The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-07-08
A NIGHT SQUALL AT SEA.
From .SiLEimnn'S JnnrnnL.

We have been permitted to hear read parts
of MS. work now in progress, which will, if
we mistake not, form a book of kind some
what peculiar The author, man of mental
power and liberal education, taste, and acquire
ments, accompanied an American squadron
around the shores OF the Mediterranean, and
was absent fiom this, his native country, from
the autumn of 1925 to that of 1928, in the char
acter of instructor of the Midshipmen
We have obtained permission of the author
to insert the following sketch of night squall
az. S. Figate Constitution,
Monday, Sept. 4, 1896.
son Friday, the green shores of Sicily
came in view, but the breeze was light, and
we advanced slowly. On Saturday it left
us altogether, and, when | turned in at
night, the sea was smooth and bright as a
mirror; the vast armament seemed to de-
scend below Us; the ship appeared suspend
ed in the centre of an immense sphere, and
if may say so, one felt in awe and silence
the majesty ofspace. The sails hung idly by
the mast, and the officers tread along the
deck was the only sound heard. So left
them. About midnight | was awaked by a
heavy swing of my cot, succeeded by a
sudden dash to the other side; the water
was pouring into our room, and | could
hear it rush across the upper decks, where
all was noise and rapid motion. [ hurried
on my clothes and ran up the gun deck
was clear; hammocks had already been
dashed up and slowed it was lighted up,
and the lamps showed it flooded in its whole
extent. | assembled to the next the rain
came down in torrents, but did not feel it,
so deeply absorbing was the scene. | wish
| could describe it. Fhe sky was in con-
slant blaze the sea was not high, but the
waves were broken, confused, and foaming,
and taking from the lightning an unnatural
hue. Above me were the yards covered
with human beings, thrown by each flash
into stronger outline, struggling hard to Sc
cure the canvass, and to maintain their pre-
carious footing the ship rolled tremendous
| ". And now add the wild uproar of ele-
ments, the "noise of many waters" the
deep and constant roar Of winds, the cries
of men aloft, the heavy and rapid tread of
those below, the reiterated orders of Off
GERS, and the sounds of the trumpet rising
above all and then add to this the heavy
rolling of thunder, at times drowning all
these sounds. The first lieutenant had the
deck he had sprung to it at the first alarm
and Selling the trumpet had called for
Black, his favorite hemsman. The ship
: was soon under snug sail, and now dashed
EDWARDS at a furious rate, giving to the
gale yet wilder character. All at once
a rocky island seemed to start up from the
waters, but the next broad flash showed
good offing, and we were safe when sud.
denly came loud shout from the forecas.
tie, "a sail on the starboard bow I' and
then another, a sail close on the larboart
bow" trembled then; not for ourselves
for we should have gone over them, ant
have scarcely felt the shock, but for the
poor wretches, whom it would have beer
impossible to save. The helm was put har,
down; we shot by, and again l breathcc