with all aboard lost. Sea Venture, however, fought the storm for three days. Among sheets of rain and tearing wind, passengers witnessed St. Elmo's fire atop the masts.

Comparably sized ships had survived such weather, but Sea Venture had a critical flaw in her newness: her timbers had not set. The oakum (a caulking) was forced from between the boards, and the ship began to leak rapidly. All hands were applied to bailing, but water