Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-09-23
A THRILLING SEA STORY.
BY AN EYE WITNESS.

the late Edward Livingston then Minister at the
Court Of France, and family, and manned by near
ly five hundred souls, drew near to the Chops, of
the English channel. For four days she had been
beating down from Plymouth, and on the fifth at
evening, she made her tack for the French coast
The watch was set at P. NJ, and the captain
came on deck soon after, and having ascertained
the bearing of Scilly, gave orders to keep the
ship "ful and by,' remarking at the same time to
the officer Of the deck, that ne might make the
light on the lea beam but, he stated, he thought it
more than probable that he would pass it without
seeing it. He then turned in,' as did most of the
idlers, and the starboard watch
At quarter past nine, P. NJ, the ship headed
west by compass, when the call of Light hor was
heard from the foretopsail yard.
"Where away?" asked the officer of the deck.
"Three points on the lee bow" replied the look
out man, which the unprofessional reader will un
derstand to mean very nearly straight ahead
At this moment the Captain appeared and took
the trumpet.
"Call all hands!' was his immediate order
"All hands!' whistled the boatswain, with the
long, shEill summons, familiar to the ears of all
who have ever been on board man-of-war.
"All handsv' screamed the boatswain's mates,
aud ere the echo died away, all but the sick were
on deck.
The ship was staggering through heavy swell
from the Bay of Biscay; the gale which had been
blowing several days, had increased to severity
that was not to be made light Of. The breakers
where Sir Cloudesly Shovel and his fleet were de-
stroyed in the days of Queen Ann, sang their song
of death before, and the Dead Mans Ledge re-
piled in hoarser notes behind US. To 60 ahead
seemed to be death; and to go about was sure de-
struction.
The first thing that caught fhe eye of the cap
tain was the furled mainsai which he had order
ed to be carried throughout the evening-the haul
ing up Of which, contrary to the las. order he had
given on leaving the deck, had caused the ship to
fall off to Ieeward two points, and had thus led
her into a position on lee Shore upon which a
strong gale was blowing her, in which the chance
Of safety appeared to the stoutest nerves almost
hopeless. That sole chance consisted in standing
on, to carry US through the breakers Of ScilIy,
by close Craze along their outer lodges. Was
this destiny to be the end Of the gallant old chip
consecrated by many prayer and blessing from
the heart uf naton7
"Why is the mainsail up when ordered it seta"
cried the captain in tremendous voice.
"Finding that she pitched her bows under
took it in, under your general order, sir that the
officer Of the deck should carry sail according TO
his discretion" replied the lieutenant in COM
mand.
"Heave the log" was the prompt command to
the masters mate.
The log was thrown.
"How fast does she goH'
"Five knots and a half SIR"
aboard the main tack, sir" .....
"She will no. bear it. sir" said the officer Of the
deck -a&ea sT yaa s9A .s
"Board the main tackv thundered the captain;
'kcep her full and by, quarter-master!" @
"Aye, aye, sir"
The tack was boarded.
.Haul oft the main sheet" shouted the captain;
and aft it went, like the spreading of sea-birds
wing, giving the huge sail to the gale.
''Give her the leo helm when she goes into the
.eaH' cried the captain. @as -'.F
"Aye, aye, sir! she has i" growled out the old
,ea-dog at the pinnacle.
"Rght your helm-kecp her full and byr' q.
aAye, aye, sir, full and by she is," was the rea-
ly reply from the helm. 4a- ,ae..tl I'D ..4
"How fast does she go?' 1,'ssf' 4asa4.
aNine knots and a hall, sir" st "'
"How bears the lightr'
"Nearly abeam, sir"
9Keep.her away half a point" s.... ....
"How fast does she 60 noww
aTen knots, sir" a,a.
"Steady sol" returned the captain. @ats
"Steadyw answered the helmsman, and all was
ilent az the grave upon that crowded deck, ex-
ept the bowling of the storm, for space Of time
hat seemed to the imagination almost an age
1t was a trying hour TO us. Unless we could
AIRY sail 30 10 get at the rate Of ten knots an
our, we must Of necessity dash upon SciIly; and
,ho ever touched upon those rocks and lived dur
,g storm. - +ga HaZ al -
The sea ran very high--the rain fell in sheets
ne sky was one black curtain, illuminated only by
le faint light which was to mark our deliverance
r stand monument Of our destruction The
,ind had got above whistlins-it came in pufs
nat Aa,tened the waves, and made our old frigate
,ttle to her bearings. while everything on board
racked as if the ship was going to pieces At
lis moment the, carpenter reported that the left
olt Of the fore -shroud had drawn
'Get on the luffs, and set them on all the wea-
aer shrouds Keep her at small helm, quarter
laster and ease her in the sea-" were the orders
the captain. .4a s-f. e. *5'@ -f4