Part 21 (1/1)

On the 22d of August, at about five o'clock PM, they had the indescribable joy of seeing a shi+p in the distance They nal and were soon answered, and in a short time they were reached by the shi+p Nantucket, of Nantucket, Mass, Captain Gibbs, who took them all on board, clothed and fed thereatest possible hospitality

On the succeeding day Captain Gibbs went to the wreck of the ill-fated Ann Alexander, for the purpose of trying to procure soh, and the atteerous, he abandoned the project The Nantucket then set sail for Paita, where she arrived on the 15th of September, and where she landed Captain Deblois and his men

Captain Deblois was kindly received and hospitably entertained at Paita by Captain Bathurst, an English gentlee on board the schooner Providence, Captain Starbuck, for Panama

[Illustration: BURNING OF THE KENT--EAST INDIAMAN]

BURNING OF THE KENT

The annexed engraving represents the burning of the Kent, East Indiaman, in the Bay of Biscay She had on board in all six hundred and forty-one persons at the ti a stor that a spirit cask had broken loose, was taking measures to secure it, when a lurch of the shi+p caused hierness to save it, he let go the cask, which suddenly stove in, the spirits communicated with the flame, and the whole place was instantly in a blaze Hopes of subduing the fire at first were strong, but soon heavy volumes of smoke and a pitchy smell told that it had reached the cable-room

In these awful circumstances, the captain ordered the lower decks to be scuttled, to ad suffocated by the ser threatened, the sea rushed in so furiously, that the shi+p was beco down Between six and seven hundred hus, were by this time crowded on the deck Many on their knees earnestly implored the mercy of an all-powerful God! while some old stout-hearted sailors quietly seated the an explosion everythus to put a speedier end to their torture

In this time of despair, it occurred to the fourthto think it probable, that soht The man at the foretop looked around hi his hat, he cried out, ”A sail, on the lee-bow!”

Those on deck received the neith heart-felt gratitude, and answered with three cheers Signals of distress were instantly hoisted, and endeavors used to uns were fired continuously She proved to be the brig Ca twenty CornishCompany on board For about a quarter of an hour, the crew of the Kent doubted whether the brig perceived their signals: but after a period of dreadful suspense, they saw the British colors hoisted, and the brig ot their boats in readiness; the first was filled oers, and officers' wives, and was lowered into a sea so te; they did, however, after being nearly swa clear of the Kent, and were safely taken on board the Cambria, which prudently lay at some distance off

After the first trip, it was found iside of the Kent, and the poor wo lowered over the stern into theloomy scene, many beautiful examples occurred of filial and parental affection, and of disinterested friendshi+p; andAt length, when all had been re vessel, but a feere so overco, the captain quitted his ill-fated shi+p

The fla her upper deck, now eneral conflagration, and lighting up the heavens to an immense distance around One by one her statelythe fire reached the powderfragh into the air, like so many rockets

The Cambria, with her crowd of sufferers, made all speed to the nearest port, and reached Portsht, on the 3d of March, 1825, the accident having taken place on the 28th of February Wonderful to tell, fourteen of the poor creatures, left on the Kent, were rescued by another shi+p, the Caroline, on her passage from Alexandria to Liverpool

THE END