Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-15
,yOLUME a7.-NUMBEIs 33.

citizens OF almost all countries, and protesting
different creeds, yet in the presence of 50 i'm
| inent danger, oil distinctions seemed merged
into one common emotion of awe, as we stood
together in the court Of the great levelicr,
Death. With this intense feeling which bound
them together as one, came also another of an
opposite and repelhng character. Every heart
was deeply occupied with IT'S individual griefs
and memories. as if not another shared the
peril Home with its loved ones, and thou
sand cherished hopes and joys, rose fresh TO
view, and with power like the storm, swept
over the mind and left il like the ocean, tem-
pest tossed and troubled.
"See," said gentleman to me, emo one
conyerses, no one reads---a are engaged, each
with his own thoughts; and IL my wife and
children were here, confess. my feelings
would be of the most distressing charac-
tern "But." said +, "they must suffer
your loss" "Very true; We, IL is only cues
ton of time, aud, sooner or later, Gods will
| be DONE"
cat noon. storm and sen raging in all
its fury, sea sill breaking over the ship. hea-
w sea struck the larboard paddle box aud
smashed it TO atoms; sprung the spring beam.
breaking the under half; shattered the parts Of
the ship attached thereto. A splinter struck
the captain on the head while standing on the
poop, and the force Of the blow, together with
the sea, carried him over the lee quarter, and
he was only saved BY the nettngs.
| "After this sea had passed over, we found
the water had gained on the pumps; the wind
appeared to hall little and the ship little ca-
sier, but still blowing storm. All the hatch-
es, except those made use of for passing into
the engine room, We're bauened down, and
the skylights partially covered. The weather
continued the same until midnight, at which
time il lulled for half an hour"
/ The log conveys TO the reader some idea Of
the state Of the ship and effects OF The storm on
Sunday at noon. Its effects on those below
can best be given in the words OF gentleman
who remained the greater part OF the time IN
the cabin
"To convey an idea of the appearance Of
all around, is out Of my power. In the words
of SHERIDAN, the tempest roamed in all tho
terror Of its glory' The atmosphere sur
charged with thick spray, rendering a look
far out TO seaward impossible. The wind
howled, reared and beloved, like the constant
mutterings ofthe thunder cloud Huge waves
of tremendous height and volume, rose in mad
display around the ship, threatening every mo-
ment TO break over US amldshlps and crush
the vessel. Sea after sea striking us with ter
rife noise, caused the galan, ship iostop foran
instant, trernbe and shake in every timber
from her stem to her stern post, reeling 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 laundering blows of an element
which seemed armed for eur destruction.
ssrhe sails on the yards strongly secured by
ropes and gaskets, were blown from their
! furls and s,reamed out to leeward in ribbons.
But all this was nothing. About | p. NJ.
whilst most of us were seated in agonizing
suspense in the lower cabin, holding fast TO
the tables and settces, sea struck the vessel,
and a tremendous crash was heard on deck;
| instantly the cabin was darkened, and torrents
of water came pouring down upon US through
the skylights.
"Scarcely had the waters reached the floor.
when all in the cabins and state rooms sprang
to their feet and simultaneously, as If by con-
cert, the ladies uttered scream Of agony, so
painful, so fearful, and so desparing, the sound
Of it will never be forgotten and heaven grant
that such wall ofanguish may never again
| be heard by me. Several fainted--others clas-
ped their hands in mute despair, whilst many
called aloud upon their Creator"
| The crash TO which the writer nlludes was
caused by the tearing up of The benches and
other wood work on the quarter deck. These
were hurled with violence against the sky
| lights, by the same sea, which broke the win
dows Of the saloon, drenching the berths on
the larboard side, driving cut the affrghied oc-
cupants. whilst it smashed by its weight tho
glass over the main cabin, and thus forced tn
wav below.
This was a period OF intense emotion.
was sitting in the upper saloon striving to pro-
tect some ladies' from injury. So violent wers
the shocks Of the vessel, although firmly bra
ced. il was with great difficulty we could pre-
vent ourselves being hurled from our seats,
as to endanger life or limb, Many received
severe Commissions and bruises, notwithstanding
all their efforts.
Twas an anxious hour My eve wander
ed over the different groups IN the saloon
! Resting one while on Father passing from
one TO another Of his family, and cheering an
interesting group Of daughters Then on
Young wife folded to the bosom Of her husband
without syllable being uttered, but the action
spoke volumes, and again upon mother
whose children had been left in America, ~
she clasped her hands as if in secret prayer.
whilst her husband and her father gathered
around and all seemed bowed down to earth
in one common feeling Of tender solcitude for
those who might 50 soon become helpless or
phans
II was an awful hour, The most thought
less amongst us covered in their secret hearts
before danger, which none but fool or n
brute would have Knocked. and all therefore ac-
cepted the invitation 10 meet in the cnbinfor
prayer.
Rev. Mr.. MARSH read the LOT Psalm. Rev.
DR.. Sau cKER, prayed. Rev. Dr. BEEcHER
made a few solemn remarks. Rev. DR.. BALcH
repeated the words Of our Saviour LET not
your hearts be troubled. we believe in God. be-
eye also in me, "-coInmenung briefly on their
consong import, and then inviting all present
TO Join with him in the Lords prayer; after
which lie pronounced the Apostolic benedic-
tion
Night approached And again ! quote from
the gentleman who has kindly given an ac-
count Of what took place below.
"Amid this accumulation of horrors,and still
more 10 add to our alarm, night gathered
around us. The wind, far from abating. was
on the increase, the lulls in the storm being
less frequent, and the squalls, ifanything more
terrific. The whole ocean was one sea OF
foam, lashed up into the terrible waves. wild
and angry, whilst the spray and wind seemed
driven through the rigging and over the ship.
as if with demonacal power As darkness
- -. - Ill