eight P.M.
All was now confusion and despair -- but an effort was made to lighten the ship by throwing overboard as much of her cargo as could be reached , and by cutting away the two masts that remained . This we at last accomplished -- but we were still unable to do anything at the pumps ; and , in the meantime , the leak gained on us very fast . At sundown , the gale had sensibly diminished , in and , as the sea went down with it , we still entertained faint hopes of saving ourselves in the boats . At eight P.M. the clouds broke away to windward , and we had the advantage of a full moon -- a piece of good fortune which served wonderfully to cheer our drooping spirits . After incredible labor we succeeded , at length , in getting the long-boat over the side without material accident , and into this we crowded the whole of the crew and most of the passengers . This party made off immediately , and , after undergoing much suffering , finally arrived , in safety , at Ocracoke Inlet , on the third day after the wreck . Fourteen passengers , with the Captain , remained on board , resolving to trust their fortunes to the jolly-boat at the stern .