Page:Life, sufferings, and surprising adventures of Elizabeth Smith.pdf/5

 was sent. We sailed on the 16th November, 1839:—on the 18th of the month following, we were visited by a tremendous tempest---peals of thunder rolled through the dark concave of heaven, and the vivid flashes of lightning, by their awful brilliancy and grander seemed to open the gates of the firmament, and presented a dreadful and magnificent blaze of electric fluid---torrents of rain descending from the clouds, and all around conspired to produce in the breasts of the crew and passengers a feeling to lay ourselves down and die to be relieved from the intense snfferingssufferings [sic] we endured during the terrible storm. The wind proved contrary, the vessel leaked- crew and passengers worked inccssentlyincessently [sic] at the pumps, lI [sic] and two others who were assisting on deck, were washed overboard, when lI [sic] fortunately seized hold of of one of the masts of the ship which fell over the side---masts and yards being swept away. But, by the preserving power of the lmightyalmighty [sic] lI [sic] escaped a watery grave, by being washed ashore at daybrake in the morning. I remained there the whole day, and found myself on a desolate island---no human being to administer to my wants or sooth my sorrow. At night lI [sic] sought for some place of shelter, but could find none: aud being under fearful apprehensions of being devoured by wild beasts that I heard roar, which struck horror to my nearly broken heart: I climbed up a large tree, where I remained till morning.—it was then that lI [sic] thought of my father’s cruelty, he being the sole causccause [sic] of my disastrous situation: but, praise be to Him who is always ready to assist in the hour of danger, those who believe in his promises, and put their trust in him. On the third day of my being on this