Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-02-13

INTO the DOaL, as II was lO"eI0u "V"h3 anu put
off to the Waterwilch, las she was called) which
we soon reached, and coming alongside, what
was our surprise at finding large piece of the
root of the tree to which she had been fastened
when we left her, floating in The water, with the
chain cable fastened round it, whence we con-
cluded she had either been driven from her
mooring by some violent gale, or Use had been
powerfully attracted by the gold on board our
ship. We went aboard of the vessel, and found
everything there as we had left it, except the few
provisions we had left, which were partly con-
sumed, but whether the ship had been robbed,
or they had been devoured by vermin, we could
not at first determine, until on going down into
the cabin, we found an Abino ~ Sc Negro,
MS th3F are called. asleep tl.ares esV...Aahy awoke
surprised, and not little frightened at seeing
us. Being assured by us, however, that we
meant him no harm, he informed us, in answer
to our inquiries, that he came OH board out of
curiosity, and finding no one, and being very
hungry, he made free with what provisions he
found, and was calculating to quit the ship and
60 ashore as soon as he had appeased his appe-
tlte, but that before he had an opportunity TO
leave, the vessel started, broke loose, and loated
out to sea,-while he was siezed with drows-
ness he could not account for, and came down
into the cabin and fell asleep. We could now
readily divine the cause of the vessels unmoor-
ing herself and making way for us, and that
was the powerful attraction Of the gold we had
on board the Goldfnch To make ourselves
sure, however, that such was actually the case,
we resolved to try the experiment of wearing
the ship round to windward, on the opposite side,
and accordingly did so; when the Water
witch tackled her head round and stood towards
us as betore,-which circumstances SILLY corrob-
GRATED our conjectures.
1t was now that we proposed to the captain of
the Goldtinch to shift our cargo aboard the other
ship, TO which he consented on our paving him
one hundred dollars, in our new gold coin. We
then made haste to put our treasure aboard the
Waterwitch. In doing this, lump of gold ore
happened to fall into the water, when as quick
as thought half dozen sharks made snap at
1t, and as each one got a piece, we concluded
not much OF it went to the bottom.
Truly thought to myself, what wonderful
virtue there is in California gold It draws ships
from hundreds Of miles distance, and even bait
the VprU rnnnetaro nf tLo Iaa.3
. CHAPTER w.
K Having got our cargo aboard, took com
d mand OF the ship; and, judging from the expe
4 renee we had had, that some partEular dispos
ton OF the gold --- gslt,sto stee
her in a homeward direction, 'Ssred the bar
. we had got cast, to be carried to the forecastle
i and laid in box in form of triangle, with tn
r top end foremost, and the rough ore and dua
placed, part of it in the midship, and the rest
2 the hold, which disposition being made, l OIL
dered three cheers to be given, and shouting
e "Californa gold for New Bedford lowered til
o gold colored flag and ran up the American stal
and stripes, and clapping our hands, the Wate
e witch darted forward with speed that soon cal
j. ried us clear and past the West India Island
y and out of the Gulf of Mexico, into the brou
d Ocean, merrily cleaving the waves on her wa
e homeward; outstripping every ship we saw
lie head of us, without speaking any one of ther
at and in few days we came in sight of Ne
le Bedford, at which port we arrived about moo
" glad to reach our native shores again. Here "
IN landed our cargo-and as about one fourth
er our company belonged hereabouts Se divide
n. them off each their share and having no furth
at occasion for the ship, | resigned the commar
d, of her to New Bedforder for another trip
nd the Isthmus, for California, and hiring ty
no baggage wagons to transport the remainil
he shares belonging to myself and fellow adve
turers from Lucreville, fourteen Of as,) we f
e, out for home. Here we had fresh proof of t
on potent influence of our California treasure,
Oh though there were two span of horses to ca
to wagon, which we're large and long, the teal
on did not exhibit any signs of WEAKNESS whatev
nd but stepped off with the load as if there "
nothing of ourselves being mounsed on
to of it into the bargain.
nd Thus we logged on, driving, however, in
" great hurry till we reached the town where
to resided, where it was soon known as we
nto preached, for the neighbors came running ou
ac- meet US.
pie 'How much you got T" says one.
ook Dust, or Jumps" asks another --.a%-s--
EN- 'Oh, want to see the gold = eX53Sissiyl ball
TO score of little boys at once.
rse Needless of their cIamor, we proceeded
,iv- town to leave each mans share at his house
ure Coming to my fathers, my parents and broth
ng, came out to meet me, and to assist me in
and loading my treasure contained IN my bag
,ald box, which we carried into the house on
'oat sticks, two of us at each end, and it wa,
much as we could carry. We then dsmis
her our teamsters, by paying them quarter ef
the each for his trouble. And here, would W
eek ieve it ? after depositing our treas ,ras -
house, the old cat and kittc,.n como mo,
till round it. and old Pomp, n me buIl-doc smell
'ng and whined, as m1G. as to say, is this Cal
veS' ' ma gold you H,e got here p In short betv
"" tne lmrCOrtunitles Of all around, two legged
0" iEdr legged, nothing would answer but to
'rso the bag, which held about six bushels, ant
was box, which would hold about two, and let
see the treasure, You can easier imagine
lrd a describe the admiration and iov test6e,
ming each one in his own way Pompey barked
e u.s. wagged his tall,-Puss and kitty mewed
irate frisked about, while father and mother,
r The their spectacles on, looked at the lnmns
'n,- handled them over more than twenty time
oach, And my brothers Tom and Dick declare
&c N Ill u L. L ---