American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-19


prisoner pinned from week to week and from
month TO month, vainly painting for small
portion of that liberty, limited as it was, enjoy
ed by his shipmates.
The burning rays Of an African sun, causing
an almost suifocating heat TO pervade his place
OF confinement, and the irons with which his
hands and feet were pinioned, now becoming
much laCeraGd, causing him TO wTithe with
ngony upon the slightest motion of his body,
were making fast inroads upon his iron constl-
tuition Two months had scarcely elapsed ere
he was but the shadow Of himself: the mana
Giles dropped from his ] ssened wrists and an
Giles, while his totterng steps and slckly smile,
strongly indicated that dissolution was not far
distant and many tear couTsed It's way down
the bronzed and furroWed cheeks Of his fellow
sailors to see him thus wasting rapidly away.
Smaller lions were substituted, and pale, bag
gard and emaclated as the prisoner had be-
come, the sentry's measured tread was still
heard in front OF his little prison, who, cutass
in hand, prohibited all communication with
his charge, and examined each morsel sent
him by the mess to which he belonged, before
being passed in. The surgeon al length being
notified that Henry had expressed desire to
see him, did oil in his power to allay the poor
fellows suiierngs The sentry received Or
ders TO smoothe his mattrass and blankets prior
to turning M bandages were placed between
his torn flesh and the hand and feet irons, and
such things as the doctor thought palatable,
he was presented with.
Time flew, our ship had left the sickly and
burning coast of Africa, bound for Columba'S
healthy and beautiful shores; large number
OF our gallant tars lay stretched on beds Of
sickness with the coast fever and scurVY, and
Harry, having now passed three months and
five days of the prime of his youth, manacled
and solitary, was daily becoming more and
more feeble. Three months of the year had
rolled away, and October's bowling blasts had
ovsrtaken US; driving our good ship fercey
through the angry waves in the direction of
sweet home
Sunday came, day halIowed by all the civ
ilized nations Of the earth, and ere the sound
of the boil announcing the expiration Of the
breakfast hour had ceased, the shrill whistle of
our boatswain, followed by his hoarse cry of
'All hands witness punishment was heard by
the sorroning crew. The sound had scarcely
ceased revetberating along the decks, before
the prisoner, clean dressed for the occasion and
freed from his shackles, was placed, pale and
care-worn, in the gangway. Many we're the
words of consolation and advice he received
whilst passing up the ladder to the spar deck,
despite the interpCsiton of the sentry in attend
ance. Never mind, my dear fellow! twill
soon be over; don't crafty them by a look or
an action, indicative Of pain, and expressions of
similar character issued from the lips of many
generous hearted and sympathising tar that
morning, while the pearly tear that gIistcned
in each manly eye, gave proof of their deep
rooted affection for the sufferer.
Proud in his bearing-his eyes directed tow
ard the officers and flashing with unnatural fire,
the prisoner listened calmly and attentively to
the reading of the charge, which ended, the
Captain stated his intention facing at his own
discretion with regard TO the punishment, and
not waiting the decision Of Court Martial
Not word burst the poor sufferer utter in de-
fence. Thus reads the charge; an officer can
not le'
At the words, Strip, sir an involuntary
shudder passed over his attenuated frame; it
lasted, however, but for a moment, and Harry
was himself again. Divestng himself Of Jack
ct and shirt, he proceeded with firm step to
and placed himselfspon the gratings, to which
his feet were firmly lashed; and upon his wrists
being properly secured to the hammock net
tlngs, the athletic boatswans mate, with Draw
ny arm barred to the shoulder, applied tho
bloody cuts to the naked back of this much
abused young seaman, while his tormentors
looked upon the dsgraceful scene apparently
pleased with their success in having broken
spirit as noble and undaunted as ever glowed
in the breast Of man. During the ignominious
punishment no muscle moved, save slight in
voluntary creeping of the flesh upon the appli-
cation of the first lash, to denote the outward
torture. No exclamation passed his lips, to
evidence the breaking of a generous heart; but
with Spartan courage, immoveable as a statue,
he passed through the bloody ordeal. LAGER
ated and bleeding, our detected shipmate was
cast adTift, but he was an altered man. The
sunken eye that 30 lately beamed contentment,
and the unmeaning stare when addressed, but
too plainly indicated the speedy humiliation of
his once brilliant mind, whilst his falterDg step
and haggard countenance gave evident signs of
rapid bodily decline. Six weeks prior TO the
termination of his shipment discharge was
obtained, and he proceeded to his native city of
| Philadelphia, where the once gay, generous,
and noble hearted Harry R IS daily recog.
nized by his former associates, vending his way
with downcast look along its numerous tho
! roughfaIes, a confirmed but harmless maniac.
ITEMS OF News. A fellow at Plttsburg has
been expelled from a military company for
brutality to his wife.-The Senate has
| confirmed the nomination Of the Hon. john
Y Mason to be Secretary of the Navy
Mr.. Horn, state Senator Of Ohio, died last
week; an election to fill tho vacancy will be
held on the Goth inst.--The Caledonia
sailed from Boston on Wednesday for Liver
pool with 50 passengers.-The democrats
have majority in the Maine legislature, and
will elect the u. s. Senator. Dan'l
Webster has gone to Boston on professional
usinsss.--Com Worthington arrived at
Norfolk on Tuesday.-The citizens of
vi D.