|
|
|
Charles LeBrun, master of the Barque
C. Columbus
of Jersey.
|
|
By this public instrument of declaration and protest. Be it known and made
manifest unto all to whom these presents shall come or whom the same may in
any wise concern.
That on this eighth day of October in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and forty six. Before us, the undersigned Martin
Sheppard, Notary Public by Royal authority, duly admitted and sworn for that
part of the now Province of Canada, formerly constituting the Province of
Lower Canada and the witnesses herein after named and hereunto subscribing,
personally came, appeared and were present, Charles LeBrun, master mariner
and master of the brigantine or vessel called the C. Columbus,
of the burthen of two hundred and fourteen tons or thereabouts, register
measure, belonging to the port of Saint Helier, in the Island of Jersey in
Europe, now lying at Paspébiac in the County of Bonaventure in the District
of Gaspé in the said Province, and George Le Brocq, chief mate, Jean Hamon,
second mate and carpenter and Jean Le Cornu, seaman, of and on board of the
said vessel, who of their own free will and voluntary accord, in the presence
of us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses, did and by these presents
do severally and respectively and each of them for himself only, allege,
affirm, declare, protest and say in manner following, that is to say.
That the said barque or vessel called the C.
Columbus, being in ballast, on Tuesday the tenth day of September,
now last past, they, the said appearers, set sail on board of the said vessel
from the port of Saint Helier in the Island of Jersey aforesaid, on a voyage
and bound direct to Paspébiac aforesaid, and that the said barque or vessel
in the prosecution of her said voyage, on Monday, the twenty first day of the
said month of September, last, was overtaken by a violent storm and gale of
wind which in the forepart of the day, blew from the westward and afterwards,
shifted to the north westward, blowing tremendously with a heavy sea.
At two o'clock
and thirty minutes P.M., the vessel shipped a sea which shifted her ballast.
Handed in sail and wore ship to the southward under her trysail double reefed
and secured the ballast and water casks. At ten o'clock P.M., the wind and sea having greatly
increased, and blowing tremendously, a sea struck their said vessel on
her starboard quarter which carried away the ........ boat and it shattered
to pieces, and carried away ........ and rendered her binnacle totally
useless and unserviceable and shifted her ballast for the second time, bringing
the vessel with great violence from the south to the northward. Again
succeeded in replacing and securing the ballast. Wore the ship round and
placed her under easy sail.
On the next day, Tuesday, the twenty second of the same
month, the wind moderated some, but the sea still continued running heavily.
On the next day (Wednesday), the wind shifted to the north northwest, blowing
moderately. Tried the pumps daily from time to time, but the vessels always
continued free. At two o'clock P.M.,
perceived a vessel in distress, dismasted and presenting the appearance of a
complete wreck, with the French flag flying from her spar put up for the
purpose. At three o'clock, P.M., bore up to the vessel and spoke to the
master, offering him any assistance, but the vessel, lying like a log on the
water, destitute of mast, boat, spars or sails, and wrecked and totally
unmanageable, the master and all on board determined to leave and abandon the
wreck, as the only means in their power to insure their safety and preservation.
Put out and manned the long boat and in four trips, took
the crew and passengers to the number of thirty one persons on board of the
said vessel, including together with such provisions and other effects as
could be saved from on board of the said wreck, which they ascertained to
have been the Saint Louis of Jersey, Edouard Masclet, master,
but with the approach of night, lost sight of the wreck, and continued on
their said voyage, without experiencing anything further, particular or extraordinary
and came to an anchor in safety in the roadstead of Paspébiac aforesaid on
the day of yesterday, the eighth day of October, instant, #, where she still
remains.
|
|
|
|
#
|
with the crew and passengers from
the said wreck of the said French vessel still on board of their said vessel
|
|
And the appearers did and do hereby further severally declare that the said
barque or vessel at the time of her departure from Saint Helier in the Island
of Jersey aforesaid, and during said voyage, was and still is tight, staunch
and strong, and had her hatches well and sufficiently caulked and covered,
and was well and sufficiently manned, provided, equipped and furnished with
all things needful and necessary for the said voyage and that all and
singular the injuries, losses, damages and detriments which have happened to
the said vessel or the appurtenances thereof were in no way owing to or
occasioned by any unseamanship, mismanagement or neglect of any of them, the
said appears, or of any of the rest of the crew of the said vessel, but
solely and entirely to the causes, perils and accidents before mentioned, and
that during the said time, they, and the remainder of the crew of the said
vessel, used their utmost endeavour and exertion to preserve the said vessel
and all on board or belonging thereto from loss and damage.
To the truth of all which the said several matters and
things herein before alleged and declared, they, the said appears, have duly
and severally made oath on the Holy Evangelists before us, the said Notary
and subscribing witnesses.
Now therefore that these presents may enjoy full force and
effect, I, the said Notary, at the request of the said Charles Le Cornu, have
protested and by these presents, do most solemnly protest against all and
every person and persons whomsoever whom it hath, shall or may in any wise
concern, for and on account of all and all manner of damages, losses,
prejudices and detriments whatsoever which the said barque or vessel called
the C. Columbus and the appurtenances thereof or either of
them, or any part thereof have or hath already sustained or may hereafter
sustain, and also against all charges and expenses whatsoever, which the
owners or freighters or any or either of them or any other person or persons
whomsoever may be put to or sustain, for or by reason or means of the
aforesaid accident or otherwise of relating thereto. All which matters and
things were declared, alleged and affirmed, as is set forth in the presence
of us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses and therefore, I have
hereunto subscribed my name, being requested to testify and certify the
premises.
Thus done, protested and sworn to at Paspébiac aforesaid,
in the County and District aforesaid and Province of Canada (where no stamps
are used) on the day and in the month and year herein first above written,
and signed by all the said appearers in the presence of Messieurs Felix
Briard and John Allbeury, both at and of Paspébiac aforesaid, gentlemen,
witnesses to the due execution of these presents and in the presence of and
with me, the said Notary, also hereunto severally subscribing these presents,
having been first duly read to all the said parties respectively, in their
presence and bearing.
|
|
Comments
Post a Comment