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| [Introduction] | [Report] | [Capt.Murdock's account] | [Capt.Hunter's explanation] | [Robbery of survivors] | [A Nobel Act] | [Aftermath] | [Poem] |
From 'The Illustrated London News', September 2nd, 1848
"THE LOSS OF THE OCEAN MONARCH"
| They had built the gallant vessel
Like a palace of the deep; The mountain foam to crest above, The mountain wave to sweep. Too firm for any tempest, Too stout for any strife; And they filled it with the beauty And the strength of human life! |
How the scene thickens!
Up and down the 'wildered people throng! The brain hath got no order While the terror is so strong! To save them from the flames, They leap into the wave! Seeking to rush away from Death, They plunge into a grave! |
| They called the young ambition
That lost hope on British shore; The brawny hand of labour That had work to wield no more; The weary and the grieving, From their want and woe to roam, And to live in that "sea palace"' Til it bore them to a home. |
Sweet Heaven! We ought to praise thee
For the light thou lettest in, When all this mind-paralysis Is striking human sin. The gleams of holy Love that burn More bright than any flame, And quicken all the Spirit With the Mercy of the Name! |
| They came in crowding hundreds,
The tired of the land; They quickened into Brotherhood, And made a "hoping band!" Their Emigrant Companionship Grew friendly, warm and free, And they let in the heart's sunshine To their "Palace of the Sea." |
The Mother, the fond Mother,
How she cleaveth to her child! The Husband - how his self dies out For her his love beguiled! How all good human hearts are brought The thought of self to smother; And all heroic deeds are wrought Nobly for one another. |
| They got a brave commander,
And a trusty-banded crew; Limbs strong as masts, and like the ropes For sinew and for thew. They set the white sails to the ship (Proud wings its way to brave) ; And they raised a shout of glory When it sprang along the wave! |
Hope! Though the fierce flames crackle,
The red and lurid eye Sees buoyant help upon the waves, And for it thanks the sky! E'en the poor drowners by the deep, Or clingers to the spar, Catch fond, faint hopes of being saved By ships that shine afar! |
| They called it "Ocean Monarch"
As a ruler gave him wing - (In that robust and regal frame they typified a King) In vain! altho' his path of waves Right royally he trod, There is NO "Ocean Monarch" But the ONE, ETERNAL GOD! |
The "Ocean Queen" - brave yacht - bears up,
And many a good is done; And gratitude looks glad - like rays Half-misty from the sun. The fine 'Affonso' - gallant ship! - With foreign aid appears, And thus come Heaven's rainbows, To arch the cloud of tears! |
| The "ONE ETERNAL GOD," to whom
Those screams of anguish rise - The rending of poor fear-struck souls, That shriek unto the skies; That rave out tears, and groans, and prayers, Against his mighty ire, The while their "Palace of the Sea" Is bursting into fire. |
Two Princes - lately struck themselves
By sharp and sudden blow - Prove quick the depths of sympathy With unexpected woe! And generous women - ever fond Of any falling leaf - Press round the sufferers, and would fain Caress them out of grief. |
| The masts will be flame-pillars,
Loud must they blaze and break! Yet, up them in wild agony, Their way the creatures take: The fire-fear hot upon the brain, The stifle in the breath; Still clinging round each other, and Still climbing up - to Death! |
One manly sailor shall stand forth
From all the group of kind, As having proved with truest worth, Heart, muscle, courage, mind! Bless his bold spirit! Many a prayer He gathered from the wave, That shall go up and linger where The Mightiest reign and save! |
| Hark! Watch! The foremast shivers,
And staggers to the deck! Blind victims awfully embrace That giant of the wreck, That trembles to its slaughter, With a quick electric dread, Is crushed, and strikes the water With a Thunderbolt of Dead! |
There was a splendid rescue
From all who bore that day, Tho' near two hundred souls were sent Upon their sudden way! At last the "Ocean Monarch" ceased To bear a mortal name; His Palace of the Ocean burned Till "Ocean" quenched its flame! |
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