The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-01-08

me the towboat
owing down thu
z aus off, we per
eelsed that 80 Daddy fitted '.or a sea
voyage, and worst of all, thai the sailors NJ.
were engaged to work the ship had, with ON
exception, deserted by slipping off on the tow
boat. A volunteer crew Immediately tool
their places, and the zeal which they evinced ii
clearing up our decks of the baggage, store
provisions, ETC., etc, which numbered them
nearly connterbalalIced their lack of skill. W.
had q tedious foggy time beatinn down the
bay and on Monday morning a sea breeze
lifting the fog, showed us the feet and til,
revenue cutter Robert c I.elland lying a,
anchor off MOBILE point. Capt. Marry now
ordered all hands below, and hoisted the Amer
lean flag. The cutter, perceiving US, ran fn,
us and boarded us. Here ensned some DELAYS
until finally Capt. Morrison concluded to take
us ID charge. and sent an armed boat s crew fu,
that purpose. Capt. Maury refused to be
taken, and Capt. Morrison, after extending his
wrath in such epithets as pirates, outlaws, etc.
etc, went aboard the cutter threatening 10 sink
us. For two weary days, we cruised about the
waters of Mobile bay, the cutter standing all
the time on our weather quarter with her one
gun run out, guns crew at quarters, and her
berth-deck actually ripped up and nailed against
her sides to protect her men against a dis
charge OF small arms AT length Capt. Nor.
rison requested Captain Maury to visit and
confer with him, and Captain Marry went
aboard the cutter. On his return to the Susan,
he informed Lieutenant Caldwell that he was
then about to anchor he did so, however, by
dropping u light kedge attached to a hawser,
and accompanied the act by a deafening rattle
OF chains on deck. This succeeded the
cutter anchored at a distance of two hundred
yards from us. In about 20 minutes a heayey
fog rolled down upon us we silently hove M
our kedge. and stood out for sea.
That night will be long remembered BY every
one on bonrd. The wind being almost dead
ahead, we had to beat out of a narrow danger.
GUS channel, bearing the significant name of the
Devils Pass u dark night, a heal wind, an
undisciplined crew and a ship ii great disorder.
would seem to most men insuperab,e obstacles
to overcome. Not so the gallant Maury; with
his characteristic daring he resolved to attempt
1t. Ills bolaness was contagious. and men
who were nearly all unused to sea, worked,
under his guidance, in q manner that would do
credit to a man-ofwar's crew.
The lmoverb that I" fortune favors The brave -
was in this instance signally vefS5ed. Al,
twenty minutes after four A. NJ. on the morn.
ing of the eighth, we were clear Of the land, and
a brisk norther springing up speeded us ON
cheerily to our destination. Nothing occurred
to break the monotony of a sea voyage until
Thursday afternoon. when we spoke the shin
Oregon, bound to New0rleans, and placed ON
board Of her Lieutenant Why'e, of the revenue
service, whom we Ind forgotten to leave behind
in the hustle and excitement consequent upop
our hurried departure.
Alas that | have to relate such a termina
ton to voyage so auspicionsly begun! On
Wednesday night, the 10, the Captain had
cautioned the watch TO keep a sharp lookuu,
for Il light ON the starbmard bow. Nolight was
seen, and | believe that no light was made by
the person who has charge Of it, for it ought
to be plainly visible at twice the distance to
our vessel. Be that as it may, breakers were
soon seen ahead aud Captain Marry ordered
the man mt the wheel to put the helm hard I'M.
This order he obeyed by putting it down The
consequence was the vessel drove heavily I'M n
coral reef, and the breakers dashing over rs
soon made us "A hopeless wreck!
Never was so much c%ooIneSs displayed by
any set of men under the circumstances, No
disorder, no confusion Altohgh all regarded
their fate as doomed still they worked like
men, determined TO face death nnshrinkipgly.
When morning came, we found our vessel TO be
on the weather side of a reef, about one hundred
yards wide. As there was every prospect Of
our going to pieces, we commenced THROWING.
overheard everything to tighten her: thi
allowed her to drive higher up aud secure a
better berth. We then cut away the masts te
form a raft. | must not forget 10 mention al.
incident which occurred whilst cutting the
maSts. Our second mate, Mr.. Van Slyck, was
on the mizen cross-treeS, endeavoring to cut the
fore and aft stay, when the main-mast fell,
hin over in the rigging. Two brave
men, Josh. Nlt'geAStein, Of Atlanta. mud MIR
Carr, llrSt male Of the Susaa, immediately
Jumped overheard aud rescued him. Strange
To say, his injuries were triling, as he provi
dentially fell i'll the only deep spot of water
alongside.
The formation Of the raft Was a matter OF
very great labor, and whilst nearly all hand,
engaged on 1t, Mr., Carr went off in our
boat 10 procure assistance next day he re.
turned with the joyful intelligence that some
small keys, about 10 miles OF, We're inhabited
and that two small schooners would come TO
eur relief next day.
Next day brought the schooners, and we
managed TO save some provisions, und after
several trips, occupying about three days, we
all safely landed III MilIer's Key. Clio,
ver's Rect, latitude l6o Sc, longitude $40 So.
Next day, Capt. Marry sailed to Balize, to
if possible, u conveyance to our des-
'"inatiun or TO Mobile. ! AIN ashamed TO say
hat, although several American vessels were
ia port, none of them could be induced to help
is. The Superintendent of the Colony. hear
ng of the matter, kindly came forward aud of
erred Capt. Maury the services of ii. b. NJ.
team sloop of war Basilisk TO carry us to Mo
this Capt. NJ. accepted, and on Sunday.
he 10Th inst, at noon, we were all embarked
md en- route for The United States, y. j. T..