Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-11-11
MARrNsBuRG COUNTY VIRGINIA THURSDAY MORNING NOVEMBER n

was run through the surf. and brought into
calm water within few days from the land
There were no less than three thousand natives
at that time upon the coast, raost of them arm
ed with bows and arrows, spears. clubs, and
wooden maees and hatehets The French
captain ordered his men to fire voley in the
air, TO Tighten the savages they only replied
with hooking shouts, and fresh fight OF ar
rows. These weapons dad nurderous execu
ton. Seven sailors were wounded, aud three
more killed by this secoHd attack. a voley
was now fred upon the natives; tnird dis
charge OF arrows was tie fejgfaaer. More
wounds-and more deaths On the part Of the
French. The captain seized eaiiass, and
leapfng into the water, rushed On shore. fol-
lowed by fifty OF his men, and accompanied
by Adolphe, whom Marianne ioliswed with
her glances and her prayers.
A terrific combat ensued; The French,
whose fate depended upon their success,
fought like demons and The strand was strew-
ed with the dying and the dead But the
savages pressed upon them 10 overwhelming
numbers and actually forced The survivors
back TO their boat. The eaptain. Adolphe,
and thirteen seaman alone regangd the shah
lop.
The boat was pushed off amidst fights Of ar
rows and those sixteen persons Were now on
the wide ocean, with only one eaSk Of water
and three of biscuit. They reireated from the
shore until they were beyond the reach Of the
arrows of those nhospitable savages; and
when night came they coasted along the Is
land, with view 10 effect a landing IN some
spot where they might eEtgench themselves.
But the natives evidently suspected their de-
signs, and dispersed themselves along the shore
in such numbers that the object o. the unior-
tunale Freedmen was completely frustrated.
! Next day violent storm arose; and the
captain was compelled to put out 10 sea. 10 a.
void being wrecked amongst the breakers
which now ragged along the coast Of the is.
land.
| Several days passed, and no more land had
appeared--and not sail The provisions of
these unhappy persons, although sparingly
dealed out, were at length exhausted, and fam
inc now stared them 10 the face. -Four Of the
boats crew died Of exhaustion aud fatigue
there were twelve remaining, and not NOR
sci al biscuit leit--not drop Of fresh waterl
| Nor was there hope OF succor.
We cannot depict The hideous, appalling
suffering endured by those twelve persons.-
| Adolphe supported his beloved Marianne upon
| his breast; and each hour he heheid her face
grow paler and thinner, and her eyes more
and more lustreless. The men surveyed each
other with rayenous looks and cannlbal-gar-
ing eyes. and honid ideas filed every breast.
At length hunger aud thirst became inloIera-
Bile, and terrific proposal was passed around
Ia whispers. Those starving creatures agreed
to draw lots for victimi
The lot fell upon Adolphe.
Marianne clung to him with all the agoniz-
ing fervor of that love which had already led
her TO dare so mitch for him she ishpiored--
she menaced-she offered TO die Tor bin. But,
no: hunger and thirst had made a . whom
she appealed memorable. N.lolphe according
!! ly prepared 10 die. But ere be surrendered
hImselt TO those who glared upon him with
the tiger eyes OF famine, he fell on his knees
10 invoke the pardon of God for the fearful
crime he had committed on board The lrigate.
He prayed aloud; and all heard with horror
that confession Of his guilt-Ihat avowel ola
murder!
One Of the sailors brandished his knife, and
was on the point of plunging il into the breast
oil the unhappy young man, when the captain
exclaimed. "A sail, sail" The knife drop
ped from the seaman's hands Adolphe rose
from his knees and Marianne threw herself
rap,urously into his arms.
The hope aroused BY the capain's words
was not disappointed. In few minutes the
white sails Of a square-rigged ship appeared
in the horizon and in a quarter OF an hour
another large ship was deserted 10 windward,
and both advancing in the same direction
They proved to be two French ships of war,
under the command Of Commodore Leroux,
and on then way home from the East Indies.
The late sioruis had driven them far out Of
their course, 10 the southwark of Cape Horn.
The moment the survivors of the ship
wrecked Louise Were receyedson board the
conmodore's ship, The captain, IN the per
Torrance of sad duty, was compelled to
make report of the Count de Brissac's con
lession of the murder Of the marine officer
He was accordingly placed under arrest; but
the humanity of the commodore permitted
him the company of Marianne.
On the arrival OF the ships a, Cherbourg,
whittier they We're bound. Adolphe was
handed over TO the jurisdiction OF the naval
tribunal Of the district He was tried, and
condemned TO death; but, in consideration Of
the suilerings he had endured his previously
stainless character, and the representations OF
the captain Of the Louise and Commodore Lee
roux, be was par3oned by the King, on CON
dnion that he would forever banisn himself
from France.
Ia compliance with this lenient commuta-
ton OF his sentence, he repaired to the United
States. without delay. Need we say that
Marianne was not left behind.