The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-04-07

a.,,.il hauled down, back stays we'll Gel up, hsna
,aed down, rollisg sod pitching In the trough On The
seas, tho bulkheads groanng as u IN mighty piin She
came slowly too on the ssbosId tack, the main spen
oer was set topsail braced up, wind abeam the lore
# rm-slsyssil hoi.,ed. All Vas made snug on This
tack CALAMITY behaved the Eagle IN psriof'Dins lh's
eyolutioa, which 10 bat impsrioclly related. The
gale continued with undimn.hed fury, but on this
tack, We would, twas hoped be enabled TO clear the
western point Of the lsland-suIl twas doubtful
nothing but the weahery qualities Of The Eagle would
save US. To bend new lorsopsail was an utter I'M
possIblly-he fury OF the blast would not permit II
10 unknown fate dashiog over the ogi-
tated waters, hope beaming through the gloom Of un
certainty, for We had every confidence in our com
mander and the qualities OF the Eagle though she la
bored over mountains that seemed enertng Their
powers TO destroy. Now high as If to pierce
the dark masses Of clouds above and then sank low
in the hollow Of the sea, the spray breaking wildly
over us.
All, those who see ship riding calmly on the bosom
Of some unruiHsd bay or tranquil river, when the
mariner rests FROM the tolls and viessitudes Of an
life, may imagine the sailors career one bright
haleyon day, devoid Of the ills and misfortune shore
going monsls are heir to- But place them on the
deck Of ship in uncertain navgslion-no star 10
point out their danger-no beacon light to warn OF
perils near-but the mighty winds bowling over, and
asitalng dread and fearful height the ocean bill
lows-dsrk clouds rownng-lhe lhundsrs Of heavens
artillery peahng ~hile every crested wave washes over
the struggling craf-how soon would all his romance
fee before the reality Of this wild and reckless
life.
Anxiousy waited the weary OF the Eagle for
mornings dawn. then they would their position and
be enabled To handle with confidence the III.
gate. Calm and obed,ent all stood 10 their stations
the effect Of excsllent discipline. Morning dawned.
the scene was wild and terrible. We had drifed
more than anticipated, and 10 weather the dan.
gerous point was our only chance OF safety.
| Set the courses, said our Commander and though
il seemed madness itself and next TO an mpossbiiy
for the frigate to stand up under the canvas, the
courses were set to claw clear Of danger she leaned
over to the tempest, trembling 10 every joint, now
mounting wave, and then madly dashing down
bowsprt under as if diving to the bottom. We were
very near the point, breakers make out shoa for
some distance, and the sea them frghtluI.
san, ~ sang oul dozen VOICES mere on our lee
beam was a small brig, struggling with the waves, her
topmasts gone and main yard fore and main storm
stay sail was all the canvas she could show poor
craft, her doom sealed, aid could relieve her.
And though we were not safe, still situation
was forgotten in sympathy for the poor brig. She
was amid tho breakers, huge carried her high
on its top tossed her like a cork on the cadron Of
brakers that engulpbed the unfortunate brig; she
was seen no more. Our trial came. We struck the
agita,ed waters, dashed over a bed Of foam,
tain wave lifted US on its summit | closed my eyes
Home, parents, Mary Gray, my prayers, all flashed
through my mind. There loud crash and wild
cry. gszed with shudder We had passed the
danger Our foreyards gone, fore-sail flying with
wind, I'm tatters A had boarded in the waist,
lodged in the fore-sail, sweeping all before but
were under lee, from the shoa comparatively
smooth--hauled up under the Island of Paros, and
hove till the gale broke. Our escape passing the
point was miraculous indeed; had the been calm
we could no, have passed over the same spot twas
narrow shoal, and one huge sea- in mercy, lifted
clear of destruction.
| In few days we anchored in the beautiful bay Of
Smyrna.