 In 212, he escaped the harbour at Syracuse and carried to Carthage the news of the perilous state of the city, all of whichexcept Achradinawas in the possession of Marcellus.He returned within a few days with 100 ships.In the same year, following the destruction by pestilence of the Carthaginian land-forces under Hippocrates and Himilco, Bomilcar again sailed to Carthage with the news and returned with 130 ships, but was prevented by Marcellus from reaching Syracuse.