I fitted up my store-room with * The same term used l>v the officers of the Fireflv. every necessary article for a three years' cruise, and on the 20th of Sept. 1818, we sailed from Boston with a tine westerly breeze. Our frigate was rather deep in the water, hut looked beautifully, as she glided " majestically slow before the breeze." We had a fine run oft* the coast, and across the Gulf. On the morning of the 26th, it looked very much like a blow. Thick, black clouds were rolling up all around. Mr. Maury gave me orders to examine every thing aloft, and report to him. I visited each masthead, and found all things right. Very soon all hands were called to send down top-gallantyards, which had hardly been done, when they were again called to shorten sail.
The mainsail was hauled up, and top-sails close-reefed; then top-gallant masts housed. The gale had, been increasing, and now it blew a hurricane. Every square sail was furled, and the fore and main storm staysails were set. Scarcely had the fore storm stay-sail haliards been belayed, when the sail blew away like a kite. The sea ran fearfully high, and although only 4 o'clock, P. M., it was so dark we could hardy discern the ship's length ahead. Still the hurricane raged with unabated fury; the hammocks were piped down, and a young man, (William Wilkins) while getting his hammock, was knocked overboard. The hatches on both decks were secured, and tarpaulins put over them. The ship was rolling and laboring very much, although she did not make much water.
At 6 P. M, I went forward to my store-room hatch, and ordered the yeoman to pass up all the axes, thinking that possibly we might want them before morning. I had hardly given the order, when a heavy sea struck us, and threw the ship nearly over on her beam-ends. I was pitched headlong to leeward, and struck against a bolt in the side of the ship, which nearly deprived me of my breath. I lay there in the water until taken up and carried to my state-room. The doctor came and ascertained that no bones were broken, he bathed my head and back. I then lay down, as 1 felt faint, but had not been on my bed an hour, when I heard the grating of the after-hatch lifted, and a voice, which I knew to be the captain, giving directions to a midshipman, saying: " tell him if he "is able to stand, I wish to see him on deck." I knew this meant me. and that something had happened.
I sprang up, and when the midshipman had reached the door, was ready to go on deck; he delivered his message and appeared much frightened, saying, the mainmast was sprung. My pain had left me and I felt quite able for duty. As I stepped upon deck, I saw a collection of officers holding on around the mainmast. The ship was rolling so violently, that it was impossible to stand without holding on. I went directly to the captain, who was very near, who said to me, " Our mainmast is sprung, sir! and if you are able I wish you to examine it." The howling of the wind was such as to make it almost impossible to understand a word or an order.
I saw the trouble r.fc once, and could see that the mast was dangerously sprung, gaping open in seven places, two-thirds the way up. As I had been through the operation before, understood something about it. I had all my carpenter's crew called, knocked up the wedges on the gun-deck, so that the mast might have room to play, set the boatswain's mates to clearing away the mast-fishes, and, rousing them out, suggested to the captain the necessity of.cutting away the maintop-mast rigging, that the top-mast and top-sail yard might go over the side in order to save the mainmast. Volunteers were nowr called that would go up on the tottering; mast, and cut the weather laniards. Midshipman R.
S. Pickney, with two others, undertook the hazardous duty; for had the mainmast gone over the side while they were aloft, there would have been an end of them. They succeeded in reaching a suitable position, with hatchets strung at their backs, and chopped off the rigging. They came safely down, and after a few lurches, all above the main cap went over the side. But before the top-mast went over, it was almost certain that the mainmast would go, as it was broken off in several places. At one time the captain ordered me to cut away the mast. I made a few blows, when, by the falling of the top-mast, the lower mast was much relieved. Some were now busily employed in clearing away the fallen spars, and others in assisting me in getting the fishes in th<ir place.