The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-10-09

as seaman. therefore felt, that, un-
der critical circumstances, my main sup
port had fallen from me. II is needless
to add, that y deep sense of forl0rnness
and insecurity was the result ofthese re-
deciIons.
My FIRST step was to load and deposits
in my state room all the FIRE arms on
board, amounting to several muskets and
four. pairs of pistols The steward was
a faithful mulatto man, who had sailed
with me several voyages. To him / COM
municatod my suspicious. and directed
him to be constantly on the alert. and
should any further difficulty with the
crew occur, to repair Immediately to
my state room and arm himself. His
usunl berth was in tho stesrage, but I
further directed that he should, on the
following morning, clear out and occupy
one in the cabin near my own. The
second mate occupied small state room
opening into the passage which led from
the steerage to the cabin. called him
from the deck, gave him pair of load
ed pistols, with orders to keep them in
his berth; and, during the night watch
on deck, never to go forward Of the
main mast, but to continue constantly,
as possible, near the companion way, aud
call me up on the slightest occasion. AT
ter this / laid down in my bed, ordering
that should he called at four o'clock
for the morning watch. Only few
minutes had elapsed, when lheard 3 or
four knocks under the counter Of the
ship, which is Immediately under the
cabin windows. III a minute or two
they were distinctly repeated arose,
opened the cabin window, and called.
The mate ans,oered gave him the end
of rope to assist him UP, and never
shall forget the flood ofgratitude which
my delighted oul poured forth to that
Being who had restored him to me un-
injured. His story was soon told. He
had gone forward upon being ordered
by me, after the calling of all hands,
and had barely reached the forecas.le
when he was seized by the two foreign
eigners, and before he could utter more
than one cry, which was drowned in the
roaring winds and waves, was thrown
over the bow. He was powerful man
and an excellent swimmer. The topsail,
of the ship wers cIewed. down to reefs
and her way, of course, considerably
lossoned--and in an instant he found
the end Of a rope, which was accidental
ly towing overheard within his grasp,
by which he was dragged in the dead
water or eddy that is always created un-
der the stern Of q vessel, particularly i'll
she is full built and deeply laden, as was
the case with this.-By a desperate eff
fort he caught one oi the rudder chains,
which was very low, and drew himself
by it upon the step or jog of the rudder.
where he had sufficient presence of
mind to remain without calling out. un-
til the light had ceased to shine through
the cabin windows, when he concluded
| that the search for him was over. He
rtIeu made the signal to ne.
| No being in the ship but myself, was
apprized of his safety, for the gale had
increased and completely drowned the
sounds Of the knocking, opening the
window, &c. before they could reach
the quarter deck, and there was no one
in ,he cabin but ourselves, the steward
having retired to his berth in tho steer
age.
It was at once resolved that the Sec
ond mate only should be informed Of his
existence. He Immediately betook him
self to large vacant state room, and,
for tho remainder Of tlie passage all his
wants were attended to by me Even
the steward was allowed to enter the
cabin as rarely as possible.
Nothing Of note occurred during the
remainder of the voyage, which was
| prosperous. 1t seemed that the foreign
ers had only been actuated by revenge
j in the violence they had committed I; for
nothing further was attempted by them.
In due season we took pilot in the
channel. and in day or two we entered
the port of Liverpool. As soon as the
proper arrangements were made, we
commenced warping the ship into dock,
and while engaged in this operation, the
mate appeared on deck. soent tor,oard, and
attended to his duties as usual! A scene
occurred that is beyond description
every feature of it is as Vivid in my re-
collection as though it occurred but yes
lterday, and it most assuredly will DO to
my latest breath. The warp dropped
from the paralyzed hands of the horror
stricken sailors, and had it not been ta-
ken up by some boatmen on board, ]
should have been compelled to anchor
again and procure assistance from the
shore. Not word was uttered, but the
two guilty wretches staggered to the
mainmsst, where they remained petrfied
with horror, until the officer. who had
been sent for, approached to take them
into custody. They then seemed in a