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LETTERS FROM 
tlie cry was, “ Stop tlie engines—stop her, or 
she’ll be on board of us !” But this order 
was either given too late, or it should not 
have been given at all, for the next instant 
• 
the fearful shock took place, the stem of the 
brig striking us just abaft the larboard pad¬ 
dle-box, smashing the quarter-boat and the 
bulwarks on that side, and stripping away 
all the shrouds of the mainmast and the 
iron stays of the chimney. At this juncture, 
seeing the brig’s jib-boom just over my head, 
I jumped down the companion-ladder, to 
avoid being struck by it. 
Immediately going upon deck again, 1 
found everything in frightful confusion. A 
man met me, exclaiming, “ It’s all over, sir ! 
she is going down with us !” and there were 
cries of, “ She has cut us right in half!” and 
<£ Lower away the boats ! ” By this time the 
brig had got clear of us, and was some dis- 
