Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-12-03
Sflisttllantous,
A THRILLING SEA STORY.
By An BYE WITNESS

1885, when the gallant frigate Constitution, unde
the command of Capt. Elliott having on board tn,
late Edward Livingston, then Minister at the Cour
of France, and family, and manned by nearly five
hundred souls, drew near the "chop" of the EngisF
Channel For four days she had been beating dowr
from Plymouth, and on the ffth at evening, she
made her tack for the French coast
The watch was set at eight, P. NJ. The Captain
| came on deck soon after, and having aseertained
the bearing of Scilly gave orders to keep the ship
"full and bye" remarking at the same time to the
officer of the deck, that he might make the light on
the lee beam; but, he stated that he thought il
more than probable that he would pass it without
seeing it. He then turned in, as did most of the
| idlers aud the stsrboard watch
| At quarter past nine, P. NJ, the ship headed
west by the compass, when the call of Light no ~
was heard from the foretopsail yard.
"Where away?" asked the officer of the deck.
"Three points to the lee bow" replied the look
out man, which the unprofessonal 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 ord.r.
"All hands," whistled the boatswain, with the
long, shrll summons familiar to the ears of all who
have ever been on board man-of-war.
"All hands, I" screamed the boatswain's mate, and
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 Claudesly Shovel and his fleet were de
stroyed in the days of Queen Aun, sang their song
Of death before, and the Dead Mans Ledge replied
in hOarser notes behind us. To go ahead seemed
to be death, and to go about was sure destruction
The first thing that caught the eye of the Captain
was the furled mainsail which he had ordered 70 be
carried throughout the evening-that hauling up
of which, contrary to the last order he had given
on leaving the deck, had caused the ship to fall off
to leeward two points, and had thus led her into
position on 'flee Shore" upon which strong gale
was blowing her. in which the chance of safety ap-
peared to the stOutestnerves almost hopeless That
sole chance consisted in standing on, to cary US
through the breakers of Scilly, or by close Craze
along their outward edge. Was this destiny to be
the end of the gallant old ship, consecrated by
ny prayer and blessing from heart of nation
"Why is the mainsail up, when ordered it set?"
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 dis
cretion," replied the lieutenant in command.
"Heave the log" was the prompt command of
the masters mate.
The log was thrown.
allow fast does she go?"
"Five knots and a-half, sir"
"Board the main tack, sir"
"She will not bear it, SIR" said the officer of the
deck
Board the main tackp' thundered the captain !;
keep her full and bye, quartermasterr'
AYE, aye, SIR"
The tack was boarded
Haul aft the main sheetg' shouted the captain ;
and aft it went, like the spreading of sea-birds
wing, giving the hsge sail to the gale.
"Give her the lee helm when she goes into the
seal" cried the captain.
AYE, aye, sirl she has itF' growled out the old
sea dog at the pinnacle.
Right your helml keep her full and bye"
AYE, aye, sir! full and bye she is?' was the
prompt answer from the helm.
"HOw fast does she gos"
mine knots and a-hslf, sir"
"How bears the lightY"
Nearly abesm, SIR"
keep her away half poiutl'
"HOw fast does she go!"
Mine knots, sir" ...
"Steady so!7 returned the captain.
Steady" answered the helmsman. and all was
silent as the grave upon the crowded deck, except
the bowling of the storm, for space of time that
I seemed to imagination almost an age.
1t was trying hour to US unless we could car
~ sail SO az to go at the rate of nine knots an
hour, we must of necessity dash upon Scilly; and
whoever touched upon those rocks and lived during
! . storm?
The sea ran very high the rain fell in sheets, the
sky was one black curtain, illuminated only by The
faint lgLt which was to magk our deliverance, OF
( stand monument Of our destruction The wind
had got above whistling-t came in Dutfs that fat
tened the waves, and made old irigate settle tc
/ her bearings, while everything on board seemed tc
| be cracking into pieces. At this moment tie car
penter reported that the left bolt of the forehroud
| had drawn.
"Get on the luf5, aud set them all on the wealth
er shrouds! Keep her at small helm, quarter-mas
ter and her in the sea-, the orders Of the
| captain.
The luffs were soon put upon the weather shrouds
which of course relieved the chains ard channels
but many an anxious eye was turned towards tn
remaining bolts, for upon them depended the masts
and upon the masts depended the safety Of the shi
for with one foot of canvass less she could no
live fifteen minutes.
Onward plunged the over-laden frigate and a
every surge she seemed bent spon making the dee
the sailors grave, and her live oak sides his coffin
glory. She had been fitted out at Boston when th
thermometer was below zero. Her shrouds, {
course therefore, sackened at every strain and he
| unwieldy masts-for she had those designed for th
frigate Cumberland, much larger ship-seeme
ready to jump out of her.
And now, while all was apprehension, anothe
bolt drew-and then another-until at last ou
whole stay was placed upon single bolt, less tina
mans wrist in circumference. Still the iron clun
to the solid wood and bore US along side the breal
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