Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-29

room Of a royal palace than the interior
of flagship.
After the admiral had cast a last sat-
istied glance upon the tasteful embel-
lishments, and had passed in review the
brilliant preparations, he repaired to the
deck, where, in state and surrounded by
his officers as a king by his noblCs, he
took his post to receive his guests.
While a select band Of music filled the
air with melody, from every side there
were seen gliding over the smooth
waters towards the ship gaily dressed
boats, bearing the elite of beauty and
nobility from Portsmouth, Portsea, the
Isle of Wight and other neighboring
points on the coast The universal Joy
Of the officers and guests was enhanced
by the beauty of the night; not cloud
dimmed the radiance OF the stars, and
not breath of air rut1led tho surface of
the sea.
And yet destruction was maliciously
lowering in this hour of festivity over
the finest ship in the fleet Already
death sat invislbly grinning behind the
seats of these pleasure-Sceking guests.
OF mutiny there was no apprehension,
as the whole crew were all true and
loyal, and warmly attached to the com
manding officer; nor was there any pos
sibility of leak, as the utmost precau-
tons had been adopted, and the pow
der magazine had been additionally se-
cured by triple fastenings. Who could
have believed that the swelling Of a
gentle west wind would be sufficient to
produce catastrophe as unparalleled
in its character US in its awful incidents?
About two hours later, as the ball was
in full movement, there arose, not a
light breeze, but rather breath of air
from the southwest, which hardly
stirred Il curl of hair among the crowd
Of dancing beauties. The oscillation
which it brought as it stole across the
mntlonlcss face Of the water appears 10
have been unnoticed. But inscrutable
fate This insensiblc puff of air, not
sutlicientto draw sound from the cords
of an teolian harp, by the under swell it
created, disturbed the equilibrium of
two immense chain anchors, which,
with some heavy guns, had been slowed
in the open ports, and on account of the
calm weather, had not been secured by
fastenings This ponderous mass, started
from its balance by the motion of the
sea, with lightning speed rolled to the
opposite side of the vessel, and i'll II
moment threw the Royal George upon
her side. One heart.picrcing cry of
woe from a thousand yoiccs-a sound
before which the stoutest sailor quailed
-rose in frightlul dissonancc and broke
upon the startled ears of those in the
surrounding ships, while echo bore the
death vail to the adjacent coasts, where
it rolled along like thunder peal, dead
cning the roar Of the surf, and striking
with terror the shuddering inhabitants.
The lofty masts Immediately bowed
to the surface OF the sea, which at first,
as it were, overawed by the sudden ces-
sation of the prevailing joy, receded in
a wide circle, and then as quickly re-
| turned, as if to the execution OF fear
| ful judgment, pouring over the high
bulwarks and through the port holes
| into the innermost recesses Once more
the stately fabric, in all its imposing
/ mass, upon the restoration fora moment
! of its lost balance through the settling
water, rose erect, as if to display in full
majesty the imposing grandeur of its
form. Proudly stretched the lofty masts
their extended arms to the blue sky; but
the flags and streamers, already soaked
by the overwhelming sea, hung in loose
folds like emblems of mourning.
Now, the ship, deeper and deeper
sinking, began, IN giddy whirls, u
| horror-stricken dance-a few seconds
more, and it shot, with its hundreds of
human beings, in vain, with deadly
pallid and agOnized countenances, inn
ploring heaven for deliverance, and
| clinging Convulsivcly to the shrouds,
] it,... al Nit,fr
sea, with loud and terrible gurglc, for
] eyer closed over the black, yawning
| gulf, and all was silent.
\ few moments sutltced to complete
| the terrific catastrophe. From all the
! neighboring vessels boats were sent out
! to attempt to save some Of the drown
| ing hundreds, but the vast whirlpool
caused by the sinking ship prevented a
near approach. Only a few Of the most
experienced sailors, vino climbed to the
tOpmast, as the Royal George fer the
| last time hGavcd erect, were enabled to
save themselves by swimming. All the
| rest, in the midst Of II jubi!eeOf pleasure,
fell prey to the yawninS sea
Among other wrecks, especially of
| vessels belonging to the British navy,
which We're attended with great loss of
INC british sloon.of. war Albany was
last in in W"st indion waters in iS53 Sb@ he
i s,,,,nosrj tn nave Tone down in =
cyclnnr Win every sonI II hrr crew nf
| 1in offir,,r. .nd mon az sho was no,.c,.
haorI frnn, aftcr shc ssilrJ nn ber i. =,
c,"is, "a1 ''N''' - W. - '''''''' " 49, $50
In the Same year the British brig-of-
war lolpoise' WIN luz people ap9aru
Weht Gown III lne Gnlh'. 7eaS, "ltl"ut
| leuNlhS llaCS Vi ncl emu