The Washingtonian., 1845-08-09
MANIA A POTU.

hanlan boulder .,
MANIA A POTU.
A "REMINISCENCES OF THE ATLANTIc--BY MARCUS.
1t was on one of those lovely, balmy even
ings in May, which belong alone to our South
ern cline, that trod the deck Of fine vessel
which danced upon the bosom of that beauti-
full bay, formed by the junction Of the Ashley
and Cooper rivers, as they mingle their waters
before the metropolis of South Carolina, and
unite their wayelets with old oceans realm.
A gentle yet steady breeze waited many a lit
tie barque to its destined shore, and as our
craft was loosened from her,moorings, she left
the shore, and the welcome breeze bosomed
out her snow sails as she veered away and
stood oceanward, while the starry ensign Of
free and happy people foated in proud majesty
from her maintop. Onward we went, bound
ing over the waves as merrily as the Petrol,
and in few short hours the land of those we
loved was lost to our vision, amid the clouds
and waves.
Our crew were jovial set of hardy, wealth
erbeaten tars, whose rough visages indicated
that they had braved the storm and wave for
many day. They had just been shipped,
and seemed in fine spirits, with the exception
Of one, who, seated on coil Of cable near the
forecastle, with his chin resting in the palms
of his hands, seemed the very picture Of des-
pondency; his long beard and soiled shirt gave
him very haggard appearance, and he SEEM
ed perfectly unconscious Of anything that was
going on around him. BY the contour Of his
head and features discovered that he was
foreigner, and on inquiry the sailors informed
me that he was Frenchman, and that his
name was Cora; he had been on s'cruise," !"
as the tars expressed it, for long while be-
fore he came on board, and had taken in so
They had put him to bed when the vessel left
port, and he was now just awakening from
his slumbers and there being no liquor on
board, he was laboring under that unenviable
state of feeling called the "blue devils Or,
as it is technically termed, the delirium tire.
mems. s
AS stood gazing on the unfortunate man,
who by indulgence in vicious appetite had
reduced himself to condition Just grade
above the brute, and made life burden to
him-the captain gave a hoarse command
with his speaking trumpet, to shift some of
the sails-when Cora, who had been so pas
sive, suddenly sprang upon his feet, and seizing
me, implored me to protect him. "Don't let
them do it," cried he in the agony of terror;
"save me from them! % and he clung closer
to me. ''Save you from who, Cora" inquired
I, the captain will not hurt you" !" Don't
talk that way" said he, "did the skipper not
tell them to put me on that sandy island out
there?" pointing to the windwald of the ship.
looked in the direction, but nothing except
the blue waves met my eye. "You are mis-
taken," answered, "there is no land within
fifty miles Of the vessel, and if this goodIy
breeze holds on, there will not be any in sight
for the next two days" "Aint they tacking
the ship to near t?" repeated Cora, "and amt
you trying to deceive me? 2" and he let 60 my
arm and looked around with watchfulness,
while the greatest terror was depicted on his
countenance. saw it was in vain to attempt
to suppress his fears, and made no further
effort TO do it, for it would have been extreme
ly dangerous for any person to have attempted
to approach him, having drawn from his belt
a large case knife, such as seamen wear to cut
ropes with; and he now held it firmly in his
hand, ready for use. Feeling the greatest
compassion for the unfortunate man, in his
truly miserable condition, | went to the cap
tain and informed him Of the circumstance;
and told him if there was any ardent spirits
aboard the vessel, it would be serving the
cause Of humanity to give Cora heavy glass,
TO settle his nerves, and by renewing the slim
ulus in a small degree, to compose his mind
and bind down those horrid phantoms which
crazed his brain, for every one knows that
professed topers endure the most horrid feel
ings after recovering from fit Of inebriation,
unless they can have a few glasses to "tapor
of " with. "I dislike very much," said the
captain, "to do it, Ineyer permit my men to