Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-03-05

purchase and hold onein common, which,
for our present population, according to
the description of the operations of the
machine, would be sufficient for the pur-
pose.
Judge Tucker has decided that the
act Of the Missouri legislature establish
ing loan offices, is unconstitutional.
DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE.
Mn. EDIroH,
/ send you for publication the impor-
tant intelligence (for which we are in
debted to the politeness of the captain of
the keel boat High Flyer, which arrived
last night from the Wabash) of the me-
lancholy and disastrous occurrences,
which have SO unfortunately befallen our
gallant Rat-boat Edward Coles, from
which, when it is recollected that she left
here so lately with the most seeming
hopes of success in her cruise, and the
high destiny to which her commander
aspired, the mind is most clearly con-
WINGED of the ,,mutability of all sublu-
nary things, and shewn the folly of fixing
our hopes on things below.
There cannot be doubl the correct
ness Of the intelligence, as the High
Flyer suffered severely in the same
storm, and narrowly escaped from sink
ing herself. The captain states, that Oh
the morning ofthe 18th ult. he spoke the
.fat-boat Edward Coles, deeply laden,
near the western edge of the Grand
Prairie. That the weather at this time
was boisterous, and the clouds seemed
to indicate storm. That he conversed
with her commander, who was determin-
ed to pass the prairie contrary to his adj
sice--that after passing the usual civili-
lities, Tor which the .ft captain seemed,
he says, TO be a great stickler, he came
too, and made all snug in anticipation Of
the gale, which seemed to approach
| that at 3 p. M. he discovered the fat
boat in the middle OF the prairie, con-
tending with gigantic force against the
wind, which lashcd the waves until they
ran mountains high. BY the help of a
good lass he could plainly perceive
the more than human exertions of her
commander, but The fates seemed to be
against him, and the gods to have de-
creed his destruction. AT p. M. she
lost her steering-oar, which was broken
and carried overheard, with two of the
ablest of the crew, by tremendous sea,
which broke directly over the stern. The
Hat now became unmanageble, and was
driven about at the mercy of the winds
and waves. In this perilous condition,
her commander attempted to use his
polls, for which be is said to be famous
ly expert; but he found that owing to
the sudden rise of the waters, by
the quantity Of rain, which poured in
torrents, he was unable to reach the bot
tnna, and that like urany great CAPTAINS
of the age, he was ont OF his depth. But
the fertile expedients OF great mind
were not to be overcome. Concentrating
therefore, all the faculties of his brain tu
focus, and discarding every base parti-
Gle OF fear, and assuming sovereign
contempt of danger, for which he is
famed, in one great and glorious effort
he seemed to rise superiorIto his misfor-
tunes and in voice seven times more ter
rife than the tornado itself, like CAN
MUTE, though not with the same view,
commanded the raging winds to cease. In
vain with stentorian lungs be roared,
lrctted and fumed, alternately beseeching
and commanding. The storm nor waves
needed him not. The fiat, dashed by
the pillows, passed with rapidly through
fields Of snags and sawyers, every mo-
ment appearing to be her last. The
heavens were by this time wrapt in dis
NAL night, or as pindar says,
"Negress night came solemn down
| To put TO roost the fowls,
And bid her bats hunting 60,
| And likewise all .lcr owls
Al tie close of our informan.'s views,
he behcld the noble commander in the
agony Of despair, on the top of the fiat,
(Which was now iiied with water, but
which was yet buoyant, owing to the de-
scription Of her lading, which is said to
have been shirited, and would of course
disdain to sink with extended arms, rea-
dy to bury himself amid the waves with
; N,o,,o tt,.e ,r,.., -,