Delaware gazette. (Wilmington, Del.) 1837-1883, 1839-03-26

There was no time 10 refuse her entreaiy or
! cond uct her 10 the cabin, the tempest burst upon
them, as IL a cloud, swelling with wind and rain,
had broken over the vessel. Instantly all who
were on their feet were FRUSTRATED. Howlng and
shrieking through the rigging, accompanied by
a crashing and splintering that appalled, every
soul on board with the present sense of danger,
i swept over them with terrific fury. Borne
| down by IFS weight, the vessel careened till she
lay almost on Der beams end. while the mad
surges leaped over her bulwarks, and deluged
| the nearly perpendicular decks. The darkness
became illnmined by wild strange light from
| lhe forming sea, and every object was distinctly
seen by its supernatural glare. The captain got
upon his feet, and climbing to the windward,
dashed himself TO the main rigging, and gave
such orders as the crisis demanded. But his
voice could not be heard. and his presence and
example were alike useless at a moment like
this. The vessel was driving in the van OF the
tempest with uncomfortable velocity. The waves
seemed 10 lift her hull, and hur her onward like
feather. The brave seman beheld many Of
his crew swept off, and saw them, without the
power TO help them, struggling amid the boil
ing sea but their shrieks were lost in the
louder shrieks Of The wind, and the flying vessel
soon left them far astern. Others were lashng
themselves to the rigging, others clinging to the
guns and all were exerting themselves 10 pre-
serve their lives. Casting his eyes aloft, he saw
with pang of grief, that his main=top-gallant
mast was gone, and that his fore-topmast was
wounded and lettering fearfully at every pitch
of the vessel. The first fury Of the tempest was
| spent and there being momentary iull, il &C.
CURED 10 him that il might yet be saved.
Ho, there, forward = he shouted.
His words seemed TO have an electrical effect
upon the crew, as il the sound of a cheerful
human voice, in that fearful moment, inspired
them with hope. Half the danger was lessened
TO their minds, and twenty voices replied,
Ay, ay.'
AT the instant there came second blast Of
the tempest, and a huge sea breaking over the
vessel, swept the captain into The waste, and
bore three more OF The men into the sea, who
The next moment were lost in the darkness
astern. The first glance Of the captain, on re-
covering his feet and sustaining himself by
clasping round gun. was TO the tore-topmast.
She yet stands il ! he exclaimed, but an
other such blast will pitch il end foremost
will take couple Of fathoms from the topga-
ni-halyards, aud go aloft and fish that stick p
Many an eye was turned upwards, but moi a
foot moved.
: A light lad.will do best. The spar must be
saved where il is; for il it falls inhoard, twill
make hole through our decks big enough 10
let the ocean in. Bequick, lads !
will do il SIR, said young sailor, spring.
ing into the weather rigging, with coil of rig
ging on his arm.
That's my lad You shall wear an epaulet
for thisl
the inirpid young seaman assembled the rigging,
though with difficulty, as the wind pressed him
so closely against the stays that he could scarcely
climb from one rafting 70 another. Alter great
peril he gained the top. Here, breaking from his
atticed guard couple of oaken states he swung
himself into the topmast rigging, and assembled
where the stick was splintered commenced with
great GOODNESS while the storm howled terifcally
abouthim. TO wind the rope about both itand the
pieces Of wood he had torn from the top. At
every pitch Of the vessel the wounded spar
would cape wide, and threatened 10 carry him
into the sea. But to the eyes of those below,
who could plainly see him by the white light |
shed from the phosphorcscent waves, he ap =
peared 10 be as cool as If engaged in an ordi- |
nary duty on an ordinary occasion. After tax
ing numerous turns about The mast till his rope
was exhausted, he skillully fastened the ends,
and then, by stay, descended like an arrow to
the deck. ~
'Wbai lad is ilais' asked the captain, who \
bad silently watched his labor.
The fishers lad, replied ope.l
.Gallantly done, my lad, said the caplain.--
man. g.
/ believe there is s>ysssel in sight, sir''
What is that you say? Come aft, for this
wind will let nobody hear any thing but its own
howl!
| discovered aloft what appeared to be a
vessel TO windward, scudding under bare poles,
repeated Mark.
Ha, say yous Then we are like 10 have COM
pany In the gale
As he attempted to ascend TO the weather side
TO look for the stranger, fresh gust Of the tor
nado burst upon the vessel and threw her upon
her beams end, the sea breaking over her bull
warks from stem TO stern with the force and
volume of cataract.
My niece. my niece = cried the Earl Of Bel
lamont, suddenly; save her-oh God she is
lostn
The FIRST shock of the tempest had thrown The
nobleman and Grace TO the deck; but he had
contriyed 10 shelter her in bis cloak, under the
lee OF the compaDion-way, during its contlnu-
ance, and, save the apprehension attendant
on the danger she was 10, she had suffered COM
paratively little. Her attention had been drawn,
in the mean while, 10 the bold enterprise Of the
young sailor. She had watched his ascent and
the progress OF bis perilous duty with trembling
and with prayer; and when he descended 10 The
deck, she released her hold upon her uncle, and
clasped her hands together in gratitude for his
preservation. Ii was at this moment the vessel
was thrown upon her beams end, when caught
up by wave, she was borne far from the reach
OF the Earl, whose cries now drew all eyes to-
wards him.
MY niece Grace! Where is she ? he cried,
in tones OF despair.
Here, uncle = she family answered from the
sea.
Guided by her voice, they dscerned her at
some distance fromthe vessel; her body immers
stay which lay level with it. Every heave of the
sea lifted her nearly out OF The water 10 let her
descend again far beneath its surface. Yet she
held firmly TO The stay with that tenacty which
is taught by the love of life.
The Earl no sooner beheld her than he was
about 10 jump overheard TO her rescue, when
Mark. with a rope fastened around his waist,
run along the level bulwarks, and arrested him
before he could take The leap.
Stay, my lord Hold firmly by the end ofthis
rope, and will save her or perish in the at
Tempt
As he spoke he cast himself into the sea- and
partly by swimming and partly by the aid of the
stay, he had nearly reached her. when wave
lifted her high into its crest, and forced her 10
release her grasp. -t!f4.-
Save me Mark = she cried, and sunk in the
hollow il left, and almost within reach of his
arm.
He dove, and brought her to the surface
scarce ere she had gone beneath it.She instantly
casped her arms firmly around him with the in
stnct of selfpfeservation her cheek lying
against his, and her rich tresses binding him.
She is safe; draw us inboard,' he shouted,
bufeting the waves with one arm, and the other