The order was promptly executed, and as soon as the boats were out and secure for towing, the ship’s head was pointed to the north-west, with the view of nearing the land, and in hopes that she might fall in with the Juno.

In the meantime, a party was employed in getting the booms overboard for a raft, the fore and main gratings were laid up and covered over, and Lieutenant Banks was sent down to get the powder out of the magazine, and stow it away in the stern gallery.  He could only partially accomplish this; for the smoke increased upon them so much that the men were obliged to desist.  The powder they had got up was thrown overboard, and water was poured down to drown that which remained; but the task of filling the magazine was hopeless, and therefore abandoned.  Many of the men were drawn up apparently lifeless, amongst whom were Lieutenant Banks and the gunner.  Lieutenant Tailour then went below to ascertain how matters were going on; he found only the boatswain’s mate in the cockpit, who was almost stupified by the smoke.  Mr. Tailour assisted him to reach the deck, and then the gallant officer was preparing to return to the magazine, taking a rope with him by way of precaution, when Lieutenant Banks, with noble generosity, darted past him, also with a rope in his hand, and descended on the dangerous service; but in a short time he was drawn up in a state of insensibility.  All hope of doing anything with the magazine was then given up; but although the smoke was so powerful below, it had not yet got possession of the after part of the lower deck.

It was therefore proposed, and the proposition was immediately acted on, to cut scuttles through the starboard foremost cabin in the ward-room, and one under it in the gun-room, into the magazine.  This was found more practicable than was at first supposed, as the cabins kept out the smoke.  When they were cutting these scuttles, the smoke came up in such dense volumes through the after-hatchway, that it was necessary to shut it closely up, and the scuttle in the after-part of the captain’s cabin was opened for a passage to the ward-room, and they began to haul up the powder, and heave it overboard out of the gallery windows.  The ward-room doors, and every other passage for the smoke were carefully closed, and thus it was kept tolerably well under; yet many of the men employed in the duty were taken up to all appearance dead.  Amongst them we again find Lieutenant Banks, and Mr. Pearce, the gunner.  We cannot proceed without expressing the admiration we feel for the heroism and self-devotion displayed by officers and men.  This is the third time we have seen Lieutenant Banks risk his life in the performance of his duty, and it was not the last of such efforts to save the vessel and the lives of his fellow-sufferers.