Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-07-04

we got along off Cape Hatterls, it came on to
blow pretty sharp right on shore, and the Capt
he tack'd and tack'd one way and tother, OUT
all the while the Two Pollies kept gittin nearer
and nearer the shore, and Capt. Jumper began
to look pretty streaked. "This pesky cape" says
he "Major>is bad place, and there is no gittin1
round it no way, as the wind is now blowing, l
wish, says he, / had never let " The Two Pol,
lies" get so near it, and never will again, II
git her cut OF this scrape," and with that he
call'd all hands, and got up his best new cable,
nigh upon as thick as my leg and he hitch'd It
on TO the biggest anker aboard and let go;
and took in all sail; "this is the last hope now"
saws he, 81 for all on usn The waves came
smashin along, one arfar another, and the 1.-TWO
Pollies" for spell whent along with 'em some
times one eend first and sometimes another. .
Capt. Jumper said it warnt no time now to
make long speech, and all he had to say about
il was that If the anchor hook'd on to good hold
in ground, the 1.-TWO Pollies" would, by. the
blessing of Providence, be saved, provided we
didn't finch from our duty, and that was, that
as soon as the anchor did git hold and the vessel
faced the storm, we must not quit the BOWS, but
keep all the while tendin the chafng mats, and
see that the caoe didn't chafe of, and keep ev-
nv thing well CREASED there 81 can depend"
SAYS he, "on that ere cable if we do our duty by
iti-and jist then sure enuf the anker got hold,
and the 1.-TWO Pollies" faced right round head
10 the StOTtn, dHQ every wave tuot oohS oii> ~
smash her nose right into it, and split 1t clean
through and it would break and smash it right
over her and we was all on us as wet as dock
rats. The storm whistlcd, and it Numbered and
lghtin'd, and the Two Pollies" roll'd apd tun.
bed and bounced and thumped agin the. waves
like all possest-we all sprung to 1t, and Capt
Jumper took the lead and we kept weltin the
chain mats and kept the grease going. ~
this cable" says he "gits chafed off by our ne
glect there is nothing will save us-and lwould'n
give a two inch pine plank for the Two Pol
lies and all on board" and so we kept at il til
arter midnight, when the storm give way and
the wind shifted and by day light it was BLOWN
list tother way, and right off shore, and cleai
sky: "and now" says Capt Jumper, my boy:
lets all on us thank God for all his marces fol
their amt one ON us that haint got much to be
thankful for this time" and arter that we ur
anker and tucd on the canvass, and the 1.-TWO
Poes" streak'd it out Of that ere scrape abou
the quickest rtell you.
us'd to hear Capt Jumper tell about that ere
peril pretty often; and when | would try te
corner him about his venture in so near tnt
land in that quarter he'd try to git of by telir
me that as the T wo Pollies' was brand spin
ter new, and the rocks all along there plagy ola
| if she had gone agn EN- they would had th'
worst ont; but when he'd tell the story to folk
who knew more about the natur ont than did
| then. he would always say if it hadn't been fo
his men standin by the cable, and keepin it wei
greas'd and well matted, as strong as 1t was, /
would a chaf'd off and that would ben tn
| last of the sTwo Pollies" and Capt Jumper
and suppose also OF
| Your old friend
J. DOWNING, Major
| Downin oville Militia I'd Brigade.