The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-11-17
MtsttIlanCONs.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
BY EMERSON BENNETT.


which there is any record, was that of a
part Of The crew aud passengers Of the
Blendenhall, free trader, bound from
England TO Bombay, 10 the year 1921.
There are many cases that might be ci-
ted Of what would seem to be direct
interposition Of Providence in behalf Of
the sufferers, but we do not remember
any other that presents so many singu-
lar facts of this nature as the Que in
Question.
The Blendenhall made a successful
voyage till somewhere of the Cape Of
Good Hope, when adverse winds drove
her far out of her course, in south
westerly direction, toward a group Of
three little islands, called respectively
Tristan d'Acunha, Nightingale and In-
ccessibe-the first named from its dis
coverer, Portuguese admiral, and last
from its rock formation and the fearful
breakers that surrounded it, and which
it was then supposed would be destruct-
i've to anything human attempting to
reach it.
Finding himself at last so far ont o.
his regular course, the commander of the
Blendenhall resolved to steer for Tristan
d d'Acunha and take fresh start; but in
attempting to reach that island, he un-
fortunately ran among the breakers of
the Inaccessible, and, before anything
could be done to save the vessel, she
struck sunken reefand parted amid
ships. The crew had hardly time to
cut the ropes and stays and rush forward
among the passengers, who we're wildly
clinging to the head and bows, when
the stern and quarter went down, and
two Of the sailors were crushed amid the
ruins.
This sad even occurred at an early
hour in the morning, and before the ris .
ing sun had dispelled the mists that lay
like cloud upon the waters, involving
everything in mysterious gloom. A
bright spot toward the point where the
sun was rising in splendOr, indicated
that the damp, enveloping cloud was be
ing diSsipated, and soon after the upper
portion was whirled of with a gentl+
breeze, and broad blaza of light filed
the open space, aud showed the Inacces-
sible Islaad looming up, stern, rugged
and defiant, some two miles away, lis
awful base, around which the angry wa
ters we're seething and roaring, still con-
cealed by the obscuriug mists,
Gland hol" was the universal cry
but the discovery brought little hope to
the imperriled party. ..aH
The anchor, which had been dropped
just before the vessel struck, was now
weighed and secured to the cat head,
the deck was cleared Of broken spars,
tangled rigging and rubbish, and the
foresail was spread to the breez'. The
wreck now began to move forward, Who'll.
ly at the mercy of the winds aud waves,
without storage, drifting hither and
thither, and whirling about in the foam
ing waters, as powerless as the anxious
souls that clung to it and watched its
motions. For many hours it continued
to drift and whirl, aud occasionally
thump along over the sunken reefs, and
then, to the great j>y of all-for any
promise of prolonging life car led joy to
those desponding hearts-it entered a
narrow channel, between two prof citing
lodges of rocks, and approached the isl.
and at the only point where it was pos
sible to effect landing. Encouraged
by this, the Grew set to work with vigo',
aud, making due use of such materials
as they could 6nd, constructed a raft, on
which a few went ashore, with ropes,
and, after great exertions, succeeded in
getting the wreck TO the beach, where
it sOouwent to pieces, though not be-
fore all had got safely to land, an had
secured many necessary articles, includ.
ing a quantity of wine and provisions
enough to last them several days. This
may be called the first wonderful pre-
A fierce storm of wind and rain now
set in; and the first night our ship.
wrecked vOyagers spent on hat desert
island, proved dreary one indeed; and
when they reflected upon their lonely
situation, thousands ofmiles from home,
with no means of getting away through
the roaring surf, and no prospect of hu
man succOr, they almost regretted they
we're still alive, to go through the pangs
Of mortal suffering.