The Washingtonian., 1845-07-12

he had neither strength nor reason. A deep
sense of impending danger was wrestling with
the demon Of drunkenness powerful effort
Of the mind threw off the yoke of King Alco-
hol, and the seaman was himself again! "A.
hiccuping attempt Of some one in the lee
scuppers, gave him notice Of the presence of
another being on deck. To seize the person
and drag him to his feet, was the work Of an
instant, and recognizing Mr.. Weathergage, he
dashed him forward, llaaping upon his head
fearful imprecations. The shock, together
with the angry tone of his commanders voice,
recalled him to reason.
"Call all hands clear the wreck ~ was
the laundering command Of Capt. w., hurry
ing at the same time into the cabin, and tum-
bling over the forces so lately valorous in the
army of King Alcohol, he dragged the now
inanimate form of the mate on deck, inficting
upon him volley of kicks and thumps, which
brought him partially to his senses.
Taking the wheel himself, Capt. w. saw
with terror the confused and stupid attempts
of the mates to do their duty. In the mean
time the sea and wind had been increasing !;
high masses Of water were pouring from stem
to stern, as the ship made slow progress, en-
numbered as she was by the wreck of spars
and sails. The jib-boom had been carried
away, taking with it the fore-topmast and
main-topgallant mast. To secure the remnant
of the spanker, which had been split, square
in the yards, secure the flying penants of un-
hitched rigging, and save the fore-topmast-
staysail, was the work of some time, as the
main-topsail was blowing out straight ahead
in ribbons-as was also the mainsail. The
sea continued to gather strength, and rolled
with fearful fury. Unless more headway could
be got on the ship, she must be immersed by
the immense masses that were piled up astern.
The wreck was no sooner cleared, than down
came the main-topmast, carrying with it hall
of the main-mast and the mizzen-topmast
Preventer tacks and sheets were attached to
the foresaiI, and "a Diecel of the fore-staysail
set to the foremast head to prevent her broach-
ing to. Onward she hied, but faster than the
course of the vessel rushed past the maddened
waves. The foresail split, and the ribbons
ranged out tar ahead and added to our peril
by decreasing our speed. 1t was too late to
lay to, and scud we must. The sea rolled in
high, steady masses, and as they broke under
our stern, wonld shoot us ahead with still
more fearful rapidity, as we rushed over the
top of the sea !; but when we fell into the hol-
low, she would tremble, and lay as still as a
babe in its crib; while high above US, ahead
and astern, was the rough-cdged sea waiting
to fall upon us and leave not speck behind.
Immediately overhead, and framed by the
white-crested surge, was the black curtain OF
tempestuous night. Fearful was the moment
when we lay in the hollow nothing but a
most perfect seaboat could ride out the fury of
the tempest The highest part Of one sea
had swept past us, but one more terrible
than the rest was astern, and as the good ship
rose on it, her head pointing down into the
abyss below, and her stern at an angle Of forty
five degrees, the comb Of the surge hung like
canopy over US! 1t broke-and sweeping
us from taffrail to knight-heads, carried every
thing before it. Our decks were swept-bin-
nacle, camboose, boats, and three of the men,
were among the things that were. Onward
at one desperate leap we flew, and again fell
into the succeeding hollow. Another terrific
wave was behind, and as she settled and
almost seemed TO gather stern way, we saw
no chance of escape. ,To lash ourselves to
the rigging was the work of an instant; while
the captain, taking two or three turns of a
rope around his body and around the wheel,
watched the shock, standing at an angle on
his heels, with his head pointed back, that the
sea might break down upon him and lessen
the chance of being swept away. Like the
former sea, only more formidable, it broke
upon our quarter deck, pouring huge masses
of water upon US. The ship trembled like an
over-ridden racer, and seemed settling away
from under our feet; but the coming waves
were not SO heavy. Fear and danger had
sobered all on board; and with the speed that
case of life and death can compel, was a
fore-staysail set. BY degrees the, day broke,
the storm cleared away--and under jury-masts
we reached New York in forty days.
The papers detailed long account of the
damage done to the ship R, and the loss
oft tbron of bar cra,r, , Io-b,,t ..,,. .,,