Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-13
VIVID SKETCH.
A, midnight i, blew tremendously, and the

Al midnight il blew tremendously, and tnt
- ~sshsd awav
she shIpped heary sea, "hich washed away
all the starboar,l bulwarks and washboards, and
deluped the cabins, which were near the COM
panion: and vet in the midst Of the hurly-burly
of the elements. the rafting of chairs and tables
adrift, which skirred the euddy from right TO
left; as the huge helpless ship rolled about in
the mountainous sea, Welsead could hear the
sobbing Of Lady Brasheigh, and the incessant
reproac hes of her husband, Tor such absurd IT,
mildly, when there was not the smallest danger.
A, daylight, the gale blew, if possible, still
harder; the men were constantly at the pumps;
a, eight, A. NJ. another tremendous sea struck
her, and stove in the larboard quarter boat, the
davis were upshippcd, ard the boat cut away;
in a moment after the iron work oil the dead
eyes Of the main rigging went, and three follow
ing seas swept her fore and aft before the noon,
another sea equally awful with the former,
struck her on the starboard quarter, and steve
the quarter boat, which was cut away as had
been that on the larboard side before, and the
night closed in with the most awful presages Of
even worse weather.
All these prognostics were verified; little
after midnight, (the darkness unmitigated, ex.
cept bv faint unfreYuent and distant flash Of
fosked lightning which seemed itself baffied
and driven about by the wiud,) huge sea roll
ing EDWARDS like black mountain topped by
snow, broke directly OH board, to windward,
and swept away the launch, the live stock, the
camboose, the siaunchions, and ringbolts, tear
ing up the decks along with them, and leaving
them open to the rolling waves, which made re-
gular way over her.
In the middle Of the night, all the starboard
.mairchais-plates gave way, the forerunners and
.taeke were got 10 secure the mast, but the worst
misfortune was yet to occur; a leak was disco
vered under her stern post, through which as
she rose to meet the coming waves, rushed in
at every pitch an awful quantity of water.
All hands were al the pumps, and it was clear,
that unless the ship lightened the leak would
gain upon them; before day light, the men were
faintise from fatigue and cold and wet, and
sank from their labor; the ship seemed rapidly
settling, and the waist was ankle deep in water;
We, no one dared to sound the well lest those
who already had begun to despair, should the
report were bad, give themselves up Tor lost,
and bv abandoning themselves TO their fate, In.
volve the fate of others.
In the midst of this awful storm, there gleam-
ed pale Pickering light upon the topmast
head; it seemed to burn unmoved by the con.
tending gusts around it; in moment il shifted
TO the fore-topmast-then darted back 10 its old
position, having touched the iron ring at the
main yard arm; the undisturbed serenity Of the
fame, the contrast it afforded to the surround
ing darkness, coupled with the sad time at
which they beheld it, rendered this natural pbe.
nomenon deeply interesting, if not positively
awful.
Out Of her cabin, and Of her bed, was dragged
the half lfeless Fanny, by her husband, contra
~ 10 her, inclination, and in opposition to her
earnest prayers, to look on this; his excellency