Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-13

she stood on the companion ladder, in obedi-
ence 10 his excellency's command, ].
In The horrors Of This night, in the midst OF
burric anes and tempes,s now lifted tothe noun
tain's top, now buried in the fathomless valley
of waters below, the Inflated Fanny leaned once
more for support upon the companion OF her
youth, the beloved Of her heart, again did she
experience the gentle solicitude which ever
marked his conduct towards her; again did she
feel the pressure Of thar hand which she had so
often c!asped in friendship and affection: ne
spoke soothingy to her, and though the words
he uttered were lost TO her ear in the general
din, she felt his breath upon her cheek-her
feelings oyercame her-she tainted IN his arms
jim the arms Of Welsted, who thus was driven,
in conjunction with her husband, to carry her
into her cabin. The dangers and difficulties OF
such proceeding Can only be judged by those
who Lave been par,akers of it. She was at
length, however, safely placed on her couch, al
though insensible to every thing around her;
"She is bad passenger in storm, Mr. wei
stsd," said his excellcncy.
A storm indeed--not the wild roaring OF Inc
mighty waters, not the rude elemental strife, al
whose mercy she as, not the forked lightning
nor the pealing thunder, was hall so potent as
the storm that ragged in her own mlnd-ihat
was the dreadful concict Of PASSION WITH PRIN-
cIPLE. ,
AS soon as day dawned, and the wrelched
state Of the ship, then almost wreck was evi-
dent the master gave orders TO commence lign'
ming her; all hands were turned up, the ou'k,
heads forward were knocked down, and all
hands set TO work to heave cargo overnoaro'
the difficulty Of getting al it, as she was the y.
rolling and pitching, was great, but, alter nan
an hour. a chain of hands was formed ait, and
bales, and chests, and barrels, and cases, were
promiscuously hoisted upon deck, where the
| ioaminp waves took them, and swept them into
the bosom Of the deep.
| All exerlions, however, appeared unaVaillng,
and though the day had been expended IN all
terpa,ely heaying overheard anG pumping, the
ship laboured Just as much, the leak continued
TO gain, the men grew fainter, and the storm, II
possible, increased birds hocked for shelter 20
The rigging, and the bravest sailor there stood
still and trembed. -,
| At at night the master resoived,n possible,
TO wear ship, without consulting or communing
with human being, conscious, as he was, that
the experiment was perilous in The extreme,
and would in all probability be fatal; ne gave the
| word and in momentary lull, she went about,
without straining a rope-yarn. Hope beamed
on his mind then, those who knew not his
thoughts felt increased appreheasions, for she
lay in the trough of the sea, rolling gunnei I'M
| der: no sail set, for none could stand the wea-
Their; The small one used to bring her round,
was blown into ribbanGs from the stay; till just
| at midnis crash on deck announced the
| mainmast gone; at one blow, like the stricken
deer, she fell topping with her yards and top
mast over the starboard side, she went about
ten feet above the deck, and yjusizahese-,as
'ssss y 80, eisted cldng to 1t, to watch
the work Of havock above.
1t was scene for painter, the noise was in
conceivable, the night inky black, the waves
dashing over every part Of the vessel, the wo-
men battened down forward were screaming for
mercy, and their cries were Emingled with the
clashing of axes used by the men cutting away
the rigging, by the cleaning light Of lanthorns,
disposed in the most advantageous points, and
the stern bawling Of those in command, with
the faint reply of others, who in the midst Of
the stupendous waves, were in the main-chains,
over the side, endeavoring to clear the ship of
the wreck; for the mast chung as 1t were TO the
quarter and the counter beat so heavily upon
the man-top, which lay close beneathiit, that ev-
er moment they expected she would be stovein.
At this moment three following seas again
swept her fore and aft, and a shrek o! horror
which overtopped the howlings Of the tempest
ITSELF announced some DIRE adiul calamity, All
those who were forward, were washed at one
"fell swoop" from offthe bows and plunged into
inevitable destruction. Even Fanny was con-
scious Of the increase Of noise, and a change
Of motion in the ship; she rushed from her ca
bin, and caught the arm of her husband, who
was encouraging by his presence the hardy
sailors in their duty, on the top step Of the
companion ladder.
: "Sir Frederic" said she, "what is its-let
me"
"Nothing, Fam, nothing?" said the gene
raj angrily, Ego TO bed, Lady Brashleigh; there
is no danger-all will be well soon, ma am."
Another following sea struck hers another
1T was the last!-the dead lights were shiv-
cred into splinters, the stern frame itself could
not withstand the shock; the water deluged
the decks below, and carrying every Thing be-
fore it, burst upwards through the deck itself,
driving those who were on the companion for
ward.
Fanny was caught, as she was whirlcd for
ward, by Welsted, who seized firmly hold ofthe
pinnacle, which broke away from its elects; Sir
Frederick was hurried onward in the mass Of
waters, and the master Of the ship, having ut
tered an exclamation too clearly indicative that
ell wa ,loo r.