The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-07-11

course-as they supersti,iously believe iha
these monsters Of the deep always a,tacl
themselves 10 ship in which a dead bod,
lies, ahxiously anticipating their dreadful
neal, In their appearance, however, | only
saw the usual announcement Of our vicinity
to the Line. q ~
In such weather, placed in a ship which
seems to represent the whole world-shul
out from al save The little band which en-
circles US, with the wide and fathomless ele-,
ment around us--ths eihereai throne from
] which God seems 10 Look down upon US: al
Zone moment touf voice rising in solemn praye.
for one we have lossdy and the nexg ihe
plashiDg OF the divided waters, as they re-
ceive in their bosom a creature He has made
all these, at such a moment, make the
heas:p:Lri.l with a,deeper awe---a closer fel-
lowship with It's creator--than any residen.
on shore can kpOw--a consciousness Of the
grandeur of God and the feebleness Of man.
which those alone can feel who ssgo down in
ships, and see the wonders Of the deep"
/ took my'place with the other passengers
Not word was spoken, for we all believed
that we were about 10 witness the last rites
performed oaef our late friend, and, ccnse I
quehhy, stood in anxiods silence, when sud-
denly heavy tramp was heard, and the lar
board watch, with drawn cutlass, slowly
marched down the waist, escorting the mur-,
derer, whom they conducted, to the side of
the corpse, then Withdrew a few PAGES, and
formed line, which completed the hollow
square. as w N ,.5
We now began 10 exchange glances Sure
ly the assassin had not been brought to wit
ness The burial of his uctim--and yet what
else could il be for? Had it been for trial,
las we had heard that the Danes often pro-
ceeded TO instantnvestigation and summary
punishmenf) we should probably have seem
the tackle prepared for hanging the culprit at
the yard-arm. This was not the case; and
we all therefore, felt puzzled at the meaning
of the scene.
We we're not long kept in doubt The
second mate read from a paper, which he
held in his hand; the full powers, delegated
to the captain to hold tourtmartial, and carry
their sentences into effect; The law in similar
cases; &C., &C., and called on the priaonef
to know whethet he would consent 10 be tr-
ed in the Danish lahgdage. rs tiiS he viii
lingy assented; and the court was declared
open.
The flag was Withdrawn from the face of
the corpse; and even the monster who had
struck the blow shuddered as he beheld the
calm almost seraphic look Of him whom he
had stricken. FI f}b
The trial now proceeded in the mos: SOL
emn manner. Evidence of The crime was
adduced, and the deed clearly brought home
TO the accused, / confess that my blood
turned cold when | saw tile knife produced,
which had been used as the instrument Of the
murder; and the denon-like smile Of the
prisoner as lie beheld itj stained as it was
with the blood of one who had been forced
by his duty TO punish him..
After strict investigation, the captain ap-
peaed TO all present, when the prisoner was
unanimously declared guilty.
The officers put on their hats, and the cap
tain proceeded TO pass sentence. Gfeat was
my surprise (not understanding one word
which the commander said) TO see the cul-
prit throw himself on his knees, and begin
TO sue for mercy. After the unfeeling and
obdurate manner in which he had conducted
himself, such an appeal was unaccountable,
for il was quite evident he did not fear death,
or repent the deed he had cnmrnitted. What
threatened torture could thus bend his hard |
ened spirit, was at loss to conjecture.
Four men now approached and lilied up I
the corpse. A similar number seized the |
prisoner, while ten oftyclpe oihersapproacl- (
ed with strong cords. In moment, under
stood the whole, and could not wonder at the
struggles Of the murderer, as l saw him LASH
ed back to back, firmly, tightly, without the
power TO move, to the dead body of his VIC
tim. His cries we're stopped by sort of
gag, ind, writhing as he was, he, with the
body, was laid on the grating, and carried TO
the gangway. The crew mounted on the
netings, and up the shrouds. A few pray
ers from the Danish burial service were read h
by the chaplain on board, and the dead and
the living. the murderer and his victim, were
launched into eternity together.
As the dreadful burden separated the clear
waters, a sudden fash darted through their |
and a general shudder went 4
round, as each one felt il was the expectant 4
shark that rushed forward for his prey. IN
caught glance Of the living man'soye ashe |
was falling; it haunts ME even to this moment
--there was more than agony in il! Il
We paused only for al few minutes, and
imagined we saw some blood-stains rising to
he surface. No one among us could remaipl /
10 see more. We turned away, and sought lf,
10 forget the slern and awe-inspiring punish
nent we had seen enacted. n
OF course, strange sights were related as /,
having appearedato the watches that night. = /,
For myself, ! can only say, that was GLAD /.