The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-03-15

poured off and would have broached to had she
NOT been powerfully met by the helm. Onward
she how rushed will fearful ard augmenting
velocity, leaping and plunging, shaking and
rolling and at one time thrown over on her
ani.ends. until several planks of her deck were
under water The sea rose in fury almost a.
suddenly as the wind. which literally upheayed
vast masses of water and projected them bodil,
though the air. 1t was a curious fact that the
spray which flew over us in d enching showers
was nik-waim. whilst the rain was icy cold
Never shall / forget that tremendous night
he o dest seaman on board had never experi.
enced its equal. The stoutest heart quailed-
the most dauntless trembled, lest the next min.
ute might be his last.
Three of our boats, and above ninety feet OF
hulwOrks were carried clean away ; the lit boom
broke off by the cap; the mizzen topmast snap.
ped ike a carrot; the manysrd smashed in the
sings; the stern post started two feet water in
he hold; seven men washed overheard! Ere
morning we were compelled to ''stalt" an m-
meEse quantity of fresh water /; and or uppor-
deck guns and quarter deck carronades were
heaved overheard.
During egh'-and forty hours we battled with
he lnsa;iate tempest; nor did 1t finally moderate
antil every man on board was almost worn out
On the morn ng of the third day., there was a
decided lull III the storm, and nightfll ii had
moderaed tn tirful breeze; but the sea >welled
most teaIfulIy. The sous book silnile of waves
INNING mountains high seemed almost real
;zed We were, however, now safe for the
carpenter had managed to reduce the leaks, SO
hat the water was easily kept under.
The next day we repaired damages as we'll as
he rolling of the ship permitted, for the sea con-
tinued to run exceedingly high In the after
aeon we perceived vessel evidently in great
distress. and, on nearing her. made out that she
was large Dutch schooner, either very deeply
aden or water logged. Her n.ain-mast was bro.
Ken off about = score of feet above deck the
toretepma snappei off at the cap of the fore
mast, ana on The latter was set foresa'i, or
rather the remains OF one, for it WAS split from
head 20 foot in three or four places. Signals Of
distress were hoisted from the toreshrouds, and
several of the crew waived pieces of canvas TO
attract our notice. With difficulty and risk our
hip ~as hove to, i'll order to communicate with
orreiieve the stranger if possible; and we hailed
her repeatedly, but the answer was not intelligi-
ole. One Thing was clearly perceived-the hap
eSs Dntchmah had not boat left. One Or two
emae forms emerging from the cabin increased
our desire TO render assistance The risk of do.
ing so was very great. If We lowered boat
and 1t escaped being swamped alongside, there
was the Intervening water to cross, and boar.
iIng to be effected, and the crews and passengers
taken off
''Sha lower the larbeard cutter SIP" asked
The first eutenant.addressing Captain Iugledew
~ho had long and anxinusly sazed at the dsa-
bled ciaf,
II will not order boat 10 be lowered in such
4 sea as ills !" was the quiet but significant re-
sponse.
Pc mil me TO take the cutter. sir" immedi.
ately said
Aud volunteers ?"
-Four, sir and IA coxswain'
PERMITS wac Ci vat, and in Eau Of tba r.,01,
lar cutters crew, | selected quarterluaster as
coxswain, and four prime seamtn from a score or
NO who immedIst e v offered to 20 with me-
Not woid was uttered by either the captain or
my brother officers, copcer ming the Danger If
! he undertaking; only Leigh Conway wrung my
hand, aud whispered the impressive intelroga-
tive words,
III anything happens to you, old fellow ~
Open the lower drawer in my cabin, and you
will find scale packet, with directions outside
He gravely nodded, and calmly took my
sea: In the stern sheets of the cntter, now ready
for lowering, under the immediate p rsonal SUI
perintendence of the first lieutenant
Kind old Captain Ilgedew gave loud ahem
70 clear away little huSkiness from his voice.
'AIr. Derweut! !"
Sir! responded
III you safely ard the schooner, / expect
you to return with the crew and passengers, if
possible, But if you nn"t get them off, you
must decide whether to come back a. you went,
or to stay by The vessel and endeavor to save
her 1t seems To me an equal chance"
III resolve to abide by the schooner, Cap
tain lnged"w, what are my instructions ~
Io save and work her to the nearest Britt h
port !"
What signal shall l give in the latter case p
Thee car tladcs above the taffrall'
"Al clear SAILING now, sir; Will dc my best
Il do net doubt it. Goo be with YOU. Lower
away the cutter !"
favorable roll OF The ship enabled the men
successfully 10 perform the very delicate and I'M
certain act OF lowering a boat in mountainous
sea, and the tackles We're cast off the instant we
touched the water.
Give way menl For life or death"
For II e or death we indeed struggled in more
senses than one. Nothing, under Providence.
but consummate skill OF the part of the old
quartermaster whom had entrusted with steer
ig, saved us from being capsized or sunk score
OF times dnri g tie passage from our ship to the
schooner, Our frail cutter was literally whilled
IKE cork on the Jeasty pillows, and when we
sunk i'll the trough of the vast Atlantic rollers,
we appeared gliding TO destruction heplessy As
swiftly at times, mnnstrous green waves up.
reared their ghttering crests far above our heads
as though about to instantly burst upon us--yet
not a single drop Of water did we sln2. terri
and tougheDed sinews Of my gallant crew. aud
the time occupied seemed to us age At last
we swept within boats length Of the schooner
and then the question was how to board her
without having the cutter STAYED alongside
Thrice we attempted to board amidslips, but,
even with the help of the Dutchmen utterly
failed. then resolved to try the counter, and
a small hawser having been cast to us. we made
fast and veered astern. BY carefully watching
no mitch of the Sphnnnnr Salf md
managed to get on board over the taffrail, leav-
ing the other two to keep the cutter clear.
The scene presented by the deck of mynheer
was not remarkably encouraging. The round
house had been sw ept overheard =; the bulwarks
were shattered; few broken spars and tangled
rigging and ropes were Strewn about ; and
eight or ten miserable seamen wee clustered aft
staring at me with wo--begone eagemess, al
most udicr"us iii its intensity. The females
whom we had seen on deck had gone below.
''Do any of you speak English :" was my first
query.
Not soul replied
Who's the captain the skipper? the mas
ter %
My last two words ehcited immediate ejacula-
lions
Den schpper? den meester ~
"Y <, where is he 2"
A couple Of fellows instantly Owed dowa the
companion way. and a wonderful splutterin e
ard groaning saluted my astonisbed ears A
bret pause and they returned, pushing and haul
ing on deck-their skipper He was SQUAD
tat old man. attired in corduroy trowsers, huge
green tapped wlistcoat, and blue coat reach
ing dawn almost TO HE heels and profuseIy dec
mated with brass buttons as large as fve-shi :
ling pieces He wore pair If sea-boo's with
wide tops. reaching high above his knees and a
great fur cap on his head. His broad puff,
1ace was white and wriDkIed with fright, and his
google blue eyes rolled round without particle
OF animation or expression.
'Nhat the deyil!' (paidon my expleiive, la
dies cIie1 /. ''are you the master %
''Deu schrper yaw 2" chorus ed bis crow,
whilst he grimaced hideously, and murmured-