The Tragedy of the Seas; or sorrow on the ocean, lake and river, from shipwreck, plague, fire and famine

Front matter

Till ©r&urfc n o( tt)r Sr ase ; OR, SORROW ON THE OCEAN, LAKE, AND RIVER, FROM SHIPWRECK, PLAGUE, FIRE, AND FAMINE u Her signal erun boomed o'er the wave, When midnight veiled Corunna's bay ; For help the hapless crew to save, He coursed the strand at dawn of day." Don Alvarez BY CHARLES ELLMS. NEW YORK: ISRAEL POST, 88 BOWERY. 1841. ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1841. BY CHARLES ELLMS, IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS. C. SHERMAN AND CO., PRINTERS. 19, ST. JAMES STREET, PHILADELPHIA. Boston Light House.

Preface

. The imaginative mind of man has delighted to trace the origin of navigation from the instinctive motions of the buoyant nautilus, as it spreads its tiny sail to the breeze, or the appearance of a floating oak, which, up rooted by the sudden ravages of inundation, supported the animal that had reposed beneath its shade. But, passing by the numerous fanciful and traditionary ac counts of profane history, we have the sacred record that it originated in that stupendous act of divine mercy and immutable justice, by which the human race were 'punished and preserved, — by which the earth was puri fied throughout its most distant extent ; and the great archetype of navigation was the Ark of Noah, con structed by divine direction. The rude essays in boat-building of ais savage na tions appear to have arrived at similar results.

The difference is small between the canoe of the South Sea islander, hollowed out by fire, and that of the Esqui maux, framed of the bones of beasts and fishes, and cov ered with seal-skins — the canoe of the African and the American Indian. The barks of the early Britons, made of wattled osiers, and covered with hides, are, under the name of coracles, used in England at the present day.

PREFACE.

. The natives of the North West Coast of America venture forth, in the roughest weather, in their skin-covered canoes, and can outstrip the swiftest barge in speed. The flying proa of the Ladrone Islands sails nearer the wind, and with a velocity far greater than science and philosophy have ever enabled civilized man to attain. The improvement of naval architecture advanced with the arts of civilization ; and from the canoe were succes sively produced the barge, galley, carravel, carrack, and ship. And by the appliance of steam power, continents are joined, and extensive seas are traversed, with the same regularity, but far greater speed, than by land travel. What can convey a more exalted idea of human daring and fortitude, than the boldness with which man rushes forth to encounter the storms and waves of those two mighty elements, the air and ocean ?

What can speak louder in praise of human ingenuity, than the wonderful art by which he is enabled to boldly steer from the land until it fades in the horizon, and nothing is to be seen but the heavenly concave above and a watery waste around him ? Yet by perseverance he wearies out the elements, and reaches his destined port in safety. But often all his perseverance, fortitude, and ingenuity, avail him nothing ; and he neither reaches his destined haven nor any other, on this side of eternity, having fallen a victim to the disasters of the ocean. Reader ! these misfortunes, produced by shipwreck, fire, and famine, compose this volume, prepared for your perusal. Nix's Mate, in Boston Harbor, at low water V " He must not float upon his watery bier, Unwept, and welter to the parching1 wind. Let our frail thoughts dally with false surmise, Ay me! whilst thee the shores and sounding seas Wash far away." Miltoit.