The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-03-21
Qhel)eoplts Qol"m"
AN OLD STYLE FRIGATE CAUGHT IN
GALE OF WIND.

Mr. Editor:-These equinoctial storms
remind me of = gale which enc of fifty
gun fri.atss experienced in 1852 between
R,o Jan.iro and tho Equator. and |
thought it might be interesting to some
! of your non -seagnirg readers to learn the
effect on such large and fully EQUIPPED
ship when caught by one Of these lorna
does
The ships log says ''ligh, breezcs,
bright star light, ship under all sail low
and Alnft. when IA cloud was seen rapidly
rising from the south and westward, and
suddenly binding glare Of lightning,
which lit up the ship from deck to truck.
BURST upon us. and the frowing black
muzzles of the guns, dog vanes, rails and
brass stars on the aprons of the guns
fairly CLEANED, with the flame of light
ming every object. even the mems teeth,
were Illuminated by this instantaneous
and urearthly light. than came an ear
splitting peal of thunder, followed by
cold current of air. as il half the cebergs
officer in charge OF the deck Immediately
gave orders to shorten SAIL" but before
the words were we'll ont of his mouth a
rushing. seething sound was heard like
the lashing of millions of whips on the
sea. and the command was given to the
men aluft TO save themselves" To let
fly the tnpsaii. halliards and to put the
helm bard up. before the fury of the
wind was upon us. In the awful uproar
that fulluwe ed all voices We're drowned by
the fierce conflict o, the elements, the
speaking trumpet was blown from the
hands of the executive officer. and then
came howl as if all the demons of the
wind were giving vent to their long pent
up lungs. The rain, as big as a ships
hiscnit. came along in horizontal sheets,
and the frigate, feeling the force of the
blow, hreled over until the lee rails were
rndcr water and then she lay trembling
as /; struggling for life. The lofty sails
went t'f1g away like flakes Of snow, and
ne snap cr,sh of swapping spars and
vhirr .,tir.tc:s we're Int up viii. cnntinu-
rs f->r.S ni cham lightning. Then
.'As!n.- \ n:.,m.rnr Of dreadful suspense
= ME Tiie hurricane beat IFS down in
E,a:i. '"s' ali thought tas game was ue
ans our ~4.:.ry blliet> had been regularly
c"unt@rs;. '..d hy Old Neptune. Bat the
hugh ;nalusaii. which Thus far had stood
rh, blunt 81 the blast, at lsst snapped
the s;r"ug sil.at and tack, with the sound
e :. hc4s. canu"n Ona shake OF this |
:ni:n;.nre sail rSu,ed the blocks to hy
Witt stunning crash upon the bu works, |
niie the canvass and bolt ropes were
t":n lnt" Jh"usa:,d strips and shreds |
The snip iolirved at the Instant from the |
mi 81 tv pre- sSufa ri the ,naius2i rose with |
"a shuddering guiver that was felt from
keel TO the truck. breasted the surging |
waves and then regaining her bnoyancy, |
ieaped like dolphin over tho tunultous |
seas. an old tar remarked. ''She has |
cheated old David Jones out of big |
haul this time"
Below decks was scene that baggars |
description. In the wardroom or officers |
quarters, mess tables. side boards chairs,
sofas and crnckery ware were piled up in
one mass, while the idlers, consisting of
doctors, paymaster, chaplain and marine
room floor or deck, waiting with consid-
cradle anxiety to learn by what extraor-
dinary combination of circumstances
they had been 80 unceremoniously turned
out of their hunks at that unseeemly
hour of the night.
BY daylight next morning the old ship
was all atlantic again and went booming
on hsr home ward bound passage l..