The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-24
ON A LEE SHORE;
Story OF Old Ironsides, by an Eye-Wit-
ness.

1t was at the close of stormy day,
in the year 1885, when the gallant fri
gate Constitution, under the command
of Captain Elliott-having on board
Edward Livingston, Minister at the
Court Of France, and his family, and
manned by nearly five hundred souls
drew near to 1.-THE chops of the English
Channel. For four days she had been
beating down from Plymouth, and on
the fifth, at evening, she made her last
tack from the French coast.
The watch was set at eight, p. M.
The captain came on deck soon after,
and having ascertained the bearing of
Scilly, gave orders to keep the ship
full and bye" remalking at the same
time, TO the officer of the deck, that he
might make the light on the lee beam;
but, he stated, he thought il more than
probable that he would pass it without
seeing it. He then turned in, as did
most of the iders, and the starboard
watch.
At a quarter past nine, p. NJ, the
ship headed west by compass, when
the call of Light or was heard from
the foretopsail yard.
Where awayr' asked the officer of
the deck
Three points on the lee bow" re-
piled the lookout man, which the I'M
professional reader will readily under
derstand to mean very nearly straight
ahead. At this moment the captain APP
peared and took the trumpet.
Call all hands, was his Immediate
order.
"All handsm WHSLE the boatswain,
with the long, shrill summons familiar
10 the ears OF all who have ever been
on board Of man-of-war.
IAN handsn screamed the boat
swain's mates; and ere the last echo
died away all but the sick were upon
deck.
The ship was staggering through a
heavy swell from the Bay of Biscay;
the gale which had been blowing sew
eral days had increased TO severity
that was not to be made light of. The
breakers where Sir Cloudesley Shovel
and his feet were destroyed, in the days
of Queen Anne, sang their song Of
death before, and the Dead Mans
Ledge replied in hoarser notes behind
US. To 90 ahead seemed to be death,
and to attempt to 60 about was sure
destruction.
The first thing that caught the eye Of
tie captain was the furled mainsail,
which he had ordered 70 be carried
throughout the evening-the hauling
up of which, contrary to the last order
that he had given on leaving the deck,
had caused the ship TO fall off to lee
ward two points, and had thus led her
into q position on "a lee shore" upon
which a strong gale was blowing her,
in which the chance of safety appeared
to the stoutest nerves almost hopeless.
That sole chance consisted in standing
on, to carry us through the breakers OF
Scilly, or by close Craze along their
outer ledge. Was this destined to be
the end of the gallant old ship. conse-
Grated by so many a prayer and bless
ing from the heart of a nation?
"Why is the mainsail up, when ! or
dered it set?" cried the captain, in a
tremendous voice.
Finding that she pitched her bows
under, took it in, under your general
order, sir that the officer of the deck
should carry sail according to his dis
cretion," replied the lieutenant in COM
mand.
"Heave the log" was the prompt
command to the masters mate
The log was thrown.
"How fast does she go?"
"Five knots and half, sir"
BOARD the main tack, sir"
"She will not bear it" said the officer
of the deck,
BOARD the main tackw Numbered
the captain. keep her full and bye,
quartermaster."
AYE, aye, sirr'
The tack was boarded.
Haul aft the main sheety shouted
the captain, and aft it went like the
spreading of seabird's wing, giving
the huge sail to the gale.
GIVE her the lee helm when she
goes into the sea!'' cried the captain.
AYE, aye, sir! she has it," growled
out the old sea-dog at the pinnacle.
Fright your helm; keep her full and
bye"
AYE, aye, sir!' full and by she u.s."
was the prompt answer from the helm.
'How fast does she gop"
Eight knots and half. sir"
"How bears the light"
"Nearly abeam. sir"
"Keep her away half q point"
"Aye, aye, sir"
..Hnw fast does she qnp'