Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-02-18

in a sea voyage TO maks regular journal interest |
ing, and indeed. should not have been able TO |
keep one if I had been so disposed. will, how
ever, give you general idea Of how time has pass
ed with me, narratipg the incidents in order as
they have occurred will sndeayor. too to rem |
der my letters interesting possible by enter
ing as much into minntia as my paper will admit /
We left the wharf at New York, on the 10Th, Al
twelve o'clock, in COW Of steamer, which carried |
US eish, or ten miles out when breeze sptinging |
up, We parted and made sail. The friends OF the |
passengers who had accompanied US thus far, bid |
us farewell with three cheers, which were Cherry /
answered from the ship, and in few hours the |
sun went down upon the land, which We saw no |
more held up my head nearly all the next day. |
but when got into tho eternal roll of the Ocean,
laid up without further struggle. On the 18Th, |
we discovered Brig with colors flying, Union !
DOM, which is signal Of distress. She proved to |
be from St. Marks, Florids, bound for New York, |
out thirty days and in distress for provision. There
were three ladies board. and the poor creatures
had eaten nothing for ten days. bul sal, beef RAJ
theF bard fare at sen, should think Our Csptan |
ship from New Orleans, and informed them of |
Old Tips election. They gave three cheers at the
Intelligence. From this day, untiI the 27th | |
scarcely left my beri., suffering very much from
sea sickness. During the time, we bad succes
sion OF heavy gales, which were all favorable, and
we made great Roadway. On the eth, was we'll
enough to go deck, and take my meals regularly
al the table.
Norember 27h.-[Ws were, at this time, in the
middle of the sea 1000 1900 mile, from and
This evening, about sunset, We discovered vessel
with signals Of distress hoisted The wind was bow
ing atremeudous gale, and the fea, fully;
we, however, stood Cor her, and after much feulty
succeeded in speaking to them. The answer was,
h. Bri. Britannia, of Carlisle, England. 10 mixing
contiucn 1t was nov pitch dark, and could
only ascertain the position of the Brig by the light
which "as hung in her fore rigging Owing to thu
vaience of the gale. were lacking for nearly an
sour, before We could again get near enough to
loser our boat. We at length succ eeded, and tie
life boat wa, manned and put OF, although grear
fear. were entertained Of her swapping. /, ~ns
time of fearful anxiety. Every eye was strained
in the direction in which the boat expected to
return. if possible. to pierce the gloom and ascer-
tain something of her fate. / had forgotten my
sickness, and was clinging to the mzzeu shroud.,
with the spray dashng in my face every moment.
Shortly we saw tho boat-ligh, the of BIZ
low, within hundred ystds of Us; but ere the ex.
clamation Of pleasure was uttered. a sea dashed
over her. and a wild cry arose above The roar OF
the tempest, like the wall of the rerishins. | Eel,
a strange sensation OF fannes. and disposition to
cover my eyes and shall never fn get the horror
depicted in the faces around me. Light. were di.-
played and ropes thrown overheard in every d
rectioa, with fiery haste. but d-athtke silence
reigned aboard the shp--not an exclamation, no, a
breath " Lower away the Jolly boat" shouted
the Captain--but, the CO rnand was executed
the liie-boat shot under our lee, safe. A wavs hs
struck her, dou.-d the ligh, AMI washed the mate
overheard. They though, all wa, over with them
for moment. but he br'nnatey seiz-d an oar and
vas saved. they thought Of the Engli4hmans
crew, and returned for the remainder, who wer,,
in their turn. put safely on board.
The American, do veil Ia he proud of the cal
ant'y of their tars; which. whether displayed io
ba'ie OF in the of the unfortunate, is couai.
" admirable
The crew ofthe Brs were twelve in number. in.
SLIDING tho Caplai1 ant two boys. They were
iron sons port IN ,tlsh Ameriia. twenty day
cur honeward bound Having encountered very
severe weather, ABOUT fpur days before they spranP
: leak, which iuceased so aafuiugly. that. Coz the
las, two days aud nights all sail was clusc tesfed
and the pumps worked necessarily. Every exre
dent that the love of life could suggest was tired
IN vain ;-'ais were drawn uLdrr the keel of the
vessel; effort. made remove the cargo in
% der TO get AT the leak, but s was of no avail.
Night was closing around them, ard their vessel
'as evidently fast settling. awe saw tie sun 60
down." said the old grey-headed sailor who related
he circumstances 10 me. awe saw the sun 90
down upon w, thought, for the las, time for
! ever" They had, indeed, aband Lined themselves
To depart but when they gallant vessel
booming down upon them. some of he covered
their weather-besten faces with their hands, ana
wept like children.
We supposed that the Brig sunk wen, to
pieces about two hours after we LEI, her. was
giieved, because Of poor Spaniel that was left on
board and persisted. The dog would never have
deserted his master, in such an extremity. How
ever, the poor fellows could not be blamed, for ow-
ing TO the difficulty of getting the boat alongside.
they barely escaped with thei livesno one of them
having saved even 8 much as a change Of rainent.
28h IL observed this evening Tor the first time
the pho-Phorescrnt appearance of the water
Whenever the waves broke against The ship, there
seemed a shower of FIRE. The light ia like fluid
foxh'e, and is exceedingly beautiful.
December 7A.-We have had head winds and
cal'ns since the 30-h. Yesterday was beautiful
day, tho sea nearly calm. We saw several Whales
spouting and playing about IA; and, during the