American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-10-03

her stem to her stern post, Keeling and lurching,
tossed to and fro, again would she gather fresh
strength, and with her wheels half hid in the
wild waters, again and again receive the thun-
derng blows OF an element that seemed armed
| for our destruction.
The sails on the yards, strongly secured by
ropes and gaskets, were blown from their turls
and stTeamed out TO leeward in ribbons. But
all this was nothing. About P. M, whilst
most Of us were seated in aaoni2ng suspense
in the lower cabin, holding fast to the tables
and settees, sea struck the vessel, and ire
mendous crash was heard on deck; instantly
the cabin was darkened, and torrents of wa
ter came pouring down upon US through the
skylights.
Scarcely had the waters reached the floor,
when all in the cabins and state-Iooms sprang
to their feet, and simultaneously, as if by con-
cert, the ladies uttered scream of agony, 80
painful, so fearful, and so despairing, the sound
Of it will never be forgotten; and heaven grant
that such wall of anguish may never again be
heard by me. Several fainted-others clasped
their hands in mute despair, whilst many call
ed aloud upon their Creator"
The crash to which the writer alludes was
caused by the tearing up Of the benches and
other wood work on the quarter deck. These
we're hurled with violence against the sky
lights, by the same sea which broke the win
dows Of the saloon, drenchiDg the berths on the
larboard side, driving cut their afIighted oc
cupants, whilst it smashed by its weight the
glass over the main cabin, and thus found its
way below.
This was period of intense emotion. was
sitting in the upper saloon, striving to protect
some ladies from injury. So violent were the
shocks of the vessel, although firmly braced, it
selves being hurled from our seats, and dashed
with such violence against part of the vessel
as to endanger life and limb. Many received
severe Commissions and bruises, notwithstanding
all their efforts.
Twas an ANXIOUS hour. My eye wandered
over the different groups in the saloon. Resting
one while on a father passing from one to anoth-
er of his family, and cheering with Il kind word
an interesting group of daughters Then on
young wife folded to the bosom of her husband,
without word being uttered, but the action
spoke volumes; and again upon mother,
whose children had been left in America, as
she clasped her hands, as if in secret prayer,
whilst her husband and her father gathered a.
round, aBd all seemed bowed down to earth in
one common feeling of tender solcitude for
those children who might so soon become help
less orphans.
1t was an awful hour. The most thought
less amongst US covered in their secret heart
before IA danger which none but fool or brute
would have Knocked, and all, therefore, ac-
cepted the invitation to meet in the cabin for
prayer.
Rev. Mr.. Marsh read the 18th Psalm
Rev. DR.. Smoker prayed. Rev. DR.. Beecher
made few solemn remarks. Rev. DR.. Balch
repeated the words of our Saviour, "Let not
your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, be-
eVe also in e,''-commenling briefly on
their consoling import, and then invited all
present to Join W; IN him in the Lords Prayer
after which, he pronounced the Apostles bene-
dicton.
Night approached. And again quote from
the gentleman who has kindly given me an ac-
count of what took place below.
'Amid this accumulation Of horrors, and
still more to add TO our alarm, night gathered
in around us. The wind far from abating, was
on the increase. The lulls in the storm being
less frequent, and the squalls, if any thing,
more terrific. The whole ocean was one sea of
foom, dashed up into terrible waves, wild and
angry, whilst the spray and wind seemed driy-
en- through the rigging and over the ship, as ii
with demoniacal power. AS darkness came,
clustered together in the cabin, we all thought
and reflected on our fate. Most, if not all Of
US, had given up ourselves for lost. For what
with the heavy laborlng Of the ship, the terri
bic noise and bowling of the wind, the contnu-
ed frequent thumpings of the sea, the quivering
and shaking of the groaning timbers, the car
rying away OF so many portions of the vessels
upper works, and the knowledge that we were
perhaps for another night to be exposed to the
full power Of raging hurricane, left us little
to hope for"
In the evening about o'clock, the Rev Mr.
Balch, at the request OF several passengers, ad-
ministered the Holy Communion in the cabin
to upwards of sixty passengers-many Of them
received it there for the first time in their lives
Several applied to him as to the proprety of
their embracing that occasion to fulfil long
cherished purpose of their hearts, but which,
like many other good thoughts, had been de-
ferred to more convenient occasion. They
all Communicated, together with others, of al
most every creed and nation-thus reminding
US of promise of Scripture, "they shall come
from the east and the west, the north and the
south, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac
and Jacob, in the kingdom of God"
| 1t was most solemn scene. Mr.. Balch first
read the service appointed for a storm at sea,
after which, the whole communion Office. The
terrible conflict of the element which ragged
without was rendered yet more striking by the
expressive stiffness which pervaded that COM
pany of Christ's disciples within.
Gathered around the table, they received in
to hearts deeply moved, the consecrated en-
blem of the Redeemer's body and blood. All
felt comforted by the blessed ordinance ofgrace.
Many bosom before tossed with fear, was
now tranquil through faith. Once more all re-
newed their VOWS, and realized the peace of
God shed abroad in their hearts, and felt, per-
haps, with vividness never before known
"Your life is hid with God in Christ" Oh!
it was a night and communion long to be re-
membered.
After the communion returned to my state
room. The gentleman who shared it with me