Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-02

lost. or particle Of human sire ngth expended
here, without sufficient object
The lucid and fearful looking mist, which,
for the last quarler Of an hour, had been gain
ering in the northwest, was now driving gov"
upon them with the speed oil race n"'Se'-
The air.had already lost the camp ana peeu,
liar feeling OF an eas,erly breeze; ana '''''e Gu
dies were beginning 10 futer among me mas's
precursors of the coming squa'' men,
rushing, roaring sound was heard moaning a,
long the ocean; whose surface was nrs' a''"p'u'
next rufilcd, and finally covered WIN one s"ee.
Of clear, white and sporless foam. the next
moment, the power OF the wlnd ieN III" upo'
the liner, and laborng Bristol trader.
Az IN, gust apnrosc he'd, Wilder had seized
the Sigh, oppor,unity afforded by the change
rul pufIs of air, to get the ship as much as pos
sible before the wind, but the sluggish move,
ment of the vessel met neither the wishes OF
his own impa,iencr; nor the ex,gencies OF
the moment, Her bows had slowly and heavi-
" fallen off from the north, leaving her pret
~ in 4 situation to receive the hrst shock OH
her broadsde. Happy it was for all who had
life a; risk in the delrnceless vessel, that she
was moi fa,cd TO receive the whole weight OF
the tempest at a blow. The sails huttered and
trembled on III ,ir massive yards, beilymg ana
collapsng alternately Tor minute, ana 'heh
the rushing wind swept over them III ahur't-
cane.
The Caroline received the blast like stout
and buoyanl ship, yielding readily to ITS Im>
| pulse, until her side lay nearly incumbent on
| the elrmcn, in which she hoa,ed; and then, as
If the fearful fabric were conscious Of its lcopar
DIV, i, seemed TO lilt its reclining masts again.
struggling to work lis way heavily through
| the water.
Keep tho helm weather. Jam Il a-wealher,
for your Iiitr shouted Wilder, amid the roar
of the gust.
| The veteran seaman at the wheel obeytd the
! order with steatincss, but in vain he kept his
eyes riyetcd on the margin of his head sail, IN
order to watch the manner the ship would obey
it's power Twice more, in as many mome,'s,
the tall masts fell towards the horizon, waving
as often gracefully upward. and then they vleid-
ed TO the mighty pressure oil be VIVA, uh'i' the
whole machine Law PROSTATE on the water
sRen, ctn said Wilder, sizing he hewlIderrd
Earring by the arm, as the later rushed maaly
up he steep Of The deck; u, is our du'y 10 be
calm: bring hither an axe
Quick as the thought which gave the order.
The admoni,hrd mate com oed, jumping into
the mizen-channcl, Of tn ship, TO execute With
| his own hands. the mandate that he well knew
mus, follow.
Shalt | cu,?' he demanded with upiied
arms, ard in a yoicc.lba' atonrd FOR his momen-
| ,arv confusion, BY lis adlut SIS and force.
| Elolu! Does the ship mind her helm At all'
Not an inch. sir
9Th cut WiIdeI clearly and calmly added.
A single blow sutfiCed tor the discharge OF
the mnmrntary act. Extended to the utmost
power of endurance, by The vast weight II up
he'll, the lanyard struck BY Earring no sooner
parted, Than each Of It's fellow snapped III sue
cession, leaving The mast dependant an l'sr'i
alone for the support Of al lis pondrr"us ana an,
| cJmpTicaicd hamper. The cracking II The
wood came next; and then the rigg ny fell, like
u rrec tina, bad been sapprd at its foundation,
the liue distance that still existed betw il
AMI The
DOES she foil oA?' instantly called Wilder 20
the observAnt seaman al he wheel
She Welded IL tie, sir: but this new squat
is b. Bringing her up again
Shall | cul?' shouted Earring from the main
rigging, whittier he had leaped, like a Tiger
who hsd bounded on his prey.
CUT was the answer,
A loud and imposing crash soon succeeded
this order, though not before some heavy blows
| had been struck mo the massive mast itself -
| AS before, tie seas received the tum bling maze
OF spars, rigging aud sails; the vessel surging,
al the same ms ant, from its r-cumbcnt posi-
lion, aud rolling far and heavily 10 windwarG
She rights! she rights exc aimed twenty
voices, WEIGH had been hitherto mute in sus>
peuse that in, olved life and death.
Keep her dead away!' added the still calm
but deeply authoritative voice Of the young
commander 'Sland by 10 furl the fore-lopsal
| Jet il hang moment 10 drag the ship clear
| Of the wreck-Cu,, cut-cheeriiy, meh-halch.
cts and kni,es--cut anh all, ard Cut of all
AS the men now worked with the reire shen-
ed vigor Of revived hope, the ropes that till
| cunhn, d the fallen spars TO the vessel were
quickly severed; and the Caroline BY this
time dead before the gale, appeared bearly 10
rou, h the foam that covered he sea, like a bird
that was swift upon the wing, sk,mming the
wa,ers The wind came over the aste in gusts
tina, rumbled like dis ant thunder, and with
power that seemed 10 threaten 10 iit the ship
and its contents from lis proper element, to dc
liver II 10 one sill more variable and tire cher,
Gus As prudent and sagacious seaman had
e' hy the halyards OF the solitary sail that re-
Oh,