The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From The Democratic Repicw
OLD IRONSlDES ON A LEE SHORE.

BY AN EYE WITNESS.
1t was at the close Of stormy day in the
year 1885, when the gallant frigate Consttu-
ton, under the command Of Captain elliot
having on board the late Edward Livingston,
late minister at the Court of France, and his
family, and manned by nearly FIVE hundred
souls, drew near to "ihe chops" Of the Eng
lish channel. For four days she had been
beating down from Plymouth, and on the fifth,
at evening she made her last tack for the
French coast.
The watch was set at eight p. M. The
Captain came ON deck soon after, and having
ascertanedthe bearing Of Sicily, gave orders
to keep the ship "full and by,' remarking 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 il more than probable
that he would pass it without seeing it. He
then ''turned in" as did most Of the idlers,
and the star-board watch.
AT quarter past nine, p. NJ. the ship head
ed west by compass, when the call of " Light
Or was heard from the foretopsail yard.
Where awayl" asked the officer Of the
deck.
" Three points on the Ice bow" replied the
lookout man which the unprolessional read
er will readily understand to mean very nearly
straight ahead. AT this moment the Captain
appeared and took the trumpet.
"Call all hands," was the immediate order.
"All hands," whistled the boatswain, with
the long shrill summons familiar to the ears Of
all who have ever been on board man Of
war.
"All hands," screamed the boatswain's
fhrl last o,bn ,,I oil hf
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 severity that was not to be made light Of.
The breakers. where Sir Cloudesly Shovel
and his fleet were destroyed, in the days Of
Queen Anne, sang their song Of death before,
and the Dead Mans Ledge replied in hoarse
notes behind US. To 60 ahead seemed to be
death, and to attempt to go about was sure
destruction
The first thing that caught the eye of the
Captain, was the fured mainsail, which he
had ordered Ito be carried throughout the
evening; the hauling up which, contrary to
the last order he had given on leaving the
deck, had caused The ship TO fall off to leeward
two points, and had thus led her into posi-
ton on a g lee Shore" upon which strong
gale was blowing her, in which the chance Of
safety appeared to the stoutest nerves almost
hopeless That sole chance consisted in
standing on, to carry us through the breakers
of Sicily, or by close Craze along their
outward ledge. Was this destiny to be the
end of the gallant old ship. consecrated BY
many prayer and blessing from the heart Of
a nationl
"Why is the mainsail up when | ordered il
set ~ cried the Captain in tremulous voice
"Finding that she pitched her bows under,
took it in, under your general order. sir, that
the officer Of the deck should carry sail ac-
cording to his discretion," replied the Lieut..
in command
''Heave the log" was the prompt command
to the masters mate. The log was thrown.
.'How fast does she gol'
"Five knots and half, sir.'
aboard the main tack, sir
"She will not bear it," said the officer Of
deck.
BOARD the main tack !" Numbered the Cap
tain. keep her full and by, quartermaster.
SAY, ay, rw The tack was boarded.
"Haul aft the main Sheet shouted the