Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-05-16
From TIE Democratic ReUieuO for April.
OLD IRONSTDES ON A LEE SHORE,
BY AN EYE WITNESS.

OLD IRONsTDEs ON A LEE SHORE.
By AN EYE WITNESS.
1t was at the close Of stormy day in the
year 1885, when the gallant frigate Consti'
tuition, under the command Of Captain EE
liot-having on board the late Edward Ii
vingstOD, late minister at the court Of France
and his family, aud manned by nearly soc
souls-drew near to the chops" Of the
English channel. For four days she had
been beating down from Plymouth, and on
the 5th. a! evening, she made her last tack
from the French coast.
The watch was set at 8 P. M.-The
Captain came on deck soon after, and hav-
ing ascert"ined the bearing Of Scilly, gave
orders to keep the Ship full and bye,' re-
marking at the same time to the officer of
the deck, that he might make the light on
the lee beam, but. he stated, he thought it
more than probable that he would pass it
without seeing it. He then turned in,
as did most Of the idlers, and the starboard
watch.
AT a quarter past nine, p. NJ. the ship
headed west by compass, when the call Of
Light o." was heard from the fore top
sail-vard.
Where away Z" asked the officer of
The deck.
"Three points on the lee bow" replied
The lookout man; which the unprofession-
al reader will readily understand to mean
very nearly straight ahead. At this mo-
ment, the Captain appeared aud took the
trumpet.
"Call all hands," was his immediate
order. -.
''All hands - whis,led the boatswain,
with the long shril summons familiar to
the ears Of all who have been on board Of
a man-ot-war.
"All hands," screamed the boatswain's
mates; and ere the last echo died away,
all bun the sick were upon deck.
The ship was staggering through heavy
swell from the Bay of Biscay; the gale,
which had been blowing several days, had
increased to severity that was not to be
made light OF. The breakers, where Sir
Clondesley Shovel and his feet were de-
s,royed, in the days Of Queen Ann, sang
their song Of death before, and the Dead
Mans Ledge replied in hoarser notes be-
hind us. To 60 ahead, seemed to be
death, and to attempt to 60 about was sure
DIES ruction.
The first thing that caught the eye Of the
captain was the furled mainsail, which he
had ordered to be carried throughout the
"vening-lhe hauling up Of which, contra
~ TO the last order that he had given on
leaving the deck, had caused the ship to fall
off 10 leeward two points, and had thus led
her into position on ga lee shore" upon
which strong gale was blowing her, in
which the chance Of safety appeared TO
the s,outest nerves almost hopeless. That
sole chance consisted in standing on, to
carry Us through the breakers Of Scilly. or
BY close Craze along their outer ledge.
Was this destined to be the end Of the GAL
liant old ship, consecrated by SO many a
prayer and blessing from the heart Of a
nation!
why is the n,ainsail up, when ordered
it set 2 cried the captain in o. tremendous
voice.
Finding that she pitched her bows I'M
der, ltook il in, under your general order,
sir, that the officer Of the deck should car
ny sail according to his discretion. replied
the lieutenant in command.
'Heave the log was the prompt COM
mand, to the masters mate. The log was
thrown.
How fast does she GOT
Five knots and half, SIR
Board the main tack, SIR
'She will not bear it, said the officer o.
The deck.
Board the main tack Numbered the
Captain. Keep her full and bye, Quar-
ternlasier.' -.
Ave! ave, sir!' The tack was boarded.
Haul aft the main-sheet,' shouted the
CAPTAIN, and aft it 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- cried the Captain.
AYE! aye 4! sir she has it, growled ou'
the old sea-dog at the pinnacle.
Right your helm. keep her full and bye.
'Ayel aye sir! full and bye she is,
was the prompt answer from the holm.
How fast does she go7'
Eight knots and half, sir
How bears the light Z
Nearly beam, sir
Keep her away half point
How fast does she 60 T
mine knots, SIR
STEADY so = returned the captain.
Steady answered the helmsmaD. and
all ~as the silence Of the grave upon that
crowded deck--excepi the bowling Of the
s,orm-for q space of time that seemed to
nv Imagination almost an age.
IL was a trying hour with us-unless we
could carry sail so as to 60 Al the rate Of
nine knots an hour, we must Of necessity
dash upon Seilley, and who ever touched
these rocks and lived during siormf The
sea ran very high. the rain fell 10 sheets.
The skv was one black curtain, illumined