Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-05-13

startled into silence at the soundor perhaps fell
upon their ears like cry of comfort and hope, an
answer to their groans from the surface of the EARTH
After pause Iheard another dull heavy sound,
like that produced by muf1ed drum it was in
reality drum and probably beat by Of the band
as more powerful means of awakening attention
than his own voice. The sound in such circum-
stances was inexpressbly awful and when the hand
that smote the instrument in unaccust omed a
scene wandered by habit into regular tune, my
sensations exaggerated into species Of horror
which can liken only to that which might be sup
posed to visit religious mind witnessing some
shocking and blasphemous mpiety.
i 1t may seem species of insanity to mention 1t ,
but when the role of the drum, and the sound Of
human voices had ceased, and after had been left
for considerable time, as were, to myself even
in these circumstances ofterror and loneliness, and
mystery, possessed species of knowledge, which
the denizens Of the surface would have deemed
| equally useless and unattainable to those UNDER
: ground 81 knew the hour of the night. Like the
idiot who mmicked at the proper intervals, the au-
dible measurement of time after the clock was re-
i moved, whichhad taught him the practice, my inc-
d nation OF drinking, which had been converted by
habit into an unconquerabe passion, returned at tho
accustomed time Of its qualification, in spite of
. rounding circumstances. | fanced myself in the
e midst OF my dissoute companions, in the scene of
# course and vulgar revels; drank without being
: filled !; became drunk with imagination, and the
close and poisonous atmosphere, which before had
10 been burthened with my groans, now rung with
,e songs and laughter and imprecaons. This state Of
IN unnatural excitement passed away, but the reaction
which took place exhibited all the symptoms that
il attend the awakening of the young and inexperenc-
I ed drunkard With headach, sickness, ard faint
10 ness, fear, foreboding. repentance.-I awoke ia
70 " an horror of great darkness"
u Then the ideas, wholesome in themselves, but
in such circumstances felt like daggers, crouded
=, " round my burthened and wearied heart. My
an father-my family-my arrogance-my ingratitude
=. my dishOnesty-my mispent time--my forgotten
od duties--my blasphemed and unregarded God I
~ buried my face in my hands, but could not hide
~ them from my soul. Slowly and sterny they pass
~ ed before me but the last idea swallowed up ito
" precursors and with start and shudder, found
'e' myself trembling on the verge Of eternity, tbe
very steps OF the judgment seat entering into the
ny presence of the awful and eternal Judge.
lea 1t will be example of the pathos when men,
dr. ton next my hunger and thirst and say that these
passions of the perishing body almost neutrazed the
W. the above sentiments of my immortal soul. Hun
ger, indeed may be born at least to the extent
my lot to endure it but hirstis truly chastse-
OK ment " of scorpons.''
say have not described my feelings / have simply
'eu catalogued and in very incomplete manner, theil
IS proxlmate causes sank by degrees into sort o.
ere stupor, from which awakened by the light O.
anu heaven streaming full in my face through aper
nps ture made in the ruins made by my deverers The
s. apparent apathy, or as some term it, philosophy
IT'S, which displayed, has been attributed to wrong
the causes. The truth is, that although my body
g. awake, my mind was almost wholly insensible i
recovered it consciousness by very slow degrees
oul- aad it was not until was left alone at night that
left became completely sensible of my deliverance.
ov- We have much satisfaction in saying, that this i'm
an prudentand unhappy young for whose interest
ide ing narrative we reckon confidently on the thank
'ud Of the reader, is now to be out OF dan
the ger. He has been removed to the house Of frient
HI 81 To-
'sta but while in the hospital, he visited b.
any many persons of the highest responsibility. Hi
wall most constant attendant, however, was young fe
des male who had been dug out Of the ruins, almost un
and hurt. very after the accident happened. W
are restrained by considerations of decacy, advert
had ing in particular manner, to her connection wit
rose the narrative but if she the lady who stoo
upon the stage at the time of the catastrophe, MI
cam. Williams informer must have been mistaken in he
even person. for she is not Mrs. ---, but Miss -
did ---~--
like Disaster Steamboat Florida, Capt. Dur
Tins can, her way to Mobile, while at anchor abo'
mute ten miles, below CahaWba, was discovered TO be
ar fire between two and three o'clock in the mornir
rtur- of the 14th ut and in short time was totally de-
ty troyed, with all her cargo, consisting Principally
able 900 bales of cotton. The flames spread with sue
pre- rapidly, that the passengers, fourteen in numbe
thing and the crew, barely escaped with their lives, SAY
,ece ing only part OF their clothing One negro woma
ould was burnt to DEATH The Florida was consldere
The the best boat the Alabama. was valued at "a 900
nag dollars, and is said, not insured. The car
ound tain was the principle owner ~. lnseL
myth Fatal cursosity--Ihe ooshen ~. ~ fatri1
imam mentions that ccaored man. belonging 10 MT. NC
e or hemah Finn, ofthe town of Warwick, put per
en- cd to his life the 18th inst. by hanging himse
neni with leather strap tie had been frequent
heard to say that he wondered how 1t fet Tor pei
rom son to hang himself and it is supposed that it wa
rather to crafty his curiosity than TO put an end
beat himself that he made the attempt, as he had beer