The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-05-17
M i . cell "a m e O us.
From the Mercantile Journal.
A SCENE ON TIE OCEAN-FEMALE lie.
ROISM

A number of years have passed away since the
occurrence which l am now about to relate, took
place-but how many strange events how many
scenes of guilt. inquity, and bloodshed have been
enacted on the broad ocean, and have never been
recorded The history Of the has never been
and never can be written.
The ship Astolfo, belonging to port in Now
England was on her passage from Bristol, Eng land
TO Havana. One mornings s the ship running
off under the influence of fine trade wind, in the
latitude of about 81 degrees North, and longitude
of 20 degrees West, intending make the Hole
in>the-Wa,- as the gloom OF night was dispersed
by the rising sun, the cry of'SaI ho!' heard
from on the iorecastle, and imme diately the
attention OF the officer of the deck directed to
a schooner, bearing two or three points on the lar
board bow. This vessel presented singular and
Quhe suspicious appearance. She was lying TO,
but her sails were cumsily set--some OF them
were Glued up, and Others were iutterng in the
wind, with the sheets loose. The yards were
braced in different directions and every thing
nected with her appearance showed that some OK.
traordinary circumstances had occurred on board
that vessel. Besides these signs Of distress, an
American ensign ,oas hoisted in the Shr0uds union
doaon-a sight, which, always denotng wo or i'm
innent danger, can never be witnessed by sailor
without emotion. Ii.
The captain OF the Astolfo whose name was AT
kins, was Immediately called. Alter surveying
through his perspective glass he ordered all hands
to be summoned, the siuddiDg sails and other ght
sails to be taken in, and preparations TO be made
TO lay the main -top- sails aback. lie also ordered
the small arms to be got in readiness for service,
being ignorant of the cause of the dificulties on
board the schooner, but determined to render all
the assistance in his power. As the ship approach
ed the schooner, Captain Atkins surprised TO
behold the huttering OF a female garment-and he
soon ascerained that there were only two persons
on deck; one a woman--the other a hoy ap
parentiy only twelve or fourteen years of age
Astonished at this circumstance he ranged along
side, and hove to, with the main top sail TO the
mast. lie then hailed tho schooner, and inquired
respecting the fate Of the crew and the cause OF
her present abandoned condition. The woman ia
a tremulous and weak voice, replied, stating that
the captain and mate had been murdered that the
pirates now confined in the forecastle; andln
the most urgent language, mplored the captain to
send assistance promptly on board. 1t then
remarked that the woman held pistol in hei
whole appearance, as well as that of the boy who
stood by her side, denoted that some terrible
LA occurred.
Captain Atkins ordered the quarter boat to be
lowered and manned, and armng himself with
pistols and sword and giving to each of the boat
crew cutlass, he resolved 10 visit the schooner
h;msef,and ascertain the meaning Of these strange
appearances, and to protect and assist the innocent
and to punish or capture the guilty. zata.t
Ia a few minutes the boat was alongside the
schr. Captain Atkins sprang on board followed by
his men; but he stepped on deck, he start.
led with the sight of the body OF man, who had
evidently been shot through the head. AT this
the woman came towards him aud seized
his hand, and poured out her feelings OF gratitude
for his aid. She was young,of graceful form and
exceedingly lovely, notwithstanding her checks
were deadly pale, and her costume IN great disor
der. She had evidently suffered much, for men tai
agony stamped on her countenance; her eyes
were red with weeping, and she trembled in every
limb, through nervous excitement.
Captain Atkins was at convinced that the
woman who had been the wife ofCaptain Howard
the late master OF the schooner, had told him the
truth. lie learned that the pirates, Two in number
were confined in the forecas tie. They were i'm
mediately taken out Their looks were enough to
convict them Of any crime and they were pininned
and sent on board the ship. MRS. Howard was al
so sent board in stale of nssnslbility, for she
tainted soon after the schooner was boarded. The
strength and courage almost superhuman, which
had supported her through trials and perils, which
lew of either sex could have borne, failed her
when they seemed to be no longer required.
The boy spoke of some boxes Of money which
were in the Captain stateroom. They were Ia
ken out-aIso the writing desk, Trunks, and other
belonging to the murdered Captain and
his wife, and then the schooner was set on ire
The pirates put in irons on board The Astolfo.
Mrs. Howard was placed in convenient state
room and made as comfortable as the clrcumstan-
ces would permit sail was made on the ship, and
after an unpleasant interruption Of few hours, the
Astolfo proceeded calamity on her way towards
her destined port.
ON recovering her senses, Mrs. Howard receiv-
ed with much astonishment and disappointment,
the intelligence that she had been removed from
the schooner Arion, and now on board the
ship Astoiio; and she wept bitterly, when she re-