Marines were falling on the rocks or as they began to wade out, tantalisingly close to salvation. Private Harrison appeared to the boat's crews to be literally hacked to pieces. Tom Fatchett went down too, his head as red from gushing blood as his uniform jacket. John Jackson, Oldest of the privates and a veteran who had survived a long campaign in Germany, was struck by a spear in the face, just below the eye. Screaming with pain, he attempted to draw it out, and it broke off, With blood pouring from the wound, he waded out and fell into the sea... Our unfortunate Commander, the last time he was seen distinctly, was standing on the water's edge, and calling out to the boats to cease firing, and to pull in. If it be true, as some of those who were present have imagined, that the boat-men had fired without his orders, and that he was desirous of preventing any further bloodshed, it is not improbable, that his humanity, on this occasion, proved fatal to him... having turned about, to give his orders to the boats, he was stabbed in the back, and fell with his face into the water. - Lieutenant Molesworth Phillips, wounded in the fight by a spear.