Butte record., 1855-01-13
a WRECK IN A FOG.
THE EFFEoTs OF DISCIPLINE.

The following thrilling account Of the
wreck of steamer in fog in the English
Channel, affords a striking Illustration Of
she effects Of discipline. 1t is a scene
taken from a story publishing in an En-.
glish magazine, which will account for
she familiar reference to some Of the
eharactcrs which figure lit The wri-
ser says:
The night grew blacker as the mist
Increased, with the somewhat modera-
ting gale, and long, heaying swell came
rolling up from the Atlantic, each sue
ceeding sea appearing to rear its gigantic
volume higher, further, fercer, than its
predecessor, and still the good ship
steamed through the darkness A light
at her foretop, AID an indisiinct glim-
mer at the binnacle, only made the sur
rounding obscurity appear more palpa-
BE. and through the dense fog, which
seemed to pervade the very deck, and
hang around the spars and tackle, it was
difficult to distinguish the two phantom
figures at the wheel, and the lookout
man in the bows. The captain ever and
anon dived to his cabin 10 consult his
chart, and, reappearins on the wet. slip
perry deck, cast an eye at the ships com
pass and the course she was lying-then
glanced to w.ndward, where some huge
wave flung its crest of foam into th'.
light, aud sporting with that powerful
steamer as with a playlhing, dashed lis
leating spray, in wantonness of strength
high over the protecting bulwarks, till
the very yards dipped and streAmcd with
brine. \ few gruff words, unintelligible
10 the landsmen, were addressed to the
struggling steermen, and again tne cap
tain glanced anxiously at the compass
and knit his brows, and seemed i'll at
case. Between the decks, confding pas
sengers snored in their bcrlhs, and
dreamed of home. Little thought they
of the darkness and fog, and driving
seas. They had paid their passage mon
ey, and they were to be delivered safe
at their dcstinaiion-wa it not in the
bond They were, besides, in the
Channel, and the ladies on board deri-
we'd unspeakable relief and consolation
from the knowledge that they were once
more in soundings-and they, too, slept
the sleep of innocence and security. So
midnight passed, and still the good ship
held steadily on.
But the captain grew more restless
and disturbed, and be ordered the steam
to be slackened, and a sailor to be slung
over the side, and to heave the lead !;
and these were wise and seamanlike pre-
cautions, but they were a few MINUTES
too late. As the words left his mouth,
a shock that made that huge fabric shake
again, brought him to the deck. True to
his seamanlke nature. he shouted to
= back the engines" even as he fell, but
she was aground, and it was too late
Ere he recovered his le he knew too
well what had happened. Sea after sea
came pouring over the deck, one of the
men at the wheel was washed overheard,
the other b,rely saved, as he clung for
dear life at the helm everything that
was not secured went at once by the
beard, and the dashing waves plunging
heavily into the engIne-room, put out
shc fires, and reduced that triumph of
mans ingenuity to a mere helpless log
up.n the waters. The seamen came
1unbling up the foreoastle, every man as
he had slept. half dressed, and even now
scarce awake vet such is the force Of
habit that confusion prevailed more than
alarm, and here and there even a jest
rose to lips which IN few hours might
probably be sileneed forever But if not
sole mistress on deck, fe could boast
nf undivided dominion below. Shrieks,
and sobs, and wailing prayers burst from
ihe affrigqted passengers as they rushed
tumultuously from their respective bsrths
into the saloon, aud asked wildly what
had happened, aud inquired with white
lips If there was any danger; one said
" Is there any hope :" and the panic in
creased as i. spread, and wives clun-
upon their husbands breasts, AMI press
cd their children to their sides. and
screamed in an agony of fear-and one,
a strong, stout man, shouted for help as
Il ough terror had turned his brain, and
raved ofhis wife and little ones at homo
that home on frm, dry land, that he
had never known how to priz beeo.e--