The Polynesian., 1840-07-04
From the Democratic Review.
OLD IRONSIDES ON A LEE SHORE.

captains and aft 1t went, like the spreading
of sea-birds wing, giving the huge sail to
the gale.
"Give her the lee helm when she goes
into the sea, cried the Captain.
cay, ay, sir she has it," growled out
the old sea-dog at the pinnacle.
Right your helm! keep her full and by''I
cay, ay, sr full and by she is, was the
prompt answer from the helm.
"How fast does she go:"
Eight knots and half, sir.
GLOW bears the Light"
"Ncarly a-bcam, sir"
"Kecp her away half a point. How fast
does she goi'
"Ninc knots, sir
'sSteady, SOP returned the Captain.
"Steady;" answered the hclmsman; and
all was the silence of the grave upon that
crowded deck except the bowling of the
storm-f 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 Scily; and who ever touched
those rocks, and lived, during Storm The
sea ran very high; the rain fell in sheets;
the sky was one black curtain, iliumined
only by the faint light which was to mark
our deliverance, or stand a monument of our
destruction. The wind had got above whist
ling-it came in pulis that hattened the
waves, and made our old tfigatc settle to her
bearings, while every thing on board seemed
cracking into pieces. At this moment the
carpenter reported that the left bolt of the
weather fore shroud had drawn
"Get on the tufts, and set them all on the
weather shrouds. Keep her at small helm,
quartermaster, and ease her in the sea-, p"
were the orders of the Captain.
The tufts were soon put upon the weather.
shrouds, which of course relieved the chains
and channels; but many an anxious eye was
turned toward 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 overladen frigate,
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 thermome-
ter was below zero. Her shrouds of course
therefore slackcned at every strain, and her
unwicldy masts (lor she had those designed
for the irigate 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 a single
bolt less than mans wrist in circumler-
encc. Still the good iron chung to the solid
wood, and bore us along side the breakers,
though in a most fearful proximity to them.
This thrilling incident has never, ! believe,
been noticed in public, but it is the literal
fact which have not made the slightest
attempt to cmbellish. AS we galloped on
for | can compare our vessels leaping to
nothing else the rocks seemed very near
US. Dark as was the night, the white foam
, scowed around their black heads, while the
spray fell over us, and the thunder of the
dashing surge sounded like the awful knel
that the ocean was singing for the victims il
was eager to engulf
At length the light bore upon our quarter
and the broad Atlantic rolled her white caps
before us. During this time all was silent
each officer and man was at his post, anC
the bearing of the countenance Of the Cap
tain seemed to give encouragement to every
person on board. With but bare posi-
D bility of saving the ship and those on board