The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-05-18
Number 3.

"Haul aft the main Sheet" shouted the
captain, and aft it went like tho spreading
of a 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 sir she has it," growled
out the old sea-dog at the pinnacle.
"Right your helm keep her full and
bye"
"Aye aye sir ! full and bye she is"
was the prompt answer from the helm.
elbow fast does she go"
"Eight knot and half, sir"
elbow bears the light!"
"Nearly beam sir,''
"Keep her away half point.
"How fast does she go!"
"Nine knots sir"
"Steady SO !'' returned the Captain.
"Steady answered the helmsman, and all
was the silence of the grave upon that
crowded decB-except the bowling of the
storm-for space of time that seemed to
my imagination almost an age.
1t was trying hour with us-unless we
could carry sail so as to go at the rate OF
nine knots an hour, we must of necessity
dash upon Scilly, and who ever touched
those rocks and lived during storm! The
sea ran very high, the rain fell in sheets,
the sky was one black curtain illumlned on
ly by the faint light which was to mark
our deliverance, or stand monument Oh
our destruction. The wind had got above
whisting, it came in puffs that fattened
the waves, and made our old frigate settle
to her bearings, while every thing on board
seemed cracking into pieces. At this mo-
ment the carpenter reported at the left bolt
of the weather fore-shroud had drawn.
sect on the luffs, and set them on all
the weather shrouds. Keep her at small
kelm, quarter master, and ease her in the
sea-" were the orders of the Captain.
The luffs were soon put upon the wealth
er shrouds, which Of course relieved the
GRs GRasipS Was end ihga fhannsls 6pt
} for upon them depended the masts, and up
on the masts depended the safety of the
ship-(or with one foot of canvass less she
could not live fifteen minutes.
Onward plunged the overwhelmed frigate,
and at every surge she seemed bent upon
q making the deep the sailors grave. and her
j live oak sides, his coffin of glory. She
had been fitted out at Boston when the
= thermometer was below zero. Her shroud
e Of course therefore slackened at every
strain, and her unwieldy masts for she had
: those designed for the frigate Cumberland,
much larger ship,) seemed ready to
> Jump out Of her. And now, while all
e was apprehension, another bolt drew -
a and then another until at last, our whole
stay was placed upon single bolt less than
S a mans wrist in circumence. Still the good
Il iron clung to The solid wood, and bore US
alongside the breakers, though in most
y fearful proximity to them. This thrilling
e incident has never, believe, been noticed
d in public, but it is the literal fact--whch
e make not the slightest attempt to embelish.
II As we galoped on--lor can compare
: our vessels lea ping 10 nothing else-the
rocks seemed very near us Dark as was
/ the night, the white foam scowled around
: their black heads, while the spray fell over
!, us, and the thunder Of the dashng surge
? sounded like the awful knell that the ocean
was singing for the victims it was eager to
e engulph.
'e At length the light bore upon our quarter,
&c and the broad Atlantic rolled its white caps
y before us.--During this time all were silent
g each officer and man was at his post, and
10 the bearing and COuutenance of the captain
y seemed to give encouragement to every
n person on 6oard. With but bare posi-.
n bililv OF saving the snip and those on board
T. he placed his reliance upon his nautical
Ie skin and courage, and by carrying the
y mainsail when in any other situation i
would have been considered a suicidal act
as he lceQthered the Zee shore, e. SaUed thu
nj Constructor.
= The mainsai was now hauled up, by
. light hearts and strong hands, the jb anC
:, spanker taken in, and from the light o
Scilly the gallant vessel, under close reefe'
topsail and main trysails, took her de
~ parture and danced merrily over the desl
-, towards the United States.
ID "Pipe down." said the captain to the frs
lieutenant, "and splice the main brace.
n "Pipe down." echoed the first lieutenant t
as the boatswain. "Pipe down." whistle
the boatswain to the crew, and 'pipe down
it was.
Soon the "Jack of the Dust" held hi
levee on the main gun-deck, and the weatt