What happened, in that sense, Little Hawk, is well known. I meant, it is not known what reasoning went into the decision ot ride it out. We know only what the captain said when he refused help.

The captain thought that when the tide came in it would lift the ship off. But it had holed on the rock and the storm coupled with the tide lifted it off.

I agree, you have to accept that most of the people had not slept a wink before the ship foundered. There had been plenty of boats there to take off the passengers- but it was not to be.