From 4 o'clock last night the wind freshened with great rapidity, and very shortly we were under topsails, jib, and staysail only.

It blew very hard and the sea got up at once.

Soon we were plunging heavily and taking much water over the lee rail.

Oates and Atkinson with intermittent assistance from others were busy keeping the ponies on their legs.

Cases of petrol, forage, etc., began to break loose on the upper deck; the principal trouble was caused by the loose coal-bags, which were bodily lifted by the seas and swung against the lashed cases.