Our ship leaked at every seam, one of our masts was carried away, and another broken in two, at a height of twenty feet from the deck.

But all these misfortunes were small compared to what was to come, for on the fourth morning a great wave swept off our rudder, and we drifted helpless before the waves.

An hour later a green sea came aboard of us, washing away the captain, so that we filled and settled down to founder.
Then began a most horrid scene.

For several days both the crew and passengers had been drinking heavily to allay their terror, and now that they saw their end at hand, they rushed to and fro screaming, praying, and blaspheming.

Such of them as remained sober began to get out the two boats, into which I and another man, a worthy priest, strove to place the women and children, of whom we had several on board.