[August 1778] Wednesday 12
Block Island N39E. 36 leagues.
Sandy hook N71W 35 leagues. At 12 Fired a Gun & made the Signal for shoaling our water having but 14 fm. At 3 AM shorten’d sail the Volcano1 having parted the Hawser. At 5 Handed the Maintopsail Got down topgallt Yards & lowerd the Mizenyard the Jeers being Stranded: At 7 Brot. too under the Mizen Stay Sail made the Sigl for the Fire Ship to lye too. At ½ past 10 set the mainsail & hauld down the Mizen Stay Sail. At Noon only the Volcano in sight.
Block Island N 26:50 E. dis. 50 Leagues
Sandy hook N 53:26 W 47 Leagues. [illeg.] Wr. with a Heavy Sea. PM Furl’d the Mainsail it being split & brot. too under the Mizen Staysail. At 5 bore down to the Volcano. she having made the Sigl of distress, found her leaky. Bent another Mainsail & reef’d it. At 11 lost sight of the Volcano.
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/675, fol. 59.
1. Fire ship Volcano, Lt. William Henry King O’Hara, R.N.