The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-10-31
M ella m G o us.
THE PIRATES AND THE PALATINEs
ALroENp OF NORTH cARo1,rA.

| e,
which we have at present in a crude state, but
which, IN the hands Of some of our romancers may
be wrought into most beautiful fiction 1t has
been subject of even recent assertion, certified
by the sworn testimonies Of credible persons, that
annually, at a certain period in every yeor, u
m'nous object, having the exact appearance Of a
snip on hire, appears the coast. Seeming to
burn furiously, it yet speeds along, undimnished
In hery bulk and volume sailing with incredible
raPidity until out ofsight, but again suddenly re-
appearing at the original point, and pursuing the
same Identical rout, and in this progress,to and fro,
1t continues throughout that particular night Of the
year, which is appropriated to its exhibition,
The singular spectacle IS accounted for by the
following story. The burning ship goes by the
name Of the "Ship of the Palatines y The tradi
ton is, that some time in the reign OF the first
George, small company of that class ofcmigrants
who were known as German Palatines, were pro
Weed with a ship at London, at the public
pense, that they might he nsportcd to this coun
try. 1t is well known that this sort of assistance
WINS frequently rendered TO n class Of people, who
were in most cases exceedingly poor 1t so happen
ed, however, that The Palatines in question were
in rather better circumstances than was commonly
the case with their countrymen They had mon
ey, with small cunning, they effected degree of
poverty, with the notoricy of which, the help of
government-not to speak of private charities
would have been withheld. They had accumulated
gold, vessels of silver, goods of various kinds and
value-their whole stock which had been parsmo
niously preserved, and carefully concealed-wit
all the art OF small and selfish community
Their treasures occupied but little space, and
were cautiously put from sight in the Of their
Inferior baggage. In this condition ofthings, they
went on board the vessel which had been provi
ded for them, and soon put out to
Their voyage was protracted one, in n half rot
ten bark, and with head winds all the time. Wca
Iied out with confinement, and siclened with a
sort of travel 10 which they werec unacustomed the
poor Palatnes heartily rejoiccd when they
| at length land. They made the coast of North
Carolina, late in the day, and seeing the shore so
nigh, the poor creatures, half mad with Joy, began
TO hoist their baggage in readiness for the promised
landing. But they were destined to be disappoin
Ied In the excitement Of the occasion and mos
ment they forgot their prudence, and either made
osteDtatous exhibition of their wealth or some
| words escaped them which led the captain of their
vessel TO suspect their possession OIL His greedy
eyes had behed their treasures, his greedy ears
had heard their foolish boast of possession which
they had never made public in England.
This discovery awakened the devil in his heart.
lilo gave the sign to the mate; perhaps intima ted
his object to the seamen generally. In those days
the profession Of piracy was not as odous is in
| ours Successful piracy, indeed, rather an
| honorable business; and he who prac tised it with
most profit, likely to acquire from 1t the most
honor. 1t only discredItabe, like any other
speculation when improbable. AT all events, the
captain determined upon possessing the wealth of
the poor emgrants, contriving to battle their pur
pose Of landing upon the shore which seemed TO
them nigh and inviting
1t not difficult for him to manage his vessel,
as to convince them that landing was impossible
until the ensuing day. The hope deferred which
maketh the heart sick, drove the greater part of
them to their hammocks. Their baggage, with the
unhappily exposed wealth. again restored to
| The interior of the ship. But few young men sat
upon deck, watching the faint lines of the land,
until swallowed up in darkness; even then, with
eyes stralning in the direction Of the shore which
they yearned, conversng together in their own
language in hope and confident expec taton OF
| their future fortunes. .
While thus employed, the captain and his crew in
| another part of the vessel, connecting their lear
| full scheme of vilainy. The hour grew late, the
night deepened; the few Germans who remained
| on deck stretched themselves out where they
were, and were composed in slamber. While
thus---under the peaceful cope and canopy oil
heaven-n slumber, which the solemn starlight
looking down upon seemed to hallow, the merci>
less murderers, with cautious footsteps, and barred
weapon, set upon them. The cabin door oil the
vessel had been fastened the entrance closed to
! the hold Each seaman stood by his victim and
at given signal they all struck together There
was no chance given for struggle-the murderers
had planed their crime with consummaie deiibera-
ton and skill. A spasmodic throe of some mus
cular frame, faint cry slight groan may bave
escaped the vctims-but little more. AT Toast the
poor sleepers below unaroused by the event
The deck cleared of the murdered men, the mur
derers descended stealthiIy 10 the work below
Passing from Der tn to berth to berth with the
most fiondisll coolness they struck-seldo twice
almost always fatally men, women ano chHdren;
the old, the young-the tender and the strong
the vounp mother and the poor angel~Innocen nj