Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-05-06
From dis Boston Morning Post.


TALES or THE oCEAN.--Bs j. s. sLgETsa
We have never met with better col
lection Of sea stories. Whether humorous
o. pathetic, they are written With grcai
spirit, and, as Gar as our slight knowledge
extends, with correctness Of description
Tho following is from the " Impressmen
OF Seamen"--a paper giving details O
British cruelty, which makes the blood
run cold to even Imngine
"In the year 1910, a brig belonging tc
Salem was oyerhaulcd by a British cruiser
on the South American coast. The crew
were composed Of Americans, athletic, fine
looking fellows. Bot the cruiser was il
want Of hands--nnd the boarding officer
ordered two Of the seamen TO pack up
their duds, and 60 into the boat. The
men were thundersiruek--and the cap
tain demonstrated ia the strongest terms
against such an unjust and atrocious act.
The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders,
AID coolly said, that it was needless 70
multiply words about il. for the snen ne
must have---and notwithstanding their
projections, he believed they we're Eng
lishmen There seemed to be 40 alterna-
tiye--for with a man of war on the ocean,
as well as a pirate, might often makes
right. One of the men silently resigned
himself to his fate, although he was we'll
aware that il was dreadful one. The
other, whose name was Barnes-a noble
looking fellow Of six feet in height, and of
fine propostions-protested against the
course adopted by the EEgiishmau, declar-
ing himself to be native American citi-
zen, and entitled TO the privileges OF an
American. The officer, however, was
memorable, and finding his orders reluc-
family obeyed, was about to proceed to use
iosco, when Barnes took his clasp knife
from his pocket, opened it, and grasping
it in his left hand, drew it across the palm
Of his right hand-then, dropping the
knife, hc seized the fagers and with a
wrench forced them back until they lay
parallel with the wrist, in the direction Of
the elbow, and OF the same time exciaim-
ing to the astonished officer, Now take
me, if you like, on board your rascally
craft shall be cripple for life.'
Another American was seized on q sim.
liar occasion. His protection was dsre.
garded; and in consequence Of his brave
resistance to the British kidnappers, he
vas taken on board their vessel, and
sohipped by order Of the captain
I" His bands we're looscned, and he arose
from his humiliating posture. He glared
liercely around. The captain was stand
ing within few PAGES OF him, as if he en-
loyed TO the bottom OF his soul the dis
grace and the fortunes inflicted on the
poor Yankee. The hapless sufferer saw
that smile of exultation; and that moment
decided the fate of his oppressor. With
the activity, the ferocity, and almost the
strength Of a tiger, the mutilated Ameri-
can sprang upon the tyrant, and grasped
him where he stood, surrounded by his Of.
ficers, who FOR the moment seemed para.
lyzed with establishment and before they
could recover their senses, and hasten TO
tho assistance Of their commander, the
logged American had borne him to the
gangway, and then clutchng him by the
throat with one hand, and firmly ombrac.
lng him with the other, despite his strgg.
giles, he leaped with him into the turbid
waters Of the Demarara! They parted
to receive the tyrant and his victim-then
closed over them, ond neither was after
wards seen. Both had passed to their
last account"