[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 3d This is the first day on the voyage we have heard the command to square the yards. Wind is now favorable. We run 8 not an hour in the morning. At 12 oclok the wind changed again dead ahead. We run the ship on the Southern tack. We again have to contend with a strong head wind. We shiped a vary heavy sea And wet many of the passengers And upset the Negros Cook galley. There is one sail in sight on our lee bow. Elder Stratten Appetite is some improveing. Mr Hastings is still rather feble. A squll struck us at 3 oclok but lasted but a few moments.
At oclok one of the most exciting seens took place that I ever saw at sea. The second Mate steped forward to the bow of the ship & ordered one of the hands to do sumthing on the bowsprit. He refused upon the principle that it was dangerous & a risk of his life. The Mate said He would not ask a man to do a thing that he was not willing to do himself And stept forward to do it while at the same moment they shiped A sea which instantly washed him overboard.
The seas were running high & the ship going 8 not an hour. The cry of second mate overboard was instantly rung through the ship. Ropes was flung to him but he cold not get them. The Bouy was next flung to him. He swam hard to get to it but He could not get it as the seas were runing so high. It floated to the leeward of him. The Capt then gave orders to we[ar?] the ship which was done as spedily as possible. Still it took several minutes. The Life boat was let down at the same time maned by Harry the Boatswain And four others hands. Notwithstanding the High seas they managed the boat well. The Mate continued to swim for 15 or 20 minutes amid the raging billows even untill the life boat was within A few rods of him when He instantly sunk to rise no more.
They remained on or near the spot whare he was last seen both with the life boat & Ship for near an hour but nothing more was seen of him. The life boat then came along side And it was with great difficulty they got on board of the Ship as they came near being swamped several times but after evry exhertion being made they were obliged to trim there sails to the wind & continue there course & leave there mate in his watery grave speaking loudly that while in life we are in the midst of death. The captain & crew seemed much affected by the incident.
His Name was William Drummond An American, native of Flushing Long Island New York. His Parents live near the city of New York. Was A single man. Had been in the East India trade with this same Captain William Howland. This was his first trip in the Liverpool trade And was now on his return hom. Was A stirring Ambitious young man. Was remarking last night what pleasure He would have in taking tea with his Mother on his arival in New York. But his hopes are suddenly blasted And A Mother will be disappointed.
Harry the Boatswain was Appointed to take his place And all is going on as though nothing had happened.
[source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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