Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-12-09
A THRILLING SCENE.
Drowning of "a Ball on Safpboard

number of that most admirable German monthly,
Msger's lIonatshefte," published in New York.
E j. NJ.
In the summer of 1880, the Royal George, a
stately three decker. of "a guns af er an absence
oftwo yeas on foreign station, cast anchor in
the Spi head Roads. At the end Of week,
which had been employed in removing all traces
of her long voyage. and in thorough cleansing.
the Captain issued invitations to the officers of
.he feet in the Spithead waters, and to the nobil-
ity and gentry of Portsmouth, for grand ball on
board. The in erior of the upper deck, freshly
painted from sem to stern, and elegantly deco
rated, appeared like oaging palace.
The appointed hour for the commencement of
the fste had arrived, and the harbor was gradual
" covered by hundreds of boats, some carrying
tire invited guests to the Royal George, and 9TH
ers attrac cd by curiosity to witness the delicate
homage which British naval officers are accus-
toned to bestow upon beauty. All that the
most refined taste could suggest, and the most
lavish expenditure procure, had been bes' owed
on the establishment of the vessel The deck,
whose entire space was appropriated to the ball.
resembled a vast billared hall, over which. from
the masts and yards, fioated the intcrmngitd
folds of numberless flags and streamers of every
variety of color. Instead of tapestry. the sides
were covered with vclvets and silk hangngs-
Among the furniture were TO be seen the most
precious ivory work, and divans and chairs of
rose and sandal woods carved and fashioned in
manner to rival tfemost Ingenious Chinese taste
The awning composed of carpets OF he rich
cs' Orien al fabric, oTnamented with gold and
silver embroidery, and the rugs before the sa C
rooms were pre- due ions of Cachemire, which
might have figured as articles of luxury IN the
wardrobe Of princlly DANES.
The sdeboardS glittercd with gold and silver
vessels among which magnifc mt vase.
>et with costly Jewels, tie gift of an East Indian
prince Otto of roses in cryS al jars from inches
expressly made, scattered in profuson its deli
c,ous perfume In a word, the whole scene, with
It's splendid decorations, rescmbled ra her The
banque;ting room Of a royal palace, than the in
eTior Of flag ship.
After the Admiral had cast last satisfied
.Iance upon the tasteful embellishments. and
had passed in review the brilliant preparations,
he repaired 10 the deck, where in state and sur
rounded by his officers, king BY his nobles,
he took his post to receive his guests. Whist
Se!ec; band ofmusic filled the air with melody
from every side there seen gliding over the
smooth waters towards the ship, gay dressed
beats barring the eli of beauty and nobility
from Portsmou h, Por;sla the Isle of Wight, and
other neighboring points on the coast. The uni
ve-sal Joy ofihe officers and guests was enhan-
cd by the beauty Of the night, not cloud dim
ming the radiance of The ars, and not a breath
of air ruffiing the surface of The sea.
And vet, destruction maliciously hovering
in this hour of fes ivi.y, over the finest ship In
he 9eet. Already death invisibly sat grinning
behind he seats of hese pleasure devoted gues $
OF mutiny there was no apprehension, as the
whole crew were all true and loyal, and warmly
at. ached to the commanding officer. nor was
there any possibility of leak, as the utmost
precautions had been adopted and the powder
magazine had been additionally secured by triple
fastenings Who could have believed that the
swelling ofa gentle west wind would be 81 fiji
cient to produce a ca astrorhe, as unpa' alloled
in it's cha rac er as in its awful incidents!
About two hours later, as the ball was in fal
movement. there arose, not light breeze but
rather brcath of air. from the south west which
hardly stirred curl of hair among the crowd of
dancing beauties The oscillation, which it bro't
as it stole across the mo ioneSs face OF the water
appears to have been unnoticed But mscruta-
bic fate! This insonsible puff of air, not sutfi
cient TO draw a sound from the cords of an Aoli
an harp bv ,hc under swell it created disturbed
the equilibrium of two immense chain anchors
which, with some heavy guns, had been slowed
in the open ports, and on account of the calm
wta her had not been secured by fastenings.-
This ponderous mass sta Ted from its balance by
the heaving of the with lightning speed roll
ed to The opposite side of the vessel. and in mo-
ment threw the Royal George upon her side.
One heart piercing cry of woe from thousand
voices. a sound before which the stoutest sailor
ouailed rose in fightfll dissonance and broke
unon the startled cars of those in the surrounding
ships while echo bore the death wall to the adj
cent coasts wheye it rolled along, like thunder
real deaden;re the roar of he surf, and striking
with terror the shuddering inhabitants.
The lofty mas,s Immediately bowed to the sur
face of the sea, which at first, as 1t were over
awed by the sudden cessation of the prevailing
iov, recc ded in wide circle and 'hen as quickly
returned as if 10 the execu ion Of n fearful Judg-
ment. pouring over the high bulwarks, and
through the ports into the innermost recesses--
Once more the stately fabric, in all Us imposing
mass upon the restora ion for a moment of It's
lost balance through the settling water, rose
erect, as if to display in full majesty the lmfo
sing grandeur of It's form. Proudly streichto
the lofty nasts their extended arms 10 the blue
sky but the flags and streamers, already soaked
bv the overwhelming sea, hung in loose folds
. like emblems of mourning. Now the ship, deep