Marked for Misfortune An Epic Tale of Shipwreck, Human Endeavour and Survival in the Age of Sail

London, England: Conway Maritime Pr. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 2004. 1st British Edition; 1st Printing. Hardcover. 0851779417 . B&W Illustrations; This book is in Near Fine condition and has a Near Fine dust jacket. The book and its contents are in clean, bright condition. The text pages are clean and bright. The dust jacket is crisp and clean. "Some four months into her voyage the Winterton entered the Indian Ocean, and it was whilst she was passing through the Mozambique Channel at 2 a. M. On 20 August that she struck a rock-strewn reef some seven miles off the western shore of Madagascar. The guns were thrown over the side and part of the cargo was jettisoned, but within a couple of hours Captain Dundas had to take the unenviable decision to cut away her masts. At daybreak her yawl was despatched inshore to solicit assistance, but any hopes of Dundas using her other boats were lost that evening when the long boat, cutter and jolly boat were smashed to smithereens by the sea breaking over the ship. On the 21st the yawl returned to the wreck, but conscious that the heaving sea might thrust her into the stranded Winterton Dundas ordered her back to shore. That night the situation deteriorated to such an extent that the ship began to break up, and at 6 a. M. On 22 August Captain Dundas ushered some sixty-odd people including all the female passengers on to the safety of the poop deck with what provisions he could muster. The rest of the men were ordered to take their place in the mizzen-chains, and it would later be reported that the ultimate sacrifice was made as Dundas ordered the poop deck to be cut away. Three hours later the ship broke up into four pieces, and as the buoyant poop deck drifted slowly ashore the starboard side of the ship rolled over and the body of Captain Dundas was seen to float out of the quarter galley. Some forty other passengers and crew also met their death as the ship broke up, including the first mate and three young women." (from website: morethannelson) .