Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-23

every second | expected to go under, or
be capsized, and so drown. This not oc.
curing, began to look about. found
the cord by which was tied passed over
my shoulder. | managed to get it in my
mouth, and soon gnawed it apart. This
loosened my hands so that in few min:
utes freed myself and sat up. With an
old cup, that found in the boat, bailed
out the water, and then, breaking up one
of the seats, managed the little affair
so as 10 ship no more of the waves, and
in this way rode out the storm and the
night.
"By morning the wind had somewhat
subsidized, but so exhausted was by fear
and fatigue, that was forced to lie down,
and soon was sound asleep. When |
woke the sun was settling, and far as |
could see on every side, was dreary
waste of waters. Strange as it may
sound, was greatly relieved. feared
nothing so much as falling again into the
hands of that terrible mob.
"Ihe full moon came out making the
scene as light almost as day, and, a gen.
tie breeze springing up, | took my coat,
fastened it on the broken seat, and with
this for a sail drifted, near as | could
make out by the stars, in north. easterly
direction. knew, sooner or later, |
must strike the Canada shore, but how
far | had been carried in the storm, |
could not, Of course determine. Through
that long nigt | hoated on. I saw the
moon go down, and the stars fade into
the cold grey light of morning, and then
the sun came up with the clear, calm day,
but no land could be seen-nothing but
glittering water. | imagined at one time
seeing in the dim distance sail, but if
one, it Immediately disappeared. About
noon noticed something floating near
me, and on padding my boat alongside,
found it a bale Of goods, carefully corded
together | fastened it, almost without
motive, to my boat, and again lying down,
was soon asleep. | was awakenened by
a shout, and, starting up; found,l was
running close to a wooded shore, and a
number of men staring in wonder at my
appearance. In answer to my request,
one of them waded in and pulled my
ahoat to the land. i learned, to my great
relief, that had reached the Canada side,
within Il few miles o.. 1t was sup.
posed that had been shipwrecked, to
which my bale of goods at once gave
coloring, and secured for me a kind re.
ception. On opening this bale, next day,
found it filed with costly silks and vel
vets, and so admirably packed that the
water had not damaged them. This had
probably been lost from some wreck in
the late storm, and noting the address,
with the intention Of rc-paying some day,
sold the contents, and with proceeds ]
went to New York, where /, after my
mothers death, joined an expedition fit
ting out for, in South America. In
this new home | married, and engaged
in merchandise. There | lived until ]
learned, a fewmonths since, my innocence
of that cruel deed had been made known
by the confession Of the real criminal"
When he had finished recounting his
strange escape, the lawyer, rising abrupt.
ly, caught him by the arm, and pointed
to the open window. They looked and
saw gaunt figure, with sunken eyes,
pale cheeks, and long grey hair, in the
gloom of the evening, move silently
along.
"That," said the lawyer, is Mr..
H. Since the night Of criminals
confession, his intellect, never strong, has
been complete wreck. Every evening
he wanders to the lake. If stormy, no
entreaties can induce him to seek shell
ter. but hour after hour he PAGES the
shore, as if every moment he expected
some revelation from its troubled waters"