Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-06-28
MONTPELIER, FRIDAY, JUNE 2s, 1914.

cries at sea, "A man overheard man overheard 7"
flew like lightning over the ship. l sprang upon
the quarter Just as the poor fellow with his fear
iul human face" riding the top of billow, fled
past In an instant all commotion: plank af.
ter plank was cast for him to seize and sustain
himself on, till the ship could be put about and the
boat lowered.
The first mate, bold fiery fellow, leaped into the
boat that hung at the side of the quarter deck and
IN voice so sharp and stern | seem to hear it vet
shouted, in men-in men!" But the poor sailors
hung back-the sea was too wild. The second
mate sprung to the side of the first and the men,
ashamed to leave both their officers alone, follow
ed. "Cut away the lashings" exclaimed the Off
cer-the knife glanced around the ropes-the boat
fell 20 the water-rose huge wave far over the
deck, and drfted rapidly astern. thought it could
not live moment in such sea, but the officer who
held the helm skfu seaman. Twice in his
lie he had been wrecked, and for a moment for
got the danger in admiration of his cool selfpos-
session He stood erect, the helm in his hand-his
flashing eye embracing the whole peril at a SINGLE
glance, and his hand bringing the head of the gal
liant little boat on each high sea that otherwise
would have swamped her | watched them till
nearly two miles astern, when they Law to to look
for the lost sailor Just then returned nv eve TO
the Southern horizon, and saw a squat backer and
heavier than any we had before encountered rush
ing down upon u.s. The Captain also saw it, and
was terribly excited He afterwards told me that
call
ed tor flag, and sprngng into the shrouds waved
it for their return. The gallant fellows obeyed the
signal and pulled for the ship. But it was slow
work. for the head of the boat had to be laid on TO
almost every wave. TWAS now growing dark, and
If the squa should strike the boat before il reach
ed the vessel, there was no hope for it. 1t would
either 60 down at once, or drift away into the sur.
rounding darkness, to struggle out the night as it
could. | shall never forget that scene All alone
the southern horizon, between the black water
and the black heavens, was white streak of toss
ing foam. Nearer and nearer every moment il
boiled and roared on its track. Between us ap
peared at intervals that little boat like black speck
on the crest of the bilIows and then sunk away
apparently engufed forever One moment the
squall would seem to gain on it beyond the power
of escape, and then delay its progress. As stood
and watched them both, and yet could not tell which
would reach us first, the excitement amounted TO
perfect agony. Seconds seemed lenpthened into
hours. could not look steadily on that gallant
little crew, now settling the question of life and
death to themselves, and perhaps to us, who would
be almost unnamed in the middle of the Atlantic
and encompassed by storm The sea was maxi
ing fast, yet that frail thing rode it like duck
Every time she sunk away she carried my heart
down with her, and when she remained in a longer
time than usual, would think it was all over and
cover my eyes in horror-the next moment she
would appear between us and the black rolling
cloud, literally covered with foam and spray.
The captain knew, as he said afterwards, that
few minutes more would decide the fate of his Off
GERS and crew. lie called for his trumpet, and
sprngng up the ratings, shouted out over the roar
of the blast and waves, Pull away, my brave bull
lies, the squat IS coming-gve way, my heortes T"
and the bold fellows did Z" give wayn with will.
! could see their ashen oars culver as they rose
from the water, while the ifelike boat sprung to
their strokes down the biows like panther on the
leap On she came, and on came the blast. 1t
was the widest struggle ever gazed on, but the
gallant little boat conquered Oh, how my heart
leaped when she at length shot round the STERN and
rising on wave far above our lee quarter, shook
the water from her drenched head, if in delight
to find her shelter again.
The chains were fastened, and | never pulled
with such right good will on a rope as the one which
brought that boat up the vessels side. AS the heads
| OF the crew appeared over the bulwarks, | could
have Rugged the brave fellows in transport. As
| they stepped on deck not question was asked-no
report given-but Forward, men !" broke from the
/ captains lips. The vessel was trimmed to meet
the blast, and we were again bounding on our way.
1t that squa had pursued the course Of all the for
mer ones, we must have lost our crew but when
nearest the boat land it seemed to me the foam was
breaking not a hundred rods off, the wind sudden
ly veered, and held the cloud in check, SO that it
! swung round close to the bows.
The poor sailor was gone he came not back a.
gain. 1t was his birthday, (hc was % years old)
and, alas, 1t was his death-day. Whether, bold
swimmer, he saw at distance his companions hun.
ting hopeessly for him, and finally, with his heart
growing cold with despair beheld them turn back
to the ship and the ship itself toss its spas away
from bin forever, or whether the sea soon took him
under we know not We saw him no more-and
gloom fell on the whole ship There were but
few of us in all, and we felt his loss 1t was wild
and dark night death had been among u.s. and had
left us with sad and serious hearts. And as walk.
ed to the stern and looked back on the foam and
tumut of the vessels wake, in which the poor sal
lor had disappeared, nstinctively murmured the
mariners hymn, closing with the sincere prayer
Oh! sailor boy, sailor boy, peace thy soul"
At length the winds lulled, the clouds broke a.
way, and large space of blue sky and bright stars
appeared overhead. The dark storm cloud hung a
| long the distant horizon over which the lightning
still played while the distant thunder broke at in
tervas over the deep. The black ocean moaned OF
| its heavy sobbngs, and the drenched and stagger
!, ing ship rolled heavily on its restless BOSOM anC
the great night eucompassed all. This was soil
tude so deep and awful that my heart seemed tc
throb audby in my bosom. My eyes ached will
the effort to pierce the surrounding darkness, ant
tnd something to relieve the loneliness of the scene
AT length the rising moon showed its bright dist
over cloud tingng its black edge with silver, anc
pouring sea of light on a sea of darkness till the
waves CLEANED and sparkled as if Just awakened t.
lie and hope. The moon never looked so lovely
betore 1t seemed to have come out in the heaven.
on purpose to bless and to cheer US.