Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-13
Thrilling Seen. IN Ch,n,.

A correspondent of the New York Journal
of Commerce, writing on beard the Uoited
States Steam Frigate POwhatan, mouth OF
the Pei-bo river, China, June GOTH, g'ces the
particulars of terrific hail storm which Visi-
ted the anchorage of the several Squadrons
at that place. lie was writing ID his state
room, when blow struck the ship like that
of g solid mass of lead extending the whole
length of the chip, under which it ,rembled
and ouivered for a moment, and seemed rea-
DIV to topple over. AT the same Instant loud
voices of command were heard on the deck,
mineling with the creaking Of the rigging,
the rush of men, and the lowering Of boats.
Leaving my room, aud rushing to the gang
way to ascertain the cause, | was met at the
foot of the gangway With deluge of rain,
and still worse, with tempest of bail stones
of such size and force as had never kuowu.
One, striking ue il the eye, not only for a time
blinded it but created exquisite pain; while
another aud larger, striking me upon the bo-
som, seemed almost to break the skin, through
a thick vest, SHIRT. and flannel At length
reaching the Gech, what scene met the eye.
A violent gale had sprung up without fore
warning, under which the ship reeled and
the waves rose to fearful height, threaten
ing to leave the bottom OF the Gulf bare
Indeed. such was the force Of the wind, as it
drove the water into the Sea, that though VIC
were anchored ten miles from the shore and
10 six fatboms of water it was soon found
that the Powhatan was aground without NOV
from it's anchorage Sand was also blown
plentifully from the shore to the ship. The
boat of the Minnesota remaining by the side
of the Powhatan, and the six men In
her, the the gale suuck the boat and In
stautiy swamped her, the men being tum-
bled into the sea and threatened With
being instantly swallowed up by the waves.
Our Commodore, Captain aud Lieutenants,
with ali the inferior eff GERS, were instantly
90 deck aod at their posts under the pitiless
storm, giving orders to lower the boats, aud
if possible to rescue the uuiOrtunate men;
while the crew, all observing the protoundest
silence, but showing the deepest anxiety in
their countenances, strained every nerve 10
lower the boats. and then Selling their oars,
piled them manfuly. Four boats were soon
manned, each containing ten men, whose
chances seemed little better than those Of the
castaways.
At this time | succeeded in reaching po-
sition on the hurricane deck" where L
could view the fearful struggle Tor life, and
the whole fleet around Us bowling TO the
storm, though hardly able to keep my place.
How fast the bodies of the poor fellows re-
ceeded from VA, borne away by the violence
of the waves. Two, indeed, unable to swim,
instantly sank beneath our ship, but were
soon washed away. The rest could be seen
49,. ha of
and then sinking, and for long time d's"p-
peariug from sight. The boats III pursuit
took different directions, according as the
overcas,s were driven, and themselves at
times Disappeared; for so deep were the
troughs Of the sea, that these boats, 20 or 81
feet long, often seemed to stand perpendicu-
lar, resting on one side of a wave. Some
of them proceeded so far for the rescue OF
those they saw battling for life, that when
they had rescued them, they would have
been unable to return but for the abatement
of the gale. One poor fellow | watched long
and with painful interest, as he was nearer
aud more fully in view. Nothing could be
| seen but his head, which sometimes rose
above the waves, to which be seemed to
cling as to plank, and often as he sunk,
be TS-dt pGditO stSh'-I-'J 'SE'''SN w
A feather in the air might as we'll ba,.
tie with the hurricane; and yet be held
out, till to my own relief as well as bis
tie boat reached him and took him in. Two
full hours had passed before the rescued we're
on board again. Some of them had been
carried three miles from the ship. The gale
the rain, the bail, the mountain waves, and
most of all the struggling men, created a
sublime and painful scene, such as l had
never witnessed before, and hope not to wit
ness again. As stood upon the deck, anc
contem plated it, remembered the lines OF tht
poet Luean in his Pharsalia. where be says it
is pleasant to look abroad upon the sea IN
storm aud see ship struggling with wind anc
wave, and then to tbink that 10 are not there
The sentiment is an atrocicus libel On hu'
man nature. 1t may be true when applied
to stoics and apicureans, like the poet, bu
has no support in the experience OF the mass
of mankind, certainly not in bosom having
one spa,k Of humanity.
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