Battle of the Espero convoy. Part 6

Battle of the Espero convoy. Part 6

Two life rafts are packed with survivors, some clothed others almost naked. The life raft in the foreground carries approximately nine men. Two others are being helped to climb on board. Two of the men appear seriously injured and one holds a pistol. One of the survivors is standing on the raft holding a pole, whilst a seagull is flying overhead. Two shark fins can be seen approaching the raft from the left. Another man in the water, wearing a blue shirt and a life jacket, is waving with his right arm. Nearby is a sailor's cap with “C T Espero” written on the side.

Label reads “12”; signed by the author; caption reads “(6) … andai sul castello a dire al Comandante, che c’era una zattera pronta, e lo invitai a salvarsi, io insistevo, e allora mì ordinò di vedere sè c’era altra gente, e che poi mi salvassi. Scesi sulla zattera cercando di afferrare i naufraghi che à grandi bracciate, cercavano di allontanarsi dal luogo del prossimo affondamento. Altre bordate inglesi, centrarono l’Espero, e la nave si coperse di fiamme il Comandante non lasciò la sua nave, era salito tranquillo, al suo posto di comando, con un sordo boato, l’Espero fù inghiottito dalle onde, le zattere di naufraghi si portarono più lontano possibile dal gorgo impetuoso …”

Caption translates as: “(6)… I went to the bridgehouse to tell the captain that a raft was ready, and I urged him to save himself. Since I was insisting, he ordered me to look for the crew, then to save myself. I went down to the raft, trying to pick up the survivors who were trying to swiftly move away from the soon-to-be-sinking ship. Another British broadside hit the Espero. The vessel was engulfed by flames. The captain did not abandon ship, he calmly went to his command post. The Espero was swallowed by waves, making a dull sound. The rafts with the survivors moved as far away as possible from the violent whirlpool…”

One tempera on paper, pasted on mount board

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