Litchfield enquirer., 1831-12-22

2 gaming fast upon them. Yhe boat deS- [ patched, and when it disappeared in the ! fog, the feelings of those who were left be- hind can scarcely be imagined, much less
 described. All eyes were strained towards
 the point at which she had been lost sight
 of, and after an interval of intense anxiety, she was at length seen to be returning.
 The crew reported, that at short distance
 there was rock, whose surface being a.
 bove high-water-mark, promised a tempo
 rary safety. The boat was instantly enga-
 ged with all possible activity in conveying
 as many as it would hold. The women
 and children were first removed, and while
 the officers were departing, the time occu-
 pied by each voyage-served to show to the
 men, that it would be impossible to remove
 many more before the rising of the sea
 would wash away all those upon the rock.
 This was the state of affairs when the boat
 returned. as was expected for her last freight, for the seh had nearly risen as high
 mon were standing. A simultaneous rush
 was made for the spot on which the boat
 would touch. The commanding officer
 had left the rock, few of the officers re-
 mained, and among these was Lieut..
 Stewart, by whose gallant self-devotion,
 the crew and passengers had been enabled Nto quit the wreck. He had laid down on
 the rock exhausted by his previous efforts.
 but at this moment he felt the necessity of setting to the men an example ofresolution,
 in which alone, under Divine Providence,
 lay their only hope of relief from the per-
 ils by which they were surrounded. His former conduct, which was knows to tho men, had acquired for him that degree of respect which induced thcm to listen to him.. He represented to them in plain but energetic language, that the only method of communicating with the land was by means of the boat, that if she were lost they must all inevitably perish; while, on
 the other hand, in her safety was the only
 chance of rescue. He knew that they
 would remember that they were British sol-
 diers; he declared his resolution to stand l by them and share their fate; that ho would be the last man to quit tho rock
 and that while this was his determination,
 where was the man among them who
 would forget himself SO far, as to dare to stir one step? The effect of Lieut.. Stew
 arts example was electric. The men seemed to losc sight of their sufferings, and
 to he actuated by one spirit of heroism and
 self f-dcvotion. The boat conveyed away
 the remaining officers excepting Lieut..
 Stewart. The enthusiasm of the moment
 however subsided with the departure oftho ings, mafKeu sis -ftAR ssc thu wEetched be- grew momentariy morgperilous. The fog
 increasing, shut out the light of the sun.
 The biting northeast blast added to the
 severity of the cold, which was still fur-
 ther increased by inc breaking of the surf
 over the men. They lay huddled togeth- CT for warmth. As may naturally be snp- posed, but little communication was helda- mong them, each appeared intensely re-
 fecaing upon that dissolution which seem-
 ed inevitable. The water gained upon
 them, and at length so high did the tide
 rise, that the men were forced to stand as
 closely together as if forming a solid
 square. sas . asek
 It was now noon-day, but the fog con-
 tinued as dense as ever, and the rain fellin
 torrents. Their sufferings rose at length
 to such a pitch, that there was scarcely ono among these miserable men who did not wish for death as a release. One of the sergeants, in the course of the morning, , pickedup a button which bore the number 3 of the 69th regiment, some men of which f had perished upon the very rock about 20 f years previously, having suffered ship. !, wreck. Lieut.. Stewart, with degree ot prudence and foresight which under the !, circumstances of his situation would seem 5 almost miraculous, strictly charged the ser ! geant to conceal this circumstance from , his fellow soldiers, for knowledge of Il would only have aggravated their horrors t and might probably have driven them to . desperation. While thus awaiting theii !. end with a resignation scarcely paralleled :. vessel appeared breaking tho line of fog | the men coold at first hardly believe thei !. senses, and when tho ship became clearly s visible, the burst of exultation beggars de- !, scription, they were snatched by the over 0 ruling hand of Divine Mercy, from what t' 0 them appeared inevitable destruction, an' y in proportion to their former despair wa l. their present joy. The effects of Lieut. o Stewards foresight and prudence soon be l. came apparent; the jolly boat. after con d veying tho last freight to tho second rock c proceeded in search of land, giving up th' n unfortunate men on the sunken rock as O o overwhelmed in the deep. The boat sool E. came in sight of two vessels, ono of whic| '- immediately proceeded to the rescue y those on the second rock, while the othe h ,uarA :.> anar~l, of .sanA Sfawartsx marty