Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-02

"oo"' EACH Oh these momentary sheets
spray glistened in the sun beams like fro
ted silver. Over head the dark, deep SIX
glowed as in furnace, while around US III
sea was as molten brass. Parched for thirs
yet not daring to exceed the allowance I
water on which we had determined-burnin
in the intense heat, without the possibility {
obtaining shelter-worn out in body and dc
pressed in spirits, it required all my exer
tions, backed by one or two of the most san
guine Of the crew. to keep the men from Ut
ter despair, nor was il until evening agai
drew on, and the intolerable heat of a trop
ical day had given way to the comparativ
GOODNESS Of twilight, that the general despon
dency gave way. Then again the hopes o
the men revived, only however, to be ono
more cast down when darkness closed owe
the scene. with the certainty we should OBJ
tain no relief until the ensuing day.
Why need recount the sufferines of tina
second night, which was only less dreadful
than the preceding one because the stars al
forded us some comparative light, suficing
only, however, to keep US on the watch fol
a strange sail, without allowing US to hope
for success in our watch, unless by almost a
miracle Why should narrate the alter.
nation of hope and fear on the ensuing day
which did not differ from this one, save in
the fercer heat of noon day, and the more
exhaustion of the men? What boots it to
recount the six long days and nights, each
one like its predecessor, only that each one
grew more and more intolerable, until at
length, parched and worn out, like the Isra-
elites Of old, we cried out at night, "Would
God it were morning." and in the morning,
"Would God it were evening"" And thus,
week after week passed, until our provisions
and water were exhausted, and yet no relief
arrived, but day after day we Aoated help
lessly on that boiling ocean, or we're chilled
by the icy and unwholesome dews of night
Hunger and thirst, and heat-fever and des-
pair contended together for the mastery, and
we were the victims. Often before l had
read of them who we're thus exposed, coming
at length to such pitch of madness and
despair, that they groveled in the bottom of
the boat, and cried out for death but never
had thought such things could be credible.
Now, how fearfnly were my doubts remov-
ed. saw lion-heared men weeping like
infants-l belleld those whose strength was
that of giant, subdued and powerless-I.
heard men who, IN other circumstances.
would have chung tenaciously to life, now
suIlenly awaiting their fate, or crying out,
in their agony. for death to put period to
their sufferings. No pen, however graphic
Tho Imagination, however vivid, can do Jus.
tlce to the fearful horrors of our situation.-
Every morning dawncd with the same hope
of sail in sight, and every night gathered
around us with the same despairing con.
seriousness that our hope was in VAN.
There was one of my crew, pale, deli
cate lad, whom shall never forget. He
was the only son of widow, and had en-
tered the navy, though against her will, to
earn an honorable subsistence for her,
Though he had been among US but a short
time, he had already distinguished himself
by his address and bravery, while his frank
demeanor had made him universal favor.
tie. Since the loss of the Dart he had borne
up against our privations with herosm that
astonished me. When the rest were sad he
was cheerful, and no suffering, however
great, could wiring from him complaint
But on the twentieth day--after having tast.
ed no food for forty-eight hours-the mortal
tenement proved too weak for his nobIer
soul. He was already dreadfully emacia,ed,
and for some days had been surprised at
his powers Of endurance. But now he could
hold out no longer, and was forced to con-
Tess that he was ILL. l felt his pulse-he
was in high fever. Delirum soon seized
him, and Throughout! all that day and night
he was deprived of reason. His rawlings
would have melted the heart of Nero. He
seemed conscious Of his approaching END,
and dwelt constantly in terms of the most
heart-rending agony, on his widowed moth
ESQ soon to be deprived of her only SOL
ace and support. Oh the terrible elo-
quence of his words. Now he alluded in
the most touching accents to his fathers
1eath-now he recounted the struggles in
MS mother'sheart when he proposed going to
sea-and now he dwelt on her grief when
she should hear of his untimeIy end, or
watch month after month, and year after
year, in the vain hope of again pressing him
% her bosom. There were stern men there
listening to his plaintive lamentations, who
had perhaps never shed tear before, but
he fountains of whose souls were now loos-
sned, and who wept as only man can weep.
There were sufferers beside him, whose own
anguish almost racked their hearts to pieces,
yet who turned aside from it to sorrow over
him. And as hour after hour passed away,
md he waxed weaker and weaker, one fee
Die shipmate after another volunteered to
,old his aching head, for all thought of the
one widow, far, far away, who was even
low perhaps making some little present for
he boy whom she should never see again.
1t was the evening of the day, after his
attack, and he lay with his head on my lap,
when the sufferer. latter an unusualydeep sleep
If more than an hour, woke up, and family
opening his eyes, lifted them TO me. 1t was
! moment before he could recognize me,
out then grateful smile stole over his wan
ace. l saw at a glance that the fever had
passed away, and knew enough of the dy-
ng hour TO know that this return of reason
oreboded speedy dissolution. He made
IN attempt TO raise his hand TO his face, but
prevented him. Knowing his
wishes, | took NV handkerchief and w;ned