Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-04-23

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.
How fast does she go /?
Eight knots anda half, SIR"
How bears the light 2"
".Nearly beam, sir"
Keep her away half point"
How fast does she go 7"
"Nine knots, sir"
"Steady sol % returned the Captain.
gSteady," answered the heImsman,
and all was the silence of the grave, upon
that crowded deck-except the bowling
of the storm-for a 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 Sicily, and who ever touched
those rocks and lived during a storm
The sea ran very high. the rain fell in
sheets, the sky was one black curtain, H.
lumined only by the faint light which was
TO mark our deliverance, or stand a mOnu.
rnent of our destruction. The wind had
got above whistling, it came in puffs, that
flattened the waves, and made our old frig.
ate settle to her bearings, while every
thing on board seemed TO be cracking into
pieces. At this moment the carpenter re-.
ported the left bolt of the weather fore
shfoud had drawn.
"Get on the tufts, and set them on all
the weather shrouds. Keep her at small
helm 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
chains and channels, but many an anxious
eye was turned towards the remaining
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 at 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
sarouds of course therefore slackened at
every strain, and her unwieldy masts (for
she had those designated for the frigate
Cumberland, much larger ship,) seemed
ready to Jump out of her. And now,
while all was apprehension, another bolt
drew and then another until at last
our whole stay was placed upon single
bolt less than n mans wrist in circumfer-
ence. Still the. good iron chung TO the
solid wood, and bore US alongside the
breakers, though in most fearful proxi.
nifty Of them. This thrilling incident has
never, believe, been noticed in public, but
it is the literal fact-which | make not the
slightest attempt to embellIsh. As we gal.
loped on-for can compare our vessels
leaping to nothing else-thc rocks seemed
very near us. Dark was the night, the
white foam scowled around their thick
black heads, while the spray fell over US
E and the thunder Of the dashing surge
sounded like the awful knell that the ocean
was singing for the victims it was eager t.
engulph.
Atlength the light.bore upon our quar-
ter, and the broad Atlantic rolled its white
caps before us. During this time all wer,
silent, each officer and man was at hi'
post, and the bearing and countenance o
the Captain seemed to give, encoeragenen
to every person on board. With but
bare possibility Of saving the ship an,
, those on board, he relied on his nautica
skill and courage, and of carrying tn
mainsail when in another situation
1 would have been considered suicidal aci
he ,Ceathered he Tee shore and saDed III
Constitution.
The mainsoil was hauled up, by ligt
s hearts and strong hands, the lib and span
{ kers taken il, end from the light Of Seth
! the gallant vessel, under close reefed tor
sails and trysaiIs, took her departure an
danced merrily over the deep towards ID
United States.
Pipe down, said the Captain to Ii
First Lieutenant and splice the man
brace Z. Pipe down. echoed the Fir
Lieutenant q the boalswain. iF
8 down. Whislled the boalsweln 70 3
crew, and pipe down i was.
Soon the lack of the Dust held I
, leVee % the main gun deck, aId Z
weather. beaten tsrss as they asaers
g about tie gFog tub. aud luxurialed upon
a fol- allowance Of Old Rye. forgot 81 the
perils and fatigue.
S How near tie rocks did sc go So
5. ]. q one of The mas mates. the ne
morning e made 40 reply. but ioslI
s (.