Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

or, The Burning of the “Kent”

“Sail on the lee bow!” rang out the sailor who had mounted the foretop; “A sail on the lee bow!” How that cry thrilled every soul upon the burning Kent, and raised them in a moment from the depths of despair to the height of ecstatic hope.

The Kent was a new ship bound for Bengal, with a troop of soldiers and other passengers, making in all 641 souls. On her fifth day from England she got into a violent gale, and from that time until her doom she had evil weather.

The storm was bad enough, but when in the midst of it a pale-faced man rushed on deck, shouting “Fire! fire!” the consternation and terror can be well imagined.
“Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell;
 Then shrieked the timid, and stood still the brave,
 Then some leaped overboard with frantic yell,
 As eager to anticipate their grave.”

Presently through the hatchways thick volumes of smoke rushed, and with a cargo of five hundred barrels of gunpowder aboard, there seemed little chance of saving the ship.

In the desperate hope of overcoming the fire the captain ordered the lower decks to be scuttled, and the lower ports to be opened.

The sea rushed in with great force, and for the time checked the fury of the flames, but the ship became waterlogged, and began to go down.

The ports were closed again, but every effort made to put out the fire and keep the Kent afloat seemed but deferring the terrible end that awaited those six hundred and forty souls.

Everyone by this time had given up hope, and many had crowded directly over the powder magazine, hoping that the explosion would put a speedy end to their suffering. Then it was that the cry, “Sail on the lee bow!” rang through the ship like an electric shock.

With great eagerness every eye scanned the horizon in the direction indicated, and there, sure enough, they saw at length a vessel plunging into sight out of the grey gloom.

Distress signals were instantly hoisted and minute guns fired. In reply the Cambria, as the vessel proved to be, hoisted the British colours and crowded all sail.

She was but a small brig of two hundred tons, and the seas were making a clean break over her; often she seemed half buried by some of them, but on she came, head to the gale, and presently lay as near by the Kent as the explosive character of her cargo would permit with safety.

Again keen distress wrung every heart, for it seemed very evident that owing to the smallness of the would-be rescuer all on board the burning ship could not be saved.

“The women and children first, and see that any man who presumes to get into a boat until they are safe is instantly cut down,” cried the colonel of the regiment; “then let the juniors amongst the men follow.”

Far into the night, across mountains of waves, backwards and forwards, from one ship to the other, the frail boats plied, until at length the fire became so fierce that further endeavour was impossible.

At about one hour past midnight the fire reached the gunpowder, and with a roar that seemed to hush the storm into silence, the Kent blew up, then the darkness of the night settled down on the sea, closing up the awful tragedy of a ship on fire.

The Cambria and her crew did well, as any other British ship would have done under like circumstances, for out of those 641 souls 520 were crowded into her narrow space, and three days afterwards she was moored in Falmouth Harbour.

“A sail on the lee bow!” Never would that one cry, so laden with hope, be forgotten by those rescued souls, and it shall be our text to-day. It meant hope and salvation for those who needed it most desperately.

There are the same blessings, certain hope and perfect salvation, for others who need them equally. But from whence can these come? From Jesus the Son of God, and we cry, “There is a Saviour at hand.”

To Joseph the Angel Gabriel announced: “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21.)

 To the shepherds of Bethlehem the angels sang: “Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11.)

Old Simeon, taking that Blessed and Holy Babe in his arms, could say: “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” (Luke 2:29-30.)

Jesus Himself said “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.” (Luke 19:10.)

The Apostle Paul, by the Holy Ghost, proclaims: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15.)

Yes, there is a Saviour, and He is close at hand. You have no need to fear, my reader; if you desire to be saved, He can and will save you.

The Cambria could not offer to save all upon the doomed Kent. But Jesus offers to save all sinners, and only those who neglect or reject His salvation will be lost.

The officers, soldiers, sailors, and passengers of the Kent attended a solemn thanksgiving to God for His providence to them ere they left Falmouth, while Captain Cook of the Cambria and his gallant crew were richly rewarded by the Government.

Aye, and those who trust in Jesus are filled with thanksgiving, and will never let Him hear the end of it. In heaven above they’ll sing: “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6.) And the prayer of the writer is that you may be amongst that happy and blood-washed company.