Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-09-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
From. the Southern Lit. Messenger.
EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF AN
AMERICAN NAVAL OFFICER.

AMERICAN ma v AL VI lCEts.
Soon after, we reached our rendez-
yous, the harbor of St. Thomas, where
one by one our vessels successfully ar
rived. Our feelings were here har-
rowed with the recital of an act of pl-
racy committed almost in the very
mouth of the harbor a few weeks pre-
rious. Mr.. Schmidt, the owner of an
extensive plantation in Santa Cruz, was
returning from Copenhagen with his
young bride, the daughter OF a respec-
table clergyman. He had chartered
the cabin Of the ship Zembla, for his
wife, her servant and himself, and they
were the only passengers. After a
pleasant passage the ship hove to, off
St. Thomas, to send some dispatches
on shore to the Governor General. l.
The island Of Santa Cruz, in full view,
Jay basking in the sunlight; and amid
the shady groves and luxuriant canes
with which its sloping sides are cover
ed. Mr.. Schmidt, with the aid of the
spyglass, pointed out to his blooming
partner one of the most beautiful Of the
many country seats as their future resi-
dence. Her curiosity gratihed, she
had turned her eyes to his, beamlng
with all the confidence of young affec-
ton, when they were interrupted. !
large decked boat, seemingly one Of
those used for fishing on the coast,
passed the stern, and lutfng short
round, laid alongside the ship, and a.
bout thirty desperate rufians, armed to
the teeth, sprung aboard.
The crew, few in number, unarmed
and taken by surprise, were immedl-
ately cut down. The Captain, who
had run below for his pistols, was stabb-
ed from behind, assembled the compan-
ion-way. Mr.. Schmidt was one of the
first seized; and his wife, clinging
closely to him, was slightly wounded
by the long knives which were plung-
ed through his body. The servant
maid, chased by the rufians, in her
fright jumped overheard and was
drowned--and the insensible Mrs.
Schmidt was brutally violated beside
her expiring husband.
SO intent were the pirates upon graf
living their rapacity and lust, that the
helm was abandoned and for a short
time they paid little attention to the
management Of the ship.
aMr. Schumacher" said the Guar
Master to the officer of the deck OF
small Danish brig of-war, just visible
in the citing, "that ship to the north
ward is acting very queer"
elbow SO, Jansen"' said the Lieu
tenant.
Jansen, ssshe was lying to, with hcl
s,o;aintopsail to the mast, but she was
dr;fted round, and is now running be-
!. fore the@wind, with her fore and cross
l,ack-yards braced up"
ufhat is indeed strange," said the
I ;entena1 -"hand me the glass;
he locked steadily through it for a
few moments; then calling Midship-
man, said" Report to the Captain;
sir thai there is very suspicious sail
to leeward.0
: BEFORE the Captain made his ap-
nearance, the ship had again hauled BY
The wind, and was standing along the
iand: but, when her previous move
Ion. were reported to him, and the
ssh;no boat was<for the first time seen
hitting ,I@;l9 from her, he ordered all sail to
. - roade in chase. AS soon as his in
. - was discovered, the ship pack
81 ssi' On iii sail, evidently with the pur-
nose oil doubling the west end OF the
's'a # the wind held steady the chances