The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-07-17
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ORIGINAL TALES.
For the Rhode.lsland Republican.
THE Old STONE MILL,
Or. A LEGEND OF THE NEWPORT RuIs.


cnfisudn man, ofeatn sign ior the naru iate
of those whose little history it contains.
4 am by birth an Engshman--a seaman by
profession. In the year fifteen hundred | en-
tered at Lisbon on board Of ship bound to the
newly discovered continent of America, on n
trading voyage Our crew consisted Of seven
~, all told; six Of whom were Englishmen.
and the rest Spaniards. Besides these, the
motherless daughter Of the Captain accompa-
MED us, and young Englishman, whose OBJ
ject was as he said to see this new country /;
but, as was shrewdly suspected, the bright eyes
of Agnes had more attractions for him than
the new found land, with all its beauties and
adventures.
We had been out about thirty days, when we
encountered violent gale, in which we lost all
our masts However, We weaihered the Storm
and under jnrymasts endeavored to gain the
place Of our destination. But our troubles and
dangers were not TO end so easily. One week
from the time in which We lost our masts, we
encountered another, and yet more violent
storm, from the Southeast. Our temporary
masts and spars all went, and our decks were
swept Of every thing except the largest Of our
boats but fortunately we lost no men. This
gale lasted for week, the wind varying from
north East to South; and during that time
we made a rapid progress, though not exactly
in the direction we wished. At the end Of the
week the wind abated. Our good ship was
tight and as we had plenty of provisions, we
INDUCED the hope that we might drift upon
land before they were exhausted. For the next
fortnight the wind was light but steady in our
favor, and our hopes daily increased, rs many
signs, familiar to a seaman's eye, told us we
were in the neighborhood Of land. On the
fifteenth day after the ending of the las,
storm, We had fresh breeze from the South.
! east, accompanied by thick fog this las
' ted all day, the wind gradually dying away to-
wards night. About twelve, as we were pre-
pairing to change the watch, a violent SHOCK
told us too plainly that our ship had found I
rock, if we had not found land. In a moment
= every one was on deck, wild despair in every
heart, dismay written on every countenance.-
, Orders were given to sound the pumps, and
we found that the ship made but little water
{ the sea was not high, and we soon became more
; calm. Although there did not seem to be any
immediate cause for fear, yet that was dread
: full night We knew not but the wind might
rise, and we never more see the day; we knew
not whether we were near land, inhabited by
civilized, or savage men-fruitful or barren
1t is in such times as these that man grows old
and the life that he has past, is again lived
The thoughts Of home, of kindred, and o
friends; the hopes on which he has built his
happiness; the disappointments, and sorrows
he has felt; all pass before him at such time
mingled confusedly together, yet each distinct
ls visible. AT length the morning broke clear
I ly and brightly, and with its coming vanished
our fears Of immediate danger.
Our situation how awful must il have beer
had there arisen a strong wind from the East
West, or South. We were on reef of rocks
at least half Of mile from rough and rocky
shore. To the Eastward innurfierabe sunker
rocks showed their dangerous situations by thu
wreaths of foam that encircled their sea bea
S heads, and point after point stretched into tn,
" sea, on which trees Of gigantic size grew almo,
to the waters edge, bounded only by the mas
a sive rocks that protected them from the en-
t croachmcnts ofthe ocean. To the Southward
far over the green waste Of waters, lay low
sandy Island while to the West lay the san'
' scene Of points, and rocks, and trees. To the
: North were calm waters, but rocky shores, ex'
cept in one place, where lay small cove anc
smooth beach, beyond which the waters agar
showed themselves. IL was in the latter place
l.. that we thought we should have to land, and
n the small boat was accordingly lowered, anc
the Captain with four men, Of whom ] was one
went in her TO examine il, while the rest Of th'
crew, Under the direction Of the second officer
we're employed in clearing the larger boat
When we put off from the ship VIC pulled
straight for the mouth Of the cove before men
toned, but we had got only short distance
: from the ship when we we're induced 10 sltei
: our course, for on rounding point Of higf
rocks another and more beautiful scene me
our view, and for awhile we lay on our oars tc
I gaze on it.
E Directly before us was a most beautiful
0 broad bay. or river. extending Northwsrd al
? far a, the eye could reach; studded with Isles
, whose vesture Of verdsnt green seemed to ex
= tend. even to the green waters that SURROUNDED
e them. II was scene which a seaman woulC
regard as Paradise. IL was hsrbor where
the fleets Of whole world might lie and bad de
, fianee 10 the elements. When we had in som'
{ measure satisfied our curiosity by gazing on th,
: beautiful scene. We again resumed our labo
a, the oars. pulling along up the river. wher
!, we were about FIVE miles from the wreck VI
came to small but beautiful Island, sbou, hsl