Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-09-20

A SCENE AT SEA.

t6G2IY
amongst our countrymen in India, Parfit
ularly those who had valuable cargoc
NJ sea, and those who were about to retur
10 their native land. was one OF tn
latter class; so joyfiilly accepted pas
sage home on board Dane-Dcnmark
. yet. remaining nedter in our quarrel.
So far as luxury went, certainly foun'
her very inferior to our regular lndiamcn
but, - . sailor. she was far superior, ant
10 point Of discipline, her crew was as wei
regulated, and as strictly commanded. a,
the crew Of British man -of-war. IN fact
sach order, regularity, and implicit obcdi
encc, could never have believed to exis
% board a merchantmen.
The chief mate was one Of the fines
young men ever saw. lie had just beer
promoted TO his present post-not from tho
mere fact Of his being the owners son
but really from sterling merit. He was
beloved by the crew. amongst whom he
bad served, as is usual in the Danish ser.
vice, fve years, aud was equally popula,
viii his brother officers, and the passen.
fess returning TO Europe.
The only bad character we had on
board vas the cook, q swartly, Unlocking
Portuguese. who managed, somehow OF
other, daily TO cause some disturbance
smongst the seamen. For this he had
caen been reprimandcd; and the evening
when this sketch opens. he had just been
released from irons, into which he had
been ordered for four and twenty hours
by the chief mate, for having attempted to
poison sailor. who had offended him
IN return for having punished him thus
severely. the irritated Portuguese swore TO
revenge himself on the first officer
Inc mate. who was called Charles. was
walking in the waist with beautiful Young
English girl. to whom he was engaged TO
be married. stopping occasionally 10 adj
mire the flying fish, as they skinned over
Ne surface Of the wafer, pursued by their
cruel destroyer, talking over the anticipa.
Jed bliss their union would confer, their
hopes and fears, the approval of their pa.
snts, their bright prospects indulyinc in
hture scenes Of life, as steadily as the
tsade.wind before which they were quietly
running-when suddenly. ere soul could
hhefpOse, or even suspect his design, the
cook rushed forward and buried his knife.
With one plunge, into the heart of the un-
briunatc young man. who fell without a
cry, as the exultng Portuguese burst forth
INTO demOniac laugh of triumph.
Unconscious of the full extent of her
Bereavement, the poor girl hung over him: /
and as friend, who had rushed forward
TO support him. drew the knife from his
bosom. her whole dress. which was white.
vas stained with his blood With an
effort, Charles turned toward her. gave
'ier one last look Of fcrvent affection. and.
Z lxIc 1,G al II
INTO the arms of him who held him.
By this time the captain had come on deck. !
lie shed tears like a child, for he loved .
poor Charles as his own son. The cxas-
t'eratcd crew would instantly have fallen
IN the assassin. and taken summary vengc-
ance-so truly attached had they been 10
the chief mate-and were only kept With
id hounds by their commanders presence.
The cook. who appeared to glory in his
deed, was instantly seized and confined.
The corpse was taken below. while the
wretchcd bctrothed was carried, in a state
Of insensiblity. TO her cabin.
Eight bells had struck the following
evening, when | received summons TO
attend on deck. l. therefore. Instantly
ascended, and found the whole of the crew.
dressed in their Sunday clothes. together
Nth all the officers of the ship. and the
male passengers. assembled. The men
III duty were lining either side of the
ieck; the captain. surrounded by his
'meers. was standing Immediately in front
= the poop, and The body Of the unfortu-
late victim lay stretched on a grating. =.
'vcr which the national flag Of Denmark
lad been thrown. Immediately in the cen
re- In an instant. saw that had been
to be present at the funeral of
10 chief mate. and my heart beat high a
nth grief as ! uncovered my head, and >
Topped on :he quarter deck f
II was nearly dead calm; we had pas
90 inc trades. and were fast approaching j,
Ae Line: the sun had begun to decline. =
ut still burnt with fervent heat: the sails ="
Jung l'stlessly against the masts. and the y, !"
'ainsail was brailed up, in order to allow !,
ae breeze, should any rise. TO 90 forward. 81
had observed all the morning a still more :, -
IRE Indication of our approach to the tor y =,
= zone. Through the clear blue water. =.
had remarked couple Of sharks follow. y
y the vessel, accompanied by their usual -
omPanions. the pilot fish. This the sal :.
MS had expected as matter Of Course -
they supers,itiously believe that these
aonsters Of the deep always attach them y
elves to ship in which dead BODY lies, =
,'ns,oosiy anticipating their DIRE adful meal. :,
|. '"c'r appearance. however. only saw ;,
nc usaai announcement Of our vicinity TO =, ).
!, IN such weather. placed in a ship. s
'"'cn seems to represent the whole world y,
, !, OUT from all save the little band
men enc'rcies us, with the wide and :,
'momiess elements around us-,he etbe. -. ~
eal throne from which God seems n ,o,,, ~ :,
own upon US: at one moment our VOC. III
sung IN solemn prayer for one we have ="
.seo' aud the next, the r!ash Of the ~
'uoed waters. as they receive in their ~
'som the creature Tie has made-all ~
ese' at such moment. make the heart -.
'.li with deeper awe-a closer fellow. J..
up win ITS Creator-than anv residen. =.
shore can know-a consciousness 81 ~
9 grandeur Of God and the feebleness
man, which those alone can feel who
p down in ships, and see the wonders ter
the deem o"oe'S II;