HMS Captain 1870         

The Story of HMS Captain (cont)

James May - private letter

Before he wrote his 1972 book, May responded to a letter from Mr W.N. Thomas, R.N, enquiring about former messmates on the Captain -

I cannot give you the least hope of your ever again seeing your old friends and messmates. All on board must have perished, except the eighteen in the launch. Mr Goodfellow was the only midshipman known to be on deck. He was mustering the watch. Lieutenant Purdon was officer of the watch. Those named in your letter - Lieut. Giffard, Sub-Lieut.  lanville, Sub-Lieut. Kirkness, Lieut. Boxer, Assist. Paymaster West, Sub-Lieutenant Hume, Mr Allan, C S Mann, midshipman, and Mr T W Curtis, asistant engineer, must have been in bed, and it was not possible for any to get on deck, as the whole time, from her going over till her sinking, did not occupy ten minutes.

The published accounts of Tuesday (13th September) are nearly correct. Sub-Lieutenant Glanville (W.W. Glanville) was signal mate. I last saw him about 8.30 p.m. in the gun room, and the others about the same time.

At midnight I felt myself in the finest ship in the world. At 12.15 she was gone. My escape is most miraculous, as I am the only one that came up from below. The men saved all belonged to the watch on deck. There must have been nearly 150 persons on the upper deck when she capsized, turned bottom up, and immediately disappeared. I am very nervous and cannot write anymore.

Believe me, &c. (Signed), J. May

(From a cutting from The North Otago Times, New Zealand, 28th October 1870. Thanks to Jenny Mayne.)