Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-07-26


flames, some frantically crying out
for mercy, some cursing and blasphe-
ming awfully in their agony, and
some stretching out their hands inn
ploringly for help.
"Give way, my men, give way
will you see them miserably burnt to
death before your eyes?" shouted,
rising in the boat and waving my
cap to the sufferers, forgetting in the
excitement of the momont the immi-
nency of our own danger in case of
an explosion. The poor wretches
on the quarter of the burning ship
answered back with hysteric shout.
Our gallant tars started like mettled
hounds at the cry, and with few
vigorous strokes we dashed up to the
quarter.
Keep her off there" I shouted,
seeing that we should be swamped
by the eagerness of the sufferers to
to escape, keep her of-jump over
board, and we'll pick you up,'' con-
tinued, as well fell off from her quar-
ter again; and in less than three min
utes the deck was bare, and our
boats full of the rescued crew.
"Mr. Danforth," at this moment
shouted Tafirail, FROM the other boat
ahead, there's lady and her father
they say here, still on board-for
heavens sakelet us try to save them"
For one moment as / remembered
my orders, and the extremity of our
danger paused; but when / reflect
ed that by departing, we should
abandon two human beings to hor-
rid death, / hesitated no longer.-
Hastily learning from the mate of the
vessel that they were their only pas
sengers, and having taken refuge in
the hold during the late conflict, had
since been forgotten, and not feeling
warrantedm in ordering any one on so
dangerous service, | gave the boat
in charge to Irvine, who had luckily
smuggled himself on board, sternly
bade one or two Of crew who at
tempted to follow, to keep their sta
tons, mounted her side by a rope that
hung over the quarter, rapidly ira
versed the deck in the MIDST of tre-
mendous heat, and darted down the
companion-way, leaving the flames
roaring not five feet from its entrance.
The cabin was a large one, and
fitted up with extraordinary tsste.-
The decorations were eveniux,,rious
and such as L had at that time rarely
seen In merchantmen. The state
rooms We're of mahogany, inlaid
with still darker wood, which /
knew not the name of, and finished
off with the greatest elegance. Cur
tains, apparently of damask hung
around, and the show Of silver and
cut glass by the companion-way was
even brilliant. The cabin, was how
ever, still as death. A lady's glove
lay on an ottoman, and beside it was
on open hook; but no other traces
OF human being were discernible
around. Where could the owner of
that small, delicate French glove be?
Was she already a victim to the
frightful clement! had the mate de-
ceived himself in suppoging she had
been removed from the hold /? was
there no hope, if she still lived, of
reaching her in time to save her from
horrid death?
All these questions flashed rapidly
across my mind, and my heart sick
ened as ] owned could not answer.
The danger, meanwhile, grew more
and more imminent. Twas STANDING.
as it were, above mine that had
been sprung; for should the flames
reach the magazine inevitable des-
tructlon must ensue. Nor could that
catastrophe be much longer post
poned. The devouring element had
already gained possession of all
around, and even now might be eat
ing lis way TO the magazine. Be-
sides if | paused moment longer
the fire would reach the companion
way, and all hopes of escape from
the cabin be cut off. Had it been
only my own life that was endaneer-
cred, | would not have hesitated in
perillng it to the utmost, but when |
remembered that dozen gallant
fellows ofmy crew, as well as score
OF others from the rescued sufferers,
would be involved in my own fate, |
could not doubt as to my duty
These reflections, however, had not
occupied more than the instant in
which ] had been throwing open sue
cessively the doors of the various
state-rooms. Alas! all were empty.
With heavy heart /
was about TO mount the companion
way, when noticed that a massive
curtain at the further end seemed to