The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-04-30
The pilot Boat William j. Romer.

Al ltiV fCeSCA Oh " pooeuRS ~'N
is given in the New York Tribune OF the lSt
inst, from which the following extract is made
The Romer left New York Feb. 10th and return
ed on the 18th inst.
The vessel now shipped a tire
mendous sea, which swept over her decl
and carried away the Binnacle. One at
ter another the sails were taken IN ant
the little craft brought to under The storm
say sail-the wind blowing a perfect hur
%ricane, and all hands expecting every
moment 10 be their last. All this and the
next day they were forced 10 lie by, the
gale not having moderated in any percep'
iible degree. The next day at, three o;
clock in the afternoon the wind subsidized a
liule, and the vessel was put upon her
course.
The mex, day. however, a tremendous
gale came on from the South southeast,
hauling round TO West northwest, and they
were obliged to lie to again 10 a heavy
cross SEQ, under a double reefed l@oresail.
This time the gale was accompanied with
thunder and lightning, rain, hail and snow
u choice variety.
On the 18Th the gale still continued and
she Clipper, (Which had been put on her
s%ourse,) shipped a heavy sea, which carr
ried away a portion OF the Cockpit bench.
The nexi day they were obliged to huff to,
there being a r tremendous gale now blow
ing, with a heavy sea, and plenty Of thun.
der and lightning, rain, hail and snow.
The storm went ON hourly increasing until
the next day, when it again claimed the
name of hurricane, with a tremendous sea
running. Lay to all day and part of the
rex, and made a drudge by lashing two
spars together-the vessel making bad
weather Of it and expecting 10 lose the fore.
sail every moment.
On the 22i the weather was thick and
heavy, the wind strong and a tremendous
sea running. Al half past IL, however,
the sky cleared, the Captain was lash.
ed to the mainmast and succeeded in taxi
ing an observa,ion-lat. 430 go. This
was the first observation they had had in
several days.
Ga the 23d the weather continued very
heavy, and the Clipper passed o 5arque
bearing North, under close reefed tops
sails, with her head to the westward. She
hove to for six hours to day, but resumed
her course in the evening and kept on
through the next day, although there was
a heavy gale blowing and sea running
with which the Clipper found it almost
impossible 10 contend. o. the next day
the Captain was obliged again to heave
40 . ond Of half 1asI Y -, tL. ouopipr N |
squall from the Northwest struck The yes.
sci and buried her 10 her hatches-where
she remained for ten minutes, no one
knowing whether she would right or 60
down.
Al length she righ,ed, shipping a sea
which swept the deck fore and aft, one
man narrowly escaping being washed
overheard. AT half past 8 O'Clock the
wind had somewhat moderated, and the
CIipper-Capt. Mcclure being anxious to
get 10 the Eastward-wore round and kept
her course. Bat in ten minutes a hea.
W sea popped her and nearly washed the
man at the helm overheard. For several
minutes after she broached 10, all was sup
posed TO be los but fortunately the yes
sci was brought to and lay her head 10 the
w%ind-every sea making a clear breach
her. and the sky furiously pouring
cut wind and rain.
The next day and the next (26th and
27.h) the gale continued with undated vi
and at length increased to a perfect
hurricane, with The vessel laboring very
The drudge was now hove over
board and a small piece of the storm stay
sal! hoisled TO bring her round to the wind.
But the hawser parted, losing 60 fathoms
OF hawSer with square-sail boom & yards
and two pigs of iron.
While lying 10 during these protracted
and unparalleled tempests, The matches OF
The Romer were obliged TO be kept cons
closed--the crew and passengers
confined in the little cabin, aud the
seas leaping and lashiug themselves
deck, like imfuriated animals-while
The hurricane roared and shrieked and
among the cordage and over The
sea, like the prophetic voice Of a
dire destiny, which came at once 10 warn
and destroy. For three days and three
at one time, all were thus %conlin-
below, not knowing, al every sharp dip
Of the lille boat into the tremendous gulf
between the mountain seas, whether she
was 10 Struggle up again to the air or sink
and farther down until she reach
ed with her living freight, those dreary
OF mid ocean where float so many
ghastly and imperishable wrecks of,hings !
passed away forever from the knowledge
and the memory Of man.
'Along the dark and rufled waters fed
The straining boat. A whirlwind swept il on
With fierce gusts and precipltating force.
Through the white ridges Of the chafed sea,
The waves arose. Higher and higher still
fierce necks writhed beneath the tempest's
scourge,
Like serpents struggling in a %vultures grasp"