Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-21

something serious will happen"
"Some of my shfpmates looked rather So
Der at Jacks prediction, and l among the
rest, for / could not conrince myself that
the presence of our brillian. visitor Dorten,
ded good. The rest of the ships company
however; with the recklessness of evil which
is characteristic of seamen, laughed heartily
at Jacks whim. The gale soon afterward
subsided-the corposant disappeared, and
nothing more was thought of the stranger
who had visited US so unexpectedly.
} son the second night after this event had
: taken place, the wind blew fresh from The
southwest, with considerable sea running.
There was no moon, and bodies of clouds
followed each other in rapid succession,
shut out the light of the stars. II was FIVE
bells in the first watch, and when the log
was hove at ten o'clock the ship was spin
ming it along at a great rate. for nine knots
and baif were taken off the reel Cap
tain Jones was walking the quarter deck,
rubbing his hands with glee, row speaking
to the man at the wheel, who had as much
as he could do 20 steer the old craft, and now
casting an eye sloft to see how the top gal
liant mast and top mssts stood affected by the
breeze. Mr.. Watkins. the second mate
was quietly walking the weather side Of the
main deck-and occasionally tax ng long
and lingering glance around the horizon TO
windward, as if he wished 10 prove TO the
captain beyond all doubt, that he was a
vigilant officer, while. if the captain had not
been on deck, he would have been comior-
tabiy seated on the hencoop taking regular
sDouze.'
"Those hen coops are rascaFly things"
said David Hunioon, sand have caused many
coed officer 10 neglect his duty."
1.-THE watch on deck" continued Ned.
without heddng the interruption, "were va
riously employed. The wind being well
aft, it was good weather on the forecastie:
and two of Them were stretched out on the
softest planks they could find, and sleeping
as if for a wager; two others were snugly
slowed away on the spars to-leeward of the
long boat Jack Saunders was at the
wheel; and's for myself was seated on the
windlass end. my head resting against the
bits, with the cape of my monkey jacket for
piIiOhs NtOSths SSA'SNS
steeped in sweet forge;fu;ness. Every now
and then, Mr.. Watkins, to show that he
was active in the performance of his duty,
would bawl out, keep a good lookout there
ahead!' To which Dick Jarvis, who was
enjoying himself OF the deck of the FORE
castle would reply by grunting out mechan-
ically "aye, aye, sir''-and then turn over
ard take another nap! 3
"The ships company, however. were soon
efFectus lly reused, for the deep tones of a
loud and manly voice, were heard coming
from the waters on the lee-bow! Every
man was on his feet 10 an instant, and ea-
gerly gazing to the quarter from which the
voice proceeded-and there we bcheld to-
our great consternation, huge black mass,
rapidly coming toward US, as if determined
10 sweep US 10 destruction!
"Sai ho! On the lee-bow. Hard star
board your helm!' was shouted with fright
full energy by the hands on the forecastle.
"'Port your helm-or we shall run you
down. was now heard with astonishing dis
tinctness from the stranger. But it was too
late; the helm was already put hard-a-star-
board; the Hope still dash;ng madly through
the water, fell off about a couple of points,
and the strange ship came laundering on
with the wind on the larboard beam. Her
helm was unfortunately iammed hard-a- STAR
board.
"All hands were by this time on deck, for
danger quickens mans energies surPris-
ingly. We saw that dreadful cuncussion
could not be avoided by any mortal power,
and loud were the screams of apprehension
which rose from the deck of that Inflated
ship We we're only moment in suspense
but that moment seemed an eternity of
misery.
The black mass, which proved to be a
large timber ship bound from Halifax to-
Grenada. seemed swept rapidly toward Us
by some mysterious agency. Captain Jones,
half frantic, rushed forward, uttering wild
and disjointed exclamations, and waving
his hands, as if he expected in this way to
avert the dreadful danger Ii was in that
moment that men, haoitually sinful and pro-
fame, sought for protection in a superior
power, and loudly called upon their God for
mercy. But in vain. The ship came thun-
dering on like race horse at full speed; and
when she struck our doomed craft in the
waist, Just abaft the fore-chains, must hare
been going at the rate of ten knots at least.
1t was mighty and fearful sheck-which
hurled every man to the deck, and the at
| tendant consequences were terrible. The
whole side of the Hope was crushed ir she
swung around, and for moment lay along
side of the mightier stranger. 1t was then,
that there arose from her decks those deep
and piercing cries OF despair, which are never
heard so long as ray of hope clings to the
heart; and which, if once heard. are never
forgotten. Before any assistance could be
rendered 20 the noble souls Oh board of her,
she filled and disappeared; and soon the
walls and agonized shrieks of her hapless
and i'll fated crew were heard no more, or
were blended with the meanings and roar
ings of the winds and waves.
al was saved almost by miracle. When
standing, stupe6ed with fear and wonder, on
the starboard side of the main deck, near the
Il ga1gway. The bowsprt and the cutwater
;. of the strange ship were carried away, and
| as the ships separated, by an instructive
!, impulse, ! caught held of some of the hFm-
per from the bowsprt, and was dragged
overheard. still chung to the rigging, with
all the desperation of drowning man. For
tunately the shock. acting upon the star
board bow of the English vessel brought
her up into the wind, and her naintopsail
was thrown aback, and her way stopped as
soon as the crew could recover from the
d astonishment, which for time, paralyzed
I all their exertions. AS soon as could gel
t my head above water, / set up shout which
attracted immediate attention and they as
f sisted me on board, and gave me passage
to Bermuda"