Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-11-17
VOL. 80, NO. 1l.-WHoLE NO. 1895


ing TO the side Of the brig instantly succeeded by
stumble and heavy fall nearly over my head.
Inc groanng noise meanwhile continued, sharp.
ened mo cry OF human agony and despalr'
sprapg upon deck, aud there saw the cnanln' both
The mates, and two sailors standing an and looking
into the w6ter behind us tnotioness, and securing
| " overwhelmed with distress while from the sen
in our wnke, came that awful cry, still loud end
piercing, though receding inst and TO every
screnm the CAPTAIN responded in tones of anguish,
~ poor boy poor hoy poor boy |" With
fearful guess Of The nature The accident, called
out "What is ?" All the officers simultaneous
I ~ answered me, The boy is overheard" This
was indeed the horrId fact Two sailors with the
hoy, we're occupied with iurling the jib-he inner
most and in the most secure place, on the cap of
The howsprit while they were ont beyond him on
the lih boom, when suddenly without any porlic-
Mar cause he slipped from the place he was he
slridng and fell into the sea--ihe first notice of the
'a'l beng his cries as he arose in the water. The
mate WINS on the bows nj the une, experimenting
The execution Of the order, and soon as lIe could
speak after learning what bad happened. cried out
-" The hoy Is overheard" Quick as light both
| IN thought and action, the captain sprang To the
larboard rail where the 1uninbrace, an immensely
long line. which hung in huge coil on Delaying
| pm, nearly abreast of the cOnpGnonway, Jour
ulainhrace Delaying aft. contrary TO the usual Gus
tom.) with the intention Of throwing it over into
the sea- when it would have gone many alhoms
behind ny, almost sure TO have been grnsped by the
poor boy, who, in his agoniZng and almost super
natural efforts. was still nearly keeping mp with US,
and had not yet fallen nstern. 1t would have heen
his last chance Of life, bn, il failed him. The deck
was wet with The dashng waves; the capaln's
foot slipped and he tell into tie lee scnppers with
violence, stunned for moment, and severely
bruised. When he arose TO his feet, the wretrhed
sui rer was far astern, beyond the reach of any
| such aid
| Still the boys uncarthly scream
--ttbc bo,bliog crv
OF that strong swimmer in his asony"-
was ringing with dreadful disnctness in our ears
al intervals half obscured, as he descended into
The follows Of ,he mountain sea, and then peal
ing out with redouhleI power az The next rolling
wave lifted him 10 its foaming tor for moment.
As fingered, waiting for the sounds to cease.
suffered almost the horrors OF death itset, in thus
counting each Notwithstanding degree OF misery aud
asgravatlng despair which knew were coming
over INN every moment, rs he found the vessel re-
ceding, his Strength aud heart failing, and his APP
probation OF certain death increasing He was
nuuve ofTurks Island, in the Bahamas where he
was brought up on the sea-shore. living half the
time in the water throughout the year, and, like all
oil his almost amphibous countrymen, "swim-
ming like fish, | have no doubt II at the
wrelched being swan for more than an hour at
ter us, until at last the awful certainty of his Terri
BILE doom cntne over him; and there, alone amid
the liliiless wayrs-ALoNE, alone in the wide
waters OF the cold ocean, abandoned by man. with
no hone from heaven or earth
| &c lie sunk into the deeps with bubbline croan,
| without grave unkcnneled, uncoined aud unknown"
The night was perfectly dark so that he was
not once TO he seen after he fell We could not
see go far MS the breadth Of the vessel drenrh-
iDg rain coming on ~ the same moment, added to
the confusion itIie furious gust that was already
now 'ihE through our rigging, aud laying the vessel
almost OH her side,-ibe tops of The waves being
swept by The wind into sheets ofsp ~ aud raising
'heir voices as il in triumph over their hapless
victim But over ALL yet sounded that despairiug
lealh cry, Shr though fainter telling us iha, still
ne struggled against prolonged though certain de-
srucon. could bear il no longer ard rushed
DOWN nio the cabin 10 escape The snuni. But in
credible ms it may appear, still henrh il distinctly
eoeH there, though he must have been already near
| ~ mile off from u.s. | never can forget that
sound. 1t was like nothing else that ever heard.
| shndder now in recalling it. have since seen
death IN many shapes, but never in a form SO er-
rbe.
| The sound of the sailors resuming their labors
On deck, called me up again; AMI when came
out OF the cabin they were lowering and slowing
'ne n7'dnsail-a measure which had already be-
| come urgently necessary. The cry was heard no
moreno more forever. We few on our gloomy
way before The blast and there were dirk and
hardened Faces among rs we, with something else
t'ian the rain and spray.
Thought and studied all the circumstances over
many times. with deepuring conviction of our
total inability 10 help him Our small boat was
hauled mp aslern, and "parbuck led" and dashed
WIN mary fasienings thai would have much de-
laycd an attempt TO save him in smooth calm sea
| IN broad day light 1t would hive required four
men 10 row the boat, mud one TO steer her in The
proper direction. This would have taken every
man from us except the captain aud the cook it
every circumstance had favored rs. An accident
TO the boat, then, would have lett the brig entirely
unnamed. The boat ITSELF If lowered. would
have struck tho hrosdsde on' which, with
our velocity would have swanped her. and torn
her to pieces. Our long boat was out of The qnes-
ton, OF course, being slowed bottom upwards on
deck between the masis, (laid niliwart ships, to
accommodate the engrants) requiring our whole
force for half day, when i'll port, 10 get her into
the water.
The resu)f was: painful conviction of the utter
hopeeSsness of relief 10 any person that should
fail overheard on the passage, whit we were maxi
ing such hendway. Under s,lch circumstances,
the most envahle " oud be that of one who could
not swim and who would 90 down immediately.
That day. according 10 cusion the lost boys
chest WAS brought up on deck and his clothes,
and other litue property pun up atauc'iqn,ihe pro-
ceeds being deposited with the balance OF his wages
for the benefit OF his friends. He was a rough,
neglected looking boy, about 10 or II years old.
lie had been abandoned in New York hy The ship
master vino first employed him and brought hun
from home; and beng a totally iriendess siran-
ger, he fell into great want ami entering, begging
hrs food ana s'een'ng IN The markets IN ms con-
dillon he was found by some benevolent persons
and came under the notice of Captain itow'nnd
who onk him under his care and provided HIM d.
place in the RoudouL where he showed himself
active, industrious aud oheden,. Knowing these
circumstances OF his previous degradGuon 1 wns
surprised when we found in his chest very we'll
written letter his parents which he had com.
posed entirely by himself, in the torecas,le since
he came on board, in preparation for any possible
opportunity 10 send it to his home on Turks ISL
and. The language was grammatical and well
chosen, though simple and il was written in a
Iegible hand, though with u bad pen and the worst
Of accommodations. He gave his friends gene
raj accom- Of his SITUATION Told them he was do
ing well with Captain Rowland and was rented
very kindly hy him. AS I read this, the honest