The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-05-24

singular nese admonlllonS gave oCca
sion TO much talk in Salem; bu, instead o
Ihaving the effect intended, fatal obstinac,
became prevalent and prevented every ont
who proposed to sail with the vessel iron
lpaylng the slightest attention to them =
This strange intatuaion only served It
deepen the interest which The towp took II
The departure of The ship.
At last the day appointed for her sailing
arrived. Never had such a solemn day beer
seen al Salem; and moreover, it happenet
10 be Friday;ior the captain was not suct
A godly man as the mariners of Salem gen
orally were in those days. A great multi
Jude crowded the wharves 10 see their rela
ions embark; all were sorrowfuI, and many
in tears. AT las. tho ship hoSIed The sig
nal Tor sailing and, wonderful TO tell, at the
same time that flag was uafurled, blacf
bird, much like raven, aIighled on the
town c!ock,and by its weight pushed it for.
ward, some said full ten minutes Eve,y
one who witnessed this sight was struck
with horror, ,and some laid hands upon their
relations 10 prevent them from emoarking
But those who had engaged to go with the
fatal vessel, were wiIlub and would no, be
controlled.
During these struggles, the Two unknown
strangers came also TO embark and she that
was the bride was in tears, weeping bitterly
However, they stepped on boald and sud
den gust of wind at that moment (lhe ship
being cast loose from her mornings) made
her YaW oil, and she was almost Instantly
at sea. The crowd however, remained
anXousIy watching her progress until she
was out OF sight. They then returned 10
their respective houses, and the whole con
versation of Salem for that evening was sad
dened with presGntments and forebodiugs
concerning the Noah's Dove.
In tho course Of the night the breeze
Ireshened into gale, which, before the
morning, was heightened to tempest -
The sea ragged with tremendous fury, and
The wrack Of the clouds that careered in the
heavens was scarcely less tumullous III all
he angry waves in the ocean below All
The inhabitants Of Salem were persuaded
that the hurricane had something TO DO with
The mysterious passengers in The Noah's
Dove. Many were insIinc!ively convinced
lnat the ship had pegShed, and resigned
themselves to grief. For three days and
.hree nights the wrath of the storm was un-
On tie contrary, i! seemed to
Increase: or,allhough it was then mid sum
ner, dreadful showers Of hail, mingled With
ire and thunder, louder than had ever been
leard before, pealed continually. No man
,ould doubt he fate of the Noah's Dove 80
indeed, il was the Persuaton Of all, that
very vessel which was so unfortunate as toI
'e with in the sweep and frenzy of lae
Yiuds and waves could not survive the We
lemence Of their destruction.
The sun, on the morning of the fourth
lay, bust through the clouds in great
plendor-the winls almost instantly be
anne calm-the hail ceased-lhe thunder
vas mute-and the blllows from rolling
urges, rolled themselves into a noiseIess
well. A change SO abrupt convinced the
nous inhabitants Of Salem thai The doom
i the vesse, was sealed; aud although
vas in vain TO eXpec! that the sea woulo
'resenI them any sight of her wreck, or ul
hat of other vessels, they FASTENED in grea
umbers down TO the shore, where the,
TODD until sunset, gazing and wondering,
With anxiety and sorrow.
just as The sun disappeared, sound oil ,
reclamation and hurry, accompanied by
movements, arose from group of persons,
Who were standing on the top of ,he rock ,
elevated above the crowd, and !
ONE cried that the vessel was IN sight,
The whole multitude, on hearing this, were Ii,
brown into commolion, and fluclualed loIh
nd fro, eager 10 catch a glimpse of this un a
expected phenomenon. 1t was however,
ong before she came distinctly in sight for o
ny wind which was then blowing was of IL
he shore, and against The vessel; insomuch
hat an old grey headed sailor among the d
peciaIors declared that it was impossible ,