Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-08-02
[FOr the GallipOlis Journal.l
O! BURST THE BOOM.

Selected partly from Charlotte Elizabeth's
Siege of Derry.
The noble little garrison, in the small
town of Derry, in ireland, had held it
out against the papists to the last ex-
tremity; every other town in the island
had surrendered, and Roman Catholic
butcheries deluged the land with blood.
The siege of Derry seemed to promise to
the besiegers the surrender of death, as
the little band of walking skeletons, still
animated, however, by the prayers, e1-
hortations and example of the aged lady
of McAlister, to hold out till the Lord
Himself should give them deliverance
BY death or victory, could now scarcely
man the walls. This little handful of
Patriots were the forlorn hope of Ire
land, and of the church of God in the
land.
The town was surrounded by the ar
my, except narrow channel of water;
and to prevent the approach of relief
that way, the besiegers had stretched a
Boom across. This formidable barrier
had once and again extinguished the
rising hopes of the garrison, as ships
had come in sight to their relief from
England. Leather, rats, all kinds of
nauseous aliment was gone, and disease
and famine did more for the insulting
foe than the bursting of their shells and
mortars within the walls. Enraged as
they were to find that their most fend-
ish stratagem had failed; that of driv-
ing, at the point of the bayonet, the old
men, women and children that remained
in the surrounding country, while their
sons, fathers and brothers had thrown
themselves into that fearful fortress, to
struggle for Gods truth, and conquer
or die with those few faithful and brave.
These old men, women and children
were driven under the walls, there to
starve and die in sight of their friends
on the wall, unless they would open the
gates to'these monsters of cruelty; but,
as they came in sight, they urged them
by all that was sacred and dear to hold
out to the last-for the Lord would help
His own cause.
AT length three vessels came in sight
the foremost commanded by one
whose wife was, if yet living, within
those steady walls: fine day and the
wind favorable, seemed to conspire with
what seemed that gallant commanders
de-ter-mi-na- ton, to break the Boom, OF
die in the attempt. He spread every
sail-the tide now also turned in favor
of that gallant vessel and its noble, lion
hearted commander. The wind also
rose; the eager eyes and fainting hearts
of the garrison were fixed on that en-
tering convoy, and ever and anon raised
towards 'tHim who dwelleth in the
Heavens" The besiegers. also eyed
those nearing vessels, but with rage and
scorn cursed them and defed their rash
attempt. On come the ships, and with
accelerated motion; the leading vesse
breasts the Boom-it bursts!-the gar
rison send up shout of Joy and graft
tude: but all the noble vessel, under
the power of that mighty recoil, back:
and rolls over on her side. The besieg
ers send up shout of hellish triumph
loud discharge of cannon is hearC
from the laboring vessel, and then al
is hushed in one dead silence, and en-
veloped in dense cloud of rolling sui
phureous smoke, under which the hope
of the furnishing patriots seem engulpeC
with those who had yentured to thei
rescue. All wait in death-like silenc
till the smoke shall roll away; the be
sieged expecting to look upon the wrecl
of their last fond hope-the besieger
TO feast their eyes on the now certain
doom of the servants of God and tru
lovers of their country. But, that dis
charge of cannon was not the effect c
the gallant vessels fearful recoil. Nc
in the moment of dismay, when it seem
ed that one moment more would cor
sign them all to watery grave, th
saspiration of HeaUen prompted the di:
charge; and the rebound thereof agai
raised the gallant vessel and restore
her balance, lost by the reaction of th
bursting Boom. Gently she arose, an
the opening clouds of smoke displaye
her elegant and majestic form gidin
gracefully, as she was wont, on the bC
som of the waters.
The little garrison was relieved
Some few liVed to tell the story; b.
most went to Glory, having done Il
deed, saved the church and Ireland fro