Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-11
NEW SERIES v0ho saeNOe gae8

niser weighs his gold. The mate said he merely
extracted the fluid, chewing, but not swallowing
the substance, and endeavored to impress ON his
comrades the advantage Of following his exam
pie. a few did, but the greater part could not
control the herceness of famine raging in their
yitals At this. the mate added. sfrom the tor
sure experienced, did not wonder; but the
event proved was in the right. For. by not
eating, endured thirst better; and after a few
days had no inclination to eat, feeling relief
by keeping some substance in my mouth. no mat
ter what, to chew;-t0bacco, Of which there was
little, was the best.
We all watched with painful and intense anx-
iety, the formation and changes of the clouds -
Every speck.i in the heavens was commented on,
and scrutinzed in form, density, and altitude
| At last, alter successive hopes and disappont-
ments, our eyes dim and our hearts sick, we be-
held dark and heavy cloud, evidently surcharg.
ed with rain, coming towards US. Those who
have seen, or can conceive, the exhausted pilgrim,
parched and perishing OH desert, wading through
shifting sands, with feeble gait and maddening
brain, when his wIstful and eager eyes catch
first glimpse of the distant WE'LL may family ina.
glue what were our sensations. When the first
drop touched our shriveIled lips and fell on our
tbrobbng temples, every gasping mouth was dis
tended wide TO heaven for the falling manna;-
our parched threats heaved and sweed like the
waves. Fervent prayers were uttered by men
who would have died in battle disappearing; but
they avaed not; the watery cloud on which their
lives were suspended, muckIngly displayed its
riches. niggardIy sprnkIed them with few scan.
ty drops, as sample of the inestimable treasure
it contained, and heeted EDWARDS, till they be-
held it mngIe its waters in waste,-in the briny
ocean! They covered in despair their intlamed
fhair ctuI han nd
groaned in agony!
But who can 60 on describing tortures such as
those men endured, every Instant augmenting,
an eternity OF immitigable suffering, though
marked in the calendar but as seven days and
seven hours?-a space so feeting to the free and
happy that it passes by and is scarcely noted,
while on these fOOrn seamen seven days did the
work Of seventy years. With rheumed. CLASSY,
blood shot eyes, haggard, wrinkled and hollow
cheeks, sunken mouth, swollen. slaty and crack
ed lips, contracted nostris, thinned and whiteneh
hair, collapsed muscles, feeble and lettering
gait, sepuchral and inarticulate voices, Cabling
more like brutes than men; can the EXTREMIST
age to which human existence has yet been
stretched, with all its whitening palsy and impo.
tency, do more? In seven days and few hours,
youth, intellect, strength, were thus blasted
Let me be scorched to death in volcano, blown
into the air from cannon, buried alive IN the
earth, drowned in water, but let me not die by
wanting it!
Two in their phrensy threw themselves into
the sea, slaked their thirst in its brny waters,
and died under its cool canopy. One, after ~.
ing in dOtc insensibilty, burst INTO fierce, yell
ling madness, tore the living flesh from his limbs.
sucked his own blood, lay down, slept, and
awoke no more. -Four, beside the officer, remain
ed on the seventh day. The sky. the ocean, the
boat,ever thing look ed burning, red and iierry.--
They had no hope, when on the morning OF the
eighth day we rescued them from their shattered
bark. What a crszed, wild, and CHASTITY band
were they !-more like corpses uncharnelled than
living men. The weakest Of the party, the mate,
seemed alone TO have retained bis senses. Alter
he was hoisted on the deck, and had colectedly
looked round, he said, We are dying the death
of the damned Give my men water! Then, as
fhs last duty was performed, he pointed to his
frothy lip, but could not speak; and the spirit
which had borne him up while contendlns with
danger, now released from its post OF duty,
seemed to flee away, and his body sunk down
liieless."