Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-09-09

perlng Of some created the suspicion that
oil was not righ'. Springing from his berth.
he asked one Of the men near the cabin
door, what was the matter. 1--WE are in
the mids, Office" said he; "will you inform
the captain and maie?" The captain was
instantly on deck he ran forward to look
ont. In n moment the We sci, going at the
rate Of five knots, struck as It against
solid rock. II was an island of ice 1t
lifted its head above the water more than
one hundred feet and leaned over os if rea-
dy to fall upon US. The word was given
to pu, up the helm. and back tho sails. As
the sailors were Fastening to obey the lat
ter order-as the terrified passengers were
rushing on deck and hooking up at the I'M
mense, overhanging. frozen mass, the ship
struck again with increased force. o what
shock Crash! crash 1t seemed us il
the ma,'s were falling one after another
on the deck. The second mate entered the
cabin and clapping violently his hands to.
gether exclaimed. my God our bows
are stove in-wcre all gouc." An awful
death appeared now inevitable. In This
moment of general panic, the commanding
officer rave orders To clear away the boat.
Then while the knife was being applied to
the corJage fastening her alongside the
ship. rush was made TO her by men and
women. Tina, small boat was in q moment
! filled with thirty or forty persons. 1t seems
utterly marvellous that she did not break
prccipita'lng every soul into The deep. Had
this taken place, our commanding officer
must have shared the same fate for, from
| a desire to gam possession of her for himself
and and crew, or to save the miserable
crowd that had got into her for safety
from dcs,ruction--it may be from both mo
tives .--he entered the boat and stood in TIL
he drove out every one at the point of The
sword. Then was scene of terror IL
front of The cabin the passengers were col
lecled, hair naked--some on their knee:
alling for mercy-some clipping lhelI
hands, and uttering the most appalling
shrieks. Nothing distinctly could be heart
all was confusion and horror. II was
enough 10 penetrate heart fs;one. Some
more were collected, dressing themselves
preparing to resist the cold. If perchnnct
they should survive the wreck. Other:
were looking for something to which they
could lash themselves for support for ;
time in the water. Here you might see
one with safety belt sung over his shr,
endeavor,ng to fill it with air; there anoth
er. pale and ag'a'cd. inqulring, us there
any hope ?" And there. one standing, as i
in sullen despair, saying, at is no use It
do anything; we must de-" Are we sink
ing uncle" cries lutte boy. A chll'
running to brave sailor, says. "wont yo'
save me :" And the loud wailing and la
men'aIion of the crowd rose higher an
higher. Then, as if to close the painful
scene. the ship struck again on her quarter
The shock reverberated like thunder, ma
king every Joint Of the vessel shake as if
was coming apart. Hope now fully fed
all hearts were d,smaycd the despalrin
cry was renewed, and the most calm bra
ced themselves 10 preparation for immed
ate death; even the dogs covered dow
upon the deck in silence.
l., 1t appeared that a, The first shock again,
J the mountain, the jlb boom was broke
: and thrown over the bows into the vesse
The second shock carried away the bow
! spirit, head and cutwater. lodging the tin
] bcrs across the bows. Had it struck Us o
either side, or had it struck us on the hui
= we must have persisted. After the bow
= spirit was carried away, the stem Of I'll
ship must have been held down for an il
Il, slant bv the overhangng column; and ht
not Immediately rising IN front, gave III
idea TO the most experienced that she WI
u stove in, ana was filling with water. Til
created the panic. But the sails bci
t backed The helm was pu, hard up, she turl
ed from her enemy. anu swinging clea
{ received the last shock on her larboaI
quarter, which though lis sound was teri
u Bile, did no injury. That instant she WI
= free And now was the contest betwee
: despair and hope. The carpenter rsportt
= that the hull was sound aud the bowSpT
u could be repaired, but then she may ha'
:, Syrung a leak, and the foremost was 10 dn
u ger of falling. The word was to the pnmI
y The pump was rugged and wrought. IL "
moment Of painful suspense, until the pun
" sucked, showing that all was tight. Tn
I hope gilded the count cuance Of our captai
= and all hearts began to live in lis radianc
W Sill we waited for the crash of the for
u mast as the vessel was rolling in the sc
= but it stood firm. Daylight, ever dcligI
he inl TO those on the deep, and pocuiIa
es grateful to US, soon appeared. We fou
ourselves going on our way, alive and "
S" every reasonable confidence Of future h
=! We stood amazed at our dclIverance.
,,o The most careless among u were consir "a
vi ed to attribute our preservation Ia Ii
and mercifnl Provldencr; while the mul
y Jude cried out unhesiIallngly, ut is I
. Lord who hath saved Us: thanks and pra
y es to his holy name" Then every CO,
tenance was lighted up with joy-evt
heart was filed with gratitude 10 God, a
~, many purposes were formed Of retormai
~, IN future. The next day we saw ih
for .'''""'a"' VI '1r' a"o pds>"s "ea' "''
~ the fellow of that which had SO grea
mn endangered our lives Before the close
Il. the Cd day, n new bowsprit was fited
oh which stood the trials Of winds and wa
~ The rest of the voyage. In all this bu
%, ness the officers aud crew showed gr
~ skill and energy.