The seamen of the middle of the nineteenth century were trained to be ingenious and resourceful in emergencies, and, as a rule, they did not disgrace their training.  If a jib-boom was carried away, a mast sprung, or a yard fractured, they had only to be told to have it fished.  They knew how to do this as well as their officers did, and would not brook being instructed.  If a mast was carried away they regarded it as a privilege to obey the captain’s instructions to have jury masts rigged, and it is not an exaggeration to say that astonishing feats of genius have been done on occasions such as these.

In 1864 I was an apprentice aboard a brig bound from the Tyne to the Baltic; Tynemouth Castle bore west 60 miles.  A strong north-west wind was blowing, and the sea was very cross.  A press of canvas was being carried.  The second mate being in charge, orders were given to take in the foretopgallant sail.  It was clewed up, and just as another apprentice and myself were getting into the rigging to go up and furl it one of the chain-plates of the maintopmast backstays carried away.  The maintopmast immediately snapped and went over the side, dragging the foretopmast with it.  Fortunately we had not as yet got aloft, or we would have come to a precipitate end.  The storm was increasing, and the confusion of ropes, chains, sails, spars, &c, all lurching against the side, caused the captain and his crew much concern, lest the vessel should be so injured as to endanger her safety.  The men worked like Trojans to minimise danger, and to save as much gear as possible to rig jury masts with.  The accident happened at 6 a.m., and at 8 p.m. the wreck had been cleared away and all the necessary gear saved.  Over and over again during that toilsome day men risked their lives to save a few pounds’ worth of gear; indeed, it was a day of brave deeds.  On the following days it blew a hard northerly gale so that the vessel had to be hove-to.  After that it gradually fined down, and the task of rigging jury topmasts began.  It took four days to accomplish all that was necessary; and, although the men were fagged, they were also proud of their work.  Any adverse criticism would have been visited with rigorous penalties.  They were not boastful about it, though they quite believed a smart job had been carried out; and perhaps they took some credit to themselves for saving the vessel from total destruction.  I have reason to know that neither the owner nor his underwriters estimated their services as being worthy of any recognition whatever.  It was a custom in those days to guard strictly against the sin of generosity, even to recompense brave deeds done or valuable services rendered!