Captain’s valiant fight to save his stricken ship

ON CHRISTMAS Day 1789 Lieutenant Edward Riou (1762-1801), commander of the stricken supply ship HMS Guardian, continued his efforts to save his ship even as some of his crew begged to be allowed to take to the life boats in the “Roaring Forties”, some 1 200 sea miles from Cape Town.

The wooden two-decker was loaded to capacity with stores, livestock and plants destined for the new British penal colony at Port Jackson (now Sydney in Australia), where the settlers were facing starvation.

Riou had left Table Bay two weeks previously and set a southeasterly course in order to catch the strong winds that would speed his ship towards Australia, pausing briefly on December 24 to pick up some floating ice to boost his dwindling fresh water supplies.

The weather deteriorated before he could sail out of danger and the Guardian suffered heavy damage to her stern and hull after hitting a previously obscured iceberg. The pumps couldn’t keep pace with the water rushing into the hold and the stricken ship seemed destined to sink.

Two attempts to “fother” the gash on Christmas Day failed and Riou’s hand was crushed between two barrels while helping to lighten the ship in the hope of regaining some buoyancy.

Despite his injury, he continued to inspire the exhausted men to keep pumping and baling while he tried to work out a rescue plan.

When morning came, the situation was so grave that he gave permission for the ship’s five small boats to be launched into the turbulent sea, although he was aware that they couldn’t accommodate the 120 people aboard. One craft sank as it was lowered, but the others got away safely, although three contained little in the way of provisions and water. When the shocked and frightened men separated on that Boxing Day morning 223 years ago, their chances of survival were slim.

Riou was determined to try to save his ship and the 60 men still under his command.

This number included 30 seamen and boys, six convict superintendents (one of whom was accompanied by his school-age daughter)

CAPTAIN USED PROMISES AND THREATS TO KEEP THE PUMPS MANNED ROUND THE CLOCK

and 21 convicts.

Their survival hinged on one fortunate circumstance: a number of barrels had broken free in the hold below the lower gun-deck and were providing enough buoyancy to keep wallowing ship afloat.

Riou had the gun-deck hatches sealed and did his best to stabilise the ship. He used promises and threats to keep the pumps manned in strict rotation round the clock to ensure that the water did not rise to the next deck.

He also tried various makeshift methods to control the movement of his rudderless vessel and get it to head northwards towards the shipping lanes that skirted the South African coast.

Nothing worked, and on New Year’s Day 1790 Midshipman Gore overheard the men muttering that Riou was not in his senses, was going the wrong way, and should be heaved overboard.

More next week.