Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-18
IN, VIRGINIA) THURSDAY, APRIL - 1889

P"ubECu VIC OteIIdUeu IrlNAte
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 ,hermum.
eler was below zero. Fer shrouds of cours SO
therefore slackened at every strain, and her
unwieidiy masts (for che had those tesig ned
ior the frigate Cumberland, a much larper
ship,) seemed ready TO- jump out of her
Anu now, while all was apprehension, ano,
Their bolt drew !-snd then another until
at last, our whole stay was placed upon a
single bolt less than mans wrist in cir.
cumference. Still the good iron chung to
The solid wood, and bore us alongside the
breakers. though in a most fearful proximi-
~ 10 them. This thrilling incident has ne.
yer, believe, been noticed in public, but il
Is the literal fact-which make not the
slightest attempt to etnbellish. As we gals
Topped on-for | can compare our vessels
ieaping TO nothing else-Ihe 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 dashing surge sounded like
the awful knell that the ocean was singing
ior we victims It was eager TO engulph.
AT length The light bore upon our qua rter
and the broad Atlantic rolled its white cans
before US. During this time all we're silent
each officer and man was al his most. ant
the bearing and countenance of the Captain
seemed TO give encouragement TO every per,
sor OF board With hut bare possibility
OF saving the ship and those on board he re-,
lied on his nautical skill and courage, and
ny carrying The mainsai when in any other
situation would have been considered a sui
cidal act, he toeathered the lee shore, and sap.
ed Tie Constitution.
The mainsail was now hauled up, by light
hearts and strong hands, the lib aud spanker
taken in, and from the light of Sciily the
gallant vessel. under close reefed topsails
and main trysails, took her departure and
danced merrily over the deep towards the
United States.
Pipe down." said the Captain to the First
Lieutenant, "and splice the main brace"
Pipe down." echoed the First Lieutenant
to the boatswain. "Pipe down." whistied
the boatswain 10 the crew, and "pipe down.
il was
Soon The 'sJack of the Dus.'' held his le-
wee on The main gun>deck, and the weather.
beaten tars, as they gathered about the grog
Old Rye, forgot all their pe.iis and fatigue
elbow near the rocks did we go" said I
to one of the mastcr's mates, the next morn.
ing He made no reply, but taking down
has chart. showed me pencil line betlDeen
the outside shoal and The Light House Island,
which must have been a small strait for
fisherman 10 run his smack through in good
weather by daylight.
For what is the noble and dear old friga,e
reserved!
went upon deck the sea was calm, a
gentle breeze was yelling our canvass from
our mansail 10 royal, the Isles of ScilIy had
sunk in the eastern waters, and the clouds
OF the dying storm were rolling off in bro
ken masses to the northward and westward.
like The flying columns Of beaten army.
nave been IN many gale of wind and
have passed through scenes of great danger;
out never, before nor since, have experts
enced an hour so terrific, as that when The
Constitution was laboring, with the lives of
hive hundred men hanging on a single small
iron bolt, to weather Sicily, on the nighl OF
the llth of May, 1885.
NoTE.-During the gale, Mrs Livings.
ION inquired Of the Captain il we were not
10 srea' danger, to which he replied as soon
as we had passed Scilly, "you are as safe as
you would be in the aisle Of church." II
10 singular that the frigate Boston, Can't.
McNeal, about the close ofth Revolution
escaped similar danger while employed in
carrying cut to France Chancellor Liyiops-
Ton, relative Of Edwards, aud also Min.
Is!er TO the Court ofSt. Cloud He likewise
had his wife on board, and while the vessel
was weathering lee shore, Mrs. Livings.
ton asked The Capiaiu-a rough but gallant
old fire. eaier-if they were not 10 great
danger; to which he replied-'Y You had
better, nj adam, get down upon your knees,
and pray to God TO forgive you your numer-
Gus SINS, for il we don't carry this point, we
shall all be down in five minutes"