The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-12
Parturiti0n OF q Volcanic Island..A
Thrilling Sketch.

Thrilling Sketch.
The following narrative is asserted to be
entirely true by its author:
1t was a night Of pitchy darkness. At
four bells in the first watch not breath of
air was moving, and the drenched sails, wet
by the afternoon and evening rains, hung
heavily from the yards or tapped against
the masts and rigging, as the ship rolled
lazily on the long leaden swels of the Pacific
Ocean. A number of days had passed
without an observation of the sun or stars,
and they had to run by dead reckoning"
and were not, therefore sure of their lati.
tude or longitude. They might be nearer
danger than they thought.
The captain had gone below at eight, but
feeling troubled about the portentuous ap-
pearance of the weather, was unable to sleep,
and was on deck again, walking nervously
fore and aft, now looking on this side of the
quarterback, looking anxiously out into
the darkness, then aft, then at the compass,
and then at the barometer which hung in
the cabin gangway.
Round and round went the ship. needless
OF her helm, and the mercury told the same
tale it had told for hours before. In vain
did the eyes of anxious men peer into the
darkness only inky blackness met their
straining gaze everywhere. Thus matters
stood for six bells, when the mercury began
to fall suddenly. The quick, jerking voice
OF the captain was then heard.
Mr.. Smalley, you may take in the light
sails"
"Ay, az, sir )" and stepping to the main
q OalI cd ri - ovxl
was Immediately answered, " For'ard SIR"
"Stand by the top gallant and the flying
jib halyards."
In moment he heard the report, "ready,
slr.'
"Let go the halyards and clew down !; let
60 the sheets and clew up; thatll do; be-
lay all; now jump up and furl them; be
lively, lads"
While this was going on, the captain
took another look at the barometer and
found the mercury still going down fast.
Thoroughly aroused now, he caught his
speaking trumpet from the beckets and
sung out, "Hold on, there down from aloft,
every man of you; call all hands," Down
came the men again.
Gail hands ahoy!' was called with great
strength of voice at both the cabin and
forecastle gangways, and then followed one
of those scenes which defies such description
as would make it Ineligible to lands
man, but which any sailor readily under
stands. The top-sails were close reefed,
reef taken in the mainsails, the iib and
flying jib, and all the light sails were furled,
and the ship made ready for the expected
gale. But yet no breath of air had been
FOL nnvvIn NH ofr,rn or
and heaviness of the atmosphere was OBJ
served by all. Several of the seamen saw
a dim purple streak appear right ahead of
the ship, and called out, Here it comes,
sir.''
where ?" said the captain.
fright ahead, SIR"
Hard a-port your helm"
Hard a-port it is, sir"
Brace round the yards"
Ay, ay, SIR"
The yards were braced around, and the
ship was got ready to receive the expected
blast on the starboard side. That dreadful
streak of cloud grew almost crimson, and
there was heard what they thought was the
heavy roar of the coming gale, and every
man seemed to hold his breath awaiting the
shock. Good men and courageous sailors
were on that ships deck, but they shrunk
from the onslaught like frightened children.
When God speaks in those storms his voice
is awful to the ear, and many strong man
is quaied before it. And the storm itself
is scarcely more trying to ones nerves than
just before it strikes, while men wait in
dreadful suspense.
Thus those men waited till the minutes
heightened into hours, and the only change
perceptible was in the deepening color of
that lowering cloud of crimson light At
length eight bells told that four o'clock had
arrived, and daylight was looked for as
those men with Paul looked for it when
they wished for day."
But the struggling light Of the day SEEM
ed only to reveal the thickness of the dark
ness to the wandering vision. Just at day
light their ears were stunned with success
sive, quick reports, louder than whole
broad sides from hundred gun ship the
whole heavens were lighted up with fiery
red light; the ocean was stirred from her
profound depths great waves, without any
visible cause, ran in the most awful commo-
ton, now striking together and throwing
the white foam and spray high in the air,
then parting to meet again in fearful EN-.
brace as before school of sperm whales
ran athwart the ships bows, making every
exertion to escape from the strange troubled
water within few cable lengths of the
ship an immense column of water was
thrown mast head high, and fell back again
with roar like Niagara; deep mournful
noise, like the echo Of thunder among noun
tain caverrs, was constantly heard, and
none could tell whence it came the noble
ship was tossed and shaken like q plaything.
"Great God, have mercy upon US u cried
officers and men. "What is this? What is
coming next? Is it the day of Judgment"
The royal Psalmist described them accu.
rately They reel to and fro, and stagger
like a drunken man, and are at their wits
end" Soon the mystery was solved, when