, 1864-06-06


blaze in a moment; and, with lightning
like rapidity, sail after sail on the mainmas
caught fire, and blazing for a moment with
broad and brilliant glare, shrivelled up
and few in burning tatters to leeward. Il
was an awful sight, that pyramid of fame
rising as it were from the bosom of the
deep. Not a sound was to be heard, but
that of the rapidly-moviug oars, aud the
rushing, moaning, and cracking sound o.
the fame. The men tugged at their oar
in the silence Of desperate energy; life and
death depended upon their exertions, and
their voices seemed to be hushed by the ex'
tremity of the danger In the meantime
sail was made upon the Recovery, and the
breeze having partially died away, she
crawled slowly up on the weather-quartel
of the stranger and again hove-to. Boat
after boat soon Joined her, and, having de.
posted their freight, FASTENED back to the
scene of danger for more. The greatG'
part Of the crew of the burning ship were
soon safely bestowed on board Of the Re
covery, when Philip, who had already made
two trips to the stranger with the boat un.
der his command, pulled towards her again
to bring off the remainder Of her men
He was fast approaching her when he was
hailed by the officer Of one Of the Other
boats, who told him that he had taken Of
the last of the crew. He was just on the
point Of returning to his ship, when he
heard sounds Of remOnstrance and entreaty
from another boat which was slowly ap-
preaching, the crew seeming undecided
whether to proceed or return; and, at the
same time, he observed by the light Of the
FIRE the officer Of the boat struggling with
a man in the stern-shects, who was appa-
rently endeavoring to jump overheard.
at would be madness, downright mad
ness to return" exclaimed the officer; ~
will not risk the lives of my men-she will
blow up Immediately"
"Let me gow shouted the stranger; "ii
l cannot save her, let mo die with her. y
At this moment the strangers eye caught
sight Of Philip, who was standing up in
the boat, and, with loud and startling
cry, no shouted, "Philip, Philip, save her
Save Catherinep II was Edward Doug
las At the same time q shrill scream
came over the water, and female form
was at the gangway, waving her hands
over her head, and wringing them in all
the anguish of despair. For a moment
Philip was paralyzed; it was but for mo.
ment.
ave viii save her or pcrishl" shouted
hej "what say you, my lads% The men
answered him with cheer as the boat
sprung through the water under the impulse
Of their bending oars; and few vigorous
strokes brought them alongside the blazing
ship. 1t was but the work Of moment,
for Philip and one Of the boats crew to
spring up the ships side, and to lower the
fainting Catherine into the arms Of the men
below. With careful haste she was laid
down in the stern-shects, and the water
foamed beneath the bows Of the boat as her
gallant crew bent desperately to their oars.
A handful Of water sprinklcd on Gather
ines face revived her for moment; she
opened her eyes upon her deliverer, and,
murmuring " Philip" closed them again
with a shudder, and rclapsed into uncon-
sciousness. The moment the boat reached
the Recovery, the ships mainyard was
filed, the lower tacks were hauled on board,
the small sails set, and she stood to wind
ward, to widen her distance. The precau.
tion, however, was scarcely necessary, as
the blazing wreck was drifting fast to leo.
ward. Almost Immediately after the boat
had left her, she had paid of before the
wind, the sails on the foremast caught fire,
and in very short time the blazing wreck
Of spars fell forward over the bows. All
eyes were now eagerly directed towards her,
to watch the final catastrophe. They were
not long kept in suspense: dense cloud
Of smoke burst from the -hatchway, fol-
lowed by a rush Of bright fame, and a loud
and deafening explosion, and then all was
darkness-the hull had disappeared, and
not vestige Of the unfortunate vessel re-
mained, except the fragments Of the wreck,
which fell far and wide, pattering and his
sing in the water.
Il was with feeling of brcathless awe
and silent thanksgiving that the rescued
crew gazed upon the scene; and many u
cheek among them was blanched with shud-
dering horror at the thought Of the miser-
able fate they had so proyidentially and
narrowly escaped. The most daring and
reckless among them were sobered for a
time, aud many a halfsupprcssed express
sion Of thankfulness to an overruling Provi-
dence burst from lips TO which oaths and
curses had been too familiar. As soon as
all was over, sail was made on the Rccov-