Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-09-13

gagged to be married, stopping occasional
y to admire the flying fish, as they skim
ed over the surface Of the water, pursued
by the cruel destroyer, talking over the
anticipated bliss their union would confer,
their hopes, and fears, the approval Of
their parents their bright prospect, indulg-
ing in future scenes Of life "a steady as the
trade wind before which they were quiet
~ running, when suddenly ere soul
could interpose or ever suspect his
design, the cook rushed forward and bur-
ried his knife with one plunge into the
heart Of the unfortunate young man, who
fell without cry, as the exulting Portu-
CUES burst forth in Economical 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 dress, which was white, was
stained with blood. With an effort Char
les turned towards her, gave her one last
look Of fervent affection, and as the blade
left the wound, fell corpse in the arms
of him who held him.
By this time the captain had come on deck
He shed tears like child, for he loved
poor Charles as his own son. The exas-
perated crew would Instantly have fallen
on the assassin, and taken summary ven
geance, so truly attached had they been to
the chief mate, and were only kept with
in bounds 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
wretched betrothed was carried in state
Of insensibility to her cabin.
Eight bells had struck the following
evening, when received summons to
attend on deck. l, therefore, instantly
assembled, and found the whole of the
crew, dressed in their Sunday clothes, to-
gether with all the officers Of the ship,
and the male passengers assembled. The
men off duty were lying either side ofthe
deck: the captain, surrounded by all his
officers, was standing Immediately in front
of the poop; and the body Of the unfortu-
nate victim lay stretched on grating, over
which the national flag Of Denmark had
been thrown, Immediately in the centre.
In an instant saw that had been sum-
moned to be present at tbs funeral Of the
chief mate, and my heart beat high with
grief as uncovered my head and stepp-
ed on the quarter deck.
It was nearly dead calm; we had pass
ed the trades, and were fast approaching
the Line; the sun had begun to decline,
but still burnt with fervent heat; the
sails hung listlessly against the masts, and
the mainsail was praised up, in order to
allow the breeze, should any rise, to go
forward! / had observed all the morning
more sure indication Of our approaching
the torrid zone. Through the clear blue
water had remarked couple of sharks
following the vessel, accompanied by their
usual companion-the pilot fish. This
the. sailors had expected as matter of
course, as they superstitiously believe that
the monsters Of the deep always attach
themselves to ship in which dead boz
dy lies, anxiously anticipating their dread
full meal. In their appearance however,
only saw our usual announcement ofour
vicinity of the Line.
In such weather, placed in ship which
seems torepresent the whole world-shut
out from all save the little band that en-
circles us, with the wide and fatho,nless
element around us the eternal throne
from which God seems to look down up
on us; at one moment our voice rising in
solemn prayer for one we have loved, and
the next, the splash of the divided waters,
as they received in their bosom the crea-
ture He has made--all these, at such a
moment made the heart thrill with awe, a
closer fellowship with its Creator than
any resident on shore can know--a cons
ciousness Of the grandeur of God and the
feebleness of man, which those alone can
feel who ego down in ships, and see tine
wonders of the Deep
took may place with the other passen-
gers. Not word was spoken, for we
all believed we were about to witness the
last rites performed over our late friend,
and consequently stood in anxious silence;
when suddenly, steady tramp was heard,
and the larboard watch, with drawn cut
lasses, slowly marched down the waist,
escorting the murderer, whom they con-
Quoted to the side ofthecorpse, then with
drew few PAGES, and formed a line which
completed the hollow square.
We now began to exchange glances.-
Surely the assassin had not been brought
here to witness the burial of his innocent
victim; and yet what else could it be for?
Had it been for trial, Gas we had heard
that the Danes often proceeded to instant
investigation and summary punishment, J
we should probably have seen the tackle
prepared for hanging the culprit at the
yard arm. This however, was not the
case; and we all, therefore, felt puzzled
as to the meaning of the scene.
We were not long kept in doubt. The
second mate read from the paper which
he held in his hand the full powers dele
gatee to the captain to hold courts martial,
and carry their sentences into effect, the
law in similar cases, &c. Sc; and called
on the prisoner to know whether he would
consent to be tried in the Danish language.
To this he willingly assented; the court
was declared open.
The flag was suddenly Withdrawn from