Midshipman Monkhouse had been on a ship which was leaking at the rate of forty-eight inches per hour, and had seen the operation called “fothering” so successfully performed on her, that, without further repair, she had sailed from Virginia to London.  This being brought to Cook’s ear, he gave Monkhouse the charge of carrying out a similar experiment.  A studding sail was taken, on which oakum and wool was lightly sewn and smothered with dirt; it was then lowered over the bows and dragged by ropes over the place where the worst of the leak was situated, and there secured, with the result, according to Banks, that in a quarter of an hour after it was in position they were able to pump the ship clear, and Cook says one pump was sufficient to keep her free.

Of the conduct of the crew, Cook says: 

“In justice to the ship’s company, I must say that no men ever behaved better than they have done on this occasion; animated by the behaviour of every Gentleman on board, every man seem’d to have a just sense of the Danger we were in, and exerted himself to the very utmost.”

Banks adds his testimony: 

“Every man exerts his utmost for the preservation of the ship.  The officers during the whole time never gave an order that did not show them to be perfectly composed and unmoved by the circumstances, however dreadful they might appear.”

A point off which the reef was situated was given the suggestive name of Cape Tribulation, and some small islands near, Hope Islands, because, as Cook says, he hoped, at the time of their greatest danger, they might be able to reach them.  What a prospect to hope for!  No possibility of ever seeing a friendly sail, and but little probability of ever being able to reach a civilised port.

The endeavour river.

A boat sent off to search for some spot where temporary repairs could be executed, soon returned and reported a small river had been found which appeared suitable.  This was the Endeavour River, and into it the ship was safely taken, and deep water being found close to the bank, a stage was rigged, and most of the stores and ballast were taken on shore; a hospital was erected for the sick, “which amounted at this time to some eight or nine afflicted with different disorders, but none very dangerously ill.”  Green and Tupia were showing symptoms of scurvy, but the remainder appear to have been free from it.

As soon as the ship was sufficiently lightened she was warped a little further up the river, and at the top of the tide her bows were hauled well into the bank, so that when the tide fell they were able to examine the leak.  The damage was found to be very serious; the rock had cut through four planks into the timbers, and three other planks had been badly injured.  The manner in which the ship had been injured was “hardy credible, scarce a splinter was to be seen, but the whole was cut away as if done with a blunt-edged tool.”  A piece of the rock was found wedged in the hole, and had greatly assisted in arresting the influx of water.  The sheathing and false keel were very badly damaged, but it was believed that she was not much injured aft, as she made but little water when once the main wound was dry.