The Litchfield County post., 1828-10-30
From the Ne.c- England Goiory
THE "SPANISH STORM-SHIP."

brig lay at anchor IN the pay OF -----.
The day had been foggy, viii strong
South-westerly wind. A large number of
small coaslng vessels had come into the
hArbor during the tive preceding days, as
the weather had been threatening, and the
light scuds which occasionally drifted a.
cross the sky, had taught US to expect one
of those heavy gales which are there SO
much dreaded.
The harbor opened to the north-east,so
! that the wind blew directly out and the
: low hills back of the town, while they par
| tally protected those vessels which were
close in shore, rendered it equally and ftful
to those which were anchored in deeper
| water. Oar brig was tight, new built
vessel, and our captain had chosen the sta
ton nearest the sea, and almost in the
roads Of the outer entrance to the harbor,
for his anchorage ground.
As we looked up the bay, during the
short intervals of lighter weather, during
he day, the scene was peculiarly interest
ing. Vessels of all possible varieties were
Ihe.e collected. Clumsy built Dutchmen
we're riding beside ligh. built feluccas, man
seemed to betray by their lightness and ar
mament, that in more open sea, they could
easily throw off the merchant and assume
the picaroon.
There was large Spanish built vessel,
which laid quite up the harbor. Report
said she had a valuable cargo on board land
the peculiar care which was bestowed on
her safety, seemed to confirm the idea.-
But she sat too high out of water to be
heavily laden, and our sailors insisted that
she was only in ballast. She had lain there
for forty-eight hours, and had, as yet had
no intercourse with the shore. She hoist
ed Spanish flag soon after the Turkish
officer of the port boarded her, but it was
hauled down within an hour after.
AS the evening closed in upon us, the
mist seemed to rise and form itself into
huge misshapen masses of clouds. which
drove more and more rapidly over the hea-
VEINS. The setting sun would occasionally
tngc With hrassy hue the edge of the Wes-
,ern horizon, but it was soon darkened wi h
one huge mass of black and heavy cloud.
The moon rose about seven, and for near
ly an hour it seemed to be struggling and
Iaboring through the clouds, occasionally
bursting forth for an instant, and lighting
up the whole bay, and then again plungng
us into total darkness. The gale was ev-
identity approaching, and an old Greek
sailor, who was on board, told US that it
would soon burst forth in all its violence.
Our captain, who was used to the sudden
squalls of the Mediterranean, carried out
anchor, and having lsshed every thing
close, prepared to receive the gale. Our
station was more secure one, as not De-
ing amidst the crowd Of the upper harbor,
and in case the gale was severe one, we
could easily put out to sea.
After pacing the deck with my friend Z.
until late hour, watching the driving
clouds, and listening to the angry dash Of
! the waves on the beacon rock, which laid,
with its blazing top, about half mile to
the north of US, we retired to our births.-
About twelve was walked by shout
from above, and found that it was the cap
! tain hailng some craft with his speaking
trumpet. On going upon deck, the scene
was noble but terrific. Our vessel rolled
and pitched in the midst of those short
choppng waves, which strain a vessel
much more than full deep sea swell.-
The moon was nearly south, and the wind
blew perfect hurricane. The whole bay
was covered with white foam, streaked
with long black wind streaks. Two feluc-
cas- were driving loosely and scarcely man
ageable by US; one with small sail set,
was striving to pass the entrance, land keep
out to sea,-while the other was drifting
side to the wind full upon US. The cap
tain was Just mailing them with directions.
But the frightened Greeks we're all on
heir knees, and an instant more brought
them against US with crash which SEEM
ed to have split every timber in our vessel.
She swung round broadside to US, and then
her bows parted from US, and she whirled
round again. A few of her shrouds were
entangled in our rigging, but one of our
sailors cut every rope of hers in an instant,
and she drilled astern about cables
length and went down head foremost.
Our men flew to the pumps. The YES
sci had stood the shock 10 miracle but
a slight leak was pcrceptible, and lii lie
exertion kept her free. One cable had
parted, but the best one remained, and our
captain was again cheerful and alert. The