Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-07


the most perilous sight was to behold, down
the gaping hatchways, the vessel nearly full
ofwater,Zann the sad and half-drowncd rem
nant of our crew hanging on here and there,
too exhausted to be enabled to use much ex-
ertion.-and the cutter evidently settling down
by the stern.
ono a prey 10 his own elings, thinking Of
home, thinking offrieuds, and every dear at
tachment of the heart, expecting every mo-
ment TO be his last; to be engulied, too,
living and conscinus being to sink into the
fathomless deep, and in few minutes to be
a prev to fishes and and, above all, to UNDER
20 ever again that horrid sensation of drown
inc from which we had but Just escaped.
This was almost too much to beav; and hope
there was none,--nor the most distant pros
pect Of it for two dreadful hours. Then a ray
"a distant ray CLEANED upon US then-oh
then, how sensibly we felt, that
There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aoft,
To keep wa ch for the life Of poor jack
the Quail stll swan! Blankets had been OK
tended over the exposed companions, which
prevented the water from gaining much below,
and returning strength invigorated our hearts.
A brief but sincor thanksgiving to God,-
then turn-to with a will-was the general
feeling, beds, hammOcks clothing, and other
lumber, that could be ished up from below,
were stuffed up the hatchways, and at last
cliectually secured them the carpenters
mate was gone. poor fellow, and the pump
gear washed away,--but an hands began bail
ing away heartily out Of the forecasastle with
saucepan found m the galley, and we had the
satisfaction ofseoing that every hour we gain
ftf,I
had remained perfectly sound. "Water
water :" was now the general cry for ever
one was parchcd with thirst, caused either
from exertion, or the quantity Of salt water
swallowed. This, however, had the good eff
feet of redouoling our efforts, for until the salt
water could be got down, no fresh water
could be obtained. In about twelve hours We
contrvcd to reach an upper cask, advana
geosly placed by the rolling waters,-and oh
how sweet was that precious drop
IL was about this time that we found the ful
extent Of our loss, the exact number of fine lel
lows that had been so suddenly snatched from
among us and the wounded now began tC
feel their wounds but still no lack of exer
ton. The Commander had been at the time
standing on the steps of the companion-ladder
and was struck down into his own cabin BY
the sea, and there severely bruised and near
" 3rjwed Mr.. Paul Second Mastery VIII,
had been washed overheard, got hold of bro
ken timber on the wcather-quartcr, and hell
ON, until dragged in; and Mr.. Knox cot il
again without knowing how. Messrs Hofi
mestCr and Yulc, who were holding on by th
mast in their shirts, had them literally blown
off their backs by the force of the wind. Ev
cry one of the survivors were more or les
: wounded-and what was remarkable, almos
every one had black eyes, The whole of tn
first night we continued bailing, and ganet
considerably upon the hold. We found som
cheeses abat and little dry bread toward
which gave us a good NEAL all hands (ninc
teen sIrvivors) forming one mess about tn
galley; the cutter driving at tie mercy c
wind and wave, with the raft Composed Of a
the spars and sails) hanging on by the riggin,
to windward, and, by the kind interposition {
PrOvidpnce, acting as brakewater.
Next morning, the Doth, the wind modera
ted little, and the sun shone at interval:
We began examining our state below, an
found everything in the most wFetched coniu
sion. The storeroom and lockers were stove
and the stores scattered about. Drawers
boxes, tables, crockery, glass, clothing, books
charts, and every description Of property
public and private, washed about in heaps, ant
totally destroyed, and the msil bags complete
" saturated. The vessel must have takel
some maccouniable turns whilst We were in
sensible; for we found that the ballast ha,
shifted, aud burst up all the after-parts Of tn
lower deck, breaking the SOLID beamel unde
the cabd floor. There several pigs Oft (weigh
ing about l00lb. each) mounted in the lar
boared bed-places, and one actually upon tn
top shelf of the commanders beaufetl Tn,
- - L. L.,
snugly slowed within their lockers, were al
three thrown upon the lower deck in singu
hrly entangled state, and several casks wcT
washed up out of the hold: add to this, I'll
dirt washed up, mixedlwith st1aw, Goals, pape
sea-weed, and all scattered in great profusio
about the deck, made our habitation below N
over agreeable, considering, too, that we cou
neither strip nor dry our clothing during Il
time we were on the wreck.
Mr.. Hobbs clerk in charge, owed his Ii
under Providence, to the intrusion Of the b;
last into his cabin; for he could not open b
sliding door, and therefore could not only Q
out by the way the ballast got IN.
After finding that the cutter was as mu
awrecked below as she was aloit, and, abo
al, finding the boats compass minjured a
several useful stores, we turned our though
towards setting the small ib on the stump
the mast which we accomplished very wei,
means Of spike nails driven into the spar
steps and now we eudeayoured to kindl
fire, for il was dreadfuly cold and in q
too we succeeded, after much trouble, by n
bing some oakum dry in the hand, and flash
in the pan Of the only dry pistol in the YES
1t was quite cheering to sec the blaze
when once lighted, like the sacred iireI in
Temple, it was never extinguished. /
success put another very natural idea !
our heads. There was hanging over
stern a number Of fine legs Of mutton, int
ed as presents for the folks at Lisbon,
there they still remained quite safe and ten
ing and having the fish-keetle with WI
the butter was baed out at hand, we soon
warm mess, which did us all infinite gooC
After our meal tho lookout man set us
hobbling upon deck with the cheering CT,
"a sail sail - and sure enough tn
was brig 10 leeward. Our object now
to get the vessel before the wind, and frs
al to cut away the raft. This was soon d
andno one regrettedit; for although it
been very useful as a breakwater, still Il
was something very disagreeable in beholC
one or two Of our poor fellows entangleC
the rigging, few feet below water. w
the spars were gone she plaid of, and "
near two knots through the water towards
brig. Our only gun was cast loose, the Il
azine broken ope7, and the ammunition ic
in good order. We fired away, and sue
III Al.