Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-05-13

Y u
NeNest emotions of JOY, upon the prospect Of
'n immaculate escape from theirdesolase situ-
suon' the Startling report OF three guns. in
rapId succession, told the anxious spsc.ators
| .i'at theSe vessels were enemies and tbat their
| hopes oi rescue we're much diminished. 4
| sever c4hnonadhg;-eVery sound of which
| STU ck like an ice bolt on the heart ofthe
! trembling Anna, now followed and marked
/ desperate running fight The pursuir = vessel
gained upon the other, which seemed so have
no alternative but that of being captured. or
suffering shipwrsek on the breakers. When
Tue schooner, tor such proved to be the chase
her Pursuer beng an armed brig, approach
ing within league of the islaad--her m,iu.
san was suddenly dropped, and the long, boat
launched and rowed RAPIDLY towards tba
shore. As the boat parted from her .ida
| column oil smoke began 10 ascend frota Inc
deserted schooner, which, with teleefaphic
precision, indicated that She was ON fire
be biiS no sooner perceived this, than she
Jacket, aud stood Oh TO the wlndN ard 10 a.
Voiu the coniagraton that was evidently a
oont 10 spoL her her anticipated prey. The
rapidly increasing smoke that rose IN tremen-
uuous insJesty from The burning schooner.
assembled Tor the space OF a few rninu,es in
one undated volume OF blaritness. when i
was suddenly illuminated by the bursting OF
VIVID name from the deck, mounting in swift
convalsons to toe mainmast head, which re-
semhied the apex of huge column of fire
! surmountcd by clouds Of smoke, wove into
tan'ashcai wreaths With braids of flame. In
an instant the schooner seemed to burst into
atoms and 10 ny, like the isnited particles Of
say rocket, crac king high in the air. The
| report OF the awfale plosiou, that 10 The wraut
iuaginatIons of the excited coupe, appearea
to convulsc the island and the sea. gradually
| died away;-the burning fragments oil the
Vessei were quencEed as they fell ihto The
wafer and the expanding volumes OF smoke
rolled oil paiestcay to the lccward. and
"'eFc lmpercepubly blended with the shadows
ol night.
The sun wssnow sinking beneath the bor;-
zon: his lingering rays still tinglng the circle
OF the ocean. dafted in a thousand hues thro,
the waves, as they broke in foamng vi,ito
caps, dancing IN tse breeze. The heayess.
as ii nlockins Tie inpotont strife of man
! continued to gather blackaess, and he wiod
ragged with Increasing violence, dashing the
tGih"i'oo9siy waters Ia reckless fury on The
shore. AT short distance on the lee Of the
struggling boat, ledge of rocks proiectca
into the ocean; and the last glimpse of the
little bark, that Bancroft could catch through
The brief twilight. deserted her drifting to-
wards the reefs which flung the spray far into
The air
/ Deeply soiiciteus for the safety ofthe boat.
Which appeared 10 be crowded with the crew
OF The schooner, bancroft FASTENED to his hut
: and hung out hight 10 guide her to a safe
landing. The resoundng thunder soon af
forwards broke over rle wide expansc, and
was followed by torrents of rain, which al
distant Intervals continued throughout tho
night.
/ When morning came, Bancroft looked out
on the ocean. bat NO traces of either the long
boat or the shipcould he seen. He wandered
down to the waters edge, where he wa. main
ed to discover the frdil bark drifted high on
the beach, and pursuing his search, he found
a hieless body still floating and rocking in the
last feeble sur!;es of tho ocean He immedi-
ateiy recognized the Pirate Chief, all doubts
OF whose identity we're removed by finding on
his fore head the wound inflicted in the bat
tie with the Triton, and in his pocket the
Soid watch. Of which the Rover had Invested
hun soon after his capture. He removed the
body beyond the reach OF the waves. and
there hastily buried it in tile sand. that his
enfeebied wife might not 10 shocked in he
holding the corpse Of him who had SO cruelty
added to her cup Of bitterness
Returning to the couch Of his wife, Ban
croft found her unusually weak ia body. and
4 iti aPifHSs upon learning llak
neither the boat nor pursuing vessel could be
seen, and that the promised means of escape
from the island had vanished, even hope, the
last lingering feeling that sustains us in tbs
hour OF calamity, seemed 10 have expired
Her voice began to falter, she sunk calmly
back upon her pillow, and, before midday,
her gentle spirit ceased TO animate IFS mortal
| tenement, The doating husband threw him,
sell by her side, where he laid until the NOR
rows sun beamed brightly through hi. but az
II chicing the gloom oft only living tenant
At length, with heavy heart, the funeral
preparations were made; and towards sun
set. Bancroft sonowfully engaged in the per-
Torrance of the last melancholy offices which
| bereased love is permitted to render to the
object olits alteration. He dug the grave be-
meath palm tree, close by the door OF their
hot and aifec honately strewed ii with pro-
fusion Of wild flowers and evergreen. And
now, for the last time, the disconsolate hus-
band gazed on that face,
| ESQ coldly sweet, SO deadly fair;''-
for even the whitening touch of disease had
not power to destroy its fair lnsaiaents Of
| beauty:
| ''iter's was the loveliness in death.
| That parts not with the parting bre alh;
I hut beauty with that fearful bloom.
| That hue which haun's il 10 the tomb,
! Expressions last recediag ray,
siided bsio lowering round decay"
| The corpse was carefully wrapped in