Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-11-14


whom Gains and storms were alike :ndif-
ferent.
Seated upon the counter, with an alb
stracted air and folded arms, kicking his
heels against the boards there was an
air of recklessness about the youth that
plainly told his fortune to be desperate, and
that was at that very moment turning over
in his mind the probable chances Of sue
cess for dinner, already having failed in
procuring a break fast The light blue eye
fair hair and rudy complexion disclosed at
a glance his Anglo Saxon blood; and as
he gazed at the dark eyed sunburnt fea-
lures tina, surrounded him, there was an
expression which seemed to say-'let it
blow the whole island to Africa for aught
| care: have neither kith nor kin here,
and am as pennyese as Spanish beggar.'
Something out Of the common order of
events seem to animate the group; some
were collected tcgelhes apart, in earnest
conversation; othe, mounting horses
and scampering off Casilda, whilst
party upon the house top were gazing
through spy-alasses at the sea. The
youth, before described, inquired Of an in
dividual who had Just come down, and who
closed his glass with snap that shattered
the instrument, exclniming at the same
time, 'Caraho, she's gone
What is the matter, Senior? there seems
to be screw out of place somewhere,
what is itl'
Why, Senior Americana, milo. There
is barque outside there, in which we are
all interested-a good half million Of
freight. that is likel y TO be swamped by
this Internal hurricane, or nabbed by John
Bull, that's all
The youth spoken to, mounted the steps
and was quickly upon the parapet. Al.
most all the houses Of Trinidad are con-
structec with flat roofs, with q parapet
about three feet high, for the purpose of
catching rain water during the we, sea-
son.
Upon reaching the parapet, he was as
tonished at the sudden change from a
breath'ess calm to ferocious gale, wit h
every premoniton OF one Of those terrible
hurricanes that sometimes, in single
hour, lay waste whole districts. The in
habitanls were hurrying TO shelter in the
greatest trepidation, closing their shops and
barrcading their doors and windows-the
streets were already strewed with frag-
ments Of roofs and broken tiles torn from
their fastenings by the first fury Of the
blast. The vultures, those licensed scav.
engers Of every West Indian town, at all
hours Of the day skimming over the tops
of houses or soaring to great height in
gigantic circles, were now crouching be.
meath the parapets, and the atmosphere
was filled with f1ocks of screaming sea
gulls, driven from their habitation upon
the coasts and numerous islands, by the ir.
resistible fury Of the wind.
A drift like smoke rolled over the ocean
and spread across the land 10 the noun
tain's base. At intervals the surface of the
sea, to the utmost limits Of the wide ex.
tended horizon, was dinctly visible, dashed
into a foam. and whirled aloft in WIRE aths
OF spray from the tops Of the curling
waves.
Two vessels were distinctly seen scud-
ding before the wind under close reefed
top sail. Onward they both came with
the speed Of race horses, the one further
seaward, from the cut Of her canvass and
squareness of yards, evidently man Of
war, in full chase; as she rose upon the
swell, her long dark hull and line Of ports
we've visible; from the bow at the same
moment issued volume Of smoke, which
as suddenly was swept away by the
wind, and mingled with the floating spray
and haze, and ere the sound Of the cannon
had reached the shores, lin low, suppressed
murmurs, the Spanish barque had roun-
ded Pedro Blanche, dropped her anchors,
and swung round to the wind. The man
of war came dashing in after under bare
poles, her close reefed foresail but few
moments before having been blown clean
out Of the bolt ropes; and whirIed off to
leeward, twisting twirling about until it was
lost in the haze that now covered every
thing with an impenetrable veil; but ere
the two vessels were closed from view, it
was evident that the man OF war had pas
sed close under the stern of the SLAYER, and
was riding upon the swell with tour anchors
ahead
The gale now had increased almost to
hurricane; it was with difficulty the youth
could maintain his position upon the parapet;
he therefore descended TO the store below,
and mingled with the anxious group collect
ed there.
TWAS conceded by all that the Esperanza,
for such was the name Of the SLAYER, was a
gone case. If she rode out the gale, which
was very improbable, the Stag, well
known British cruiser, would certainly
capture her, and if the hurricane ncreas-
ed, as there was every likelihood. both
vessels must be wrecked, with the chance
of all hands perishing.
One said he would sell his interest for
fifty ounces, another for five hundred, and
all appearing TO think the chances so per-
iectly desperate, as scarcely worth an
hours purchase. The hero Of our story
listened to every thing with the deepest
interest; at last he slept boldly up to one
OF the gentlemen and said,
Come, sir. what did you say you would
take for your interest in that shipl'
III take five hundred ounces, and that's
selling what, il all had gone right, would
fetch at the barracoon this day fifty thous-
and dollars
Yes replied the stranger, 'but she will
never come ashore except in eces. Look
nj that-there goes the roof off Of Don