The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-01
Letter from Barnard, the Artist.


Correspondence Of tie Boston 7raueIlsr.l
NEAK TnEBgs, EGYPT, Feb. 8, 1851.
You will recollect, when we crossed the Atlantic,
wished might have an ocean storm, and the
old mate said be had often heard persons express
the same wish, "but when the wish was gratifed
by the reality, they made another wish and wished
themselves out Of it," When ! sailed for Africa.
wished l might SEQ a simoon, but when one over
took me, heartily wished myself out Of 1t. As an
account oft may be amusing to you give IT. We
sailing along the
3lst January. The sun had ret brilliantly In the
golden sand of the great Lybian desert, which
stretched far away, bounding the horizon on tue
were gttering in the clear atmosphere, such as Is
only found in Egypt. An Arab crew were sitting
idle upon the deck awaiting the order, when the
light wind should have died away. 70 land the
.dacha rbeeah. and tie up for the uight when. all
of sudden, the vessel was In great confusion. Inc
Rs, voice, in its oudcst tone, gave hurried orders
the FASTENED into the rigging the pilot shouted
multi. All was dark; had hardly time to cast my
eyes aloft, whom saw our large lateen sail all
clewed up. and heard a rushing sound towards the
desert. Our crew commenced shouting and pray
ing, calling upon "Allnb," some smiting their
breasts, others prostrating themselves upon the
deck, and all terror stricken and in confusion.
could hardly believe my senses, when suddenly the
blast struck us IKE discharge OF aruiery, our yes
way with tremendous crash, and went BY the
board, careening the hull Of the weasel over with
them; the water rushed in the matches Of the cabin,
when she instantly filled and sunk: So instanta-
neous was il that could hardly believe we were
sinking. succeeded in getting on the side Of the
weasel, with Messrs. Day and Hatch, when she went
down, but Fowler was swept Of by the rush Of wa
ter. Fortunately, he seized table that oated near
him, and succeeded in reaching the wreck, when
we assisted him ON the aide Of the upper deck, which
still remained above water. The hull struck the
in epne
portion that remained above, and werc able 70 keep
ourselves from being carried away by the fury Of
the tornado.
waves, holding on to the floating spars; and the
race being expert swimmers, none were lost, but
they kept up an incessant wailng and praying, and
the name of"Allah," at intervals. could be heard.
mingled with the bowling winds and rushing
The simoon ceased as suddenly as it had come
upon US, and should Judge it, fury lasted but If.
on a. calmly and unrufHed as ii nothing had oc-
CURED, and the stars were brightly reflected from
its bosom. Az soon az dared to leave my post,
reached tho small boat tied at our stern, where
grooming and shifting their breasts and heads. and,
all could do, i could not arouse them from their
terror-stricken attitudes. By the aid Of small
pocket-knifs: succeeded In cutting through the
cable that held tho boat, but in doing came near
being crushed between 1t and the projecting stern
Of our vessel. MIR. Day, in the meantime, had
succeeded in getting two of the Arabs into the
boat, who, with Mr.. Fowler and Hatch, pulled for
the shore. while remained upon the wreck TO try
and save any article that came to hand; and, a.
soon the waves had subsidized, i made out TO open
enc Of the lights and get part OF the way into the
cabin. felt round upon the water for any thing
that might float, whom the first thing laid hold OF
was Bible, which reached out to one of the Arabs
who hnd come to asaist mo. By good luck my
sketch-book and drawing: came TO hand-the most
ohosr had lnaf hem
it would have been serious misfortune indeed for
had undertaken the voyage, as you know, ex-
pressly for them, and you can't imagine my feel
ings az fastened with them 70 the deck BY this
time the boat had returned to the wreck, well
the Arab crow to their senses, whom we all went to
work to get out what things we could But near.
Iy every thing we got at was ruined. We worked
hard TO save what We could, a. the wreck was set
thing fast under the water. The boat returned to
land with the things we had saved. 1 lost my val
liable gold watch; and, although succeeded in
getting my trunk out, the Arabs got it open and
robbed me Of all my money. taGe ab
It fortunate, indeed, for me that some follow
countrymen were in the neighborhood. The Rev.
DR.. Scott, of New Orleans, with Captain Mccall
lum, of the West Point Military Academy, were a
mile or so ahead of US when the accident happened,
and beyond the stratum Of the tornado, but which
they observed and escaped. Fearing something
had happened to us, after the simeon had passed,
they came down to see if we were saved, when
they found W a. described. They rendered us
every assistance in their power, and VIC are under
the grcates obligation for their kindness in fur
nishing with dry clothing, &c. The next day
two other American boats came along, Captain
Walker, and Mr.. Lilliendahl's, of New York, who
kindly gave US passage to Kennch, as we had to
abandon the wreck. t4i -tt4.f
afterwards learned that another weasel was
wrecked Just below US, and all hands on board
pcrished One was q female. II was an Egyptian
cangia, bound down TO Cairo. All on board were
native Copts ! saw the wreck AZ II lay sunk in
the river, with all its upper works gone except the
stern deck.
am now my way TO the Jordan, tho Dead
Sea, and jerusalem, across the Great Desert. WE
have party of ten, among whom are Rev. Mr..
Sessions and Pickering Dodge. esq, of Salem. We
shall be in the Holy City at most interesting Pc
riod-Easter week-when the place is crowded
with pilgrims from all quarters, and when we shall
have an opportunity Of seeing all the interesting
ceremonies of that occasion, including the miracu-
lo,is lightning of the holy fire.
q Xo,,rr trnlv I