The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-15

! Il was about I o'clock on the same morn
nOrtherlv direction towards the islands. that
we We're most suddenly overtaken hv a mon
soon wind from the south vest Had it not
been for the Doctors Observing the tii>na,t-
Ing of vessel some distance ast.rn of us.
thus indicating the approaching gale. orr
vessel would doubtless have shared the same
fate. No sooner were orr sails down, than
The gale struck Us. arroM; anied for a few
minutes with rain This soon ceases: the
clouds pass away: but The gale continues.
and increases. bearing us on at the rate of
ten miles an hour urder bare poles. All We
could do was TO lash the helm, and commit
ourselves TO the mercy of the storm. which
hurrics uS on at a fearful rate toward the is
lands. not far distant in advance of us. The
noise Of the wind IN the ri g.r. sounds like
the roar of a winters storm in leatlcss for
est, while the waves lash and foam, causing
the surface of the deep with its white surf to
resemble fields Of drifting snow Every wave
is crowned with crest of rainbow hues,
caused tv the suns rays uron the moving
spray. We elm. 20 The rigging for hours.
to watch the ever changing scene before us
beauty united to sublimitv
Ent ere long admiration and awe give
Il
preaching. without any abatement of the
terrific gale. With our knowledge OF the
captain ignorance of the form and locality
Of the numerous islands and rocks (somc of
which we have uSt passed so fcarfully near)
among which we must wind our course, the
bare thought of our attempting that course
in the night seems intol"rable while on the
other hand. to" Law to" and drift all night
>"ems equally hazardous. Our only hope of
de!iycrance from inevitable shipwreck is in
the abatement of the storm, of WHICH no in
dications appear. Besides it will be impos-
siblc TO follow in the night that vessel in adj
vance OF us, which has been our only pilot in
the storm.
Meanwhile the scene below among the
passengers is ore of deep anxiety ard a.
farming fear. Tie ladies' are assembled in
by every wave that breaks over the middle.
deck. are comforting each other with the
least CLEAN Of hope their situation promises
Never shall forget the deep concern exhb-
tied by the Doctor. who. for good sense and
vatrhtu'ncS> had ALWAYS been the oracle of
our little band as he said. If we ever live
to reach SMYRNA. dc You not believe it will
be hv miracle. =:
TIL then. we had not realized the terror
of our situation. II he. with all his known
<aSacitv. to- the first time expresses doubts
of 0rr safety. there must hc true occasion for
alarm. III length, an hour after passing Nj
10 or orr rcir'. night came to larkcn our
hopes. The vessel is - brought to-" and sut-
cred u drift. That evening seemed long
, and '!rearv. As oar little company of seven
Were closely seated in that narrow s.atc-room
cnd"avoring to console each others hearts
with aHori'r scriltnral promises. ever and
anon lnI"!rinG of the watch the prospects
without. At length wcaricI with wa,cl,:nc.
we retire To our StatcroonS to rest. though
;he fury Of the gale had no. alra,ed. and in
orr disturbed sleep we invcun.arilv clurc
to orr b,r'hs. 50 :carfullv did the ve<Sc, ca
recn and pitch among the angry waves.
At three o'clock the n, Y: morning we found
: ourselves drifting towards an i>.aul ONLY :
lew mics distant, which proved to be Ler-
plo The gale snh>i !cl about miI:i,ht. AMI
we had 'irii:cd about twelve miles. D,v-
li.hl revealed 20 our a>toni,heI .aze numer-
Gus islands and rocks on every side. upon
. one OF viii h. we have since learned. an A.
merIcan vessel was wrecked in that same
. Lilr. anl was a total loss.
Never did the sun rise upon ha,rier
group than ours, with hearts Overlooking
with gratitude Cur .iov can better he ina
-lned than described. We felt that our de-
h'eranrc from utter destruction, if rot mi
raculon>. was truly rro,dentiaI. for we feel.
confl'rn that had the gale continued tI.ro'
the night. we must have shared the fate o.,
the vessel referred 70. That was a olca>ant
day in which we wend,d our course from A.
monE the Cycladcs. but never can the vivid
impressions of that fearful gale be etiace,l
from our minds.
In my next will give an account of our
hrSt impressions respecting SMYRNA.
; Yours truly. G.C.k.
Pass"mP>ir Savings RuuL