inability to land for want of clothes, sent on board a quantity of old jackets, trousers, boots, caps, &c.; but notwithstanding their generous aid, our appearance was far from genteel. Our women were worse off than ourselves. Many were without covering for their head. My wife made a cloth that had belonged to the cabin table do duty for both bonnet and shawl; while her feet were encased in a pair of Lieutenant T-----'s boots. At half-past eight o'clock A. M. we landed in boats belonging to the island. As we left the Annamooka, we gave her gallant crew three hearty cheers; and on nearing the pier, we were met by continued cheers from the vast numbers assembled. It is impossible for me to describe my feelings when I once more placed my feet on terra firma, after having been on board ship for eleven weeks and three days, exposed to such imminent death. Tears of gratitude filled my eyes, and a whispered prayer was offered up from a heart that felt the joy and owned the power. May the remembrance of this Sunday ever quiet my murmuring spirit; and do Thou, O Lord, accept the tribute of thanks which I desire to render to Thy holy name!"

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So ends the record of a marvellous deliverance. Through his remaining life, the day was consecrated, as it returned, by solemn praise and prayer. In its terrible vicissitudes, he was called upon to learn never-to-be-forgotten lessons of trust and dependence. The discipline was needed to strengthen what might have been weak, and to develop those points of character which his after career was destined specially to exercise. It came with a sobering influence, with a deep, low voice from within the veil; he met it with the child's reverential attitude and utterance, "Thy servant heareth."

And the results were evident in his New Zealand history. The man who had learnt to suffer and be strong, and to believe in the 46th Psalm, in the burning ship, was not found wanting as emergencies arose, with their demands for patient and brave endurance. What is learnt by heart in God's school is seldom learnt easily; but, unlike lessons more cheaply acquired, it is not only worth learning and remembering, but well worth the hardship the teaching of it may have involved. A spirit at all times

is a rare treasure, dear at no purchase-money of severe experience. The key to it is not seldom found in the hearty utterance of the words of another pupil in the same school, "Because Thou hast been my refuge, therefore under the shadow of Thy wings I will rejoice."