Accidents > Dangers of the deep, or, Narratives of shipwreck and adventure at sea

400 BURNING OF THE
immense distance, and was strongly reflected
on several objects on board the brig. The
flags of distress, hoisted in the morning, were
seen for a considerable time waving amid the
flames, until the masts to which they were
suspended successively fell, like stately
steeples, over the ship’s side. At last, about
half-past one o’clock in the morning, the de¬
vouring element having communicated to the
magazine, the long-threatened explosion was
seen, and the blazing fragments of the once
magnificent Kent were instantly hurried, like
so many rockets, high into the air; leaving,
in the comparative darkness that succeeded,
the deathful scene of that disastrous day
floating before the mind like some feverish
dream.
Although, after the first burst of mutual
gratulation, and of becoming acknowledgment
of the Divine mercy on account of our un¬
looked-for deliverance, had subsided, none of
us felt disposed to much interchange of thought,
each being rather inclined to wrap himself
up in his own reflections; yet we did not,
during this first night, view with the alarm it
warranted, the extreme misery and danger to
which we were still exposed, by being crowded