| lyric | Attend ya sons of Neptune that roam the angry seas
And all ye jolly sailor lads that are moored from danger free
I ask your kind attention to my sad and doleful tune
Of the melancholy accident of the Wexford barque Hantoon.
On the twenty-sixth of December, I mean to let you hear
Calm were the waves and beautiful, the sky was bright and clear
In pride and stately grandeur our gallant barque did glide,
With reflections of her beauty on the silvery flowing tide.
The elevating joys of home did o’er our senses steal
John Cullen with his steady hand did safely steer the wheel.
Delightfully he viewed her track, crowned by the billows foam
As by the gentle breezes our ship was wafted home.
On the ensuing morning before the dawn appeared,
Five and a half knots sailing, east~north-east we steered.
The wind was in our favour, our happiness to crown
When this cruel British monster on us came bearing down.
‘ The signal for ‘All hands on deck’ immediately did sound
And from his peaceful slumber brave Captain Neill did bound.
He tried his whole endeavour to save his ship and crew
But those cursed, heartless tyrants had cut our barque in two.
Then her mast came crashing down, likewise each spar and sail
And from the opening gulf beneath there rose a dismal wail.
To search for men was fruitless in the boats that put to sea.
The mountain waves'rolled over them and sealed their destiny.
Eleven were our good ship’s crew, but only seven were found;
The other three with Captain Neill were killed as well as drowned.
Near the rock-bound coast of Portugal each lifeless body rolls
May He, whose Voice the waves obey, have mercy on their souls.
The thought of coming home again was painful to our mind,
In leaving loving comrades and ship—mates far behind.
Far away from home and country with their gallant barque they sleep
In the broad Atlantic’s bosom full fifty fathoms deep.
Now to conclude and finish, too far my lines have run;
To the owner and the gallant crew may justice soon be done;
And may the perpetrator’s lot be on the g‘allows tree,
Who thought to send a whole ship’s crew into Eternity |