Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-06-11

render to their enemies: while eacf
stepped forth, and begged as favor
] that he might be admitted to apply
> the match! 1t was a glorious mo-
ment, and made an impression upon
the hearts Of all witnessing it, never
to be forgotten.
All then took leave of every off,
Ger, & of every man, in the most
cheerful manner, with a shake of the
hand, as if they already knew that
their fate was doomed; ami one and
another, as they passed over the side
to take their post on board the ketch,
might be heard, in their own pecul-
lar manner to cry out IL say, Sam
Jones, ! leave you my blue jacket
and duck trowsers, slowed away in
imy bag; and, "Bill Curtis, you may
have the tarpaulin hat, and Guernsey
frock, and them petticoat trowsers l
got in Malta-and mind, boys, when
you get home, give good account
Of us" In like manner did each
make thus his oral will, to which the
writer was witness, and which 'slast
will and testament" he caused to be
executed to the very letter:
1t was about nine o'clock, on the
night Of the 4th of September, 1904,
that this third and last attempt was
made. The Nautilus had been or
dered to follow the Intrepid closely
in to pick up & bring out her boats
crew, in case they should succeed in
the exploit. Hence, though it was
very dark, we never lost sight Of her,
as had been directed, by the first
Lieutenant-the late gallant Wash
ington Reed-who commanded in
the absence of Somers, to keep con
slant watch of her for this purpose,
with a night-glass.
At the end of an hour, about 10 o.
clock =. NJ. while 1 was engaged in
the duty, the awful explosion took
place. For Il moment the flash illu-
minated the whole heavens around.
while the terrific conclusion shook
every thing far and near. Then all
was husi,ed again, and every object
yelled in a darkness of double gloom.
On board the Nautilus, the silence of
death seemed to pervade the entire
crew; but, quickly the din of kettle
drums, beating to arms, with the noise
of confusion and alarm, was heard
from the inhabitants on shore. To,
aid in the escape of the boat, an order
was now given by Reed, to s'show 4
Iight''-upon the appearance Of which
hundreds of shot, from an equal num-
Der OF guns, of heavy calibre, from
the batteries near. came over and a.
round us. But we needed them not;
one thought, one feeling had pos
session of our souls-the preservation
O, :Somers and his crew.
AS moment after moment passed
by, without bringing with it the pre-
concerted signal of the boat, the anx
iety on board became intense: andl
the men with lighted lanterns. hung
themselves over the sides of the YES.
sci, till their heads almost touched
the water-a position, in which an
object, on its surface, can be seen
farthest on a dark night-with the
hope 0. discovering something which
would give assurance of its safety.
Still, no boat came, and no signal was
given; and the unwelcome conclu-
sion was at last forced upon us, that
the fearful ;lternativc-of blowing
themselves up rather than be captur-
ed-so bravely determined upon. at
the outset of the enterprise. had been
as bravely put in execution.-The
fact, that the Intrepid, at the time of
the explosion, had not proceeded as
far into the harbor, by several hum
dred yards as it was the intention of
Somers to carry her, before setting
her on fire, confirmed us in this APP
prehension; still, we fingered on the
spot till broad day-light-though we
fingered in vain-in the hope that
some one, at least. of the number.
might yet be rescued, by us. from a
floating plank OF spar, to tell the
tale Of his companions fate.
To our astonishment. we learned
next day. that Lieutenant Israel,
gallant youth, who had been sent
with orders from Commodore PrebIe
to Somers, after he was under way
in the ketch. had accompanied him in
the expedition, ana had shared his
destiny.
Such was the end of the noble fell
lows who. a few DAYS only before. on