Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-11-14
A TALE OF THE SEA.
The following thrilling sketch is by the
nihor OF s.Nelsonian "Reminiscences"

er's patience will follow me through the
'efaIl of what happened Long, hong ago.
his young gentleman had come on the
respect OF being provided for by the vel
wv fever Ia strong auxiliary of the Admi-
.'lty in silencing imp"rtunate cIamants.) al
romotIon. He got the latter by hard SER
ice and good conduct, and appointed L.
Command the Hercules tender, a schooner
hat carried more sail than ballast. Ont
morning at the east end of jamaica, sht
vas surprised by that curious phenomenon
water spout, that threw her completely
ver, and The schooner disappeared, leaving
he commander, eight men, and her boa
hat fortunately had not been dashed. float
~ on calm unruffled sea. The commo.
ion occasinned by the whirlwind having
dei-"Right the boat. men. quickly.
r your lives; the sharks, the horrid sharks.
will be upon u.s."
The boat was floating bottom upwards.
nd eager hands and shoulders succeeded in
'ghiing her. but in such hurried way, as
% De nearly full of water, and in c"nse
'luence very tender, (hat is, easily upset.
The lightcst and most active lad was now
'rdered by The commander to get INTO the
mat, and commence Ealing with his cap.
tie only thing available amung these unior-
unntes, he having raised him with one hand
"r the purpose, the youth, with cnnvulsivr
Shuddering, uiiering the dreadful word
SHARK, sharkr' fell down on the gunwale.
md again the boat turned bottom upwards.
The splash and desperate efforts, Of the
crew, ior they worked as despaIring men OF
strong slnews, will work to escape the
dreadful fate so closely impending, in some
measure scared and altered the direct at
tack of the monster, who swerved, and
swept in circles round the hapIess beings.
showing his hateful fin high above the tr"u
bled waters-betnre 81 placid. sShnut
loudly, men," cried the officer, sand bail ii.
way lad, without looking at The shark
{ vh" kept narrowing his circles as he swift,
" passed around theun,) ''Gnd is able 10 ,ie-
liver us, even in this great extremity; avoid
getting into the boat until she is more buoy.
mt, but splash the water about with all the
Iuise you can make
A violent rush. a terrific scream of agony.
md disappearance OF one of the stout sell
nen, followed by crimson tinge on the wa
rers altesled the voracity OF this scourgr
# the sea. "He will gorge himself on poor
rnm," said the commander, inexpressbll
shocked. sand we are freed if the blood,
here he checked his disclosure, tor he wei.
knew that the scent of blood would draw
,nyriads around lhem.) slit Jack careful
Y in too; hal! with your hands, Jack-quick-
", quickly; tor see their dreadful fins APP
pearlng all around-oh!G God OF mercy shield.
u.s.
Another rush, and piercing shrieks cur.
died their blood, as the fish with difficulty
drew an herculean, well-tnrmed man be.
meath the surface. All was now wild com
notion; caution and order had given place
TO paraizing fear, and each MN grasprd
nadI a, the boat; but prnvilentinIIy fo'
those in her, the ravenouS monsters carried
off in their jaws, every floating man, before
he could upset the bout. IN his IN I'd Efforts IL
save himself from the horrible death in
view. The violen, struggles of the mon
sters for the prey, when two OF them seized
The same person; the lmprecations and "lt
times prayers of those in the boat. which
located in IA sea of blood. as they ATTEMPTED.
ny stretching their hands, To save their sin
king shipnales, who, with starring eve balls
and wild gestures cried to them for sue
:uur; the scene is too dreadful fur her Ia
contemplate, ar fully attempt I" portray;
the dread reality rs often endured by thos~
who g down to the sea- IN 5 lips, and oc-
:upy rh"ir business in great waters"
The wretched youth IN cnmmand was.
" the exertions OF the lads in the boat, ex.
rricated from the jaws ot two ravennus mon
sters, each of whom had seized AMI carried
If il ley, and the bleeding trunk OF the youth
vas hauled into The boat, to undergo more
death from the lnss Of blo,d.
The poor boys, nearly dead with fear and
apprehension, did their best to stop the
bleeding by passing the rope-yarns around
ne stumps, which were greatly shattered
md jagged, ny the teeth of The monsters
who had apparently splintered the thigh
bone up IT, the hips. Heavy groans atIes
ted the sufierings of the he pleSs youth. bu
they got fainter and fainter, as lie extende,
hIs hand towards the island with IN lmp"
my look nt anguish, I'LL welcome death re
leved him from his intuerable misery.
The death Of their commander, unde
Sucl, SIN ,cking circumstances ell the ouths
Qor they were but strplIngs,) in c"mpara
i've quietude. With heads bowed upor
their knees, and hearts paralyzed with fear
md nearly broken from the distressing
scenes they had witnessed, afraid to lool
e ,ch other in the face, where CHASTITY de
spair sat enthroned, they shuddered at eve
~ shock the boat sustained from the raw
enous fish jostling and crossing her in all dl
fections, being attracted by the faint o
blood issueing from the i'll iated commander
The devils will he in the hnat ar inset he