Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-07-22
A MAN OVERHEARD.

Au oui HoiCc VI IlcdutSS LcttefS on IL
ally, we give film credit for an almost unsur-
passed power of description. The following
passage from his first letter describing a
Man Overheard, and the fearful attempt to
rescue him, will show that we did not speak
without reason.
''The pleasure of our passage was much
married by theiloss of a man overboard.-
When within few hundred miles of the
Azores, we were overtaken by succession
of severe squalls. Forming almost insian-
taneously on the horizon, they moved down
like phantoms on the ship. Fora few mo-
ments after ones struck us, we were buried
in foam and spray, AID then heavily rolling
on heavy sea. We however prepared our
selves, and soon got every thing snug. The
light sales were all in-,he lbs, topgallants
and spanker furled close-the mainsail clew
ed up, and we were dashng along under
close .eefed topsais alone, when man, who
was coming down from the last reef, slipped
as he stepped on the bulwarks,and went over
into the waves. In moment that most ter
rife of all cries at sea, GA man overheard
a man overboard!' flew like lightning over
the ship. sprung upon the quarter deck
just as the poor fellow, with his fearful hui
manface,' riding the top of billow, fled past.
In an instant all was commotion: plank af-
ter plank was cast over for him to Sc re 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
a voice so sharp and stern seem to hear it
yet, shouted, sin men-ln menn But the
poor sailors hung back-the sea was too
wild. The second mate sprung to the side
of first, and the men, ashamed to leave both
their officers alone, followed. ''Cut away
the lashings,' excxclaimed the officer-the
knife glanced around the ropes-the boat
fell TO the water and rose on huge wave
far over the deck, and driffed rapidly asern
thought it could not live moment in such
sea, but the officer who held the helm was
a skilliul seaman Twice in his life had he
been wrecked, and for a moment forgo, the
peril in admiration ofhis cool selfpossess;on.
He stood erect-the helm in his hand-his
flashing eye embracing the whole peril in a
single glance, and his hand bringing the
head of the gallant little boat on each high
sea that otherwise would have swampcd her.
watched them till nearly miles 2 astern,
when. they lay-to to look for the lost sailor
Just then turned my eye to the Southern
horizon and saw squall blacker and heavi-
er than any we had before encountered, rush
ing down upon us. The Captain also saw
it, and was terribly excited. He afterwards
told me that in all his life he never was
more so. He called for the flag, and spring
ing into the shrouds, waved it for their re-
turn. The gallant fellows obeyed the sig
nal and pulled for the ship. But ii was slow
work, for the head of the boat to be laid on
to almost every wave. 1t was now growing
dark, and fthe squall should strike the boat
before it reached the vessel, there was no
hope for it. II would either 90 down.at once
or drift away into the surrounding darkness,
10 struggle out the night as it could. shall
never forget that scene. All along the
southern horizon between the black water,
and the still blacker heavens, was white
streak of tossing foam. Nearer and clearer
every moment it boiled and roared on its
track. Between it and us appeared at in
tervals that little boat like a black speck on
the crest of,he pillows, and then sunk away
apparently engulfed forever. Onc moment
the squall would seem TO gain on it beyond
the power of escape, and then delay lis pro-
CESS. AS stood and watched them both,
and yet could not tel! which would reach US
first, the excitement amounted to perfect
agony. Seconds seemed heightened into
hours. could not look steadily on that gal
liant little crew now settling the question of
life and death to themselves and perhaps to
us, who would be left almost unnamed in
the middle Of the Atlantic, land encompassed
by a Storm. The sea was making fast, and
yet that frail thing rode it like a duck
Every time she sunk away she carried my
heart down with her, and when she remain
ed longer time than usual, would think
il was all over, and cover my eyes in
horror-the next moment she would appear
between us and the black rolling cloud lit
orally covered with foam and spray. The
Captain knew, as he said afterwards, that
a few minutes more would decide the fate
ofhis officers and crew, He called for his
trumpet, and spylnging up the ratings,
shouted above the roar of the blast and
waves, Pull a,ray my 6rare bulIies, the
squat is coming-gire tcay,' with will.
could see their ashen oars culver as they
rose from the wafer, while the l!c-like boat
sprung TO their strokes down the pillows,
Ike panther on the leap. On she came,
and on came the blast. Ii was the widest
struggle | ever gazed on, but the gallant lit
tie beat conquered. Oh, how my heart
leaped when she at length shot around the
stern, and rising on wave far above our
lee quarter, shook the water from her drcn-
ched head as if in delight to. find her shelter
again.
THE chains were fastened, and | never
pulled with such right good VIII on "a rope as
on the one that brought that boat up to the
vessels SIDE As the heads ofthe crew ap-
peared over the bulwarks, | could have hug
ged the brave fellows in transport. As they
stepped on deck, nc, 4 question was asked
no report was giyen-but ForGard, men =
broke from the Captains lips. The vessel
was trimmed TO meet the blast, and we were
again bounding on our way
The New York Evening Gazette says:
I" The following fact is no, generally
known. except TO few gentlemen III tbs
city: Shortly after the termination of the
power and influence OF I;urb de, the domi-
nant Darty in Mexico despatched n vessel