Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-04-06

thru ,hn;, myself, preparing for the waves.
tooA 0a my shoes and beat the soes OF my
feet. My limbs had been for some time unucn
benninbed, and my feet without feeling .
succeeded however, AT last, by great eNertlons
in Circulating the blood, aud rendered i., self
once mo,e warm. While aleit, the work OF
Chaotic destruction Mas busily carried on by
the dftad ministers Of death. 1t Appeared as
II orders had been given from above on this
night tor totst and u,i,scriminaie des.ruetiu,,
III tile shortest lime possible. There 4 could
almost perceive those spirits OF yong eauce
who" ride ia the whirlwind, and direct The
stoIm. From thence was "A view o, IA ship.
wreck in ali Its terror, and in all It's subiimitv
W lille here, most of those below were now
washed from their grasps, and soGu met
death. The Haininast likewise fell over the
aide, unfortunately the wrong side, TO wind.
ward, OIL shore, the ship lying broadsitie 10 the
sea, and having a weather heel.
Tne si,, Continued 10 beat very hard upon
aleige OF rocks till she was in pieces The
long boat, by repeated seas, was forced from
her grips aud fdsteninss aud the small boat
astern Instant, struck, and was carried away
upon the top OF a sea, with all its appeudage
ot sails, tackles, and lashings. | soon found
myself gong over with the nizennast, which
ie'I. and Carried me along with It. I was
plugged INTO the sea, aud received a few
scratches and bruises, but happily extricated
myseit anu ny making my way down the
rigging. with difficulty regained the ship. 1
wa now beset on all sides with contiictin.
lumber, INT was we'll aware of the danger
which threatened me. Ii was indeed passing
Tue watery ordeal to cross the ship al this time
ioeain the shore, aud, sprinsing at the inter
val OF sea tn gain the other side, L ieund
every plank oi the main deck washed of and
IN pieces; the foremost had now likewise tal.
zen, anu numerous pipes of wine boating
around, added TO the general wreck. 1 had
Iailen ia spfiiiSin. am0ug this ruin and had
SO TAR received bnt one or Two serious bruises:
nut tremendous wave now swcpt before il
SOME frge spars, and carrying me along
, MIN IL, my risht leg was struck by one of
Them Just al the joint of the knee, which
was instantly crushed, and jambed in between
that aud Il deck beam, few of which still
remained fast las near as could distinguish,
ior II was no" as da,k as Erebus) Now for IA
rev moments Jambed in, as 1t we're IN vice
my SITUATION, Was most critical and triyhtfulIy
disnaying. The blow felt had almost sever
ell my leg, and kept il still confined another
sea was roaring towards me which would in.
iai!ipiy have washed some large surrounding
lumber higher up agai,,st my head aud body
aiu oil winch was in instant expectation
bht, by fortunate rise OF the water [ caught
nod OF the lee rail aud threw myself over the
snip sside into the sea, not with "A hone M
| reaching the shore, which did not know how
tost.er for, as had not seen it, hut resolving
10 hasten my end, preferring to die with sea
room, anu avoid death which seemed equal
TO being broken upon the wheel Ihad heard
The voices OF two OF three others, and among
mem the captain, their bones probably uoostIy
broken, aud but just alive. These, 1 believed
were all that still survived.
After lhad plunged into the sea, and rose,
heid on Tor a moment 10 the upper works,
which was all that was now left of the sLi,
THEN Quilted and began 10 strip mo easy
man1nvre Tor person in my then SITUATION
Dc hau on thick Jacket, waistcoat two pair
OF trowSers, ana Northumberland While
DONG TINS, some one, and the only one whom |
discovered climgins 10 the ships timber. was
suddenly washed from lis hold and extending
MS arms grasp'd my northumberland behind
anu we sunk together: pushed for breath
myself was no Time for ceremony the next
hold. perhaps could not diseugape and
was not 80 beside myself as by dttenl,tiup IN
ASSIST ahotier 10 ensure certain death 10 both
therefore quickly uBtied my uecahandker-
cheI: lie sunk with IL IN his hand and | saw
HIN no lIure, presumed he WA. a passenger
from his White shirt, and from his great size
senior MoneSteria, Spanish engineer
White under water, L in d moment striped
myself, aud again rOse to tae surface. divested
OF all Covering but my shirt nv ls HING
GOWN useless III The wafer; besides WHICH I
nad St' ei al GUS ia my feet, several bruises
on my RIBS aud large cut over my left eve.
.nr0ush WINCH the chilling water struck TO
lie heart: Although always an exDert swim
mer found could barely keen above wafe,
Fearless before of wind and water, wasnow
puzzled Tor swimming, even with health and
"hoie bones, was uiavaIliDg in a sea like this.
it!lherto had seen no land bat was swent,
ami carried along by every sea which came
over ne, and resolved 10 get hold of the
iirst tning fell IN with, and gain breath. of
wnieh was very short. l soon seized hold
" pa'e oi soous, nut being wet and heavy
was OF no use, for every sea rolled over me-
ana quilted :; nearly exhausted. I saw mum.
''urfcss pieces OF the wreck aud was i'm con-
sia"t danger OF being struck By some. which I
often avoided by diving aud scrambling from,
bull which the prodgi us seas would wholly
overwheim.
stood this hard bufieting for about dozen
seas ana nature was fast reireaiing from the
conflict being desperately pushed for breath,
DIS cOn!d draw bnt tile i'll the short interval
OF the seas. Lad now been nearly half an
hour in the water, and half the time under.
Meath II; disabled as / was | had witbstood
beyond my hopes this war of elements. but nv
breath now deserted me lke-tbe dash of a Ia.
per, and another sea stTHck out every particIe
OF the remainder. Suifocated and stran.ied.
giasped twice with cOnvusive leap IL was
IA VAIN, another sea swept over me- saw
death lneviian'e' terrible, and face to face
had put tune with last breath TO say invo.
unfairly, the eJdculaliUu," Lord Jesus receive
my spirit, and quickly sunk many feet uuder
wafer, without The least, Or most distant hone
of AGAIN seeing the light but with the fullest
assurance had taken last view of transient
objects, and TIL Tue last tfur,p suu,n,nned ali
Hands, sbOuid rise no more. My senses viii,
my breath also fors0ck NE, and for a moment
my iniGd WAS filed with the most sin suIar and
delighted sensations, seemingly In mn enrao
tured dream. This, however, was az monen
taTy AS II was wonderful Whether fran rho
vlOIsHce q! the wave which then broke over
me or Oy the pam OF The wounds end chill of
tue water, am not certain Uy what means. |
was soon bought to my senses, and rose again
TO the surface, seemingly refreshed on Iook
ing aiouud, distinctly discovered few faith
oms from me, as II supernaturally thrown in
my way, something large and light for il kent
constantly above the waves; exerted nav re.
mdi1ing power, aud reached it,. 1t wasa large
crate containing nothing but straw clinpii,y
10 ibis soon recovered breath, as its buovan.
cy kept II high above the seas.
Amer holding to this some length of time.
aud constantly turning it round as nv weight
pulled II over towards me, / Stlikepi courage.
dnd dropped myself frequently down without
quitting my hold, with tie earnest hope Of