Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-12-18
The U. S. sloop-of War ST. Iosis In a Storm.


The United States sloop-of.war ST. Louis,
D. =. ingraham, Commander, bound from!
lunls TO Tripoli, encountered the gale when
off The coast Of Tripol, and is believed to be
one OF the few vessels that survived it. 1t is
believed that if the gale had lasted ten hours
longer, she too would have been driven
ashore. A letter from one of her officers
published in the Delaware Republican, fur
nishes the following thrilling acccun, Of the
storm
When about 70 miles from Tripoli, the
wind freshened, and sharp lightning was dis
cernabe come distance astern of us, although
it was moanlieE, and but few clouds 10 be
seen. We had fair wind, and all sails SET.
About 10 O'Clock on The nigh. Of the goth,
we had 10 lake in all sail-double reef the
topsails-and at I2 o'clock had 20 close reef
the main ,opsails, and furl the fore and mi
zen, Sc, the storm .tay-sail, and heave the
ship TO the wind blowing on shore, made
US on lee shore: by this time there was
heavy sea running and dIifling us on shore
at the rate OF or knots per hour The gale
still raging with increased fury all day Of the
2lst. At midnight it commenced laundering
and lightning, which increased so that we
had 10 furl the main topsail, and could carry
nothing but the fore s,orm.stay SAIL and
main storm stay sail, both very small sails
The captain called all the officera on deck,
and battered down the matches fore and aft /;
all anchors ready for letting go, and with
axes in hand we stood ready 10 cut away the
masts. Il was terrifying scene. The birth
deck was scutled. the wind blowing and
roaring so furiousIy that we could not hear
each other speak. While batiering down the
after hatch, myself and men were almost
drowfstd by the forge Of the water from the
lee waist, which was under water up 10 our
matches. II was gloomy and dark, although
The moon was up; all officers and men drench-
ed with salt water, we run life lines along t9
hold on by, all shiyerng with The cold and
anxious to see daylight. The gale still ra-
ging on the morning of the 22d, all down
hearted, being so near the shore in such a
heavy gale, (about IS miles from the rocksl
what solemn thought that there we should
soon be driven by the fury Of the storm, as
she would certainly strike in 3 fathomc Of
water.
As a last resort, the Captain oalled his Of
ficers together, and consulted what was best
10 be done under existing circumstances, and
they concluded, that in order TO prevent such
a sad catastrophe, il was necessary 10 crowd
on all sail, which they did-close reeiing
the foresail and main topsai, but it was
more than she could bear--i, put her almost
on her beam ends, thus throwing her lee,
and lee guns all under water, which forced
itself up 10 the hatches, her main yard al
most in the water, when, thanks 10 an eyer
ruling Providence, the wind shifted all at
once, and such happy set you never saw,
some of the officers clapping their hands
and rejoicing in the prospect OF their Geliy.
; erance.
| should mention, however, that just be-
fore the wind shifted, Two doves lit on the
ship, aft, remaining but few minutes, and
I then Disappearing and in short time the
, wind in "A measure ceased, when the bids
returned to the ship, as if TO encourage the
| hands still 10 hope for delverance from their
perious situation. If it had not calmed
! when i, did, the ship St. Louis would have
, dashed TO pieces, and her officers and crew
would be sleeping their last sleep on the
e rocky shores of TriPOli. During The w"hn'o!!s
. scene the Captain acted well.
h The ship finally reached Malta, On th9
:, soth of October, encountering bad winds
. and under double reefed topslils all the way
h having been injured considerably, and
9 where they would have to go 10 work, and
. repair her as seen as possible.