Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-06-06
THURSDAY MORNING., JUNE 6, 1899.

1uduleis TOT iout lays sue Hdu uceA
beating down from Plymouth, and on
the fifth, al evening, she made her last
tack from the French coast.
The watch was set at eight T. NJ
The Captain came on deck 500 AFTER,
and having aseertained the bearing oil
Scilly, gave orders to keep the ship" foil
and bye" remarking at the same time 10
the officer of the deck, that he might
make the light on the lee beam, but, he
stated, he thought il more than probable
that he would pass il without seeing il.
He then "turned in" as did most OF the
idlers, and the s~tarboard watch.
AT a quarter past nine, p. NJ, the ship
headed west by the compass, when the
call "Ligh, or was heard from the
fore.topsail- yard.
Where away 7" asked the officer OF
the deck.
"Three points on the lee bow" re.
piled the lookout man which the unpro-
fessional reader will readily understand to
mean very nearly straight ahead. Al
this moment, the Captain appeared and
took the trumpet.
"Call all hands," was this immediate
order.
GAN hands |" whistled the boatswain,
with the long shrill summons familiar to
the ears of all who have ever been on
board Of a m~an.of.war.
"All hands" screamed the boatswain's
mates and ere the last echo died away
all but the sick were upon deck.
The ship was staggering through a
heavy swell from the Bay Of Biscay !;
the gale, which had been blowing several
days, had increased to a severity that
was not to be made light Of The break
ers, where Sir Cloudesly Shovel and his
feet were destroyed, in the days of
Queen Anne, sang their song of death
before, and the Dead Mans Ledge re.
Piled in hoarser notes behind Us. To go
ahead seemed to be death, and to attempt
to 90 about was sure destruction.
The first thing that caught the eye of
the Captain was the furled mainsail !;
which he had ordered to be carried
throughout the e~vening-the hauling up
Of which, contrary TO that last order that
he had gwen on leaving the deck, bad
caused the ship to fall off 10 leeward two
points, and had thus led her into a posi-
ton on ga lee Shore" upon which a
strong gale was blowing her, in which
the chance OF safety appeared to the stou-
test nerves almost hopeless. That sole
chance consisted in standing, on to car.
ry us through the breakers OF Sicily, or
by a close Craze along their outer edge.
Was this destined TO be the end oil the
gallant old ship, consecratcd by so many
a prayer and blessing from the heart of
a nation!
"Why is the mainsail up, when | Or
dered il set 7" cried the Captain in a tre-
mendous voice.
Grinding that she pitched her bows
under, | took il in, under your general
order, sir, hat The officer Of the deck
should carry sail according to his 6iscre-
tion," replied the Lieutenant in com.
mand.
"Heave the log" was the prompt
command, to the masters mate. The
log was thrown.
GLOW fast does she 60. 7"
give knots and a half, SIR"
Board the main tack, sir"
"She will not bear H." said the officer
Of the deck.
"Board the main tack" Numbered the
Captain.
"Ksep her full and bye, Quartermas-
ter.
"Aye aye, sir" The tack was boar
ded.
"Haul aft the main Sheet" shouted
the Captain, and aft it wen like the
spreading of a seabird's wing, giving the
huge sail to the gale.
"Give her the lee helm when she goes
into the sea-" cried the Captain.
"Aye! aye! sir she has it," growl-
ed out the old sca-dog at the pinnacle.
Fright your helm, keep her full and
bye"
"Aye! aye sir, full and bye she is"
was the prompt answer from the helm.
GLOW fast does she goF"
eight knots and a half, sir"
elbow bears the light?"
"Nearly abeam sir"
"Keep her away half a point"
elbow fast does she go7
"Nine knots sir"
"Stcady, sol" returned the Captain.
"Steady," answered the helmsman,
and all was the silence Of the grave upon
that crowded deck-except the bowling
of the storm-for a space Of time that
seemed to my imagination almost an
age.
1t was a trying hour with us-unless
we could carry sail so as TO go at the
rate Of nine knots an hour, we must ofne.
cessity dash upon SciIly, and who ever
touched those rocks and lived, during a
storml The sea ran very high, the rain
fell in sheets, the sky was n black cur
tain, illumined only by the faint light