Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-11-12

. mounted; but either our pursuers had
: dismounted 10 search the house, OF
they took at first a wrong direction, fol
we got so much the start of them be-
fore the chace fairly begun, that we
might have possibly escaped, had we
been obliged to trust to our own steeds
as far as the picquets. Of this, how.
ever, ! am by no means certain, for
they were unquestionably gaining upon
US, as sailor would say, hand over
hand, when, by great good fortune, a
patrole OF our own cavalry made its
appearance. Then, indeed, the tables
were completely turned. The enemy
pulled up, paused for an instant, and
then took to their heels, whilst our
troopers. who had trotted forward as
soon as they saw what was the matter,
put their horses to speed, and follow
ed. Whether these overlook their adj
versaries, and what was the issue Of
the skirmish, if indeed any skirmish
topk place, | cannot lrll; for though
we made an attempt to revenge our
selves upon our late 2ursuers, we soon
found that we were distanced by both
parties, and were per force contented
to ride quietly home, congralu!ating
each other by the way on our hair
breath deliverance. From that time
forward we were mere prudent. Our
visits were, indeed, resumed, and with
their usual frequency; but we took care
not again to- dispense with the watch
fulncss of one, who, on the contrary,
took his STATEN henceforth, on the Top
ofon Of the heights, from which he
commanded view of the surrounding
country, to the distance of several miles.
Though, therefore, we were more than
once summoned to horse, because the
! enemy's dragons were in sight, we
generally contrived 10 mount in such
time, as to preclude the necessity Of
riding, as we had before ridden, for
life or liberty.
BY spending my mornings thus, or
in determined pursuit Of game, and
my evenings in such society as a corps
Of gentlemanly young men furnished,
nearly fortnight passed over my head
| = ,--.---. no. limo rnnld have
happens, however, that any period OF
human existence, whether extensive or
contracted, passes by without some
circumstance occurring calculated to
produce painful sensations Irecolect,
in the course Of this fortnight, anevent,
which, though was no further con-
cerned in it than spectator, made a
deep and melancholy impression on
my mind ] allude to the loss Of large
vessel, during tremendous storm, on
the rocks which ran out into the sea off
Bedart.
The precise day of the month on
which this sad shipwreck occurred, |
have forgotten; but | recollect being
sent for by my friend, during the pro-
gress of one ofthe heaviest gales which
we had Witnessed, to come and watch
with him the fate of the brig, which
was in evident distress, about a couple
Of miles from the land. The wind blew
a perfect hurricane on shore; and hence
the communication was, would the
ship succeed in weathering the cape,
or would she strike! If she got once
round the headland, then her course to
the harbor Of Secoa was direct; it other
wise, nothing could save her. we
turned our glasses towards her. IN
state Of feverish anxiety, and beneld
her bending under single close-ggeeied
topsail, and making lee-way at afear-
full rate, every moment. Presently a
sort of attempt was made TO luff up, or
tack--it was desperate one. Great
God! cannot even now think without
shuddering of the consequence-lhe
sail, caught by sudden squall, was
shiveredinto an hundred shreds; down,
down ~ went, before the surge; and
in five seconds she struck against a
reef; and in ten minutes more split IN
to a thousand fragments. One gun on
| " was fired as signal of distress; but
who could regard it, We possessed
no boats; and had the contrary been
the case, this was sea in which no
boat could live. Powerless, therefore,
of aid, we could only stand and gaze
upon the wreck, till, piece by piece, 1t
disappeared amid the raging oil the wa
ters Not soul survived to tell what
country she belonged to, or with what
she was lreighted; and only one body
was drifted TO land 1t was that OF a
female, apparently about thirty years
of Sse, genteelly dressed, and rather
: elegantly formed; TO whom we gave
such sepulture as soldiers can give,
and such as they are themselves taught
TO expect. -:
The impression which that ship
wreck made upon me was not only lar
more distressing, but far more Perma-
nent, than the impression made by any
other spectacle, Of which, during the
course of somewhat eventiui lie,
have heep the spectator, Fer several