<P> A few days out of London, the nine ships of the third supply mission encountered a massive hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean . They became separated during the three days the storm lasted . Admiral Somers had the new Sea Venture, carrying most of the supplies of the mission, deliberately driven aground onto the reefs of Bermuda to avoid sinking . However, while there was no loss of life, the ship was wrecked beyond repair, stranding its survivors on the uninhabited archipelago, to which they laid claim for England . </P> <P> The survivors at Bermuda eventually built two smaller ships and most of them continued on to Jamestown, leaving a few on Bermuda to secure the claim . The Company's possession of Bermuda was made official in 1612, when the third and final charter extended the boundaries of' Virginia' far enough out to sea to encompass Bermuda . Bermuda has since been known officially also as The Somers Isles (in commemoration of Admiral Somers). The shareholders of the Virginia Company spun off a second company, the Somers Isles Company, which administered Bermuda from 1615 to 1684 . </P> <P> Upon their arrival at Jamestown, the survivors of the Sea Venture discovered that the 10 - month delay had greatly aggravated other adverse conditions . Seven of the other ships had arrived carrying more colonists, but little in the way of food and supplies . Combined with a drought, and hostile relations with the Native Americans, the loss of the supplies that had been aboard the Sea Venture resulted in the Starving Time in late 1609 to May 1610, during which over 80% of the colonists perished . Conditions were so adverse it appears, from skeletal evidence, that the survivors engaged in cannibalism . The survivors from Bermuda had brought few supplies and food with them, and it appeared to all that Jamestown must be abandoned and it would be necessary to return to England . </P> <Table> Statistics regarding mortality rates: <Tr> <Th> Dates </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> New arrivals </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Easter, 1619 </Td> <Td> ~ 1,000 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Easter, 1620 </Td> <Td> 866 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1620--1621 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> + 1,051 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Easter 1621 </Td> <Td> 843 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1620--1624 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> + ~ 4,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Feb. 1624 </Td> <Td> 1,277 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3"> <P> During this time, perhaps 5000 Virginians died of disease or were killed in the Indian massacre of 1622 . </P> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

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