Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-09-30
Ori9inal Cetters.
For the Sentinel.
1... For the Sentinel.
Letters to Quentin Durward.--Number 4.
ANTIUM Sent. 10Th. 1876.

Letters to Quentin DurWard.--N,smbey 4.
ANTIUM Sept. 10th, ls4G.
DEAR DURwARD:-A successful voyage
of four days landed our noble bark in the
harbor of Galena. No event of import
ance occurred, except the acquaintance
made with the unfortunate Greek, The
hours Of my stay with him flew rapidly a
way; for as he fingered oyer his mournful
story, | forgot that the current of time still
swept on, and ere was fully aware, our
journey had closed, and we had parted. He
Immediately took passage on the steamboat
Caroline for Greencastle, while hastened
ashore, after giving directions that my bag
gage be conveyed to the residence of Josh.
ua Dernis. Twas met on the wharf, with
hearty welcome by my uncle Joshua,
who without delay conducted me to his
dwelling. You remember the venerable
old man. The vici ssitudes of many years
have set their fated seal upon him. He
spoke Of y ou, dear Durward, with unthusi-
asm: and among other things, he dwelt with
enthusiasm: and among other things, he
dwelt with emphasis upon the last time he
ever saw you. He said it was on the Tus-
cumbia mountains, when you, and were
travelling to the far South. His locks DUR
ing the laps of twelve years have grown
some winter, and the vigor, an delacticity
of his frame, have yielded theto demands
of advancing age. made but a transient
stay at Galena: and after dispatching the
business entrusted to my cure, set out to
return. The weather during my sojourn
there had grown excessively hot, and the
concentrated rays Of a burning sun gleam-
ed upon the deck of our giant steamer, as
she ploughed the unruffled wave. The
first day of dull, monotonous endurance
finally wore away, and l gladly welcomed
the sable night, whose shades were fast
thickening around. / retired to my berth
earlier than usual, having become almost
exhausted by the payalseled heat Of the
day. The sea was now as calm as if no
tempest had ever swept over it: and the
broad, blue sky, decked with innumernble
suns, gave no signs Of an approaching
change. Iquickly went to. sleep, and for
got in the visionary realm of dreams al
connected with stern fatal reality. i
know not how long I slept-probably sev.
eral hours--for whenI awoke4the moon
had just arisen. A threatening cloudhune
suspended above 1t, block as night; and the
ocean which few hours before was slum
bering in peaceful tranquility. was now
tossed by a raging tempest. Twill not at
tempt to portray to you the dire events o
the remainder of that night; nor will
hazard description Of that fearful storm
Our vessel soon become unmanagable: ant
almost with the velocity Of the wind w
swept on, now careering upon the noun
tain billow, and then sinking into the yawn
ing chasm below. The storm continued
to increase in violence, The roar. Of the
agitated ocean mingled with. the dee
groans of the grating thunder The worl
seemed starting from its foundations, an
the tumbling Of its ,wga.ery sphere were b
indications Of its last decisive throe. w
were soon driven far from our originr
course; and momentarily we expected t
be dashed upon the rocks those grave !
ambush, which no vigilance ofthe marine ltl Fpe
can evade Iwept to the upper deck, an
looked around upon the angry sea. ltws
pi.chy darkness, except when the lightning
vivid fash lit up the dismal scene. SUI
denly our vessel struck something vii
such violence that she trembled, and reels
amid the engulfng food. We felt tn
our doom was sealed. The agonizir
mother cluns with shuddering arm to h