Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-05

FREQUENT humping. Of the sea. the qaivsrins and shaking
OF the eroaning timbes. the carrying away OF 90 many
that We were perhaps for another night 60 be sxpossd 20
the full power OF a raging hurricane; LEFT us httle to hope
for"
In the evening. abou,s O'Clock, the Rev AZ. Baleh. .,,bs
request OF several passengers, administered the HOLY Com.
munion in the cabin. to upward of sixty persons-manyo OF
whom received IL there for the frat time in their live,
Several applied to him as TO the proptie,v of ,hei, sn,h,,.
ing that occasion to fulfil a long cherished purpose Of their
hearts. but which. like many other good thoughts" had
communicated together with Others of almost every creed
and nation, thss reminding US OF the promise of Scripture.
T" they shall come from the East aud the West, the North
and South, and sit down with Abraham and Isaae and la.
cob. in the kingdom Of God"
IL was a most solemn scene. MIR. Balch frs, read the
service appointed for a storm at sea. after which. the whole
communion office. The terrible conflict of the eIcrsn,.
which ragged without was rendered Yet moro s,rikins bv Tho
impressive stiffness which Pcrvaded tha, company Of Chnsrs
Gathered around the table. they received. ;p,o heart.
deeply moved, the consecrated emblems Of the Redeeu,,,.
body aud blood. All felt eomforted by the blessed ordi-
nance OF grace. Many abosom, before tossed with fe,r
was now tranquil through faith. Once more, all renewed
their VOWS, and realized the peace OF God shed abroad in
hearts, and felt. with a vividness perhaps never before
known, "four life 70 hid with God in Christ" Oh, il was
a night and a communion long to be remembered.
Alter the communion. l returned to my state room. The
gentleman who shared IL with me had gone below, TO die.
as he expected, in company with his daughter and scn.in.
law. Left therefore alone, taking a last look at the picture
Of my little family. and ccmmending them. and all dear to
me, to the grace aud protection OF God, Hay down and
slept peacefully.
"Monday. 2is,, 10 80" continues tho log, ..,he storm
commenced raging again in all its fury. aud the Sc, a per-
feet foam, ul : A.. M, at which time the clouds began 10
break. and the squalls leSs furious. Got the ships head to
the N. w. and hauled the yards round, the sea still raging
as before, aud nearly ahead. curling and breaking over the
snip IN every direction. At noon the storm ceased; but
the sea continued more violent till 2 p. NJ, at which time
It ceased gradually with the wind-having lasted abou, &c
hours; during which time, it gives me much pleasure 10
state. my officers and crew conducted themselves with great
GOODNESS and presence Of mind"
At half past 5 o'clock on Monday morning WI wep in
the greatest possible danger.
Mr.. Stevens, one OF our passengers, says Of it-"A Dc
culiar lifting OF the haze in The East, with an appearance
OF an amber colorcd belt Of light, low down on the hoi.
Zon, warned US OF an approaching blow. Presently il
came, n perfect tornado, driving before /. the clouds OF
spray, and as Il neared Us, fairly lifting up the white foam
from the waves. like a shower Of rain. As the sQusll
struck us, the ship careened over and buried her gunwales
in the ocean, and lay for a few moments stricken power
less, and apparently at the mercy Of the savage waves that
threatened to engulPh us. This was the trial, the last
round fought between the elements and our gallant vessel.
AT this critical moment, the engine was true TO her duty;
still went on Its revolutions, and round and round thun-
dered her iron water wings. Gradually recovering her up.
right position, the good ship. with head quarterinr tho ses.
came up 10 her course, and all was well. IL was the eli
max OF the storm, the last great effort OF the whirlwind
king, to send Us 10 the sen-giants' cave below
On Monday about IL the storm had abated sufficiently 10
admit OF standing on the upper part Of the companion way
with safety. IL was a sublime, but an awful spectacle
The ocean still labOrcd under the effects OF The hurricane.
The wind yeered 20 points IN sc hours; il is impossible TO
imagine or describe the wild and tangled confusion OF the
waves. Rising to height apparently greater than that oil
the mainmasi, they leaped aud reared around the ship, as
II hungry and maddened at the loss OF their prey. AT
times the Great Western seemed as If lowered by unseen
spirits into her watery grave; and every moment you ex-
Pec,od 1t 10 be filled in, and her requiem sung ~ the winds
amidst. the wilderness OF the waters.
But our danger was past, aud with grateful hearts, on
Tuesday morning, ell assembled in the cabin TO render an
act of common prayer aud Thanksgiving
Rev. Dr.. Smucker read a psalm and made some appro-
pirate Introductory remarks, and Rev. DR.. Beecher address
sed the passengers atlength and with much force on the
mercy we had experienced. and prayer was offered.
50 closes the record OF this memorable storm. But never
can its recollection be etfaced from the minds OF those who
were exposed to its perils.
When the danger had all passed, said the captain to me,
'Thrice ON deck | thought destruction inevitable. Each
time a sea Of such magnitude and power came at the ship,
that | thought II was all over with US. But Unexpectedly
each broke just at the side Of the ship. Sir, the hand Of the
Lord was in IT," Yes, the hand OF the Lord was in it-may
we never forget twas the hand OF the Lord!