That should she not with Wisdom haste
Her miscreant Crimes undoing,
Her Crown, Wealth, Empire, all must waste
And sink in common Ruin.”
One of the seamen of the Essex returned to his home at the end of the cruise and told these incidents of his shipmates as they have been preserved in the traditions of the town:
“John Ripley after losing his leg said: ‘Farewell, boys, I can be of no use to you,’ and flung himself overboard out of the bow port.
“John Alvinson received an eighteen-pound ball through the body; in the agony of death he exclaimed: ‘Never mind, shipmates. I die in defence of ‘Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights’ and expired with the word ‘Rights’ quivering on his lips.
Broadside ballad published in Salem after the news was received of the loss of the Essex
“James Anderson had his left leg shot off and died encouraging his comrades to fight bravely in defence of liberty. After the engagement Benjamin Hazen, having dressed himself in a clean shirt and jerkin, told what messmates of his that were left that he could never submit to be taken as a prisoner by the English and leaped into the sea where he was drowned.”