Loss
In 1808, the Astraea escorted the mail packet ship Prince Earnest past the danger of Caribbean privateers. Heywood, thinking that Anegada was Puerto Rico, wrecked upon the deadly horseshoe reef. All but four of her crew survived, either by making it to the island or to Virgin Gorda. Two days after the wrecking, the 22-gun sloop and former French privateer St Christopher (also known as the St Kitt's) arrived and rescued the crew. The two 32-gun frigates Jason and Galatea, and the sloop Fawn arrived later, and engaged in salvage attempts. The British abandoned the wreck on 24 June. Many of the crew went on to serve aboard Favourite.
As was usual, Captain Heywood, his officers and crew, were subject to a court martial for the loss of his ship. This took place on 11 June 1808 on Ramillies in Carisle Bay, Barbados. The court held that the ship foundered due to an "extraordinary weather current," and exonerated Heywood.
Read more about this topic: HMS Astraea (1781)
Famous quotes containing the word loss:
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