Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 428

1841.

Loss of the Cutter Louisa.

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land, with the feelings of men who had been delivered from a frightful, and as we deemed, an inevitable, death, with not a chance (from the nature of the coast) of one of our lives being saved.

We now had evidently (from the long following seas) got out of the im- mediate vicinity of the islands, and the wind abated a little; the sail was scarcely sufficient to steady the vessel, and to keep her before the seas, which frequently broke over us. We passed through a space of about two and a half or three miles, which was covered with floating fraginents of wrecks of Chi- nese and foreign vessels, affording a inelancholy proof of what devastation of property and loss of life must have been caused, and that, our lives being spared, we had much to be thankful for.

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It was now about 3 o'clock P. M., and the wind had gradually veered round to E. and S. E., and continued shifting between those points, so that our course was from W. to N. W., but nearer the former than the latter. We concluded that we had passed to the southward of the Ladrones, and, if so, that we must, by steering that course, be running directly for the shore about Montanha. The water now became very much discolored, so much so as to leave a sediment on the decks and on our clothes, as the sea broke over us: two hand leads were lashed together, and we got soundings in 7 fathoms. The gale was blowing with redoubled fury, and it was plain that, this time, as we were running on towards the main, (or rather, the western inlands,) there was only one chance of safety for us, and that was to get into one of the many creeks or channels för boats which are rather numerous about that part of the coast; and, failing this, to run her into shoaler water, let go the anchor, and put our trust in that all-seeing Providence, who had already twice preserved us. High land right ahead!" again put to flight all our specula. tions; and we were once more to find ourselves saved from imminent peril. The wind literally howled and screamed through the rigging, and our little sail began to show symptoms of being no longer able to withstand the fearful conflict. Again the land towered above us, and a surf broke close on our larboard beam, about 150 yards from the shore; we cleared this danger, and ran along the land. Suddenly, through the mist, a gap was seen in the out- line, and high land trending away beyond on both sides, which captain Elliot instantly declared to be a creek; our hopes were fixed on rounding the point, where we should be, comparatively speaking, in shelter; but the thing seemed impossible. The wind and waves, as if determined not to be again robbed of their prey, raged with inconceivable fury; and the surf, breaking to a height of 150 feet, gave us too sure intimation of what would be our fate should we but touch the iron-bound coast. We steered as high for clearing the point as possible; we gradually neared it; each surf broke closer,—we could only hold our course; we seemed bearing down upon the breakers ; it was an awful monient!-we were looking for and expecting the shock, beyond which all would be oblivion; a surf broke almost on board, and the cutter was hid in the spray-a terrific blast split our sail to shreds; 'hard a port!'—

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VOL. X. NO. VII.