Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-15
SKETCH OF a NIGHT SQUALL.
u. S. FRIGATE CoNsrITUT ON,
Monday, Sept 4, 1896. 5

On Friday the green shores OF Sicily came in
view, bu, the breeze was light, aud We acvan-
ced SLOWLY. On Saturday i. left us altogether;
when turned in al night, The sea was smooth
and bright as a m,rroI; the vast armament
seemed 10 descend below US; the ship appeared
suspended in the centre Of an immense sphere,
and if may Say 81, one felt in awe and silence
the majesty Of spae. The sails hung idly by
the mast, and The Ulcers read along the deck
as the only sound heard. So i-f, them
About midnight was awaked by heavy
swing of my cot, succeeded by sudden dash 10
the other side; The waller was pouring into our
room. and could hear SIS rush across the up
Der decks, where all was noise and rapid mo-
ton. hurried on my clothes and an up; the
eun.detk was clear; hammocks had ALREADY
been lashed up and slowed; II was lighted up,
and the Samps showed II flooded in its whole
extent assembled TO the nexi; the rain came
down in torrents, but did not feel it, SO deeply
absorbing was IL. scent. wish could de-
scribe il. Tbs sky was In a constant blsZr;
he sea was no. high, but the waves were bro
ken, confused and foaming, and taking from
the lightning an unnaiur.l hue. Above me
were The yards cover d with human beings,
thrown BY each fash in stronger outline,
slruc Cling hard 20 secure the canvass and 10
main ain their precaliou footing; the ship roll
ed treme ndously. And now add he wild up
roar Of elements, the noise OF maBy waters,
the deep and constant roar Of winds, the cries
of the men alofl, The heavy and rapid lad
of those below, the reiterated orders of Off
GERS, and the sounds VI the trumpet rising a.
boye all; and then add 10 his the heavy rolling
of thunder, at times drowning III these sounds.
The frs, lieutenant had hi Sex; he had sprur 6
10 i, a, the Fl s, alarm, aud stizlng the trumpet
had called for Black, his f,vorite ht lmsman.
The ship was soon under snug sail, and now
dashed onw ards at furious rate, giving to The
gale vet wilder cnarao er. All al once rocky
island seemed 10 start up from the ws'crs, but
the next broad fash showed good "fhug, and
we were safe; when suddenly anne loud shoul
frum the force as,e, a sail close ON The larboard
bowl ,rembled then; not for ourselves, for
we should have gone over them and have
scarcely felt the shock, but Tor he poor ~re' h
es, who it would have been impossible 10 save
The helm was put hard down; We shot by, and
again breathed freely, when some one babe
me look up to our spars did SO, and found
every upper yard-arm and mast head tipped
with lightning. Each blaze was twice as large
as that Of candle; and thus we few on, with
the elements of destruction playing above our
heads.
In about thirty minutes, the wind, which was
from The S. w. changed suddenly to the S. E.,
and became as hot as air from the mouth Of an
oven; it was the sirocen, and was told after
wards by those most above the deck, brought
with i, quantity Of fine sand. We were then
few miles from Maritime, sixty-six from
Cape Bon, the nearest African shore, and three
hundred from the nearest land in the direction
Of the wind. Il lasted half an hour, and was a
stiff smacking breeze, but not near so strong as
the one that had pre-, sisd it.
A similar electric phe pomenop occurred 10
the ship in which Castor and Pollux sailed, in
the Argonautic expedition, only the light ap-
2eared on the caps of the two heroes; the storm
subsidized, and they were received as patrons Of
sailors Hence the ancient medals represent
them each with star or asme Of fire at the a.
psx Of his cap. In this way, TOO, we may &C.
count for the story, that they often appeared to
sailors in distress, and also to the Roman ar
mics, leading them to victory. The latter was
nothing more than the electric fuid on their
spears.