from The Bijou Literary Annual, 1828 - The Hellweathers, By N.T. Carrington, Author of "Dartmoor"

The Bijou;

or Annual of Literature and the Arts

compiled by William Fraser

London: William Pickering,

1828

The Hellweathers

By N.T. Carrington, Author of "Dartmoor"

[Sir Cloudesley Shovel's ship, the Association, struck upon the Gilstone, off Sicilly, with so much violence, that in about two minutes the vessel went down, and every soul on board, but one, perished. This man saved himself on a piece of timber, which floated to a rock called the Hellweathers, where he was compelled to remain some days before he could receive any assistance. Besides the Association, the Eagle, of 70, and the Romney, of 50 guns, perished, with all their crews. The Firebrand, fireship, was also lost, but most of her men were saved. Many persons of rank, and about 2000 seamen perished on this occasion. DREW'S HISTORY OF CORNWALL.]

THE blue wave roll'd away before the breeze	1
Of evening, and that gallant fleet was seen	2
Darting across the waters; ship on ship	3
Following in eager rivalry, for home	4
Lay on the welcome lee. The sun went down	5
Amid a thousand glorious hues that liv'd	6
But in his presence; and the giant clouds	7
Mov'd on in beauty and in power before	8
The day- god's burning throne. But soon was o'er	9
The pomp celestial, and the gold-fring'd cloud	10

[Page 93]

Grew dark and darker, and the Elysian tints	11
Evanish'd swift; the clear, bright azure chang'd	12
To blackness, and with twilight came the shriek	13
Of the pursuing winds. Anon on high,	14
Seen dimly through the shadowy eve, the Chief	15
Threw out the wary signal, and they paus'd	16
Awhile upon the deep ¹ . Again they gave	17
Their sails to the fresh gale — again the surge	18
Swept foaming by, and every daring prow	19
Pointed to England; — England! that should greet	20
With her green hills, and long- lost vales, their eyes	21
On the sweet morrow. Beautiful is morn,	22
But, oh, how beautiful the morn that breaks	23
On the returning wanderer, doom'd no more	24
To live on fancy's visions of that spot	25
Beyond all others lov'd; — that very spot	26
Now rising from the broad, blue waters, dear	27
To him as Heav'n.	28
With fatal speed they flew	29
Through the wide- parting foam. Again the deck	30
Slop'd to the billow, and the groaning mast	31
Bent to the rising gale; yet on that night	32
The voice of the loud ocean rose to them	33
In music, for the winds that hurry'd by	34

[Page 94]

So fierce and swift, but heralded the way	35
To the lov'd island- strand. The jaws of death	36
Were round them, and they knew it not, until	37
Chilling the life- blood of the bravest, burst	38
The everlasting cry of waves and rocks	39
From stern Cornubia's isles. Alas, to them —	40
The lost, there blaz'd no friendly Pharos' fire,	41
No star gleam'd from the heav'n. The sailor heard	42
The roar of the huge cliff, and on his brow	43
Fell the cold dew of horror. On they came —	44
Those gallant barks, fate driv'n — on they came —	45
Borne on the wings of the wild wind, to rush	46
In darkness on the black and bellowing reef	47
Where human help avails not. There they struck	48
And sank; — the hopes, the fears, the wishes all	49
Of myriads o'er, at once. Each fated ship	50
One moment sat in all her pride, and pomp,	51
And beauty, on the main; — the next, she plung'd	52
Into the "hell" of waves, and from her deck	53
Thrill'd the loud death scream — stifled as it rose	54
By the dark sea; — one blow — one shriek — the grave!	55

And all was silent — save the startling voice	56
Of the Atlantic, rising from that shore	57
In anger ever! Terribly its surge	58
Clos'd o'er them, and they perish'd in that gulf	59
Where the dead lie innumerous, and the depths	60
Are rife with monstrous shapes, and rest is none	61

[Page 95]

