Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1840-07-04
LANp CnrIzr OF An OLD SAT-.

LuHgHdLbC WCOUhC " DfttP'"SN" ~
Terra Fi,Yaa. The ecceniricilies and
whimsicalilies Of old salt water captains,
from the days of Commodore Trunnlon
down 10 the present, are we'll known, and
hundreds Of amusing anecdotes have been
told upon the subject; but as we have
never seen the following in print, and 10
the total absence Of news-ioreien, coast.
wise or otherwise--we have been lcJuced
to devote column tois recital.
The hero of our story was an o'd hero
of both the revolutionary and last war
one who had labored hard, suffered much,
and often received The thanks OF his coan-
try. Years and exposure having finally !,
renderedhim unseaworly he brought his
water lacks ashore aud settled down in
pleasant part Of the country 10 spend the
remainder Of his days. After 50 long a |
residence upon the water it is not to be
supposed that the old gentleman found
every thing " ship.shape" on land, but
with the assistance Of a couple Of old sal
Ilors. one Of them an lri=hman, whom he
had brought ashore with him, he IN short
time made out 10 introduce man-ol-war
fashions, 60 FAR as practicable upon his
; premises.
, Among his other eccentricilles he had
} carriage built upon a plan entirely new
purely orignal--and We doubt It even
J among the thousands ofuseful, ornamental
2 and norsonsical articles in the patent ONCE
: at Washington It's fellow can he found. =
s II was nothing more nor less than regu'
: lar maG-ol-war, on small scale, com
i. pletely rugged with sails, hausers, anchors,
S &c. This he had set upon springs, The
whole confined upon four common car
: rage wheels. Mike, his Irish sailor, was
d soon let into the secret of driving iour-ln'
$ hand, and two or three little jaun's were
e made in the neighborhood with complete
e success.
II One fine morning in summer The cid
e commodore inyited several ladies' TO take
cruise with him in his vessel to some
: springs situated about twenty miles OIL
j Fearing that some accident might occur
a they politely refused. Ho set forth, IN
glowing terms, the pleasures Of such a
7 cruise, said twas conveyance decidedly
y safer than any that could beprocured, and
. used everv argument 10 induce the ladies
J. to take passage, but oil 10 no purpose
II Some gentlemen finally agreed 70 accom-
s ,an9shim, anafaling Mike along 10 81
, on III bowsprit and drive, and the Other
p ooil5I to band calls, sc. the party go
70 under way and set sail for the springs
y The road for the first ten miles OF th'
= way was level or slightly ascending, an'
81 this part was got over smoothly ard WIN
y out accident. Occasionally, as the roa'
y turned 10 the right or left, the old commo
70 dore would sing out TO Mike tohaul in Q
70 slacken his laboard or staboard braces
ms and as so far it had been perfectly plat
or sailing, every thing worked to a charm
They had now arrived at a point Of tn
OF voyage where the road began to descenc
60 The horses dashed of at a more rapid rat
IN and he whole party were exhilarafed a
10 they few past rocks, trees and ieuce:
y The farther heyadyanced the faster ver
'es The horses, and from a brisk trot they ;
length got into canter.
no "Haul taught the fore braces" said ii
la' commodore, abiding TO the lines whic
ny were attached to the leaders.
IN. Gave, ave. sir" responded Mike, WI
nd was now holding them in with all b
'eo might.
". sSlacken the laloord fore brace, there
~ y hury!n' continued tho commodore. as u
- leaders we're approaching too near Il
brink Of a precipice which stared at the
LIZ LIZ from the left.
of "Aye, aye, sir" said Mike.
,as "How fast are we going now2" saidt
IN commodore TO the other tar
~, About sixteen knots, sir" continu
~, Jack, who was holding fast TO The lit
40 foremost, to prevent being pitched out,
~ the wheels would occasionally hit stun
ens or root.
cad The pace had now become absolute
,se. terrific. Single-trees and double.tre
an were rafting, traces were swinging abol
,pi. holdback straps we're strained all but
ia. breaking, and still the mad steeds kept
and down the declivity. To The left was
nny steep and gloomy precipice, at some poir
hundred feet high, and TO run ff'here
the to meet with shipwreck at such apoi
ING would involve the certain destruction
,hts passengers and horses, officers and ere
The The passengers we're alarmed, and ev
The brave old cnrnmndnra. nlIhongh