The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1837-04-07
From the New Fork Mirror.
THE BURNING SHIP AND THE
SIGNAL GUNS.
A TALE OF THE SEA.

1 remember an occurrence connected
with one Of the voyages which | made
across the Atlantic, which exhibited, by
fearful example, how potent an ally the
imagination NAV become to the conscience
in its persecution of the guilty.
Late in the autumn of IS, | happen
ed to be in the southern part Of the Uni
ted Staies, when some affairs of impor-
lance required my speedy appearance in
Italy. The delay which would have &C.
CURED b, coming TO New York TO en-
bark, and the inconvenience Of travelling
by land at that season, induced me 10
engage a passage at once in a vessel
which was about to sail from harlesion,
lailen with cotton fnr Marseilles. The
ship was commanded By aptain s., who
was also the owner Of the cargo.
Without any note-way occurrence, we
had arri ed within few days sail of the
coast OF Spain, when we spoke a ship
which lad just come from Marseilles:
the ,essels exchanged the latest papers
of their respective countries. and went on
again in their several courses. When
the French gazeltes we're opened within
our ship, our captain read with unexpect-
ell .ciight, that so small was the supply
of cotton in that market and so strong the
dem nj for it, that the next vessel which
arr ed with a freight of it might COM
mind almost any price which the az arice
OF TIE owner should dictate. The wind,
winch had been for some DAYS setting
little toward the south. was at this time
getting round to the east, and promised
T. ring Us without delay directly to the
Mediterranean. he captain perceived
that. nv avaiing himself to the utmost of
this freshening breeze. he might pretty
ce-tainl, realize splendid fortune; a con-
siierstion which, as he had for wears
struggled with little success in the pur-
suit nf wealth, filled him with the most
enthusiastic joy. Every sail was expan-
de to the wind, and we advanced with
the greatest rapilit'.
N lie following morning a light was
descrieA IL the west, apparently directly
in The course which We we're making; as
we proceeded briskly, however, it fell
considerably to the south of US, and we
perez, ed thai it was a ship on fire. The
light increased every moment, and the
signal guns fell upon our ear with dis
PRESSING rlpidity. The captain was at
this time pacing the deck, as he had done
almost constantly since the intelligence
had reached him from the passing vessel;
for the festlessness Of expectation scarce
ly allowed him to repose moment. His
ewes were directed resolutely toward the
north; and though the light now glared
unshunnable, and the frequent shots could
no: be unheard, and the commotion and
exclamation of the passengers could not
be unnoticed-his glance never fell upon
the object which engrossed all others.
After few moments of intense won
der and excitement among the passengers
and crew at the silence of the captain, the
steersman called to him and asked if. he
sf1OulU UDl ldIl Jul W tilc ulSlTtsScu bBS~
sci; hut the other rudely ordered him to
attend to his own concerns. A little
while after, at the solicitation Of the whole
company on board, | went up TO the cap
tain and said to him that | deemed it my
duty to inform him that the universal de-
sire of his crew was that relief should be
given to the burning ship. He replied
witt great agitation that the vessel could
not be saved, and that he should only
lose the wind; and Immediately went
down to the cabin and locked the door.
He was a kind-hearted man by nature,
and on ordinary occasions few would
have taken greater trouble TO benefit
feHow-heing. But the prospect of riches
was too much for his virtue, the hope of
great gain deyoured all the better feelings
Of nj r.4;ure. and made his heart as hard
as stone. If his mother had shrieked