Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-12-25
THE ADyENTURE


None bat those Who have been miraealousiy
snstehed from impending Gath can appreciate the
feelings wTfh wbieh r0snded Point Ieacos and
entered the harbor OF Matanzas. Bat tzo DAYS
Pretioas we had takea our supposed farexel Of
life We eoald almost feed the assassiu's knife at
our threats. and the lend tearing It's b9rnIag var
thr0agh The siRess to the hearts hood A hand
unseen had rescued Us. and iell ike beings Just
entering nPoa res exisIsnee. The earth seemed
re-ereated- Nature vas arraFed in a new and love-
lser dress; the zephyrs PLAYED sofer upon the
cheek, and the SKY Was brighter Whale the hsls Of
The beauteoos Isle, breathing f5rth their spier
fragrance, seemed the reflected images Of those
Of fairsr world The past aited across the
memory Ike q painful dream, the future embos-
oned higher hopes and Parer delights than the hear
had ever kn0wn-
Joy there vas IA every bosom proud exuliinr
10y. but not thoughf Of gratitude frenbled IN the
sogi, or vas embodied IN a single action The
saIoE can weep oEer distress, aud Eiu beggar hin-
self 10 relieve another; be VIII pray and promise
and vow Hhen death shakes bis laEsiIa al hin bat
once preserved, he never thinks Of the past as
lesson Tor the future, and hurries his reckless
ness, to dance and sing upOn the verge OF more
dangerous preeiPiee-
We have cheated the deTH out Of his due this
time, said an old laek-tar, the anchor Was let 20
and the chain rsftled through the hawse-hoIe
Hang me il ne haIni,' responded The Vermont
err bot bell catch you yet, old salt, il you don't
keep your Ieh eye open
SILVER ny cd dead lights il yoa need fear, for
the desa vii never touch you he'd be afraid you'd
ebea; him oai Of his all
Mar be so guess I'd be match FOR him
Tins gong TO sea amt 30 bad thing after al, I
when one gets used 10 it. as the fellow said when
the barber shaved him with hand-saw. By pngo,
I'd Ike TO have one crack At them fellows that
shot on tUo Of my fingers. / wOaeer how they
Ike their sealdingi guess cotton wool viii be in /
demand FOR ieW days to come
Such IS fair specimen OF the needless Irrevereni
conversation vhich followed our fortunate escape i
In farther proof Of what have asserted in regard
10 sailors generosity and recklessness, viii now
sketch you, reader. an incident which uanspired
shortly after our arrival.
The city Of MaiznzzS, IN the island Of Cuba, IS
situated At the head Of deep BAY, which stretches
IN from the ocean, and which, bending back coz
eeals the city from the sight Of those Who approach
II BY water. until they are within three or four
miles distant The entrsnce 10 the harbor Is
snnevhat dIi5eult, ledge Of coral rocks run far
out from the shore on either side, leaving bat ! /
narrow ship channel. In that latitude, the trade 4
winds prevail from the north east, and blow during
the day directly up the bay. At night these die 4
away, and after short calm, give place to the land
breeze which comes in an opposite direction As
the entrance TO the haFboF Is 50 very Narrow il is
becomes necessary to take advantage Of the land
breeze, and get beyond the reefs during the night
before the trade winds set in
Al about hzWseF's length from the lava, vas
anchored Portland brig, which had Just received /
her cargo Of Dolasses, and was now ready to sail |
The yellow Fever was. at tAis time. raging violently
N Cahs, and the hrst mate. together with four Of
the crew, were SICK and unable TO perform any dn-
ty. As the brig's complement consisted of0nly ten
persons, Captain Grocer. Der commander, was
somewhat unwilling TO start with only Eve able
bodied men bat as his cargo was IN demand at
home, and his Instructions we're TO sail as
possible he thought II better 20 proceed, with
the hope that the sea air would restore the inTa-
ids. As be vas an old friend 10 Captain N,
our services were volunteered TO assist him in
getting in his iong-boat, and IN towing out the brig
beyond the lodges. At sunset We rowed OF TO the 1
vessel, and, after having completed al preparation
for sailing, assisted at about nijnighi, in getting
out into the bay. As there was now Sufficient
room for beating, when the sea breeze should sci
in We left him, little thinking ofWhat was 50 soon
10 follow.
have stated that The bsy Of Maiznzss stretches /
sar into the land. and. at few miles from the har-
Dor makes bend Of nearly seventy degrees. At
daybreak the brig seen Just shooting round
this bend, and in few minutes vas out Of sight
Captain N. as usual went ashore in the fore
noon to transact his business leaving me aboard
receive and take aceoani Of The cargo About the
middle Of the afternoon observed several boats be-
longing 10 the different vessels in the harbor rowing
OF at unusual speed, and amOng the rest, noticed
that Of the lava. A il was not the custom Of our