Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-03-18
FAYETTEVILLE, TENN, TUESDAY MARCH ls, 1851


mine that had sprung; for should th
flames reach the magazine meyitabl
destruction must ensue. Nor poulC
that catastrophe be much longel
postponed. The devouring elemen
had already gained possession ef al
around, and even now might bel eat
ing its way iravenously towards it
Besides, if paused a moment Longer
the fire would reach the companion
way, and all hope Of escape frona the
cabin cut off.
Had it been only my life that was
endangered, | would not have hasita-
ted in perllling it to the utmost; but
when | remembered that a dozelfeal;
liant fellows from my crew, as well as
tcora of others from the rescued, sui.
ferers, would be involved in my own
fate, | could not doubt as to my dtl-
I ty. These reflections, however, had
not occupied more than the instant
in which | had been throwing open
successiyely the doors Of the different
state-rooms. Alas, all were empty.
With Il heavy heart. | was about to
mount the companion way, when |
noticed that a massy curtain at the
farther end seemed to divide off a
smaller cabin aft the one | was III.
Without a moments delay l rushed
toward it, hastily lifted it aside, and
there beheld sight [ never shall for
get.
@ This after cabin was much small
er, but far more luxurious than the
other 1t was adorned with every
thing that taste could suggest, or
wealth afford. Ottemans ran COM
pletelE around it, forming kind of
divant At one side was a harp, and
beside it some music was scattered on
the lbor. But after the first hasty
survey | saw nothing but a group Of
two beings before me. One of them
was a grey haired man, apparently
about siXty-five, dressed in the gen
tlemanly costume Of former day.
Ha was bending wildly over the al
most inanimate form of a fair girl.
reclining on the cushions. Never
had l seen being VIII 3 looked moro
beautiful than that pale, hall-ftinting
creature setmed at that moment
One arm supp orted on the divan, and
the other was thrown around her faith
er's neck, the blue veins just dis
cernable as they stole along bReath
the ivory Skin. Her head rested Oh
the bosom of her parent, and the
hair, loose and unbounded, streamed
in dark, glossy ringlets her snowy
shoulders. At the noise made by my
entrance she started, raised her head,
and | could see through the tears
that glistened on her lashes, one IofI
the sweetest hazel eyes | had ever
looked upon. A quick flush shot
over her face, crimsoned it like a rose
leaf as she beheld a stranger; and
half starting to her feet, she essayed
a moment to speak, and then stood
with half opened LIS, gazing almost
wildly upon me.
For God s sake fly l cried, "the
ship is on fire in every part-we dan
barely escape by the companion way
in another moment we shall be
blown up-why hesitate? For hedv-
ems sake, come!n
"Oh. sir, God bless You for this
kindness-there is then hope, ex-
claimed The old man-:'but Isabel
has fainted,'' he continued: 'sgo, fly,
[ will die with her, he added ii q
voice of agony, vainly essaying to
raise in his enfeebled arms the seefh-
ingly lifeless form of his daughter.
l looked into her f Ice. The trafss-
itioa from calm despair to hope had
been too great, and she had indead
tainted. 1t was no, time to hesitate
Hastily raising the beautiful strap /
ger in my arms, | called upon tie
old man to folio dashed into the
front cabin, up the companion waf,
and to my utter horror, found the.i
flames had just crossed the entran noe.I
For but second paused Death
was behind, destruction, perhaps, be-
fore. Laying my hand upon the ofd
mans shoulder, | urged him ahead,
hurriedly threw the shawl of the fair
girl over her face, and made a bol9,
desperate push for life, and in another
instant, amid the cheers of my mdi,Y
had gained the quarterback. Tie
boat shot to the side, a dozen arlas
were extended to receive my burdeA. |
| carefully gave it in charge to the
on yoc+ ol,,,asst cI,,,,nr 4bo ol 4 man af !