Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-10-23
a FORTUNE, FOUNDED ON A HURRICANE.

A FORTUNE, FOUNDED ON A HURRICANE.
Il. G.. wArAoUoH.
The town Of Trinidad, upon the south side Of the island
OF Cuba presents picturesque appearance the
sea The dark blue mountains of ST. Juan, rising the
heght OF three thousand feet. form the back ground OF
the picture. throwing the fine relief-wh it,
white walls and urrets. At a distance, IL appears like
white blur upon the side In say other region
man the tropics II might, at first glance be mistaken for
dnt OF snow, cloud resting upon dark mountains
de but the one is impossible the other for during
'he dry season, from October till Ap, not wreath
oi mist floats IN the pure either by day dms the brill
ancy OF the spangled blue OF night Gradually from this
WHITE obscure are shadowed forth, faint outlines turets
and cupoas at step becoming distinct TILL a, last
the miniature houses with little dots for Windows stand
forth brightly In the glare of q midday sun.
The ground between the shore and The town is bar
rem and sandy covered with brushwood and there
cnmp oil palms and outrageous mango broken into la
goons, or pools Ut salt water, the shore, which
ancc have easng effect but upon inspection the deu
sion quickly vanishes. These pretty lakes in reality
nothing but salt bog ienaned land crab the shores
iurrowed by the sand grub, and haunted by myriaz
mosquitoes.
The habOr with its little port Of Casilda formed by
thin strip OF land, about miles in length and densey
covered with bushes AT the extremity Of the
point, the harbor erected a small fort
which rs apt TO be submerged during hurricane and is
garrf oned by than half dozen soldiers Be-
tween this fort and Pedro Blsnco small island il mar
row and intricate passage, through which pass vessels
ct only light draught
With this brd's-eye Of the town and harlor we
will proceed with our narrative.
In the latter Of the month Of September of the year
loO, some forty fifty of the merchant. and planters OF
Trinidad collected together at the head of Gale de
Gutierrez discussing the various topics day. in which
tie probable rise and fall OF the prices sugar and mo-
1sses decidedly the interesting. Amongst the
group, the keen looking Californian the blunt Bcay
and yvacous Andausian-enigrants from the mother
county, IN the pursuit of wealth the Joke banded
about m that bosterous vein peculiar the Spanard
interrupted occasionally by the presence of passing sig
noHta, with flowing manta the only covering TO her head
when compliments would fall freely from the lips of ALL
Ear from being offended, the lady appeared consider
As Just tribute to her personal charmswoud reply with
great gravity muchssmos gracias Cabseros-and pass
on, with the grace and dignity Of queen. 4 Mon,ero
upon melted PAGER dartcd up the door, and saued the
true Spanard never departs
'Senorts CdbaIierOs; dos guard ustedes" "Centle.
men, God he with yOuwhado think of the weather.
at looks bad enough, replied one; 'we shall have it
tough and strong-the mountain passes dark night
with heavy clouds"
Yes" said another "and the sea means and heayes
upon Pedro Banco in way that forbodes hurricane"
The did present strange and unnatural appearance
covered-amos obscured-by of vapor rolling over
the surface. The atmosphere perfectly calm thai
the flames OF candle burnt steady the open if
enclosed within ch sta All now busy specu
atng the indications of the heavens with the excep
ton OF one to whom Gains and storms apparently were
alike Indifferent
Seated upon the counter distracted air and folded
arms kicking his heels against the boards; there an air
OF eckcsnes about the youth that plainly told his fortune
10 be desperate, and that he that very moment turn
ing IN hs mind the probable chances OF success for
dinner, already having failed IN procuring breakfast The
ghblue fair hair, and ruddy complexion disclosed
glance his Ango-Saxon blood and a. he gazed al the
dark eyed burnt features that surrounded him. there
was AN expression which seemed say-'let it blow the
whole island Africa for aughi care have neither
kih nor Kin here, and Fennyless Spanish beg
gar" Something ont OF the order of events ap
peared to animate the group collected together
apart IN conversations Others were mounting horses
and scamperng of the Casida whilst party upon the
house top gazing through EYEGLASSES the sea The
yonh before described inquired OF individual who had
Just come down, and who closed his glass with snap that
shattered the Instrument eNcaiming the time, Ca
. Taho, she's gone
What is the matter Senorl there seems to be a screw
out OF place somewhere what is II ~
Way, Senor Americana mic. There is n barque out.
side there, IN which all nIeresed-a good half mil
lion OF freight that Is likely be swamped by this internal
hurricane, or nabbed by John Bull that's ALL
The youth spoke mounted the steps and quickly
upon the parape Almost all the houses of Trinidad are
constructed with fiat roofs, with paapet about three feet
nigh, Tor the purpose OF catching rain during
Upon reaching the paapet he asonshed at the sud
den change from GREATNESS calm ierocous gale with
every premonon OF of those terrible hurricanes that
sometimes IN single hour, lay waste whole districts. The
inhabitants huTryng shelter the greatest epida
uon closing their shops and barcadng their doors and
wndows-iho already seyed with fragments
Of roofs and broken tiles from their fasenngs by the
fury OF the blast The vuures, those licensed scaven
gers OF every West India town. all hours of tie dav
Simming over the tops Of houses soaring great
height gigantic circles crOuching beneath the
parspets, and the atmosphere filled with hocks Of
screaming gs driven from their habitaons upon the
coasts and numerous islands, by the irresistible fury Of the
wind
dike smoke rolled over the ocean and spread across
the land to the mountains base. At intervals surface
Of the 10 the utmost limits of the wide extended hor
Zon, was distinctly visible ashed into foam, and whrtd
aoit weahs Of spray from the tops Of the curling waves
Two vessels distinctly seen, scudding before the
wind under close recfed opsas Onward they both came
with the speed OF horses the further seward from
the cut Of her and quarcness yurd evidently
msn-owar, in full Chase she upon a swell. her
long dark hull ard line Of ports visible, from the bow
at the issued a volume of smoke which as
suddenly was swept away by the wind and mingled with
the floating spray and haze and the sound OF the
had reached tue shore, low suppressed murmurs
the Spanish tarque had rounded Pedro Banco dropt
anchors, and swung round 10 the wind. The man-owar
dashng in after under bare poles, her close reefod
tOrcsail but few moments before having been blown
clean Of the bolt ropes, and Shirod oil 70 eeward
twisting and rng about until lost the haze that
covered thing with mpenetrable veil: ere
the vessels closed from view it was evident that
tie man Of war had passed close under the cf the a-
NCr anu was riding upon the swell with four anchors ahead
The gale had now increased almost n hurricane; IL
with difficulty the youth could maintain his posi-.
ZION the parupe he therefore descended tho
below, and mingled with the anxious group collected
there.
II conceded by all, that the E-pcrauza for such
was the name Of the SLAYER, q gone Ii she
rode out the gale. which very improbable, the Stag
q welt known British cruiser would certainly capture he5
aud % tc hurricane increased, there every like
hood. both vessels must be wrecked with the chance 5
all hands perishiug.
Onc said he would sell his interest Tor fifty ounces am.
9th for five hundred all appearing think the chances
- perfectly desperate scarcely worth an hours pur
chase. The hero Of story listened every thing with
the deepest interests Of ast he stepped boldly Up Of
the gentlemen and sand:
Come, 'Ir what did you say you would take for your
interest 100 that ship"
"il uN, five hundred ounces aud that's selling what "
all had gone right, would fetish al the buacoon, this day,
iy thousand dollars"
EYES replied the stranger "but she will never come
ashore except pieces. Look tat-ere gocs the roof