South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-09-17

occurred which can never be eftaced
\ from memory. 1t was the watch Of
| the first mate, man Of great fidelity,
but being indisposed, his place was la
ken by another. An unusual degree
otthoughtIess security among thepa
ssng gers, had just given place 10 sleep.
[And row all was still, save. the tread
ofthe watch on deck, or the occasion
al Toll of the bell to warn fishing craft,
! linear, ofour approach, but we had
more need TO be warned ourselves,
! than TO give wafniogto others OF APP
preaching danger, About two o'clock,
A. nj. a hurried step awoke the wri.
ter of this sketch, aud the rapid whis-
periug Of some created the suspicion
that all was no. right. Springing from
his berth he asked one OF the men near
the cabin door what was the matter.
eve are IN the midst of lce," said he,
twill you inform the captain 81 mate 7"
The captain was instantly on deck /;
he ran forward to look out. In a mo-
ment the vessel, going at the rate Of
five koots, struck as 4 against a solid
rock. Ii was an islaad Of ice ! 1t
/ lifted its head above the water more
than a hundred feet, and leaned over,
as if ready to fall down upon US. The
word was given to put up helm and
back the sails. AS the sailots were
has,eping to obey the latter ofder--
as the terrified passengers were rush.
ing on deck and looking up at the i'm.
mense, oyerhangiag, frozen maas, the
ship struck again with increased force.
0 what shock Crash crash it
seemed as if the masls we're falling one
after another on the deck. Tho Sc
cond mate entered the cabin and clap
ping violently bis hands t,gether ex.
claimed, "My God /! our bows are
stove iu-we're all gone. An awful
death appeared now inevitable. In
this moment fgeneral panic, the COM
manding officer gave orders TO clear a
way the boat. Then while the knife
was being applied to the cordage fas-
tened alongside the sFip, rush was
made to her by men and women. The
smal! boat was IN a momeai tllsd, ~ with
IhirIy Ut forty peIsuns. y seems u .l',
H. oaryellous that she did not break
down, precipi,a,ing every soas INTO Tue
| deep. Had this taken place, our com-
| maading officer must have snafea Tue
same fate, for from desire TO ga'p
1 nossession of her for himself and crew,
or to save the miserable crowd tnat
had got into her from destruction III
NAV he from both motives--he enter
| ed the boat and stood in until he drove
out every one at The point OF 'ne
sword. Then was scene oil terror
Ia frout Of the cabia the passengers
were collected, half naked-some Oh
their knees calling for mercy---Soiii'
clapping their hands aud ultsr'"s w.
, most appalling shrieks. Nothing o''
tinctly could be heard. All was con
:, fusion and horror. 1t was enough It
. penetrate heart OF stone. oome' 'no'
, collected. were dressing themselves
g preparing TO resist the cold' " per
q chance Iaey should survive 0" VI
- wreck. Oilers were looking lot SUM-
thing 10 winch they could iash '"e"
= selves for support Tor time IA Inc " vs.
- Ter. Here, you might see Que w', ,',.
- safety belt sluag over his shirt, snue'
=. vouyiag TO fill it with air. there ' 81.
10 Their, pale aod agitased, inqo'flng
1 ,s there any hope I" And there o. .,
an standing ia silent despair, saying,
:; is no use to do any thing, we W.
NJ die.o Are we sinking, uacle :" CT
n. a dear boy. A child funaipg 10
ass brave sailor says, "Woa't you sa
~ n,e 20 And the loud waillng and
~ nentation from the crowd rose n'&n
he and higher. Then, as to close
arl painful scene, the ship struck AGAIN
Das her quarter. The shock revetpefa'
ans like thunder, waking every JOINT 0,
vessel shake as if coming apart ~
now fully fed, all hearts we're 'ls" =,
,ast ed the despai'lng cry was ,, .s"s"
and the most caim braced taemSe'
in preparation Of immediate es'
axe Even dogs covered down GU 'le 10
'"0 in silence,
1t appeared that at the frat 81, s m
one against the mountains, the J'o'u'
he was broken aod lhrown over Inc o
into the vessel. The secoad So
carried away her bowsp''i' nsad'
clip cutwater, lodging the Iimpefs az
b OF the bows. Had it struck us Gu "a
side, or had it struck the huN, wa /.
nave perlshed /; buI, by the mere
- - L,,if ltraQ DnIuluT6u. n