The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-25
FROM THE DEMOCRATIC MAGAZINE.
OLD IRONSIDES ON A LEE SHORE.

compass, wnen the call OF Light W! was heard IroI
.sWhere away ~ asked the officer of the deck.
ss1hree points on the lee bow" replied the lookout
which the unproessonal reader will readily under
stand to mean very nearly straight ahead At this mo
ment, the Captain appeared and took the trumpet.
"Call all hands," was his immediate order.
.All hands," whstled the boatswa'n, with the lont
shrill familiar the Of all who have
been on board Of mar-of.war.
"All hands," screamed the boatswain's mates; ane
the last echo died away all but the sick were upon
ldeck. - - 4e4
4 The ship was staggering through heavy swell from
the Bay OF Bscay tile gale which had been blowing
several days. had increased to severity that
be made light Of. The breakers, where Sir Coudesl,
Shovel and his feet destroyed in the days Of Queer
Anne sang their song of death before. and the Deae
Mans Ledge replied in hoarser notes behind u.s. To &c
ahead seemed to be death, and to attempt to 20 abou
was sure destruction.
The first thing that caught the eye ofthe Captain
frled mansa, which he had ordered to be carried
throughout the eveningthe hauling up Of which, contra
to that last order that he had given on leaving the
deck had caused the ship fall off eeward two points
and had thus led her into position a lee shore,
upon which strong gale was blowing her, in which the
chance of safety appeared to the toutest nerves. almost
hopeless That sole chance consisted in standing on
through the breakers of Scy or by close Craze
along their outer ledge Was this destined to be the
end Of the gallant old ship consccrated by many
PRAYER and blessing from the heart OF q nation
.sWhys the mansa up, when Iordered it set p cried
the Captain in tremendous voice.
Grinding that she pitched her bows under, took il
in, under your general order, sir that the officer of the
deck should carry sail according to discretion. replied
the Lieutenant IN command. .i aa
"Heave the iog" was the prompt command. to the
''How fast does she 60 -
'Five knots and half, SIR @4a
s'Board the main tack, SIR"
'She will not bearit," said the officer of the deck.
1.Board the main tack" Numbered the Captain.
"Keep her full and bye, Quartermaster.
"Aye! aye, sir - The tack was boarded.
tHaul aft the main Sheet" shouted the Captain, and
went like the spreading of sea birds wing, giving
the huge sail to the gale
Give her the lee helm when she goes into the sea,
AYE! aye sir she has il" growled out the old sea-
dog at the pinnacle. A 57 .as4s
aRght your helm, keep her full and bye"
"Aye! aye sir, full and bye she is" was the
prompt answer from the helm. s a4#%
"How fast does she go - 4 @ a- III.
eight knots and half, sir"
sHow bears the light p .'''s
"Nearly abeam SIR" al aa@ &ts'a
"Keep her away half point" 5 Easa
Show fast does she gol II .ta.pe f t4
stNine knots SIR
STEADY, 50 !" returned the Captain.
STEADY. answered the hemsman, and all was the 81.
lence of the grave upon that crowded deck--except
the bowling ofthe stormfor space of time that SEEM
ed to my imagination almost age, esl
twas trying hour with us--uness we could carry
sail SO as to 60 at the rate Of nine knots hour
rocks and lived during storm The sea ran very high
the rain fell in sheets, the sky was black curtain IL
umned only by the faint light which to mark our de
verance. or stand monument Of our destruction The
wind had got above whisting, it in pus that fiat.
tened the waves. and made old frgate settle to her
bearings, while every thing board seemed cracking
into pieces AT this moment the carpenter reported
that the left bolt Of the weather fore shroud had drawn
sect the luffs. and set them on all the weather
shrouds. Keep her at small helm quartermaster and
ease her in the sea, were the orders Of the Captain
The htfs were soon put upon the weather shrouds,
which of course relieved the chains and chan nels but
many an anxious eye turned ard the remaining
bolts, for upon them depended the mass and upon the
mass. depended the safety fthe shpfor with one foot
OF canvass less she could not live fifteen minutes.
Onward plunged the overwhelmed frgate and at every
surge she seemed bent upon making the deer he sailors
grave, and her iveoak sides his coils Of clory She
had been fitted out at Boston when the thermometer was
below zero Her shrouds Of therefore sackened
every san and her unweldy masts flor she had those
designed for the frgae Cumberland much larger ship,
seemed ready to jump out of her. And now, while ali
was apprehension another bolt drew land then another
until at last our whole stay was placed upon single
holt less than mans wrist in circumference Sll the ood
iron chung to the solid wood and bore us alongside the
breakers. though in most fearful proximity to them
This thrilling incident has never believe been noticed
m public, but il sthe literal act--which make the
slightest attempt to embellsh As we gallopped on
Tor can compare our vessels leapng to nothing else
the rocks seemed very near Dark the night,
the white foam scowled around their black heads while
the spray fell over and the thunder Of the dashng
surge sounded ike the awful knel that the ocean was
singing for the victims il was eager to engulph.
AT length the light bore upon our quarter and the
broad Atlantic rolled its white caps before During
tins time all were silent, each officer and at his
post and the bearing and countenance of the Captain
seemed to give encouragement every person board
With but bare possibility Of saving the ship and those
on board he placed his reliance upon his nautical skill
and courage. and by carrying the mansa which in any
other situation would have been considered suicidal act
ne ireahered the lee shore and saved Ae Constittion.
The mainsail was hauled up, by light hearts and
strong hands, the b and spanke taken in, and from the
Jig of Sicily the gallant vessel under close reed top
IDS and main tysals took her departure and danced
merrily over the deep toward the United States.
"Ppetdown, said the Captain to the First Lieutenant
" and splice the main brace" "Pipe down." cchoea