Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1840-05-09
THE TREMBLING EYE-LID.
PY MRS. sIcouRNEY.

twas the day before Christmas 10 the
year IT'S, that during our war Of the
Revolution, an armed vessel sailed out Of
the port of Boston. She was strongly
built, and carried 20 guns, with well
appointed crew of more than hundred,
and provisions for cruise of six months.
AS she spread her broad white sails, and
steered from an harbor with fair fresh
breeze, she made a noble appearance. -
Many ,hrobbing hearts breathed blessing
on her voyage, for she bore company OF
as bold and skiliuI seamen as ever dared
the perlls of the deep. But soon the north
wind blew, and brought heavy sea into
the bay. The night proved dark, and
they came To anchor with difficulty, near
the harbor of Plymouth. The strong gale
that budetted them became storm and The
storm hurricane.
Snow tell, and the cold was terribly
severe. The vef sci was driven from her
moorngs, and struck on reef Of rocks.
She began to ill with water, and they
we're obliged TO cut away her masis.--
The sea rose above the main deck, sweep.
Ing over it at every surge. They made
every exertaon that Courage could
prompt or hardihood endure. But so fear
full were the wind and cod, that the stout
est man was not able to strike more ,i,an
two Flows in cutting away the mast with
out being relieved by another. The
wretched people thronged together upon
the quarter deck, which was crowded al.
most to suaocalion.. They were exhaus.
ted with toll and suffering, but could oh
tain neither provisions nor fresh water
They all~ere covered by. the deep sea
4 when fine vessel becnme wreck. Bu
unfortunately, the crew got access TO ar
: dent spsrits, and many Of tn an drank Il
! intoxication. INSTRUMENTATION, muffin,
:. and madness ensued. The officers re-
: manned clear minded, but lost all authorit'
over the crew, Tho ra2ed around them
A more frightful scene can scarcely b.
i imagined. The dark sky, the ragin.
! storm, the waves breaking wildly over III.
rocks, and threatening every moment /,
swallow up the broken vessel,, and tn,
! half frozen beings who maintained h,ei
!, icy hold On life, lost to reason aud 10 duty
> Tor fighting fierceiy with each other
), Some lay in disgusting stupidity, others
fiery 'faces. Glasphemed- God. Some IL
: temporary 'delirium fancied themselves j,
4 palaces>surrounded by luxury. and brutal
I Iy abused The servants, who they suppo
. scd refused their biddings. Others ther,
we're, who amid the beating ofthat pitiles,
tempest, believed themselves in the hon,
;, that they''neyer moro must see, and will
: hollow reproach(uI voices, besought bread
) and wondered why water WIS wishhel
: from them by tho hands that were mos
!, dear. "A few, whose worst passions wer
:. quickened by alcohol to a fend- like fury
= assaulted or wounded those who come il
their way, making shrieks ofdefiance, an
:, !, their cuIses heard above he roar Of tn
! storm. lntemperance never displaye
- i.sell in more distressing attitudes. A
:, length death began 10 do his work 1'h
lrI miseralle creatures fell dead every hou
" upon tire deck, beng frozen stiff and hare
A. Each corps as it became breathless, wa
:. laid upon the hemp OF dead, that NOR
=, space might be left for The survivor
r Those who drank most freely we're III
\, first to perish. On the third day ,
- these horrors, The inhabitants Of Plymout
!. after making many Intellectual attempt
= reached the wreck, not without DANCE
/, What a melancholy spectaclet Lifeei
~ =. bodies slitftned in every form that sufie
- ing could devise. Many lay in va
- pile Others. sal with their hands reclil
= ing on their knees, others grasping Il
>" ce-covered ropes; some in posture /
defence like the dying gladiator; othe
Y with.hands held up to heaven, as if depr
~ eating their fate. Orders were given
Z. search-earnestly for every mark or sign
su' life,one by one was distinguished amid 4
'he mass Of dead, only by ihetrembling Of o
Of his eye-lies. The poor survivors we
- y kindly received into the houses Of 4
o'u people Of Plymouth, and every effort us
% for their restoration. The Captain a
Lieutenant and few others, who had
stuined from the use Of ardent spirits, s,
the vived. The remainder we're buried sol
rho in seperaie graves, and others in lar
= OF pit whose hollow is still TO be seen on I
all southwest, side Of the burial ground
ion Plymouth. The funeral obsequies w