Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-17

of which time be Mad ranged us commander OF :
priyatcer, and had, between the fcrvid suns OF
such high ATTITUDES aud the copious use ofgrog,
become of rich mahogany colour, or some
times between vermilion aud the tint of sheet
of new copper. He was middled sized man;
square built, with powerful muscular frame.
His aspect, naturally harsh and forbidding, was
| rendered more so by the sinister expressian of
| his left eve, which had been nearly forced out
| by some accident; and the lneatncnts of his
countenance expressed plainly that he was pas
sionate and furious in the extreme. In conse-
quence of this, kept rather distant and alooi;
and, except at meals, we seldom exchanged
more than ordinary civities.
BY our reckoning, our ship had now got into
| the altitude of the Bcrmudas, when one even
ing, at sun set, the wind, which had hitherto
been favorable, fell at once into dead calm
| The day had been~c clear aud bright; but now,
huge masses of dark and conical shaped clouds
| began to tower over each other in the western
horizon, which, being tinged with the rays of
the sun, display ed that lurid and deep bissy tint
SD well known TO mariners as the token of an
approaching storm. All the sailors were of OPP
Mon that we should have n course night; ard
every precaution that good seamanship coud
suggest was taken to make the vessel sung be-
| fore the gale came The oldest boys were
sent up to hand and send down the royal ana.
top gallant sails, and strike the masts, while tine
| top sails and stays were close reeted. These
preparations were hardly accomplished, when
the wind shifted, and took us aback with suc!,
violence rs nearly to capsize the vessel. Tne
| ship was put round possible aud
brought to till the gale should fail: while ali
hands remained on deck in case of any cmcr-
gency. About ten, in the interval of squall,
we heard 4 gun fired as a signal of Distress
| The night black pitch; but the t.asi,
showed us that the stranger was not far TO lee
| ward: so, TO avoid drifting on the wreck during
| the darkness, the iti-tOp-Sail braced
round, and filled, and the ship hauled 10 wind
ward. IN this manner we kept alternately beat
ing AMI heaving-to the giic rose ov fell, til
the morning broke. when, through .hc haze, we
perceived IA small vessel with her maSts carried
| away. As the wind mad taken off the Captain
had gone TO bed: 50 it was tive mates watci,
deck. The stcersman, an old grey healed
man, named James Geinmel, proposed to bear
down and save the people, saying he had twice
been wrecked himself and knew nL:r; was 10
be in such situation. rs the tsptain was be-
low, the mate was irresolutc what TO do; being
aware that the speculation Depended on their
getting ia Sufinam before Ii was given M; how
ever, he was al length peysuaded-the helm was
put UP. and tlc ship bore away.
AS we neared the wreck AMI were standing
by the mizzen shrouds with cur glasses, the
Captain came up from the cabin. He looked
up with astonshmcnt to the sails, and the direc
ton Of the vessels head, and IN voice OF sup
pressed passion, said. he turned to the mate,
g w hat Is the meaning of TINS, MIR. Wyic:
w no has dared to alter the ships course with
out my leaSc--whcn YOU very well know that
we shall hardly be in time for the market use
what expedition we may!n The Young mar,
was confused by this unexpected challenge, and
stainmered out something about SeIn:nci hav-
ing persuaded him. at was me, Sir.o respect
fully intertered the old sailor, wishing to avert
the storm from the mate; 81 thofght YOU
Il,,1t l,,,.1 oil, Al
these people to perish, without lending a hand
to save them! We should be neither Chris
tians nor seamen to desert her; and--"'' 1amn
you and the wreck, you old canting rascal. do
you pretend TO stand there and preach TO mem
numbered the Captain, his fury breaking out;
''i'll teach you to disohey my orders.-l'Ii give
you something to think of" aud ssizng cap
stan spar which lay near him, lie hurled il al
| the steersman with all his might The blow
| was effectual-onc end of II struck him across
the head with such force as to sweep him in all
instant from his station at the wheel. aud 10
dash him with violence against the lee-buiwarks
where he lay bleeding, and motionless. Take
That, and be danned." exclaimed the wretch
as he took the helnn, and sang out to the men--
''Stand by sheets, and braces-hard a-lee-let
go" In twinkling the yards were braced
round, and the Dart, laid within six points of the
wtnd, was flying through the water.
Meanwhile Gemmel was lying without any
one daring to assist HIM: for the crew were so
conounded that they seemed quite undeter-
mined how TO act ] stepped to him, there
fore, and the mate following my example, we
lifted him up. As there was no appearance Of
respiration, placed my hand on MS heart--but
pulsatIon had entirely ceascd--the old man was
dead. The bar had struck him directly on the
temporal bone, and had completely fractured
that part of the scui.
''He is a murdered man. Captain Mahone,r
said |, laying down the body; ''rnurdered with
out cause provocation. n-esNone of your re-
| marks, Sir" lie rctorteJ; ''what the devil have
you TO do with il? Do you mean to stir up NV
men TO rnutiny? do Won cali disobevinr my
orders no provocaton? I'll answer il 10 those
who have right to ask; but till then, let me see
the man who dare open his mouth to me in this
ship" 81 promise YOU" returned l. s'that
though You rule and tyrainize here at present,
your power shall have Terminate and you
shall be called 10 account for your conduct in
this days work Rest assured that ttjs blood
sha be required at your hands, thcugl Won have
hitherto escaped punishment for what has stair
ed item already" This allusion to the murder
OF little Bill Burnet seemed to stT..Ser him con
siderabiy-he stopped short before me; and
while his face grew black with suppressed wrath
and fury, whispered, Il warn you again, Young
man. TO busy yourself with your own matters
NEEDLE not with what does not couccrn YOU;
and bclay yonr slack jaw, or, by -! RiuIt
Malone will find way to make it fast for vou!'
He then turned round, and walked forward TO
the forecastle.
During tins aiIrav attention had been paid
To the wreck, though the crew had set up a veil
OF despair on seeing us leave them. Signals
and shouts were still repeated and Il voice loud
or IN agouv than the rest, impiorcd our help for
Z n Ol he ecI m.