The cause of this unfortunate event was never clearly known; but it
was conjectured that the gunner might have let fall some powder near
the fore-magazine, which accidentally igniting, had communicated with
the magazine itself. The gunner had been suspected of stealing the
powder, and on that day he is said to have been intoxicated, and was
probably less careful than usual. He was amongst the numbers who
perished.




THE TRIBUNE


The loss of the TRIBUNE frigate, in November of the following year, is
too interesting to be omitted.

At about eight o'clock on the morning of the 16th of November, 1797,
the harbour of Halifax was discovered, and as a strong wind blew from
the east-south-east, Captain Scory Barker proposed to the master to
lie to, until a pilot came on board. The master replied that there was
no necessity for such a measure, as the wind was favourable, and he
was perfectly well acquainted with the passage. The captain confiding
in this assurance, went below, and the master took charge of the ship.

Towards noon they approached so near the Thrum Cape shoals, that the
master became alarmed and sent for Mr. Galvin, one of the master's
mates. The message was scarcely delivered, before the man in the
main-chains sung out, 'By the mark five.' In a few minutes after the