The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-05-25
AN AwruL Momrnr. isdlcd I'm

IlHbNi III SHiili hthuuItl btubo III
Nca-i ork. We descended the river
without any accident, and went TO sea
with 4 iine breeze. We had favorable
winds and good weather for the lirsl five
days on the morning OF tho sixth 1t be-
gan TO cloud up as the day wore away,
thc gloom increased and when the
night sci in, IT was intensely dark as |
! ever remember 10 have seen il. The
novelty and interest OF my situation pre-
vented mo from turning in. The scene
was awiuliy grand the roaring of the
thunder could iust be distinguished u
bove the roaring al the waves, and the
vivid flashes of lightning dispersed for a
moment tho raging waters around US. |
continued walking the deck with the
captain, WHO was relating 10 ME some
Of the many dangers and difficulties TINT
lie OF thlr.y years on the ocean had
subjected him 10. He had been thrice
| shipwrccked, and twice captured by tie
enemy IN the late war with England.
llo was good seaman and had all the
virtues and vices ola sailor. We con-
tinuod on deck some time the wind
was increased to gale. The waves
ran mountains high. and our little vessel
danced over them IN fine style when ac-
cIdentally caStingmy eyes over her SIDE,
| thought | perceived something dark
moving in the water. pointed it out
To the captain, who no sooner saw II,
than, with an exclamation OF terror and
despair, he cried, We are all lost 7
and sprung TO the pinnacle for his trum-
pet | saw in an instant our danger il
was a large ship bearing full upon us. |
knew il she struck us our destruction was
inevitable /; she would pass over us III a
moment the people on her deck would
be scarcely sensible of the event, and
we should be buried in the ocean with
out the least possibility Of relief Tho
captain twice raised ms trumpet TO hail
her, but fright aud despair made him
mute. snatched II from him, and III a
voice rendered supernaturally loud by
the danger Of my siuation, which WIS
heard even above the roaring of the
waves, hailed her with 'starbolrj your
helm In an instant after, | heard the
officer OF her deck, in voice scarcely
less loud Than nine, pass the word o.
hard slarboard.' In another moment
she passed us with the velocity of light
nlng, her huge bulk and lofty sails CAST
ing still deeper gloom over the dhei
Of our little vessel. She rolled in the
chasm occasioued by the passing Of the
vast body so near her, and nearly upset.
| sunk on the deck, overcome by the
intensity ofmy feelings, deprived as II
were oil the power of motion. ] recov-
cred myself, y approached our captain ::
he was standing Ia the same position rs
before the vessel had pissed MS, aud APP
lpcared 10 be iBsensible to the objects IL
round hn. spoke to him, but he an
swefed me not / shook HIM, and he a.
reused as from Il stupOr or reverie. II
was some time before his mind resumed
It's empire, aud he afterwards told me,
that in ali his dangers and pcrls, and
when death stared HIM IN the face, and
dcliYeranco seemed impossible, he was
never 50 impressed with the certainty of
his destruction as at that moment. As
for me, never shall forget my feelings
on that eycntlul night, and cannot oven
now look back without horror on the
danger OF my situation. Mirror.
Numerous anecdotes are extant oftbe
diuntlcss cntcrpri2' >, and headIong Yalor
Of General Israel Putnam. We recoI-
lcct to have heard one from gentleman
OF an adjoining town, who was attached
to M. Pulnam's body guard, during the
revolution. MOI having seen itin print,
and as every Circumstance relating 10 the
General is interesting 10 the people OF
his native state, we annex il.
In the French and Indian War oi
Of 1875, Putnam, then "a captain, and "a
brother officer, were sont tofcconnoitrc
the camp Of the enemy. Impelled by
an ungoVernable anxiety to ascertain the
precise situation ofiho foe, they approa-
ched so near their lines as to be discov-
cred. Immediate aud swift pursuit was
commenced by "A party Of about 20 Indi-
ais jJ n tittii|htio WIZ tOhHE dlll
active, and for fie FIRST mile they gain
cd on their advefsarIes, but knowing
well the capacity Of the sayages for con-
tinuing and efen increasing their speed
and fearful ofboing ultimately overtakcr
they assembled lofty pine, and conceal
ed themselves among its branches. Il
was nearly dark, and they were enectu-
ally hid from observation, while the
movements Of the Indians were distinct
> ~ visible. They collected around the
tree, uuering horrid yeIls, and search
ing in vain for the lugitves. While Ro-
gers the companion OF Putnam, was ST.
lent in breathless suspense, Putnam
changed his position, so far as to have
a fair ann at his enemies, cooked bis
musket, and prepared 10 fire. Rogers