The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-12-01

Just described. the wind came out Sndden-
ly in the n. w. fresh and steady; IN 5
minutes it was again blowing a tremen-
dous gale, our sail was nearly all taken in
and the men were engaged in putting a
finishing touch to close reeing the top
sail, when u succession Of the most fear
ful squalls of wind and rain fell upon US:
the wind in an uncomfortable short space
of time hauled from the NV. to ENE.
blowing a hurricane. For n person who
has never experienced the full force of a
violent gale, it would be impossible to
realize the mighty power Of the wind on
these occasions. IN the present instance,
50 tremulons was ii that II was useless 10
attempt 10 stand on the quarter deck-so
| returned to the wheel house to watch
the result.
The available sailors of the ship I'll in
num5er) were all engaged in -eefing the
m%aintopsail, when squat of fearful in
tensity struck the vessel. She careeued
over Till almost on her beam ead-then
recovered slowly but steadily from the
blowout the shock proved TOO much for
the mast. In a second | heard a fearful
crack-then crushing, laundering sound
tine mainmast had parted just below the
nam cross tree, carrying with il the force
and mizen top gallant masts and their res
pective sails.
Far above the noise Of the tempest
was heard the despairing yell OF the I'M
fortunate sailors, snalched thus in IN in
slant from existence, TO meet Z fearful
end. Three, apparently blown from The
ward, fell far astern; two met a more
dreadful and lingering death, for they
chung despairingly 10 the shrouds till the
final blow Of the falling mast dashed them
INTO eternity,
Far in the distance the heads Of two
struggling sailors were dimly distinguish
ed amidst a cloud Of foam and spray-bu-
only for i momenl-the next moment the
ungovernable ship swept US far away
As the mast was falling, the men who
were reefng endeavored, by sliding down
ropes and dropping or the deck, TO save
themselves. In doing so many were Sc
yerely injured. One fractured his skull
and broke his rib: two broke their legs;
one both his arm and leg, two shoulders
were dislocated: the ID mate received a
severe blow or the sAuB,3 eo-~un rp-a
were swept away and persisted, and sew
en- were disabled-all seriously injured.
All this occurred in two minutes. From
one of the finest vessels on the Atlantic,
the Wyoming in a moment was changed
to a dismasted and unmanageable wreck.
Crippled anu crushed she still sped madly
on before the irving wind, with tue use
less mast still c~linging to our battered
side, hampering our remaining sails, and
leaving US at the mercy of the clements.
Our hull was still strong and yielded to
the helm, though sorely cIogged by the
dragging mast; vast seas dashed over Us
al intervals, shaking and staggering the
solid hulk as ii it would tear It assunder.
All night We drove on III this disagrea-
Die position. anxiously awaiting an ablte-
ment in the violence Of the storm. The
conduct of our passengers during the con
tinuauce Of the danger was worthy Of all
praise-that of the ladies' especially
Each one appeared TO lose sight of self in
the trying moment, and to be principally
concerned and anxious for others wei
fare.
The condnct OF Captain VI. throughout
the whole evinced q GOODNESS and pres
ence OF mind which, considering the Try
ING position in which he was placed,
were astonishing. The first and second
mates also behaved as well as men could
do TO repair Our loss, and to calm and
quiet the surviving All night
long the gro=ns of the wounded filled our
ears: a tremendous sea tossed US to and
fro, each motion adding to the anguish Of
the unfortunates who filled the round
house.
! Ifelt my own position peculiarly try
ing-the only physician on board-the
! only one even remotely qualified nv iheo-
~, uaassjs,ed by experience or practice,
to treat tie wounded. Assured by the
s captain and my fellow passengers that any
a course | might deem it expedient to a
dept with reference to the suffering would
o be warmly seconded by then-ihat any
: errors which my unflcdged experience
: might betrav me into, would be overlook
a cd, nay even vindlcated by them, | UNI
1 dertook the task Of attending the wound
ed. Two men, one of whom had a
! shoulIer tislocated, the other leg. | re.
iieyed on ihe spot. | dressed the frac-
flrel limbs OF two sailors hastily for thc
i niehi. had the man with the FRACTURED
;. skull and broken rib removed to be;tei
i quarters, bIed him, dressed his wounds
and il half an hour had the satisfaction o
seeing him gradually recover from th'
4 violent delirium resulting from his sewers
l. injury on the head.
e, Rarely does it occur that a young dis
2. ciple of Galen is so unceremoniously in
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