Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-09-05


sed making an effort to get his CON.
panion in one o9 the boats which was
still lowering near the wreck, but the
proposition offered so little chance oil
success that she declined, expressing
her willingness at the same time to take
her chance with him either for life or
death. Fortunately they driftod upon
part OF the wreck which furnished
them with materials for strengthening
their vessel, and which were turned TO
such good account that they soon sat
upon float sufficiently buoyant TO
keep them above the water, and when
the morning dawned, they found them
selves upon the broad surface of the
"vasty deep" without land or sail or
human being in sight--without NOR
sci TO eat or drink-almost without
clothes, and exposed to the burning
heat of tropical sun.
In the course of the next day they
came in sight OF land, and for time
had strong hopes of reaching it, but
during the succeeding night the wind
drove them back upon the ocean, On
the third day a sail was seen in the dis
lance, but they had no means Of ma
king themselves discovered. They
We're, however, at length picked up by
a vessel, after several DAYS OF intense
suffering, starved and exhausted, hut
still in possession of all their faculties,
which il seems had been employed 20
some purpose during their solitary and
dangerous voyage.
We have heard of love in cottage
love in the deep green woods-nay,
even Of love on the wild unfurrowed
prairie; but love upon plank in
the midst of old ocean, with dozen
frightful deaths in view, is something
still more uncommon. And yet it
would seem that love thus born upon
the bosom ofthe deep-cradled by the
ocean wave--and refined under the
fierce beams of an almost vertical sun
lis, af.er all, the very thing. There
is about 1t the true spice of fomance--
the doubts, the hopes, the difficulties
aye, and the deaths teo, 10 say nothing
Of the sighs and tears. Mr.. Ridge
must, therefore, be- acknowledged as
the most romantic of lovers, for there,
upon the "deep deep sea- he brea-
,hed his precocious passion, mingled his
signs with the breath of old ocean, and
vowed eternal affection. Women are
the best creatures in the world, and it
is not to be expected that Miss Onslow
(such was the lady's nancy could re-
sst the substantial evidences OF atfec-
ton which her companion had gwen,
and accordingly they entered into an
Il" alliance offensive and defensive" as
the statesmen say, which has since
been renewed upon "terra firma," and
is ere long to be signed and seal
ed.
On reaching the shore and recover
ing somewhat from the effects of the
voyage, Mr.. Ridge thinking thot per.
haps his lady-love had entered into the
engagement without proper consldera-
ton, and that the sight OF land and of
old friends might have caused her TO
change her views, waited on her and
informed her, that if such was the
case, he would not hesitate to release
her from the engagement, and added
further, that he had lost his all by the
wreck of the Pulaski, and would hence
forth be entirely dependant on his own
exertions for his subsistence. The la
DIV was much affected, and bursting IN
TO tears, assured him that her aiiec-
ton was interchangeable, and as TO for
tune, she was happy to say that she
had enough for both. She is said
to be worth two hundred thousand dol
lars.