Shipwreck of the Roman Fleet
In complete ignorance of what had happened to his
advanced squadron, the Consul, who had remained behind at
Syracuse, after completing all he meant to do there, put to sea;
and, after rounding Pachynus, was proceeding on his voyage
to Lilybaeum. The appearance of the enemy was once more
signalled to the Carthaginian admiral by his look-out men,
and he at once put out to sea, with the view of engaging them
as far as possible away from their comrades. Junius saw the
Carthaginian fleet from a considerable distance, and observing
their great numbers did not dare to engage them, and yet
found it impossible to avoid them by flight because they were
now too close. He therefore steered towards land, and
anchored under a rocky and altogether dangerous part of the
shore; for he judged it better to run all risks rather than
allow his squadron, with all its men, to fall into the hands
of the enemy. The Carthaginian admiral saw what he had
done; and determined that it was unadvisable for him to
engage the enemy, or bring his ships near such a dangerous
place. He therefore made for a certain headland between the
two squadrons of the enemy, and there kept a look out upon
both with equal vigilance. Presently, however, the weather
became rough, and there was an appearance of an unusually
dangerous disturbance setting in from the sea. The Carthaginian pilots, from their knowledge of the particular localities,
-- 63 -- and of seamanship generally, foresaw what was coming;
and persuaded Carthalo to avoid the storm and
round the promontory of Pachynus. note note He
had the good sense to take their advice: and
accordingly these men, with great exertions and extreme difficulty, did get round the promontory and anchored in safety;
while the Romans, being exposed to the storm in places entirely destitute of harbours, suffered such complete destruction,
that not one of the wrecks even was left in a state available for
use. Both of their squadrons in fact were completely disabled
to a degree past belief.
