Page:Loss of the Comet steam-boat on her passage from Inverness to Glasgow, on Friday the 21st October, 1825.pdf/17

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

17

bodies had been found, by as many boats. Several other boats were arranging their tackle, and the Sovereign steam-boat had commenced trawling with a net. During (illegible text) stay, which did not exceed an hour, nearly a dozen bodies were brought ashore. Some of them were fished up in pairs; and at one (illegible text)wl of the net three were raised. One of these was the body of a man, who had seemingly stripped for the purpose of swimming. One hung conspicous, at the distance of five (illegible text) six hundred yards, on the side of the vessel. sustained by the net. He appeared naked from the shore, but I think some part of his clothes were on. On being landed, the bodies were exposed for recognition. I saw the features of several, and in general they appeared but little distorted. One young boy, about twelve or thirteen, looked as if he were asleep, so placid was his countenance. A child about two years old lay among the dead, as if lulled to rest in its mother's arms. There were two young ladies near (illegible text) on whose cheeks the hue of life had scarcely begun to fade; and there was a slight tingle of red on their lips, though cold as marble. Others, however, presented a spectacle truly terrific. A young woman had been grappled by the throat and face; and, when borne to the water's edge, her face downwards, with her long dishevelled hair dripping with blood, and trailing on