Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-06

| dTchoshoP VnGWs.
After long controversy had been INDUCED
in' the group separated, and each one repaired
to his place Of residence, to contemplate on
the sIngularity Of the stranger, and to tell to
| his children, as they sat close to the folds OF
their mothers garments, thousand Legendary
| hobgobl'n stories, and to implore the bencdic-
| lions OF Heaven to rest upon his head, and
save him, and his brood, from the dreadful ca
amties which the whistlings of the whip poor
will, and the screenings of the owl forboded.
But such was the CONSERVATION, into which
the public mind had been thrown by the shin.
that few of the whole community slept during
the night, save now and then for moment
when exhausted nature gave way to the pow
ers Of the midnight monarch; and from the
setting of the sun. till the dawn of day, some
one member of each family was on the alert,
TO prevent any mischief the stranger ship might
mediate; and happy and rejoiced were all,
when they behed the returning CLEANS of day,
break upon their unhappy and sorrowing spirits
The SNIP MP Till remained at her moorings, and
contrary to the usual practice Of sailors, moth
ing appeared doing on board other in the morns
ing-no sails were unfurled, the decks were
not washed down, and the silence and sadness
Of the deepest gloom, seemed to pervade her.
From her main-top- -gallant-m flag, some
thing like pendant, waved, or rather hung
carclessly, for there was but little wind, scarce
enough to direct the vane to the course from
which it came; and little flag, of a singular
form, hung from the fore-top-mast stay; and
with the exception of these flags and signals
and even they were not understood by any
one-thcrc was nothing shown to tell tho ma
ton to which she belonged, and the objects
she pursued. These had been placed in their
respective stations during the night, but for
what purpose was not known, as the most ac-
complished ship-masters of the port, could not
form even a plausible conjecture as to their
meaning But the Islahders believing il were
possible that the flags were intended as sig
nails, and asked for communication with the
shore, at length prevailed upon some of their
number to visit her; and having procured
stout barge, they embarked, and headed for
the ship. AS they approached her, a feeling
ofterror, and of awe, overcome ticm, and more
than once they were on the point of returning,
without accomplishing the objects of their cn,-
barkation; and they would have done go, had
they not been encouraged to 60 on, by the
cheers Of the multitude, that watched them |
from the strand.
They had already approached within some
twenty or thirty yards of the ship, and though |
not human form was seen or board of her,
the notes of soft music would now and then
proceed from her, and when it ceased, there |
were heard loud and repeated bursts of laugh
ter, amid which were plainly distinguished the
voices of females. The boat had already reach
ed the side of the ship, and grappled with her
chains, and yet no one appeared on deck to
prove that she was inhabited, but on the con-
trary, she had every appearance Of having
been des rtod Her decks were dark and oIcn-
sWe, and the sea grass, as if the ship had for
years been immersed in water, hung in long
locks upon her gunwales and bulwarks; but |
yet the strains of music, and loud bursts Of |
laughter proceeded from her cabin, where it |
seemed that Joy reigncd triumphant.
The more the visitors gazed upon her, the |
more highly were their fears quickened, and |
most of them, were anxious to return 10 the |
shore, but one or two, more resoiuto than the
rest, declared that they would not 60, until
they had boarded her; and Jumping into the
chains, were in the act of leaping over the bull
warks, when the officer, who had repelled the
ntrusions of the visitors the day before, sprung
rom his retreat, and presenting a carbino to
heir breasts, ordered them back to the boat,
'' and get ye hence, insolcnt intruders," he
etcrnity." The visitors, were but little pre-
"Thc facts, or rather the fraditionary re-
putcd facts, upon which this story is founded,
were gathered by us some two years since
whilst making southern excursion Of Rhode
Island, from an old lady, who recited them with
great earnestness, and apparent ncerty and
truth She said, that although she did not see
the Ships well remembered, the excitement
her appearance caused, and onco heard u ser
mon preached upon the subject The good
old lady, evidently believed all she stated, TO
be true, and as we were somewhat curious to
gain something further in relation to the ship,
We appealed to very wealthy and intelligent
gentleman, who resided in the neghborhood
Tor further information, who assured us, that
The strange Ship did actually make her APP
pearancc in tho waters Of Rhodc-lsland, and
that her whole history was in his
possession, and that he would afford il 10 us,
e we wished topcrusc it. We thanked him for