Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-06-06


Their shrouds, which Of course relieved
the chains and channels, but many an
anxious eye was turned toward the re-
naming bolts, for upon them depended the
masts, and upon the masts, depended the
safety OF the ship--for with one foot OF
canvass less she could not live fifteen
minutes.
Onward plunged the overwhelmed frig-
ate, and a, every surge she seemed bent
upon making the deep the sailors grave,
and her live-oak sides his coffin of glory.
She had been fitted out AT Boston when
the Thermometer was below zero. Her
shrouds of course therefore slackened at
every strain, aud her unwieldly masts
for she had those designed for the frig.
ate Cumberland, a much larger ship
seemed ready 10 jump out of her. And
now, while all was apprehension another
bolt drew land then another until at
last, u whole stay was placed upon a
single bolt less than a mans wrist in cir
conference. Sill the good iron clung
to the solid wood, and bore us alongside
the breakers. though in a most fearful
proximity to them. This thrilling Incl.
dent has never, | believe, been noticed in
public, but it is the literal f~act--which !
make not the slightest attempt to emhel-
fish. As we %gallopped on-for ! can
compare our vessels leaping TO nothing
else-,he rocks seemed very near US
Dark as was the night, the white foam
scrowled around their black heads, while
the spray fell over us, and the thunder Of
the dashing surge sounded like the awful
knell that the ocean was singing for the
victims it was eager to engulph.
AT length the light bore upon our
quarter, and the broad Atlantic rolled its
white caps before us. During this time
all were silent, each officer and man was
at his post, and the bearing and counte-
nance of the Captain seemed 10 give en-
enlargement 10 every person on board.
With but a bare POSSIBILITY OF saving the
ship and those on board, he placed his
reliance upon his nautical skill and cou.
rage, and by carrying the moinsail when
in any other situation it would have been
considered a suicidal act, he weathered The
lee shore and Saued the Constitution.
The mainsail was row hauled up, by
light hearts and strong hands, the jib and
spanker taken IN, and from the light of
Scilly the gallant vessel, under close rce-
fed top sails and main trysails, took her
departure aud danced merrily over the
deep toward the United States.
"Pipe down." said the Captain to the
E..., tra-s a. nnI aAIt,t ft. s.nlpN
Brace" g Pipe down." echoed the First
Lieutenant to the boatswain. "Pipo
down." whistled tho boatswaln TO the
crew, and "pipe down" it was.
Soon the Jack ofthe dust" held his
leevce on tho main gun deck, and the
weather. beatoR tars, MS they gathered
about the grog tub. and luxuriated upon
a full allowance of old rye, forgot all
their perils and fatigue.
"How near the rocks did we go T.
said | TO one of the masters mates the
next morning. He made 10 reply but
taking down his chart, showed me a PEN
Gil line Jetween the outside shodi aud
Ljght House Island which must have
been Il small strait for n fisherman 10 run
his smack through in good weather by
day light.
For what is tho noble and dear old fri.
gate reserved
| went upon deck the sea was calm,
a gentle breeze was swelling our canvass
from mainsail to royal, the Isles Of Sicily
had sunk in the eastern waters, and the
clouds oil the dying storm were rolling oil
in broken masses to the B0rthward and
westward, Ike the fly Dg columns of o
beaten army.
| have been in many a gale OF wind,
and have passed through scenes oil great
danger but never before ar since, have
| experienced an hour so terrific, as that
when the Constitution was laborlng with
the lives of five hundred men hanglDg on
a single small iron bolt, to weather ScIliy,
on the night Of the 18th of May, 1888.
NorE.-During the gale, Mrs, Livingston ipqai-
red OF the Captain II we were not in great danger,
10 which he replied as soon os We had passed Sell
~ " You are as safe as you would be IN the aisl" oi
a church" 1t ia singular that the frigate Boston,
CAPTAIN McNeal, about the close OF the Eevolu-
ton, escaped . similar danger while employed in
carving out TO France, Chancellor Livingston,
n relative Of Edward, and also Minister to the
Court of ST. Cloud. lie likewise had his wife on
board and while the vessel was weathering a lee
shore, Mrs. Livingston, asked the Caplain-a
rough but gallant old ire-eater--!f they were not
in great danger; 10 which he replied" You had
better, Madam. &c: down on your knees, and pray
TO your God TO forgive your numerous sins, for i
we don't carry by this point. we shall all be lost"
Election Aforementioned our
elections sometimes produce ebullilons o.!
angry feeling, they also originate some
excellent jokes. One of them we shall
give as related to us. The question was
put to a simple foreigner by our informant,
" Have you ever been naturallzed r.
Answer-"I don't remember" Cues.
ton" Can't you recollect whether you