Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-02-24
4 Thrilling seope.

years Memoirs oi 4 constitutional uiicer,
as extracted into the November number Of
German monthly. ihq Meyers MoHaiihsiie,
published in New York twill be rccolleci-
cd that the Royal George was commanded by
Admiral Kempcrieldt, aged 7s.' Between
eight and nine hundred persons Perislcd; Of
whom three hundred were women and child.
rcn.
"In the Summer Of 1852, the Royal
George, a stately three decker, Of eighty
four guns, aner an absence Of two years
on a foreign station, cas-, anchor in Spit
head roads. ~ the end of a week, which
had been employed in removing all traces Of
her long voyage, and in thorough cleansing,
tie captain ssucd invitations To the officers
Vt the feet in the Spilhcad wa,crs, and 10
thc mobility and gentry of Pousmoatl, fur a
grand BAN on board The interior Of the
upper deck, freshly painted from stern to
stern, spd elegantly decorated, appeared like
a floating palace.
Tic appointed hour for the commencement
of the Gis had arrived, and lhc harbor was
gradually covered by hundreds Of boats, some
carving the invited guests to the Royal
Grorpc. and olhcr attracted by curiosity 20
witness the delicate hosagc which British
naval officers are accustomed Ia bcs,ow upon
beauty. Al that the most refined taste
could suggest. and lhc most lavish cvpcndi-
turc procure, had been bestowed upon rc
rmbrlIi,hmrut Of the vessel. The deck,
whose entire space was appropriated To the
IaIl. rc.cmblcd a vas, pilllrcd hall, over
vlncl, hum the masl' and yards, nul,ed the
in,crminrlcd folds Of numbcrloss Gags aud
sucamcrs Of every variety Of color. Instead
of tapestry, tie sides were covered with vel
vets and silk l,argincs. Among tee furniture
were io be seen the most precious ivory work,
and dI,ans and chairs OF rosc aud sandal
wuods, carved and fashioned In a manner To
rival the most ingenious Chinese taste. The
awning was composed oi carpets of the rich
cs, oriental fabric, ornamenlcd with gold and
silver embroidery, and tho ruc' before tic
state rooms were productions Of ClchcmeTc,
which mirh, have figured as articles Of luxu-
~ IN the wardrobe of prirccly danes. The
.idrboarls clIucrcd with gold and silver yes.
.rls. among which was magnificent vase,
81, with costly iewcls, the rilt oi an Fast
India priucc. Otto of roses iu crystal Jlrs,
IN inches expressly made, scattered 10 prolu-
sion il. drlirious r".'-'"'' i" a word the
whole sccuc. With its splendid decorations,
rcsrmblcd rather the hinqucing room Of !
royal palace than tie interior of a flagship.
Nncr tie admiral had cast last 'lti'fci
glance upon ,hr tasteful embellishments, AMI
bad passed in review the brilliant prcrara.
lions. he rcraircd To the deck, where 10 state
anl surrounded o., his officers as 4 hing by
h.s noblcs, he took his pos, to receive his
quests. Wills, select band Of music filled
ihe air with melody, from every side there
vas seen gliding over the smooth waters to-
wards the slip, gaily dressed boats bearing
the ,.i,s Of beauty and nobility from Por's-
mouth. puusra, the I,lc of Wight, and 9th.
cr ncishburInr points on the coast. The
universal JOS Of the officers and guests was
enhanced hy tie beauty Of the night, not a
cloud dimninr tic radiance Of the s'ars, and
mo-, breath of or IuiIlnc thc surface Of the
sea.
And vet destruction vas mlliciously hoy.
crinr in ,his hour Of l,s,iyily over tie finest
.lip in the feet. Already death in'isibiy
"a, rrinn.ng behind the seats Of l'csc pleas
ur, seeking guests. Ofmu,iny there was M
,rprchcn,ion, as tic whole crew were all
iruc and loyal aud warmly attached To the
commanding officer; nor WIS there any pos.
,.b.luy or a leak, as tie utmost precautions
had been adopted, and tie powder magazine
had been additionally secured by triple fast
cninrs. Who could have believed iha, the
swelling ola gentle west wind would lc sui'
dcicnl To- produce a catastrophe as unPanl-
lclcd in It's character Us in ils awful Incl
dents
About two hours later, as ,hc ball was u
+ fll mo, cmcnt. there arose, no, light breeze
bu, rather breath Of air, from tho sduih'
west. which hardly stirred curl Of hair
among the crowd OF dancing beauties. The
oscillation which it brought As il stole across
the mo,oncss face Of the water, appears To
have been unno,iccd. lIut, inscruiable fate
This inscnsible puilof air, no. sufficient to
draw a sound from tic chords Of an rollan
harm, by the under swell II created, disturbed
the equilibrium of two immense Chain an-
chors which, with some heavy guns, had been
slowed in the open ports, and on account OF
the calm weather, had not been secured by
rasicu!ncs. This rondcrous mass started
from It's balance by the motion Of the sea-
with lightning speed rolled TO the opposite
side of the vessel, and in moment threw
the Royal George upon her side. One heart
picrripp cry uf woe from a thousand voices.
a sound before which The stOuiesi sailor
auailed, rose in lfighi(ul dissonanec, and
broke upon the startled cars Of those IN the
surrounding ships, while echo bore the dca'h'
vail 10 tho adjacent coasts, where it rolled
along like thunder peal, deadening the roar
of the surf. and striking with terror the shud-
dering inhabitants.
The lofty masts immediate bowed to the
surface Of the sea, which a, frst, as 1t were'
oycrawed by the sudden cessation OF the pre-
y,;Ii,, INV. receded in n wide circle, aud then