Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-03-16


how that the forward cabin in the middle deck
was carried away by the water when the ship
rghted, and thirty five terror-strcken souls, ben-
ding their death-wail with the tempest's bowling,
were wrapped in the winding sheet of the seas
foam, and hidden forever out of sight. But he
bado us hold on till morning, when he would try
and como to u.s. Meanwhile the delay was rem
dered less nsupportable by his repeated visits at
the outside of the window.
By TIE phosphoric light of the gulfstream we
could see the dark waving of the waters beneath
and around us, while flashes, like fire flies, gleam-
ed and danced upon us, gemming the blackness
with strange light. But the morning did dawn,
and voices scarcely audible mingled with the
storm. A moment more and rope was thrown
down the sky-light Soon human form was
seen swaying to and fro, not able yet to find
footing amid the heaps of ruin drifting through
the cabin. One glance and one leap-ay, des-
perate, brought the captain to our side. With
each hand extended protecingly towards us, his
streaming eyes and quvorng lips con,radicted
the hopes his presence excited. Seating himself
with us, he moaned, almost unconsclously, We
are gone the ship is full of water-this is a
hard case" We asked him how long she could
probably float. He said month, perhaps but
we had no provisions, and had drifted and were
still drifting so far out OF our course that it was
not probable any ship would come near enough
to see US.
We now realized the full desoatoness of our
condition. There was no human eye to pity
no created arm that could save. The waves were
continually pouring down the sky-light and dash
ing over US, and by their force we were often
drawn from our seats, and in danger of being
carried into the cabin and crushed by the broken
masses Of furniture, which were heaving and
scattering with destructive power, swayed by the
reslstless surging and receding of the blows.-
For few moments we gazed at one another in
solemn silence. Again form was seen swing
ing down the sky.ligh, and pale with terror, and
shivering with the cold, the carpenter sought
refuge with US. Next came the only remaining
passenger, bemoaning his sad fate. Soon the
hrst mate descended, with one or two of the men,
and with honest tears and a hearty smile he greet
ed US; nor was he satisfied with this expression
of JOY on finding us, but leaping back into the
cabin and dexterously avoiding the fragments
which impeded him, he called to the men TO fol-
low, and they went fearlessly with him in pursuit
OF something wherewith to refresh us. Present
ly they returned, bearing their trophies with
them. These consisted of n boiled ham, a loaf
OF bread, several tin cans, containing tea, loaf
sugar, vermlcelli and rice. A knife was produ-
ced from one OF the leathern sheaths (Which sal.
lors always bear about them, and goodly por-
ton was soon proffered u.s. A little piece of
rest was sent on deck and was soon demolished
by the sailors.
Finding our position very uncomfortable, and
1t being ascertaned that we could not lpe on
deck, even five could get there, as the sea broke
over the ship, and with such violence that moth
ing remained save the capslan, we sat about tc
endeavor to make ourselves more secure if posi-
Bile. There was one in the little band whose
trustfui spirit, whose patience Of hope and whose
forttude OF endurance seemed meeted out, by
benehcenCe, to the occasion, direfu as it was.-
The voice of hope, bright confident, inspiring
oitlmeS raised and strengthened the dropping
spirit, and won from the reluctant even an ac
acknowledgement of its beauty and power.
But the day was wearing on, when suddenly
the cry of "a sail in sight" caused every hear
to leap with expectation. The men on deck rails
ed signals of distress-she seemed to heed them
and PASSED so near that our mate saw her mel
on the forecastle-but " she luffed and bore a
way" Let that mans name be written in water
if SO be the valley of Achor may prove door o
hope to him. What was now to be done ? Nigh
was closing upon us, and the stays against which
we supported ourselves were giving way ant
should they fail us, we must be precipltated int,
the cabin, mid heaps Of lumber and full of wa
ter. On deck all was wild coDfusion-the SCI
had clear sweep over the ship, but we did not dart
to remain below. Our case did indeed seem We
ry hopeless, but trusting 10 that power which a
lone could guide and save, we resolved to adop
the most probable method of securing the desr
ed end.
The first officer, after a satisfactory reconnoi
tire, promptly commenced preparations for our re
moval. He ordered men below, at the risk O
their lives, himself leading them, and with rope
fastened round their waists, they alternately
ewing and lodged the heaps of rubbish, snatch
ing the fragments as they might, and THROWN.
them up the sky-light the men on deck heavn
them overheard. Then placing plank almos
| perpendicularly down to the cabin floor, the
drew us out, one by one, and guarded us up i
We were conveyed along the lee-sde Of tn
main deck to the mzen mast, where was an aw
ming spread, supported by bits of broken boards
sufficiently high to admit OF our crawling unde
it. The stout ropes fastened to the mizen mas
and leading up TO the weather-rail, formed
frame for our mattrass, elevaling our heads abov
the water, and SO we lay down 10 sleep, with
buwark of sailors around us, and God in tn
heavens above us.
Another morning dawned, but no family ALTA
no social meal marked the hours as they can
and went. The men sat around us like ltl
Children doclle and tractable. They had ioun
small trunk belonging to one of the lady pas
sengers, but so crushed and msshapen that
was not recognized. From it they supplied then
seWes, anu OueTeu 10 snare lneir sCdnty COlnlOTl
with the passengers. They never seemed 8
happy as when, possessed of some new foun
treasure, they brought ii for our participation. !
little prepared milk or piece OF wet and mou
dy bread, and pan of dry -four taken out of
barrel they drew from the hold, were dainties NJ
to be despised, but we shook our heads and the
ate in silence and sorrowlul content.
J Soon Intelligence was brought that anoth'
sail was in sight; but they "seemed to us q
, one that Knocked" We trusted that God Dou
, deliver US, but said in our haste "all men Al
: liars" With repressed expectation and patienC
I of desire we resumed our watery beds under II
sail, when suddenly sea more terrible than al
{ we had yet encountered, leaped over us, threa
] ening TO carry away every thing with it. III
3 captain, who, completely exhausted and file
] with bruises, had Tor the first time given bimse
TO seek repose, now sprang to his feet, and shou
ing to US to "hoid OIL and creep 10 the ioindlUard
k went TO tho helm aud found that the man at Il
d wheel, supposing he could bring the ship to be
: towards the craft which was in sight, had chan
. ed The ship so that The lee side came to The ,Veaa
u side and instant destruction seemed inevltabl
g To draw us from our perllous position, and biz
a us to the bulwarks, was the last and terrible Q
8 Tentative.
!, A sheet of water, like an avalanche, shed
n wild and tempestuous fury on our defenoele
81 heads, while the deck beneath us was being III