Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-09-29

overcast, but there was little fall of rain,
and only the havoc which had been made
amongst the more perishable and exposed
things, and the mighty heavings OF the
sonorous ocean, and an occasional recur.
ring sweep of wind, gave token Of the ter.
rors Of the past hours. Al things, save
the ocean, were becoming serene, when a
loud and distinct sound came up sullenly
on the air. The sullen sound was repeat
ed. 1t was distress gun.
At this moment youth entered whom
| regarded with strong dislike he was
of slight stature, and--l mus, confess it
of remarkable beauty. He was the
nephew Of the Lady Roxanna, and had
more than once treated me with indigniiy.
His odious name Was francesca. But,
the occasion leveled enmiiies, and he con.
descended to address me with stately
suavIty.
"Senor- he said "your ex-
perence Of the sea may perhaps counsel
us as TO the better mode Of giving succor
to yonder vessel"
looked abroad from the window and
saw the hull of large vessel within
little more than mile Of the shore be-
low me-driliing rapidly toward it. A
crowd Of men, black and white, had al.
ready assembled upon the beach. My
selfish Indifference had taken to itself
wings. sprang down the massive stair
way, and ran instinctively to the sea.side.
Succor, there was none. A line of
sharp rocks, here and there dotted with
an slet, extended in parallel line with
the shore, distant fully three hundred
English yards from it and upon this the
(orlorn hull must inevitably strike
Ropes would avail nothing besides none
were at hand; and what boat could live
on such sea
Heaven, alone, must be their depen-
dence," said an old man, with the coun-
tenance and dress Of padre. He spoke
the truth. Human hands we're too weak
for the broken winged denizen of the seas.
She neared her destiny. She had already
plunged her way to within fearfuliy
short distance Of the line of rock, and il
became evident that few minutes would
decide her fate. Without an inch of can
vass to gather any retarding breeze into
-.ruoderess--helpl ess--hopeless
landward beat of that hungry sea had
placed the sure hand Of death upon her.
At times she rocked upon the ridge of a
wave higher than the sea-birds fly in a
calm, and then plunged into depths from
which escape seemed miracle. Thus
she came on-rlslng aud slnking-unill
the groups of her seamen grew into dis
linct AMI exciting view. seized glass
which the priest held, and applied it to
my eye. The deck and its tenants open
ed on my vision with distnctness terri.
bly, Increased. ! saw men in numbers :;
| saw the very seams, It appeared to me,
OF their weather beaten and ashy cheeks.
But my attention was drawn TO a group
of a few who, Keeling with the sway oftbe
hull, and clingug to neghborng OBJ
lects for support, had gathered about n
singular structure which, shaped like a
Tartsr's cap, have, once or twice in my
life, met with on the decks Of vessels in.
tended for the transportation of rare and
valuable cattle. Its conical form ha6 de-
Tended it against the fury of wind end sea.
As looked on, door opened into this
singular structure, and, after few mo-
ments, horse Of fine form and dark color,
with tho thongs, with which he had been
strapped for safety from the blows Of the
lurchng vessel to the floor Of his stall,
dangling from his limbs, and girth, emer-
ged upon the visible deck. As he pitched
to and fro, clinging with nervous feet TO
the slippery and unquiet planks, aud ex.
pressed with erect head and dstended
nostIils the intense terror with which he
was lnllamed, recognized at once steed
worth dukes ransom. But chance
motion Of the glass fixed nv auen,io up
on second group some space distant from
the other. One, whom | supposed 20 be
the Captain of the vessel, safe dashed to
his seat, his long white hair dropping i
bout his temples. His arm was around
the was, Of boy-perhaps his grand.
son. At his shoulder stood woman !;
her hands were clasped and from her
bosom ii was that the cry issued that sud-
denly rang high above the din of the rag.
ing waters.
"Will you see them de-" shouted Fran
cesro, with fierce emotion, Sand not
extend hand to their help?" In Sc
cond moment he stood in the stern of a
fishing boat and saw that he was mad
dened to the task Of daring the wild Pc
rils before him. A grey-headed negro
sprang to his side.
"Senor you are mad" roared a white
fisherman "the boat canno, live in such
a sea-"
But Ia younger negro, likewise, leapt in.
to the boat, and the three had struck off
alone, when the fisherman plunged mid
waist into the water and joined them.
ave will drown together, Senior Fran
cesco," he growled, aud belook himself to
his oar.
Short was the suspense of the gallant
company. The boat had barely issued
from the little cove, where she had nestled
with tolerable security, before, bottom up
ward, with men and oars scattered around
her like sea-weed, she lay stove in upon
the sands. The fisherman raised himself
nnon his elhow Nv eves hacap,a ha.y,