Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-08-18


on the verge OF the horison il beamed like ray of hone
irraiiatng tho gloom which hung heavy upon INV
heart Suddenly 1t expanded like the glowing meteor
and The ocean was illuminated with rcd and cory
"nGe. was struck with astonshineni; but at the
same moment an exclamation resounded fore and aft
IA ship on lire. ship ive," aud the horrd convc-
tioh was, alas! too evident. In few minutes the
a'nes were distinctly visible and the shin was pro.
nounccd TO be about FIVE miles distant Never efnre
did witness such a'acry among our crew as in that
hour OF peru. Inc capta'n and every officer aud man.
we're on deck immediately: and it was impossible
'o e 'gate 10 approach efficient time TO rescue
Tue sufferers, before ten minutes had eapsc fro-, te
peoa OF rst noticing the fire. every boat W as i'm mo-
you towards the scene OF danger. Ii fell my lot to
.o'"'no 'he captain's g'g a swift pulling boat with
scsen men, VINO bent to their with all the might
OF brave and generous spirits AS we drew near the
obstructive element ragged with increasing fury; and
'he shticEs OF the wrerhed creatures came Iningng
win The cracking of the flames and the crash of falling
uass The risate had fred guns and hosted lights 10
SLOW Them succor at hand; and the boats crews
occasionally cheered, 10 announce that they were ap
preaching to their Tie shouts were returned
from the burning slip; but SO Wild so fearful thew
sounded II the expiring ycH ofagony, that still clun
10 hope and life. would have dashed instantly along.
sue, out the old coxswain respectfully warned of
te danger OF such measure ''as the boat" he said
"woad instantly be swamped by the crowds that would
rush into her." We we're within n short distance
OF the vessel, and ON. what sight of horror was pre-.
sen'eu me ports were all open. and the flames pour
w iron" mem as from so many mouths, seemed eager
Tor their pray. Numbers of poor creatures were
swimming towards US, whilst others held pieces Of
sna''eTed spais, with strong convu!sve grasp The
iore-par OF the ship was nearly consumed and the nm
per part abaft was rapidly falling in. Those who
could swim, left for other boats to take up. and
pulling under the stern, lay unobservcd by the
gun-room ports, while the fiery fragments came tum
o'i''o thich about u.s. trusting TO skill in swim
i:iing should 1t be deemed requisite TO innp oyer.
board instantly entered tue port hole; aud the shin
having turned before the wind, what little air there
was, drove the greatest part of the smoke forward.
porIn f,Ip hoo H.
sutocat!ng yapors bid defiance my efforts to nene
Tate iurther "A feeling could not account for-an
'hdescribahie tee!lng-urged me and reached the
gun room ladder at the bottom of which Law human he.
ing, whose suferiuss apparently were over PASSED nv
hand quickly TO the heart, to feel fany palpa,on yet
remained, and discovered that the Individual was fe
male: she was yet living, and i'll few minutes was SAFE
IN the BOAT Again returned with three of my Grey
and soon had the satisfaction OF rescuiu eight uon
"'e'thes' VINO lay i'll state of nsensiblitv, and must
soon nave persisted. Stimulated by success we penern
tef to the burning deck above never shall foro., IN.
horror OF the spectacle Here al, was bancv and Ich
ana the devouns element rolling its huge volumes owe,
many devoted victim, roafed in ercepsss as If IN
stinc the thrilling scream Of the last atipsng SIEVE
raj halt burst and mang ed bodies could be DISTINGUISHED
III the hames' and many others lay in senseiess state
unconscious oil the awful doom them-Near the
ransom, abaft, sat mother with an infant in her arms
he seemed unconscious of any object moving near her:
she not approach bu, her evr-has wildly plo
up" the red hue of the burning fabrck spoke TO her.
shook her, but her eyes still continued xed-aas, the film
n death was on them She needed not, casped her
ana mortal agony was over The exce.d-
'nsy precious: the smiling infant (for smiled amidst the
appalling sceneO was secured and poor wreches
were dragged TO the gun:oom scue, where they were
thrown down. riskng their limbs to save their lives: and
the boat completely filed Amos, to sinking: ve
hers were still left behind and reused from their supor
by the increasing heat. rushing TO the noIr and
piungng headlong into the sea-t was but c,,auoira
the mode OF dsathfo the wa,ey element equally fatal
vim lat from winch they stFove 70 escapeengufed them
III It's DARK abyss, at once their destruction their grave
was compelled 10 of my rescued pa1tv in the
ana then pulled bri5ky for the Ggate. The female
had thus saved still inscnsibe; but vet nc s l
eXteoen III te stern sheets the boat her head res
Ting on my knees, could feel the t.eu,uous papia,in
o he hear and Hope whispered Thar she might yet ecov
en- Se appeared to be young, bu, her dark hair hung in
thGN lakes down her face, her features
The worthy cockswain had wrapped the infant in his sck
which was now sweey sleeping in the box by his side
Several ct the sufferers, restored fresh air speedily
recovered but only lament some enc WHOM,
supposed had psrisheIn the bows of tile boat am aIar
man 'a!'sI ms WHITE head, ard with ircnherent language
inquired where he was. The BOWMAN sno;hcd him and
tried to explain his situation. "Bui INV son. nv
ne exclaimed "whcre they?" Then ,uyni1r To The
burn'r5 ship-"Nretched w'etchcd man. they are lost
oSt ioe"eT- ana yet alive. He struggled to throw HIM
self INT" the sea, bnt, overcome with weakness fell arL
ward. AZ THIS Iponen another voice unity uttered ATy
a'hc'' my iather cry of ecStacy the old
mans 'ips- was his SOM The youth Law near me- nd
the exclamation drew my attention towards him. lie sar-
YEA MP kc one awakig from fsht!u dream, Ind gInreh
"H".y around But, G"d in what language ca por-
hy the various feelings which aerna cly took possession
Of my soul, when, fixing his look on me- saw tie
nance Of Sir Edwards slk si,udderns came acos
me- ne "!a man had called upon his daughter In an
instant the Inanimate body Of the young female was
IN my arms parted the dark that nlscurcd her
face aud as the red glare souc upon it, recognised NV
Agnes yes II was she: my arm had cucirc"d her neck
my hand had been pressed upon her ,art-bu, Nc Enc
her not: and now TO find her tius Sojs of anguish md
tunultu"us bursts Of joy, followed in rapid successinn
The Gcn rested OIL their coxswaju guessed ,,
cause Bat knew !,ic whole trnih; aud was son,c
mites before vas sufficiently tranquil 10 give directions
You have saved her, Sir, said the coxsvan and ro,
~ pleasure 6ed my heart. Sin Edward ana his SON he'd
rclapscd into st'ror, AMI shortly aerwar3, we reached
Inc tngate spar. Upon tho deck, inform the cap;an
whom mad brought, and icn returned again TO tie boat
the SIDE III ny arms carried the dear girl 10 the
cann stole ore Kiss from those lips on which had hun
WIN snch desht ~ ca'y infancy pressed her to nv
heatt-ann tncn hasenci bac;. to my duty. Arai, 7
reached tue ship b' all approach nov impossible
VIC could only pick ~ tasc Who were enabled to swim.
an" "ccasi'nay by great hazard close 10 re-
'e'yc some poor sufferer Gom the wreck. Yet tfe wee,
many who still cmaiucd and drcIdiry to trust themselves