The question of whether the fire/heat had been completely quenched following the setting of the mast lingers in the background until the fire erupts in port (guess that answers the question)
If a captain did NOT go down with his ship he would be most likely brought up in front of an admiralty board of enquiry. Sometimes it just didn't pay to save your own life!
Most sailors - men of the sea - expressly avoided learning how to swim, hoping that if they were washed overboard at any point drowning quickly was preferable to the prolonged suffering of swimming while waiting and hoping for rescue.
And, finally, I think that Cpt Sommers more than likely hoped and wished that he could save his precious ship.
I've just wrapped up another round of family research which made me want to re-watch this fabulous film. My GG-Grandfather began his sea life as a sailor and mate on ships running from England to Australia. Worked his way up the ranks, married a young Irish immigrant (most likely a passenger), settled in Fremantle, helped build up the ports and owned many ships. Most of the info I've been able to gather come from legal documents addressing voyages, wrecks,and damages to his ships - much like the one here at "To the Ends of the Earth" Thank God for litigation, eh?
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