|
PYLADES
|
(18) |
|
Built in 1824, Woolwich.
Broken up in 1845. |
|
|
- Designed by Sir Robert SEPPINGS.
- 1824 Capt. FEAD, Cork.
In May 1824 he brought in a smuggling lugger, a beautiful vessel with a crew of 50 (Henry Keppel remarks that the Commander-in-Chief made nearly 9,000 pounds prize money while he was on the station out of his one-eighth share). - 1825 John LEITH, 06/1825, Jamaica.
- 1827 George JACKSON, 09/1825, Jamaica.
- 1830 Patrick HAY, 03/1828, Cork.
- 1831 Edward BLANKLEY, 05/1831, Cork.
- 1832 Ditto, South America.
At the beginning of January 1832 she was at Rio with WARSPITE (76), bearing the flag of Rear Ad. Sir Thomas BAKER, DUBLIN and MAGICIENNE.
As Senior Officer on the north coast of Brazil BLANKLEY was thanked during April 1832 by the British merchants of Pernambuco for the protection offered by PYLADES during the revolution.
In January 1834 PYLADES was at Coquimbo and, at the beginning of April, at Bahia. She returned to England with 400,000 dollars freight on 4 June.
paying off at Plymouth 26 June. - 1836 W. L. CASTLE, 08/1835, Coast of Africa East India station.
In the spring of 1837 PYLADES was on her way home from the East Indies by way of the Cape of Good Hope.
At nightfall on 8 May it was blowing a gale and a tremendous sea was running when a mizzen-topman, James MILES, fell overboard from the mizzen-topsail yard while taking another reef in the topsails.
During his fall he broke a chain across the weather-quarter davits and it seemed unlikely that he could have survived but he was seen swimming as the ship sped away and a life-buoy was let go. - When PYLADES returned to the spot they searched and listened for a half hour before he was spotted.
Lieut. CHRISTOPHER and a boat's crew volunteered to try and save him, unfortunately with the loss of the bowman who struck his head when he was thrown out of the boat as it was lowered.
It took a pull of half an hour in the dark through a terrible sea until MILES was safely on board, completely naked but apparently none the worse.
Every time he had risen on a wave he could see the ship wearing round and returning so, to save tiring himself, he had floated on his back and did not sing out until he was sure that they would be able to hear him.
MILES had another escape in the Bay of Biscay when he fell off the fore-top gallant-yard.
As he was about to be dashed on the forecastle he was flipped into the sea by the foresail which filled in a sudden breeze. - Took the slaver PROVA on 3 June 1838.
- 1840 Talavera ANSON, 12/1839, Plymouth for East Indies.
- 1844 Sheerness.
|
|
|
