Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/95

Rh At this meeting, an address was delivered by the Rev. Lyman Beecher, D.D. From this, a few extracts are culled, describing the danger.

“For thirty-six hours the wind raved, and the waves rolled with a fury and power unknown, for so long a time, to the most experienced navigators on board. Travelling mountains, with the power of the iceberg, the avalanche, or the Niagara, for one day and two nights, as far as eye could reach, covered the surface of the deep, thundering loud and unceasingly around us. The onset commenced on Saturday night, and raged increasingly till Sabbath morning, when, instead of mitigation, it gathered new power, and then commenced the work of desolation.

“The sails on the fore-yards, clewed down, burst from their fastenings, and roared and flapped furiously, defying control. In the mean time, the sea rose rapidly, breaking over and against the ship. At 4 the wind had risen to a hurricane, veering to the northwest; the ship at the same time broke from her course into the trough of the sea,—a condition of extreme peril, during which a sea broke in upon the main deck, and drove a great quantity of water into the engine-room, a stroke at the heart of life, our machinery.

“At 11 a heavy wave broke over the fore part of the starboard wheelhouse, and drove the iron lifeboat and the icehouse, of some six or seven tons, furiously against the wheelhouse and side of the ship; and before they could be fastened, the careening of the ship sent them sundry times back and forth, threatening instant destruction. Such and so rapid were the successions of disaster, that an attempt was made to wear ship, as less perilous than her present condition; but finding her uncontrollable, she was permitted to return to her course.

“About noon, a mighty wave struck the starboard wheelhouse and tore up the fastenings of spikes and iron bands and bolts, throwing off the whole top and outside covering,