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


served had already thrown his sea cap on .he
deck, and was preparing 10 di'eS' hih'seh "
some Of his outer garments. ,
81 90 aloit to ease the mast OF that topsai,
without which we lose that spar, and possio'y
the ship
CAV, ay, I see that plain enough; but shaii II
be said, another did the dlty Of Edward Ear
ing? Ii is your business to carry the vessei IN
10 the Capes Of Virginia, and mine 10 cut the
topsail adrft If harm comes 10 me, why pun
il in the log, and word or two about the man
ner in which played my part: that Is always
the best aud most proper epi'sph Tor sailor.
Wilder made no resistance, but resumed
his atchful and rejecting attitude, with me
simplicity Of one who had been too long IRAN
ed to he drchargc Of certain obligations him.
self. to manifest surprise that another should
acknowledge their imperati'e character: IN
the mean Tine Earing proceeded ste ,dily to
perform what he bad just promised Passing
! into the waist OF the ship, he provided hlmSe'i
with suitable Ratchet aud then. with Ut
! speaking syllable to any OF The mute but at
tentivc seamen, he sprang in.o the tore rig
cling, every strand aud rope yarn oil winch was
| frightened by the strain nearly to swapping
The understanding eyes of his observers ON
pretended hi, in'cntion; and, with Preci,fiy
the >amr pride of station as had urged nun
to the dangerous undertaking, four or live OF
tn" older mariners jumped upon the ratings
TO mount with him into the air that apParehiy
,eemed with hundred hurricanes.
"Lic down out Of that fore rigging, shouted
Wilder. through deck trumpet: "lie down.;
all but the mate lie down. His words were
borne pas, the mat entive ears of the excited
and mortified followers Of Earring, bus they
failed # their effect. Each man was too mueh
bent on his own earnes p"rpose TO ils'e" 10
the SCUM S o. recall. In less han minute the
whole were scu'ercd alorg the yard, p'ePaf'
ed 10 obey the signal of their officer. he nj te
cast look about him, and perc wing that the
time was cnmnarativc!v favorable, he struck a
blow upon the arg; rope that confined one OF
the angles Of the distendcd and bursting san
to the 10 e, yard. he effect was much ne
same IS would be produced oy knocking away
tn. kew stone of an i'll cemented arch Inc
canvass broke from all its faslrnings with a
loud explosion. ard for an instant was seen
sairng in e air shead Of the ship, as though
srst ICED o. the wings of IN eagle he yes
81 rose on sluggish wave the lingering
remains Of the former breeze-and then Ne'l' q
heavily o er the rolling surge. 'o'ne down a
lie by its own weight and tn renewed VIC
l.nce of the gusts VI this cri icai instant,
rrc,ion in viii, the little cour OF canvass had
tli appeared, a LANYARD Of he lnwest rigging
pa ted with a crack that even reached the ear
of Wildcr.
Lie down." he shouted fearfdlly through
hi, rum pet, down by The backstays; down Tor
YOUR lives; every man of you, down.
A solitary individual, of them all, pronted
bv the warning. and VS. seen gliding towards
the deck wi h the velocity Of tn" w'nI. Eut
: rope parted after ropr, and the snap"ing OF
the wood instantly followed. For moment
the twering maze touered and seemed TO
wave towards very quarter of he hea'en,, *
then. Vi lding 10 be movements OF the null,
I've who { II with heavy crash mt the ,ea
Each cord, la;,ya'd or stay sraepprd, when Ii
received he trim Of is new position, as
though i had been mad of thread, leaving
the naked and d sp, lied hill OF tie Caroln to
drive befor' the tempest, as if nothing had
occurred TO m EIDE it, p ogrcss.
\ mu and eloquent pause succeeded this
disaster. 1t appeared as fine ciemen them
selye, wee opposed o their work. and some
In ng like moment airy lul in he awiu rust
ling of the WINS might nave been fancied
W.ll'r sprang o the de Of the YES ei, and
d sti CT b h Id the vic ms VINO sl'll cluag to
thei frai support! He even saw Earring wa
X
and Ike a man who not ony felt how desper-
ate was his situation, but one who knew how
to meet lis fate With re signation Then the
wreck Of spas with all who chung to it. was
swal owed up in the BODY of the frig tful pre-
ternatural looking mist which extend on
cry sid Of he n, from the ocean to the clouds.
Stand by to clear away boat!' shouted
Wilder; without pausing to thi k oftbe i'm
POSSIBILITY of one SWIMMING, or efecting the
least good in SO violent tornado
But The amazed and COMPOUNDED seamen
who remained, needed not instruction IN this
matter. No man moved, nor was The smallest
sign OF obedience given. The mariners look
ed wildly around them, each endeavorlng to
trace, in The dusky countenance Of The other,
his opinion of the extent of the evil; but not
mouth was opened among them all.
sit is too late-il is to- la,e!" murmured
Wilder 10 himself; "human skill and human
efforts couA not save them!"
"Sail, ho!" Ni,hthead mu,rered at his elbow,
in Vol c that seem med with species of super
-