Amid the infuriate war of waters hurl'd	62
In endless, horrible commotion. Heard	63
Alone, between the pausings of the gale,	64
Was one faint, human wail. Where thousands sank	65
One rode the vengeful wave, preserv'd to be,	66
As seem'd, the sport of the mad billows: now	67
Upflung upon the mountain ridges — now	68
Swift sinking in abysses vast that yawn'd	69
Almost to Ocean's bed. Yet life fled not,	70
Nor hope, though in the tempest's giant coil	71
He gasp'd for breath, and often writhed beneath	72
The suffocating waters!	73
Morning came	74
In vain, though on the island rock the sea	75
Had flung the hapless mariner. Around	76
Howl'd the remorseless surge; — above, the cloud	77
Swept, terror- wing'd; — the lightening o'er the day	78
Shed an unnatural glare, and near him broke	79
The thunder with its peal of doom. No aid	80
Came through the long, long day, yet on the cliffs	81
Floated the cheering signal; — from the strand	82
Came voices animating; — men were there	83
Impatient as the bounding greyhound held	84
Within the straining leash — a gallant band	85
Nurs'd in the western storm, familiar long	86
With danger, and with — death, but might not brave	87
The monster, now. And thus the victim hung	88
Upon eternity's dread verge, and gaz'd	89

[Page 96]

Appall'd upon its gulf; — then backwards shrunk	90
Convulsively to life, and hope renew'd	91
Unfroze his blood, and o'er his features threw	92
A light that could not last. For evening came,	93
And the great sun descended to the main,	94
While oft the beautiful, beloved orb	95
The seaman watch'd, and sigh'd to see it sink	96
Beneath the wave; but as the twilight grew	97
Deeper and deeper, and the darkness clos'd	98
Upon him, and the hungry, howling surge	99
Was heard below, loud clamouring for its prey,	100
He wept — the lone man wept!	101
Again it came,	102
The unchang'd, unchanging morning, rising wild	103
Upon a joyless world; yet did his eye	104
Glisten to see the dawn, though it awoke	105
In tempest; and that day flew by, and night	106
Once more fell on him, and another morn	107
Broke, and the sufferer liv'd! The hand of death	108
Was on him, yet delay'd the fatal grasp;	109
And round the agonized victim look'd,	110
But succour came not! On the rugged rock	111
Crash'd the torn wreck in thunder, and the sea	112
Disgorg'd the dead — within the black recoil	113
Of waters dash'd the dead; and on the brave,	114
The lov'd, he gaz'd, and at his Despair	115
Now sat, and pointed on the abyss!	116

***************	117
***************	118

[Page 97]

A shout	119
Comes from the cliffs — a shout of joy! Awake,	120
Thou lonely one from death's fast- coming sleep! —	121
Arise, the strand is thronging with brave men —	122
A thousand eyes are on thee, and a bark	123
Bursts o'er the breaching foam! The shifting cloud	124
Flies westward, and away the storm, repell'd	125
Relunctant sails: the winds have backward flung	126
The billows of the Atlantic! See, — they come, —	127
They come — a dauntless island- band — and now	128
A cheer is heard— and hark the dash of oars	129
Among the reefs! His eye with instant hope	130
Brightens, and all the ebbing tides of life	131
Rush with returning vigour! Now the spray	132
Flies o'er the advancing pinnace, for the wave	133
Though half subdued is mighty; yet her prow	134
Victorious parts the surges, — nearer roll	135
The cheers of that bold crew — the welcome sounds	136
Thrill on his ear — the deep'ning plunge of oars	137
Foams round the desert rock — 'tis won! 'tis won!	138
And — he is sav'd!	139

from The Bijou, 1828, pp. 93-97

Notes

1. [Note to "The Hellweathers":] A few hours before the ships struck, Sir Cloudesley Shovel hove out the signal to lie to, in order to ascertain the situation of the fleet. [Author, N.T. Carrington.] Back