The Alexandrian: A Commercial, Agricultural And Literary Journal

SHIPWRECK

The following affecting narrative of the shipwreck of the Fox, capt. Kimball, of Hallowell, Me. on the 1st ult. with twenty-eight passengers, and a crew of five persons, is from the Hancock Gazette, furnished by the rev. Mr. Cheeseman, one of the passengers:

We left Boston for Hallowell, Wednesday, Nov. 29. about 7 o'clock in the evening, with a strong breeze at the NW sailing 11 miles an hour. After passing Cape Ann, our mainsail was split from the top to the bottom. A very heavy swell, and all the passengers sick from the time we left the harbor. Steered NNE but saw no land all day on Thursday. At night, tacked about and stood in for shore nearly West and made a light which we supposed to be Wood-Islands light. Tacked about and stood off NNE Thursday night and Friday, the most of the time under the jib only: the gale increasing, the vessel became unmanageable; and in the evening we lashed down to helm, and let her drive before the wind. This was a very solemn period. We had some hope, however, that she might ride out the gale. The sea run very high, and constantly broke over her deck, covering the deck and rigging with ice, and pouring into the cabin. One of the waves struck the boat at the stern, tore it from the vessel and we saw it no more. In a few hours afterwards, the jib, our only remaining sail, was carried away, and the vessel trembled like a leaf shaking with the wind. About four o'clock, Saturday morning, the leeward shrouds gave way and we knew the mast must go. Now was the greatest danger, lest the deck should be ripped up and the vessel filled with water. We began to prepare for a watery grave; for there was but a small chance of our reaching the shore again. Every one who could pray was now beseeching God to have mercy upon us, and preserve us from death, or prepare us for that solemn event. All hands were called on deck and an attempt was made to cut away the mast, a few feet above the deck. The shrouds were swinging backwards and forwards with such violence, that it was almost death to approach the mast. The mate with the courage of a hero, went forward with an axe, in the darkness of midnight, and, by dodging the shrouds, succeeded in cutting off the mast about one-third. At the same time one of the hands was on the bowsprit, cutting off the stay. Whilst thus engaged, the mast broke even with the deck, and fell over the lee bow on the top of a large wave, which rose at that moment 10 or 15 ft. high. The mainsail and boom were still attached, which, by great exertions, were cleared; and the mast, after rolling on the deck and staving in a hhd. of molasses, struck the end of the boom and broke it off close to the stern. Every thing was now gone but the hull. We were fortunate in having sea room and a light vessel, and plenty of provision, except water, of which we had but two bbls. Not knowing how long we should be in this condition, captain K. thought it prudent to put us on an allowance of a half pint per day. This was distressing, particularly to the children, who were continually crying, "give me some water." Saturday dawned upon us under these circumstances. The gale was abated, but the waves high. How gloomy was our prospect: We knew not where we were, where we should be, nor what would be our situation. No vessel hove in sight all that day. The nights were long and tedious: the day brought no prospect of relief. No human eye could pity. No human arm deliver. Saturday night the gale increased and drove us many miles further off from land, and all hopes of safety. The wind was still NW, and we were probably 200 miles from our destined haven. Sabbath morning it was impressed on the minds of several, to have public worship performed. About 10 o'clock the service commenced. We offered our thanksgiving and praise to God that our lives had been mercifully preserved: and fervently prayed that God, who only had power to save us, would extend his arm of mercy, rescue us from impending danger, and permit us to tread upon the welcome shore again. We then sung the 109th Hymn, 2d book, Watts, "Lord we adore thy vast designs." Then an appropriate sermon from 46th Psalm, 10, "Be still and know that I am God," and closed with prayer. Every one appeared solemn and attentive, and many deeply affected were frequently wiping the falling tears. During the sermon one of the waves broke over the deck and poured down into the cabin. But before the exercises closed, nature seemed to be changed in our favor. The wind chopped round SSE, and the waves decreased immediately, and before night came on, the ocean appeared almost as smooth as a pond. At noon we took an observation and found ourselves in 42 deg. 39 minutes N. lat. the longitude we could not ascertain. We immediately took the gaff of the mainsail, and erected a jurymast, and hoisted on it the topsail, put the vessel about and steered W. by N. The wind continued fair till Monday morning, when probably we had sailed about thirty miles. Monday it was nearly calm. Monday night we had a good breeze, but not quite so fair, and by Tuesday morning we had probably got about forty miles further.

Tuesday we had no wind, or but very little, moving about one or two miles an hour. We were in expectation of seeing land before night, but were disappointed. In the evening we discovered a light, which we supposed was Boon island light. The wind hauled round nearly NW and blew very hard. We kept the light in view till nearly morning when to our great joy we discovered land, which we supposed was on the Eastern shore, but to our inexpressible astonishment, we found it was Highlands of Cape Cod. Kept as near the wind as possible, with the hope of reaching Chatham or Nantucket. About noon several boats came to our assistance from Chatham, and after coming to anchor, took the passengers on shore, and in the course of the night got the vessel into Chatham harbor. Those only who have been in our situation, can judge our sensations in treading upon the solid sand. The Lord has graciously preserved us. Blessed be his holy name.

: j.