The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-10-31

in every llm0efj her lsll mass boWln
10 the bl'st. Day lghl found her sill
dragging n,and rising 10 the seas whic
sIsppesred pressing on 10 her destruction
II brought an increase OF wind and mos
gloomy prospect, the sea ran fearful,
Ihlgh, and appeared one sheet Of foam
ar as the eye could reach. We hs,
osl during the night the lee boats, whicl
had filled torn from the dsvils, jib snc
Ihy'ngJlb booms, lopmaSt, staysaiI, &c.
The lead, every cast Of which had Geer
watched with deep anxiety, told lha
we were rapidly drifting upon the shore
BY seven the winds had increased tc
a hurricane; sail after sail had either
been ,sken in, or splitting with snolse
like thunder, blew into ribbous to lee
ward, The yards shivering like pipe
SENS; nothing remained but The forclop
sail, unconnected under which The br;g
'lsy to- nnlil eleven, A. NJ, when the
hurricane had reached ils height, and
ragged with extraordinary violence, sur
passing anything we had ever seen. Tnt
brig lay on her side; The wafer boiling
over the lee rail; we were obliged 10
cling TO The rigging, 10 prevent being
blown or washed overboasd, for the sea
appeared uprooled from its bed and
borne in huge masses through The air
constant y swept our decks. The lee
guns were thrown overheard, and sub
sequenily the weather ones, and the
helm put up; she refused 10 answer it,
and The order was gwen to cut away tn,
malnmasls II was promptly obey ed, a,
was every other, our noble crew behsy.
ing with the steadintSs and dsipiut
of 'men OF wars men,
La its fall The malnmasl carried away
he head OF the loremss, topmast ant
orelop sail yards, which hung in a m
o leeward; every eXefllon was made I,
lulI of the Washington sleered wildly
N before the hurricane TO the shore, sh,
lad strlven 50 well 10 cIeat; the anchors
ad been prepared for leltlpg 90, as III
asst hope, yet no one imagined that Iht
a I,l, 4 f.,
urious sea. The horrors Of tho sceLe
oflls description. ! he fierce howIin,
i the hurricane, the roaring OF tn
waves, breaking in irregular masses
ound Us and press ng on madly 10 ouI
wake, as eager 10 be IN at the DEATH
we're added TO the crashing OF Spars,
'hIch, falling from alo(l or launche o.
oaTd by the sea, now made sad ha.Ut
mong vs.. Two officers and several O
ne crew had been borne wounded be.
NV: scarce y one among Us escaped in
I!y ; and yet Throughout; this rylng
ceAe not a sign of fl nchlng lore and
+, not a blanched cheek was to be seen
Gders were gwen aud executed with
le coolness Of every yday msnGIvering.
Vever did the writer feel 50 proud of
is country mans seamen ss then. A. Z
re nesred the breakers, each man await
Il the fate which appeared Inevitable
nth caImness and sell possession al
losl incredisbe.
At or near meridian, the helm was
,ut down, and 'he laIboard anchorsgt
II 60; as she came 10 Ihe wind, a heavy
"a broke on board, throwing lhe brig
pom her beam ends, shifting tanks, bal
Isl, SC. in The hold; carrying away on
eek, cabin, wheel, boats, bulwar X, &c,
nd washing overheard nearly every
1ul, but thr own aboard by he sea, a.
ne GIFTED half luil Of wsler,or clpging
} fragments OF The wreck, to wing, el
lcceeded III regsinlng the deck, eXcep'
ur lamenled commander, Lieut. Bache,
nd ten OF the crew. 10 moment they
'ere swept from our view, that moment
bowed them calm and composed, the
elermned piri',which supported them
n board seemed still 10 animate them.