Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-12-28
A THRILLING SEA STORY.
BY AN EYEWITNESS.


ion, under the command OF Captain Elliot,
having on boarl the late Edward Livingston,
hen Minister at the Court of France, and
family, manned by near FIVE hundred souls,
drew near the tehop' OF the English Channel. /
For four days she had been bcating down from
Plymouth, and on the fifth, at evening, she |
made her tack for the French coast.
The watch was set at eightP. M. The cap |
tain came Oh deck soon afier, and having as |
ceriained the bearing ofScilly, gave orders to
keep the ship 'full and BY Temarking at the !
same time to the officer of the deck, that he
might make the light on the lee 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
staTboard watch.
AT o quarter past nine P. NJ, the ship
headed west by compass, when the call of
Light no = was hear from tie fcretopsail
yard.
where away p asked The ofIicerof the deck.
Three points TO the lee bow, replied the
lookout man, which the unprofessional, reader
will understand to mean very nearly straight
ahead.
AT this moment the captain appeared and
took the trumpet.
Call all hands, was bis immediate ORDER
All hands, whistled the boatswain, with
the long, shril summons familiar 10 the ears
of all who have been on man-of-war.
tAl hands ! screamed the boatSwain's
mate, and ere the echoe 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 lghtof.
The breakers, where Sir Cloudesly Shovel
and his feet was destroyed in the days Of
Queen Ann, sang their song Of death before,
and the Dead Mans Ledge replied in hoarser
notes behind US. To go a head seem to be
death, and to 60 about was sure destruction.
The first thing that caught the eye of the cap
tain was the fured mainsail, which he had
ordered 10 be carried throughout the evening
the hauling up Of which, contrary to the last
order he had gwen on leaving the deck, had
caused the ship 10 fall off 10 the leeward two
points, and thus led her into position on a
'lee Shore upon which strong gale was
blowing her, in which the chance of safety
appeared 10 the stoutest nerves almost hope
less. That sole chance consisted in standing
on, to carry us through the breakers of Scllly
or by close Craze along their outer edge
Was this destiny to be the end Of the gallant
old shin, consecrated by many prayer and q
blessing from the heart Of nation
| why is the mainsail up, when ordered i
set p cried the captain in tremendous voice
Finding, that she, pitched her bows under
took il in, nnder your general order, sir, tina
the officer of the deck should carry sail ac
cordng to his discretion replied the lieuten
ami in command. r.
! 'Heayethe log was the prompt command
oil the masters. mate. &
i The log was thrown.
'How fast does she go?'
Five knots and a half, sir
| Board the main tack, SIR
she will not bear it, SIR said the Office
OF the deck. u
Board the main tack = thundered the cap
tain; keep her full and bye, quarter-master.
AYE, aye, SIR
The tack was boarded.
Haul aft the main sheet ? shouted the cap
tain; and aft it went, like the spreading of
sea- birds wing giving The huge sail to tn
gale.
'Give her the lee helm when she goes int
Z the sea = cried the captain. a
AVE, aye, sir she has it growled out tn
old sea dog at the binnacle.
Right YOU helm keep her full and bye.'
ave, ave, sir full aud bye she is,' wa
the prompt answer from the helm. it s.
How fast does she go! H.
Mine knots and a-half, SIR ,aa 4ht
'How bears the light e tJaa
Nearly beam, SIR
Keep her way a.half point Nj
'How fast does she goV ..a. ae.
'Nine knots, SIR
Steady so,' returned the captain.
.Steadyp answered the helmesman, and al
was silent as the grave upon The crowded dec
except the bowling ofthe storm, for a spac
: of time that seemed 10 the Imagination almoS
all age. .ra 1
! 1t was trying hour to us; unless we coul
carry sail to 90 at the rate oil nine knots al
hour, we must of necessity dash upon Scilly
I and whoever touched upon those rocks ant
S lived during storm!
The sea ran very high, the rain fell in sheet
+ the sky was one black curtain, illuminated
! only by the faint light which was 10 mark ou
deliverance or stand a monument OF our des
: truction. The wind had got above whistlinI
it came in puffs that fattened the waves, an,
h made our old frigate settle 10 her bearing
while everything on board seemed to be crack
, ing into pieces. At this smoment the carpente
! reported that the left bolt Of the lore-shrou
a had drawn. .a.. .s,,
q Get on The luffs, and set them all on tn
weather shrouts! Keep her at small helm
e Quartet master, and ease her in the sea- wer
r the orders Of the captain.
The luffs were soon put upon the weather
# shrouds, which of course relieved the chain
: and channels, but many an anxious eye wa
! turned towards the remaining bolts, for upo
. them depended the safety OF the ship-ior VII
8 lone foot of canvas less she could not live hi
N teen minutes.
! Onward plunged the orer-ladened frigai'
e and al every surge she seemed bent upon MI
q king the deep the sailors grave, and her liv
: oak sides her cofins glory. She had been Fl
a ted out at Boston when the thermometer WI
a lbelow zero. Her shrouds, Of course, therefor
: slackened at every strain, and her unwleld
mosts--for she had those designed for the fri
I'll ale Cumberland, much larger ship, ,--seeme
ready to jump out Of her. s4 y,s i II 4, IA
81 And now when all was apprehension, al
" other bolt drew--aEd then another until q
III our whole stay was placedupon asingle bo
a. less than, a mans wrist in circumference
ie Sill the iron chung to the solid wood, and DO
81 tus alongside the breakers, though in mo
" frightful proximity tothein. This trifing inc
FeI dent has never, believe beennotjced inspu
10 lie. but il IS the literal fact--which i NAL
q not the slightest a,temptto embellsh.
i5ss AS We galloped on--fcf cannot coinpa
our vessel 5 ieaping 10 nothing else--the rocl