Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-03-31

babe us hold on till morning, when he would
try and come to us. Meanwhile the delay
was rendered less insupportable by his re.
peated visits at the outside Of the window.
by the phosphoric light Of the gulfstream
we could see the dark waving Of the waters
beneath and around us, while flashes, like
6%re-fies, cleaned 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 aud a rope was thrown
down the sky-Iight. Soon a human form
was seen swaying 10 aud fro, not able yet
TO find a footing amid the heap oil ruin
drifting through the cabin. One glance
and one leap-ay, desperate, brought the
captain to our side. With each hand ex.
tended proteclingly towards US, his stream
ing eyes and quivering lips contradicted the
hopes his presence excited. Seating him
self with US, he moaned, almost unconscious
ly, 1--WE are gone-the ship is full Of water
this is q hard case" We asked him how
long she could probably float. lie said a
month, perhaps; but we had no provisions,
and had drited and we're still drifting so
far Out Of our course that it was not proba-
BILE any ship would come near enough 10
see US.
We now realized the full desolateness 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 dashing over US, and by
their force we we're often drawn from our
seats. and in danger of being carried into
the cabin and crushed by the broken masses
Of furniture, which were heaying and scat
tering with destructive power, swayed by
the resistless surging and receding OF the
pillows. For a few moments we gazed al
one another in solemn silence. Again a
form was seen swinging down the sky-light,
and pale with terror, and shiyering with the
cold, the carpenter sought refuge with US.
Next came the only remaining passenger,
bemoaning his sad fate. Soon the first
mate descended, with one or two ofthe men,
and with honest tears and a hearty smile
he greeted US: nor was he satisfied with
this expression Of JOY on finding US, but
leaping back into the cabin and d%exterously
avoiding the fragments which impeled him,
he called to the men TO follow, and they went
fearlessly with him in pursuit Of something
wherewith to refresh US. Presently they
returned, bearing their trophies with them.
Those consisted Of a boiled ham, a loaf OF
bread, several tin cans, containing tea, loaf
sugar, vermicelli and rice. A knife was
produced from one Of the lealhern sheaths
(Which sailors always bear about them. and
a goodly portion was soon proffered us. A
little piece OF bread and few Jumps OF SUI
gar sufficed. The rest was sent on deck
and was soon demolished by the sailors.
Finding our position very uncomfortable,
and il being ascertained that we could not
lire on deck, even If we could get there, as
the sea broke over the ship, aud with such
violence that nothing remained save the
capstan, we sat about 10 endeavor TO make
ourselves more secure if possible. There
was one in the little pant whose trnstful
|, spirit, whose patience of hope, and whose
|, fortitude OF endurance seemed melted out
r by benelicence, TO the occasion, direful as
} it was. The voice of hope, bright, conf
t dent, inspiring, ofttimes raised and strength
|, ened the dropping spirit, and won from the
reluctant even an acknowledgment Of il.
a beauty and power.
But the day was wearing on, when sud
denly the cry Of ga sail in sight" caused
5 every heart TO leap with expectation. TIL,
4 men on deck raised signals Of dis,ress-sh,
seemed 10 heed them, and passed so nea
that our mate saw her men on the lorecas
" tle-but "she luffed and bore away" lie
a that mans name be written in water, il 81
a be the valley Of Achor may prove a door o
hope TO him. What was now TO be done
n Night was closing upon US, and the stay
against which we supported ourselves wer
giving way, and should they fail US, W
d must be precipitated into the cabin, mi
d heaps oflumber and full of water. On dec
v all was wild confusion-the sea had clea
sweep over the ship, but We did not dare t
: remain below. Our case did indeed seer
N very hopeless, but trusting 10 that powe
4. which alone could guide aud save, we rt
ir solved TO adopt the most probable metho
Of securing the desired end.
as The first officer, after a satisfactory rt
H. connoiter, promptly commenced prepar'
ID tions for our removal. lie ordered men b.
low, at the risk of their lives, himself Leaf
ID ing them, and with ropes fastened roun
their waists, they alternately swung an
lodged the heaps Of rubbish, snatching ii
re fragments as they might, and throwing the
id up The sky-light, the men on deck heayin
1t then, overheard. Then placing a plank a
most perpendicularly down the cable foo
III they drew us out, one by one, and guardt
70 us up il. We were conveyed along the lie
It. side Of the main deck TO the mizen mas
nd where was an awning spread, supported |
- bits of broken boards, sufficiently high
ut admit Of our crawling under il. The sto
IN ropes, fastened 10 the mizen mast and lea
10 49, - H. ..I f- r..