Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-11
PERISHING WITH THIRST.
We quote from the Adventures Of Younger

i we quote from the Adventures OF Younger
Son.
GA long continued gale Of wind drove Us down
towards the coast Of New Holland. When il
had broken, and while we were iaborng in the
heavy swell which followed, we discerned small
boat, evidently in distress, and we wore down to
her aid. Owing to the swell, and the wind hav-
| ing moderated, it sometime ere the grab sue
ceeded in getting alongside Of her, to take her
crew on buasd, which consisted Of four sailors
and masters mate. They belonged to an Eng
Iish frga,e, which, having captured small brigan-
tine mad Put them on board to take charge of
her The prize had been separated from the fri
gate by white sguall in the straits Of Sunda,
damaged in her masts and rigging. A north wes
ter, against which they could make no head, had
driven them a lons way to the southeast In
this hapess state, their fral and crazy bark had
been struck abaft by heavy sea, which had loos-
ened her stern-post and shattered the framework
in her stern. The water poured in so fast, that
it was only by the greatest prOnpttude and dex.
terity they had succeeded in getting clumsy
boat, which lay amdship. afloat, just as their ves-
sci foundered. they had no time to secure any
thing but themselves; boy and two men were
drowned, probably in attempting to save some,
thing The boat was as old and worthless as the
somewhat seasoned IN the water, they were all
occupied in baIing with their caps. and in stuing,
with rags and coirOakum, theTcreyices and rents
which the sun had made. Fortunately the boat,
as she lay on board, had been used as a recepta-
Gle for spare CANVASS, oars, light sails, the fag
ends of ropes, and what was now of far greater
Importance, a coop with six ducks, an old grisy
he goat, and hen. that had demurey laid its
egg, as an offering for its undisturbed sanctuary
in the sheltered part of the bow, where it had pro-
baby roasted for years 10 solitary security. The
seamen thanked Providence as they bcheld their
live stock. Being up to their knees in water,
dripping with water, water having destroyed their
vessel, and now threatening to oserWheim them
in its foaming pillows. and with an ocean Of wa
ter all around them, sume time elapsed ere the
awful words were uttered. There is no fresh
water in the boat.' Every voice echoed in pre-
ternatural sounds, There isno fresh water!'-
Every eye wildly glanced at the boat, and around
the sea, and again was despondingiy muttered,
There is no water! Oh, God. we must perish!'
Anticipated thirst soon parched their lips, and
their stout hearts quaiIed. Other dangers, past
and present, were forgotten. A leaky, rent mis-
shapen boat, hardly big enough to contain their
diminished crew, as it lay laundering in the
trough of the sea, like harpooned porpolse, was
nothing, If they had but water. Fortunately
their officer, though the youngest among them,
was the abiest and manifest, at least in mind; by
which boon, nature had amply compensated him
for somewhat slender and delicate form. He
had spirit greater than was contained in the
broad breast of the brawniest aud the bulkiest
Evil fortune had prosecuted him in many shapes,
She kept him at the bottom of her wheel, but
could not crush him. He rallied the sunken
spirits of his men; he told them they were near
land; they had sails; there was wind enough to
fill them; the boat, though broken, was buoyant;
they we're few in number; thirst could be horne
for DAYS; besides, they had live stock, and their
blood was nearly as refreshing as water: and the
clouds gave promise Of rain. The men Knew
their officer. and had confidence IN him. His
calmness and fearless bearing did more than MS
words. The hopes he had 50 confidently expires,
sed seemed realized. They grew calm, aud
reason aud obedience were restored.
The mate having succeeded, if not in render
ing his boat water-tight, yet in diminishing the
leaks. so that it required but occasional baIllng,
next set about putting sail on the boat For TINS
purpose he selected an old flying jib, and, with
broken studdins. sallboom for mast, cOntrived
The best and safest form of carrying canvass that
could possibly be contryed, representing what
sailors call shoulder of-mutton rig, the larger
part Tor the body Of tie sally being IN the body OF
! The boat 10 be driven in the South Indian
oc can, desert world of waters, was certain and
| inevitable destruction. In order to avoid this,
it was necessary. at all risks, to haul his wind as
much as possible to the eastward, with an oar Tor
a rudder. With consummae skill he in s"me de
gree effected this; but it required an unerring
eve and steady hand to keep his ricketty and
rudderless boat from being buried beneath the
threatening waves, or carsized by the furious
blasts which swept over it. They had neither
compass, chart, nor instruments to guide them on
their lonely way; nothing but the sun-the lat
ter, gIariug and fiery, they hardly dared to look
at. Their only hope was to make one OF the
Sunda Islands, or. failing in that, the coast Of
New Holland, or to be met by some wandering
bark.
Thus day and night they tOile'l on, LAYING. at
long Intervals. their white and parched lips with
the blood Of the painting goat. which was itself
expiring for want Of moisture. Every glazed eye
| scrutinized, with horrible precision, the accura-
cy of the measured allowance, apparently num-
al out fha Off