The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-28
The Parki gives mp the Ghost.

"a long calm IN the DOdlp anu noNs uCu
help us, another in the brigantine. 1t was
airless and profound.
In that hot calm, we lay fixed and froz-
en- in, like Parry at the Pole. The sun
played upon the CLASSY sea like the sun
upon the glaciers.
AT the end Of two days We lifted up our
eyes and beheld low. creeping, hungry
cloud expanding like an army, wing and
wing, along the eastern horizon. Instant
ly ysrl babe me take heed.
Here be it said, that though for weeks
and weeks reign over the equatorial lati-
tudes of the Pacific, the mildest and sun
niest Of days; that nevertheless, when storms
do come, they come in their strength;
spending in a few, brief blasts their con-
centrated rage. They come like the Name
lukes: they charge, and away.
lit wanted full an hour to sunset; but the
sun was we'll nigh obscured. Ii seemed
tOiling among bleak Scythian sleeps in the
hszy background. Above the storm-cloud
fitted ominous patches Of scud, rapidly ad-
vancing and receding. Attilaia skirmish-
ers, thrown forward in the var Of bis Huns.
Beneath, q ftful shadow slid along TIE sur
face. As we gezed, the cloud came near
er, sccelersting its approach.
with all haste we proceeded to furI the
sails, which, owing to the calm, had been
hanging loose in the brails. And by
help of spare boom, used on the forecas.
tle-deck as a sweep or great oar, we en-
desyored to cast the bngantine's head to-
wards the foe.
The storm seemed about to overtake us;
but we felt no breeze. The noiseless cloud
stole on; its advancing shadow lowering
over distinct and prominent milk-white
crest upon the surface Of the ocean. But
now this line of surging foam came rolling
down upon us like a white charge OF cav
airy mad HospuI and plumed Murat at
its head; pouring RICH; forward in a con-
tinuous frothy cascade, which curled over
and fell upon the CLASSY sea before it.
Still, no breath Of air. But Of sud
den, like blow from mans hand, and
before our canvas could be secured, the
stunned craft, giving one Iurch to port. was
stricken down on her beam-ends; the roar
ing tide dashed high up against her wind
ward side, and drops Of brine fell upon the
deck, heavy as drops OF gore.
1t was all din and q mist; a crashing
Of spars and Of ropes horrible blending
Of sights and Of sounds; as for an instant
we seemed in the hot heart Of the gale, our
cordage, like harp-strings. shIieking above
the fury of the blast. The mssts rose, and
swsyed, and dipped their trucks in the sea.
And like unto some stricken buffalo
brought low to the plain. the, briganine's
black hull, shaggy with sea-weed, lay pant
ing on its flank in the foem.
FINANCIALLY we chung to the uppermost
bulwsrks. And now, loud above the roar
OF the sea, was suddenly heard a sharp,
splintering sound, as of a Norway wood
man telling a pine in the forest. 1t was
brave Jsrl, who foremost Of all had snatch
ed from its rack against the main mast, the
axe, always there kept.
Cut the lanyards TO winwardp he cried;
and again buried his axe into the mast. He
was quickly obeyed. And upon cntting
the third lanyard Of the FIVE, he shouted for
US 10 pause. Dropping his axe, he climbed
up to windwsrd. As be clutched the rail,
the wounded mast snapped in twain with a
report like cannon. A slight smoke was
perceptible where il broke. The remain
ing lanyards parted. From the violent
strain upon them, the two shrouds few mad
ly into the air, and one OF the great blocks
at their ends, striking Annaloo upon the
forehead, she let so her hold upon o stan
chion. and sliding across the aslant deck,
was swallowed up in the whirlpool under
our lee. Samoa shrieked. But there was
no time TO mourn no hand could reach to
save.
BY the connecting stays, the mainmast
carried over with it the foremost; when
we instantly righted. and for the time were
saved; my own royal Viking our saviour.
The FIRST fury Of the gale was gone
Bot fsf TO leeward was seen the even, white
line Of its onset, paving the ocean into
foam. ALI round US, the sea boiled like
Ten thousand caldrons and through eddy,
wave. and surge, our almost water-logged
craft wsded heavily; every deed dash mig
ing hollow against her hull, like blows
upon coffin.
we iloaied wreck. With every pitch
we hked our dangling jib-boom into the
air; and beating against the side, were the
shattered fragments Of the masis. From