Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-12
A pERuous SITUATION.

past 8 o'clock, when Hash which >i'umina.eu
the whole hemisphere, and was accompanied
with loud cracking, and tremendous noise'
struck the ship, and killed, upon the spot, two
Of the seamen on the forcastle. ran 10 Inc
door TO ascertain the effects Of the stroke, and
hoard The second mate who was between decks,
cry out Fire in the hold 6Ie below +! The
carp, had taken FIRE from the electric huid.-
The scene which followed exceeds all descrip-
lion. i, was one thai can never be forgotten oy
any who witnessed it.
In moment all hands were on deck; oucHe's
were supplied in abundance: the pumps were
manned and leaked, that the water might De
discharged on the burning cargo; passengers
and crew were all on the aler.: thre" OIL my
boa, cloak, which had procured by rushing
below through the smoke INFO my cabin, ana
assisted at the pumps. When the hatches
were taken off, 10 allow OF water being poured
into the hold, flames and clouds OF smoke lssu-
ed forth asfr ON furnace, increasing every IN
stan, 10 heat aud density. IL was soon ionnd
that all exertion was in vain-ihe vessel must
perish.
From the pumps we ran to the boats, the
pip hung over the larboard quarter, so as to
be lowered in a moment; but we should have
lostits valuable services, had not gentleman
threatened ,o.send bule thro' the head OF the
csrpen,er, who, insane with terror, had brought
Ratchet 10 cut the ropes and drop II al once
mo the sea The yawl, larger boat, was our
great difficulty; it was turned keel upwards, o.
YER the long boat, TO serve as root 10 he
live stock kept in thr latter Many attempts
were made, in vain, raise it from its situation;
the long boat was already on fse, by the Hames
bursting from the man hold l climbed into
i, without feeling that, in doing so. broke
nv shins severely 10 give my assistance; ard
when we were Just ready to despair, the yawI
eased and rose, no ore knew how, and was over
the side in The water, more quickly, The sail
ors said, than they had ever before seen IT DONE
Captain Daore had already affirmed, in an
swer to my inquiries, that the two ooalt
could not carry all he ships company, pas
senpers * crew: * under other circlmstances we
should no, have dared to. try them: but the iri-
al mus, now be made. The Two ladies, one oil
whom had 10 be hurried from her bed, where
she had retired for the night, were hrst put
safely in the yawl; some other passengers and
myself, with part the crew, followed, and our
weight sank il nearly 20 the waters edge; The
captain s. others entered the smalle' boat & SUI
6cienty filled il, leaving The vessel with honor
able reluctance; while the first mate Mr.. lboet-
son, gallan,ly remained on BOARD to The last, sug
ges,irg the best arrangements. and assisting
10 hand US any article that could be got al the
moment, that might be useful 10 US in the ex-
tremr perils we were about to encounter.
Many Of the party having retired 10 their
hammocks before The electric fluid struck the
vessel were half naked; but were supplied with
trowsers and jackets by those seamen who had
been on the watch; who in consequence of the
heavy rain, had cased themselves in double or
n Eshlf shsir asua! quantity Of elol4qs5TiM NY;
o"" ~, ssrs shirt and neck cloth ea' '''>
INV nassiR ps3ssipt aedsdd iS bringing away two
from the cuddy table, one Of them lighted; one
bottle Of wine, and another Of porter were hand
ed to US, with the table-cloth and knife,
which proved very useful; but the fire ragged
so iercely in the body Of the vessel, that neither
bread or water could be come at.
II was now about nine O'Clock; the rain pour,
ed in torrents the ginning continued to sire am
from one side Of the heavens 10 the other, one
mnmen, dazzling Us with its glare, and the
mex leaving US in darkness, relieved only by
he red flames of the coafiagralion, nom which
we were trying to escape.
sci, lest she should explode and overwhelm US.
But to our great distress we dicovered, that the
yawl had no rudder, and that n the two boats
We had only three oars, all exertions to obtain
more from the ship having proved unsuccess.
ful. From the gig which had .rudGer they
gave US ropes end to keep us in tow; and by
means Of few spars found a, the bottom OF
The boat, we assisted in moving ourselves slow
ly through the water ProvidentialIy The sea
was very still, or our boats would have swamp
ed ana we mus, have persisted There was al
80 very little wind, but il sometimes changed
and assisted by the prevailing current, urged
forward the burning ship; for the sails, being
drenched with rain, did no. easily take fire. Our
situation therefore, twas for some time exceeding
iy perilous. The vessel neared US more thar
once, and seemed to threaten to involve US in
its own destruction. The cargo, consisting
chiefly of hams, cheese, ale, porter, spirits, and
other things equally combustible, burned with
vtn and ,kaQ a..