Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-01-09

the deck. The shrouds were swinging back
wards and forwards with such violence, thai
il was almost death to spproach the mast
The mate, with the courage OF hero. went
forward with an axe, in the darkness OF MD
night, and by lodging the shrouds. uecsed-
ed in cutting of the mast about one third.
AT the same time. one OF the hands was on
the bowsprit, cutting of the stay. While
thus engaged, the mast broke even with the
deck, and fell over the lee bow on the top
of large wave, which rose at that moment
i9 or IS feet high. The mainsail and boom
were still attached, which, by great exer-
tions, were cleared; and The mast. after
rolling on the deck and staving in hogshead
of molasses, struck the end Of the boom and
broke it of close to the stern. Every thing
was now gene but the bull. We were ior-
tunate in having sea room and light vessel,
and plenty Of provision, except wster' OF
which we had but two barrels. Not Know
ing how long we should be in this condition.
captain X. thought j, prudent to put US on
the allowance OF half pins per day. This
was distressing particularly to the children,
who were continually crying. give me
some water" Saturday dawned upon US
under these circumstances. The gale was
abated, but the waves were high. HOW
gloomy was our prospect! We knew not
where we were, where we should be, nor
what would be our situation! No vessei
hove in sight all that day. The nights were
long and tedious the day brought no pros
pect Of relief. No human eye could PITY
no human arm deliver. Saturday night the
gale increased, and drove US many miles
further off from land. and all hopes Of safety.
The wind was still N. w. and We were pro-
badly 200 miles from our desired haven.-
Saturday morning it was impressed on the
minds OF several to have public worship per-
formed. About ten o'clock the service COM
menced. We offered our thanksgiving and
praise to God, that our lives had been mer-
cifulIy preserved, and ferveatly prayed that
God, who only had the power to save US,
would extend bis arm of mercy, rescue US
from impending danger, and permit US to
tread upon the welcome shore. We then
sung the lO9,h hymn, I'd book, Watts
Lord, we adore thy vast designs" Then
an appropriate sermon from 46th psalm, III
-" Be still, and know that am Cod
and closed with prayer. Every one appear
ed solemn and attentive and many, deeply
affected, were frequently wiping the falling
tears. during the sermon, one Of the waves
broke over the deck and poured down into
the cabin. But before these exercises clos
ed, nature seemed to be changed in our ia
vor. The wind chopped round S. S. E and
the waves decreased Immediately, aud be-
tore night the ocean appeared almost as
smooth as pond. At noon we took an OBJ
servation. and found ourselves in AZ deg.
SO min. N lathe longitude we could not
ascertain. We immediately took the gaff Of
the mainsail. aud erected jurymast, and
hoisted on it the topsail, put the vessel about,
sud steered W. by N. The wind continued
tair till Monday morning, when probably we
had sailed about 80 miles. Monday it was
nearly calm. Monday night we had good
breeze, but not quite so fair, and by Tues
day morning, we had probably sailed about
forty miles further Tuesday we bad NJ
wind, or but very little, moving about one
or two miles an hour We were in e1pecta.
ton Of seeing land before night, but were
disappointed. In the evening We discover
ed light. which we supposed was Boon
Island Light. The wind hauled round near
Iy N. w. and blew very hard. We kept The
light in view till nearly morning, when, tt
our great joy, we discovered land. which we
supposed was on the Eastern shore; butte oul
inexpres lible astonishment, We found it wa.
the highlands of Cape Cod. Kept as near
the wind as possible, with the hope of reach.
ing Chatham oINaniucket. About noou, Sc.
veral boats came to our assistance from Chat.
ham. and after coming to anchor, took the
passengers on shore, and in the course Of
the night got the vessel into Chatham har.
Dor. Those only who have been in our o.
tuation. can judge Of our sensations in tread
ing upon tha solid land. The Lord has era.
ciously preserved us-blessed be his holy
name
Palermo, oct0ber6,
| TUE TWO sIclITEs.