The Argosy — page 167: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE, ARGOSN. In a West India Hurricaite. 153 knowing but that they came from my own friends, and yet unable to render any assistance. “ T was alone, surrounded on all sides by the most astounding mani- festations of the Almighty’s power; my sight and hearing almost over- powered ; and expecting that each moment would be my last. What wonder, then, that I felt appalled, bewildered, and that my powers of thought were almost annihilated ? “ For.more than an hour longer, exposed to the full violence of this ruthless tempest, almost drowned in the avalanches of rain, and con- founded by the unparalleled uproar, I clung on, looking for the day to break, and hoping that the light would bring some amelioration of my position. “ About half-past four, as near 4s I could guess, the blast veered sud- denly from west to south. The lightning cedsed fer the space of six or seven minutes, and the darkness was inexpressibly solemn. Then, as though it had been reserving itself for a grand display, the next -instant the lightning burst forth in a series of the most brilliant coruscations. For about a minute it played between the clouds and the sea in a (to me) novel and surprising manner. Flaming blazes issued from the clouds, and were instantly returned from the sea. These flashes of lurid light succeeded each other instantly, and were like the rapid and regular dis- charges of artillery from opposing fleets closely engaged. ‘‘Whilst this remarkable phenomenon was proceeding, the earth vibrated in a manner and in time answering with the action of the lightning. ‘Twice, when the coruscations were more rapid in succes- sion and more intensely brilliant, the earth experienced corresponding shocks. } ‘‘ During this time the whole scene was brilliantly illuminated, so that IT could see the most minute objects. There was the water of the bay, rolling in mountainous waves, lashed into chaotic fury by the storm, at times rising up till it seemed to strike against the almost solid clouds. There, too, were the ships, wrecked and dismasted, tossing at the mercy of the waves or lining the shore ; and the town in ruins. .“‘ For nearly ten minutes there was a lull in the wind, and during these coruscations there had been a deep hush, but the moment they ceased the hurricane again burst upon us with redoubled fury. “ Daylight at last came, but it brought no diminution in the violence of the tempest ; and instead of any amelioration of my position, it only added new horrors to the scene. Nothing could compare with the terrible devastation that presented itself to my view on every side. Not a house or building within the scope of my vision was left standing, The trees were either uprooted or deprived of their leaves and branches, and the bright, luxuriant landscape of the previous day was now black and bare. In one night spring had been changed to the drearicst winter. [Yooks (CONN G GO)