The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-06

said The lubberly officer. and he raised his foot
l-expec am, sir though all the same as dead here
You may Judge wha, were my feelings on rlslns, -
find had been literally lrodden inlo the mangied
body Of our dead shptnaie, and WAS dripping from
head 10 foot with The blood, Of my friend. know
not how 10 describe the eompiexiiy Of my feelngsat
that momentj was fairly beside myself; and wash
ing my face hastily In the sea- with the fury Of ma
MAC dashed up the side Of The ship, and plunged
into the thickest OF the fight BY this time, our men
had made a most terrible slaughter there dead bo-
dies were lying In heaps upon heaps, IN all direc-
iions and these. with ibe blood which pouring
from The scuppers like water in a heavy shower OF
rain rendered il extremely difficult TO walk about,
or even 10 stand the slippery decks still these
desperate men maintained their ground with hrm-
ness that was truly astonishing, considering their
numbers. Every man seemed resolved not to be
taken alive, and fought with determination TO sell
his life as dearly possible. Such was the stage OF
the battle when rushed into the midst ! made The
most extraordinary exertons for few minutes, but
soon found my manidc rage began To cool, and
thought Of acting on the defensive To retreat was
impossible for such is the strict order and discipline
OF a sea-hght. that you will meet the same fate IRON
your friend, ir you attempt 10 turn and fly alone,
that you likely TO meet from the enemy by facing
them mantully. The Spaniards were soon so much
reduced, that they were fairly surrounded and over
powered by numbers. | had Just parried most sci
enti6c thrust made al me by long limbed skeleton
Of Portuguese and gave him his own with interest,"
when they threw down their arms for quarter.
now loaded my pistol, which had discharged but
once curing tue euSdSeuleHl dnu WAS dpout
ing II TO my belt, when Spanish boy, mere strip
ling, sprung towards me with bound, clapped the
muzze oil his pistol TO my breast and came within
an of losing my ife when lhoup ht the fighting
all over Making sweep with the buu-end OF
my long boarding pistol, laid him on the deck Just
in time . avoid the messenger VI death was lit
lie startled at the moment, and discharged the con-
tents OF my weapon into his PROSTATE body. Ship
mates, ever was sorry for any thing in my lie II
for that deed the poor boy raised his head aud
gave me such look! Oh heaven can see II now!
So innocent and wisifulso full Of expressive help
eSSness, IL seemed 10 implore me 10 spare him, al
the same time that il upbraided me fol my cruelty
II was like the last look Of wounded pigeon, Aut-
tering and expiring at your feet took him up in
my arms, in the hope that the wound was not NOR
tai, and that he might yet recover; but il was too
ate-the dealh-rattle was in his throat-and car
ried him an TO the capstan, and laid him down with
as much care as il he had been my son, 10 spot
where he would not be trodden upon by the crowd.
watched there beside him, gazing upon his sweet
face, and mourning that | had deprived SO bright
being OF existence, until was ordered aoft 10 shin
the main topmast staysai halliards leeward,
for they were making sail on the ship get her out
ofthe reach of The tort Shore before the fog could
clear away. When Icame down 10 the top in look.
ing for piece OF canvass to sew up my murdered
boy, happened to find Spanish ensign neatly roll
ed up, which had prob lbly belonged to one OF The
maintop men. Out of this made a Shroud for that
iair child. While Twas employed in this sacred
office, muster OF the prisoners made, and it
was found that out OF six hundred men who had
composed the crew in the morning, but sixty now re-
maiatd uninlured Still when looked upon the work
OF my own hand, did not notice the vast quantity
OF blood split by others and when enveloped in The
flag of his native land, raised the remains of that
once bright being in my arms, aud consigned them
TO the keeping of the friendly ocean could not,
can now persuade myself from the idea that had
been murderer.