The Litchfield County post., 1827-04-05

cy of the storm alarm began to DC Felt by all on board, and even the philoSoph- cal captain at length betrayed some appre- hensions for our safety. The sails and rig ging were torn away piece by piece; the masts were splintered, and finally there was little left but the hulk of the beautiful ship which had but few days before sailed so proudly over the waves. To add to our distress, on trying the pumps we found that there were foufsfeet of water in the hold. The alarm of all on board increased, and I could perceive by the heightened physi- ognomy of the captain, that he had never stood more in need of his philosophy than at that moment. He however still stormed at the sailors to urge them to exertion, and calmly quoted Seneca to satisfy himself of the vanity of life.
 The sailors labored night and day at the pumps to keep us afoat. We had been driven in this manner at the mercy of the waves for about week, every day the leak increasing, but as the wind was favor able, and we constantly sailed in nearly the same direction, we still hoped to reach some haven in safety. On the tenth day, when even the most sanguine began to de- spair, our dropping spirits were revived by the sight of land. The sea was running high, and we rapidly approached the coast, but our feelings of joy at thesprospect of being rescued from a watery grave, were now changed into those of terror, for the helmsman had lost all controul over the ship, and there were breakers ahead, upon which she must inevitably strike and go to pieces. The captain foresaw the danger, and ordered the long boat to be got in readiness. He then awaited patiently the moment that should decide our fate. The interval was truly awful, and as stood ga- zing on the coast now so near us, felt that death in the midst of the dreary waste of waters would not have been so terrible as in the sight of the haunts of men and place. of safety. All were assembled on deck: we drew near to the spot where the furious waves were lashed into foam: eve- ry eye was fixed upon it, and each held his breath in dreadful suspense, as the wreck was borne aloft by the irresistible surft was to dash it upon the pointed rocks indstincty seen in the chasm beneath.- The vessel struck, which was denoted by a shriek of terror. The long boat was has, tily lowered, and we got on board as speedi- ly as practicable. The little captain even in this extremity displayed the influence of the precepts of Seneca and Boetheus on his mind he was the last to leave the ship, though the fury of the waves threatened every moment to dash her to pieces. The boat pushed off from the wreck; it was we'll manned, and in few minutes we were beyond the danger of the breakers. Our eyes were still turned towards the ship, which was laboring to pass the shell wing rock, when suddenly two figures ap- pealed on board. Our hearts sunk within us, and each anxiously looked around to see if his friend were with us. A voice near me, scarcely articulate with grief, sobbed, Oh! my mother, my dear moth- CT !'' turned and beheld Mrs. Campbell's child in the arms of the boatswain. Those left behind proved to be the maniac, and the unhappy female, Mrs. Campbell. The Captain ordered the boat to put back, and we endeavored to approach the wreck, but in vain. The safety of those in the boat obliged us to desist, and with heavy hearts we turned round the prov towards the shore. The child continued to cry, my mother, my dear mother, Oh! take me back to my mother," while the rough boat swain, as he endeavored to sooth her, mingled his tears with hers.
 The figures on the wreck appeared un- concerned at their approaching fate. Mrs. Campbell was seen kneeiing at the feet of the maniac, who stood in the attitude of devotion. He placed his hand on her head, and raised his eyes, as if asking for giveness for her sins. He bent forward, and touched her forehead with his lips She arose and fell upon his bosom. He gave her one agonized embrace; her slen- der form lay upon his left arm, and his right was raised towards heaven. The ship was thrown violently on the breakers, went to pieces, and the objects of our solicitude disappeared among the waves.
 We reached the shore in safety, and soon learnt that we were on the coast of Spain. We found shelter in the cottages of the peasants, and the succeeding day, as the sailors were searching the strand for whatever might be washed ashore from the wreck they found the bodies of Mrs. Camp bell and the maniac locked in each others embrace; and as death had united those ,yho ;n life had heen r,arted we did not