Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-30
For the Spirit Of the Age.
a Storm at Sea,

a otUIm at 0ea~ |
During the delightful Indian summer oil
1854, we embarked at Charleston, S. c., on
the splendid steamship Atlantic, bound for
New York. Being built in modern style and
furnished with every luxury and comfort, we
had nothing to fear from wind or wave. The
Captain and Lieutenants were gentlemen, and
we felt that they would attend to their duty, |
in case any accident should occur.
The first day was as. balmy and delightful
as could be desired, and the stars never shone
more brightly in the dark blue sky, nor did
the moon rise more serenely, from a bed of
silvery fleece, than on that night. TIE rip
ping Of waves mingled with the sweet voices
Of some singers, detained US ON deck till after
midnight.
About ten o'clock next morning, a small
cloud was observed in the northwest, but no
notice was taken of it till near the middle of
the afternoon, when it had stretched It's dark
all over half the heavens, and had not a con-
siderable breeze sprung up it would have
caused no anxiety. In a few hours, however,
the sky was completely overcast, and the
breeze had fresheDed into a fierce wind
Every thing had the appearance of a severe
storm, but as yet no rain had fallen.
But few of us had ever been on the sea
when it was otherwise than tranquil, and
some began to fear, while others, myself in
cluded, were anxiously waiting for the storm
to | had always longed to view
this grand phenomenon of nature. A Storm
at Sea, was, in my imagination, the climax Of
all that was awful and sublime.
We had not long to wait. Just after sun
set it burst upon US IN all its fury. The wind
blew a perfect gale, the rain appeared to fall,
HAk - 1~1n1 A,k - k1.--- H. 1870
washed over the lower deck and swept into
the sea every thing that was not secured
Severe storms often occur off the coast Of
North Carolina, and one of these we now en-.
conntered. Those of us whom curiosity had
enticed on deck, would soon have been satu
rated, had we not been well protected. We
thought not of ourselves, however, but of the
scene around us. In whatever direction we
looked, the sky was obscured by dark, i'm
penetrable masses of clouds; the lightnings
flashed, the thunders rolled and reverberateC
on every side We seemed surrounded by
storms. One noble ship was seen struggling
through the huge waves we could scarcely
sec her lights, although she passed near US
but the noise and violence of the storm per
mitted no communication between the tw,
vessels.
Nothing could draw our attention from tn
scene, it was appalling and dreadful, bu
grandly sublime. Our frdiE bodies tremble
with fear, but our minds were filled with tn
highest admiration of that Supreme Being, a
whose word 'the stormy wind ariseth, whic
lifteth the waves to the heavens"
The storm continued all night, and till moo
next day, when We were surprised and gla(
dened by the sight of the sun burstin
through the inky clouds, and shedding b
genial rays ever the foam crested waves
The clouds now began to scatter in all dire
tons the wind died gradually away, tt
ruf1ed bosom of the ocean grew calm, and
unset one of the most lovely views %conceiv;
BILE was witnessed. A mass of clouds la
slowly settled in the west, when they a
sumed every variety of form and shape, ar
the sun, taking his leave of our hemispher
threw his parting rays over them, with
splendor uncqualed even in the golden ski
of fair Italy. Rocky sleeps and ~castelat
crags frowncd over valleys of silver, blue al
gold, while all around and through eve
opening poured the lambent sunlight. ]
language can express nor can painter pnrtr
the magnifcence of the scene.
AS if in rivalry, the western. horizon W
spanned by: a brilliant rainbow all its colo
beautifully distinct with both ends dippi
into the sea, it slowly faded away, like sol
1eecy cloud we have been watching. Ahc
feeling Of awe pervaded our bosoms "as
looked through nature up to natures Coz
The heavens declare thy glory, Lord, and
armament proclaims thy handiwork. I
darkness of night succeeded, but the see
changed, without losing any of its ~loveline
So calm and smooth was the sea, that beft
the moon rose aud the boundaries of the
rizon became distinct, we seemed suspend
in the centre of a sphere, the heavens ext
dcd on every side, below as well as abo
and as We gazed downward, we almost h
our breath, the illusion was so perfect.
vivid was the impression upon all, that t
will be likely to forget it, and still fewer
terrible storm which preceded it.
SUSIE S. E..