Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-04-08
y [From the New-York Mirror
BURNING SHIP AND SIGNAL GUNS

~ From the New-York Mirror
BURNING SHIP AND SIGNAL GUNS.
TALE OF THE SEA.
remember an occurrence connected
with one of the voyages which | made
across the Atlantic, which exhibited, by
Il fearful example, how potent an alley the
imagination may become to the con-
science in its persecution of the guilty.
Late in the autumn of lS-, | hap
pened to be in the southern part of the
United States, when some affairs of i'm
portance required my speedy appear
ance in Italy. The delay which would
have occurred by coming to New York
to embark and the Inconvenience of trav-
elling by land at that season, induced me
10 engage passage at once in a vessel
which was about TO sail from Charles
ton, laden with cotton for Marseilles.-
The ship was commanded by Capt. S.,
who was also the owner of the cargo.
Without any note worthy occurrence
we had arrived within few days sail
of the coast of Spain, when we spoke a
ship which had just come from Marsel-
les; the vessels exchanged the latest
papers of their respective countries, and
went on again in their several courses.
When the French gazettes were opened
within our ship, our captain read with
unexpected delight that so small was the
supply of cotton in the market, and so
strong the demand for it, that the next
vessel which arrived with freight of it,
might command almost any price which
the avarice of the owner should dictate.
The wind, which had been for some
days setting little towards the south,
was at this time getting round to the
east, and promised to bring us without
delay, directly to the Mediterranean
The captain perceived that, by avaiing
himself to the utmost of this freshening
breeze, he might, pretty certainly, real
ize splendid fortune; consideration
which, as he had for years struggled
with little success in the pursuit of
wealth, filled him with the most enthu-
siastic Joy. Every sail was expanded
I to the wind, and we advanced with the
greatest rapidity.
On the following morning light was
deserted to the west, apparently directly
in the course which we were making !;
as we proceeded briskly, however, it fell
considerably to the south of US, and we
perceived that it was ship on fire.
The light increased every moment, and
the signal guns fell upon our ear with
distressing rapidity. The captain was
at this time pacing the deck, as he had
done almost constantly since the intelli-
gence had reached him from the passing
vessel for the restlessness of expecta-
ton scarcely allowed him to repose a
moment. His eye was directed reso-
lutely toward the north; and though
the light now glared unshunnable, and
the frequent shots. could not be unheard,
and the commoton and exclamations Of
AofSthe passengers could not be unnoti-
cH&rilis glance never fell upon the OBJ
jcct which engrossed all others.
After few moments OF intense won
der and excitement among the passen-
gers and crew at the silence of the cap
tain, the steersman called to him and
asked il he sheuld not turn out to the
distressed vessel; but the other rudely|
ordered him to attend to his own con-
Germs. A little while after, at the soil
citation of the whole company on board,
! went up to the captain and said to him
that deemed tiny duty to inform him
that the universal desire Of his crew was
that relief. should be given to the burn
ing ship. Hereplied withagitation that
the vessel could not be saved, and that
be should only lose the wind and i'm
mediateIy went down to the cabin and
locked the door. He was kind-heart-
ed man by nature, and on ordinary oc-
casions few would have taken greater
trouble to benefit a fellow-being. But
uthe prospect of riches was too much for
|his virtue; the hope Of great gain de-
Toured all the better feelings Of his ma
3ldre, and made his heart as hard as stone.E !