Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-03-23


learnt from the sick sailor, that be Tie captain of
a merchantmen, Which had sailed from New York,
bout month before; when ten days out, in rough
Tue vosse! was met by heavy slw1!i and ca",zcj.
Several OF ihe passengers washed overheard and
pershcj and when the ship rghtei, there much
wafer IN the hold ard caha, t!at }he provisions could
not oo reached without much difficulty. and tie bread
and water rendered unit lor Starvation threaten
c then'; the survivors we're accord"gly pllced On al
iuwauca te first AS they had lest their ruiici
IN the gale aud The spars aud rigging had boon carried
over hoard, they tossed a5o. IT The mercy o the
winds and waves. He had bch,, MS and paSsen
gers die, amid the horrors of starvation, b. ono,
ami the last who survived had been driven iii the ago
ny OF munger 10 appoase the c.eS OF nature, with Inc
DEAD bodies ot their !e'low-crcat All this he be
held, and st cling 10 his wretcci lie 18th much
eaGeriess as surrounded by all its pleasures ard al
ilircmons.-A length he the sole survivor, and
his lamp of life but family Pickering in the sockets
the deck OF the vessel constantly washed By the
waves, and a protection against being swept
board, tie secured himself tn the wndiass, there pa
tently 10 avail, the dspensaton of Ii,i who giveth
and i,ial!i array He had been this situation I'VE
days when provienta!ly rescued him from iinpcu-
I ding destruction.
/ Mrs Campbell seldom seen. The raw of
animation that occasionally dspelled the gloom from,
her lovely counenancc had vanished, and the moments
OF cheeiune's iat she at times formerly enjoy cd, had
I now entirely deserted her. She was confined almost
entirely to her cabin, ADD sickness assigned as
| the cause.
We had experienced for several days in succession
nearly dead calm Campbell had cretoio,e ad;p;,aI
and enjoyed this state Of tc Clements for what is bet
Ter calculated TO raise the contemplatiye mind from
earthly mstt;.rs than 10 behold an autumn evening
c'oudiess sky reelected the CLASSY surface Of IN,
slunhc;ng ocean, bnt tha dead calm was torture
10 hf restless spirit He prayed or notion and his
simpatence was betrayed in every action. Ills eyes
were wild AMI wandering, and his n,ovctncuts abmpt
and buried. lie inquired OF the Oldest seaincu from
which quarter OF the compass mi" be exnnc,o5 the
approach oi tic next tempest, ami TO that qnarter
were his eyes constantly directed, where every ascco
ding coud appeared 10 bring l,cSi hope TO his desc
late heart.
At length the long looked for storm arose in NJ, lis
Igfandeur. oiumes OF dense clouds, regularly and
) gradually assembled like formidable armies preparing
: TOR battle The winds that had been pent up now
burst forth. and the roaring waters, hcavcI with cop,
vulsve motion. The spell! was broke that had h,r
nonizcd creation, and iisccrd now prevailed The an
pearance of Campbell became ylsihy changed lis
ccunenance was animated; there smile of terri
bic, but undeaed meaning upon his lips; his eyes clan
ccd wildly from the to the heavens. and he rayer-
sed the deck with rapidly Of fep tia; excited lilo
"on:cr OF all who beield him Our vessel was soon
prepared 10 encounter The worst but as the Wind blew
steadI!y from enc quarter we ict apprehension for
our aaety-i he sky completely overcast, and tl,e
rain descended IN torrents. Campbell still re.,:a med
upon deck after all the passengers aud cre excnpiin,
those upon watch, bad retired to rest. TO persuasion
Could induce hi to go below, ana 10 the cnrcatics of
his wife and the captain lie repl:cl ct is the ONLY
ioy'u! honr have experienced since came Oh board;
hc&ecci you not TO interrupt it.n
They left him and lie seae.! himself in the most reti
red part OF the ship, 10 brood upon is feelings had
retired 10 my birth, but found it impossible TO close
my eyes for the raging watcrs made such an awful
coil as they dashed against tic sides Of The shin and
gave rise TO reflections, that would have kept INC awake
even had my mind been fortified ,giti the pEosop,y of
The little Captain. After tossing MY bed for ahout
two hours until the fever Of my mind was communicated
to my body, imagined heard piercing shrek pro.
ceedIng from The dccf 1t was Immediately followed
by Groan. ] earei from my bed and rushed to tue
Gangwsy met tie captain tic foot of t.c stairs
Who had -cen awakened by hc same rrisr On Soc
ine; he exclaimed Mon Den! Ic ,oclancaIin,,e
leI and 10
1--we legs could carry him fuio;y cd and we hurried
f, towards The place where had left Campbell ttc
! preceding evening.
Lights were speedily brought, and Wing on ile deg
we he!.ed Campbell 'Helteing in his blood ! raised
i.''nthc wound in las bosom, and L!eafjr. pro
n:sy "t'ood Sod" exclaimed, who has done t!is?,
"ihc Tempest Ficnd - he answered eve lad
long and fearful Struggle bus, thank Cod i, is oycr-
proved unequal TO the combat, and he has marked
me for the ca'erns of the deepo lie laughed !.yseri
cay and big drops Of per5Piraiion brst iro his pa lie
iorehead called for assistance to carry iifn bc!ov
'No, no." he cried, 'set the lie here | shall he
called Tor before the morrows les for the spirits
OF TIE water are preparing ny abode in their coraI
caves Let nG rest here until tho come lr me -
The captain demanded OF The sailors who ;yerc m
watch, an cE P"nation OF thi5 mysterious and nclan
cioy occurrence They stated, that during tie incrs
vats OF The storm they had heard voices but conceived
Ie'n I" DC nothing than tie rawlings of Campbell
c!ic man, hCweccr, protested that nprcat,v alter
Inc shTleh' vivid lash of lightning afforded Lin
inoncuary ana indisti0ct view OF figure gliding down
III" gaDg"ay Of te f1recastln Suegc.on ifn,cC,otaiv
cIi on the shipwfeccd stranger Tor adversely is TOO
frequently considered bJ the prosperous superior 10 no
I acton however ai;ocnGs. The physician yousifd
for the Innocence Of is patient declaring il pI,qsiUl,
Impossible that he could STR from his hammock lie
pronounced hn III fair way to recover. hut as vet
incapable U muTIn%. ''AnI then what no;i,f s,,I
be, could possibly exist in t!c bosom uf man himself
apparently on tue verge Of eternity Sufficient 10 excirc
exhausted nature, TO the performance OF the act Of
/ iand>p
Campbell was carried below, and after lis wound
'yas alannchcd, Basicft alone III, his wife the ore.
seTice Of any oher person being painful 10 HIM WEI
men entered 'e place where The sick sailor law and
on beh01ng lns cncehcd condition, really admitted
| 'iat we did bin Injustice by the suspicion we had
entertained. But 70 about 10 leave him,
Imagined e'pied sPeCk of blood on HE covering oil
tic oed. oae OF his hands hung the side OF Inc
hammocb; the light fell upon IT, and BETRAYED thai !,