The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-10-26
THE DAILY DISPATCH
WRECK AND Rim.
A SCENE IN THE BAY OF NAPLES.


SCENE In THE BAY OF NAPLES.
In October, lS4S, | went over to the Island
of Capri, some twenty miles from Naples. TO
enjoy rustic festival. Our party consisted
OF some Englishmen and some Italians. The
latter being in the service Of the Government
had fixed limit 10 their leave of ABSENCE
When the morning arrived that was appointed
for the departure Of our Italian friends, we ac-
companied them to the shore, where they
made their arrangements for the passage back
10 the mainland. There was a strong west
and-by- wind roaring round the Island,
and the sea looked dangerous; but in Napl g,
where there is no career for young man out
OF Government employ, an official must not
trihe with his post. The preparations, there.
lore, for the launching ofthe boat went on.
1t was one of those wide bottomed boats,
commonly used in the port of Naples, upon
which the stranger starts out for a moonlight
row to Posilppo, OF betakes himself with his
portmanteau and his carpet bag, or with his
wife and her pill box full of few things, to
the steamer. Such boats are not made for rid.
ing oa a stormy sea. The men preparing to
put out that morning were our two friends,
the officials, and two boatmen. One of the
passengers was hailed by the Captain of
good strong bark upon the point of starting.-
~Come with, us, Raffaelucsio: ii; will be mad
ness to sail out in that cockleshel through
such a seal"
Raffaeiluccio, delicate youth, replied that
he was no coward. He had come in the boat,
aud might 90 back in the boat, with the Ma
donna's blessing. The other passenger was
a s,ouI black bearded man. and the two boat
men were youth and weather beaten sailor
from the port of Naples.
The little harbor at Capri is so sheltered
from certain winds that there is often decep-
tive smoothness IN lis waters. 1t was only by
locking ont TO sea that one detected, on
that wild October morning, how the waters
writhed under the torture OF the wind. Far As
the eye could reach, the sea was covered with
those smaller storm waves, called in the
phrase OF the country pecors. These, as the
(caraAont) which came rolling on upon our
little island, and dashed violently against the
coast of hassa and Sorrantc.
The boat had been showed off, and had re.
turned for some article, left accidentally be-
hind. A group of weatherwise old sailors
threnged about the foolhardy crew, in vain
urging them to wait for fairer weather; but
they put Quito sea again, and made stra ght
for the cape, under the summer palace of Ii
berius.
This is a well known point, which boatmen
often seek when they desire to catch direct
wind for their passage TO the mainland. The
gale that had been blowing round the island
appeared TO pour out from this point its undi-
! vided force, and beat the with strength
almost irresistible. We saw the mast Of the
little boat snapped the moment it had reached
the cape, and the crew put back, not to await
calmer weather, but 10 seek another tempo
rary mast, and start again. No threat or
persuasion could detan the Italians, who
feared to exceed their term of leave. A rude
mast was selup, and again the boat started,
| leeping across wave after wave. We saw no
! more Of it. 81 wstcn ned it for some distance"
said the captain 'the bark, -hich had started
at the same time. "rhsir mast bent as thou Oh
it would break at every puff Of wind, and the
| little sail huttsred like a handkerchief upon
| the waves. In moment il disappeared, and
we knew that our forebodng had proved true"
| The rest Of the tale had from the lips Of the
| blac bearded official, the sole survivor; and
| a wilder tale Of human passion does not Oft en-
| foil within the bounds Of sober truth.
The old mariner al starting had been placed
| at the helm, as the most competent man OF
! the party; but there was an alarming differ
| snce between the eddies, currents and billOws
| al the Cape, and the smooth waters OF the Bay
| of Naples. A monstSOus easAIIeas appeared
in the distance, leaping, roaring, foanlng.-
| 1t was close upon their quarter; lis crest
| oveihung them and IN an instant said ny
| informant, they were swallowed up. The
| boat was overturned, but the crew-s.rug-
Cling desperately for iife-rose with it oscs
| more TO the surfsse, ciingng 10 its bottom. In
| their last agony they glared upon each other,
| face 10 face among The beating waves, and the
| loud exscIations of his companions were
| poured paseionateiy on the ancient mariner,
whose want Of skill was cursed as tae fatal
eause of their despair. The hold OF the poor
| old fellow, weak with age and faint with emo
| ton, had not strength enough to bear up amid
Il sfeYs n p
| laxed, the others watched his weakness with
| q 6sndish satisfaction. at is some consOla-
tion," exclaimed one, "to see you die first, tool
"a , ou are" He did not hear the latest male-
! dictions, but went down in the deep sea.
The next who died was Raffaelluccio, upon
| whose daily work the daily bread ofa mother
and three children depended. 81 am stiff with
cold, and can hang on no longer, ne SAID 10
his companion. "Get on my shoulders" was
the answer Of the strong man; and 80 ne DID
and so he died, the living man with the dead
weight upon him, graphing still for life, and
drifIpe before the storm. The young boatman,
the other survivor, trembling himself upon the
brink on eternity, crept round 10 the dead DO
DIV. nd having robbed il Of = watch and chain,
and other valuabes, pushed II from the snoui-
ders of his friend into the sea. so there only
remained these two men, clinging to the boat
and gazing on each other aDx!oaeiy.
The thought 0AQ cIoseeu thc h1'"e W ~.
Young man that if they lived until they should
bs thrown ashore, the surviving passenger
would requir. that he should deliver up the
-s,ch and other yaluablss 10 the family OF
Rsa.elluceio. He may rot have taken 'hem
with a design Of theft. Tie prooso!y saw .nai
IN. dead body numbered his eonpanop' aug
.omu,;,,ed il from a good human motive 10 the
sea. having removed the je.elry. .sd.. bu. 20 &c.
rsin possession Of the property MS eohscieece
did 10, bid him shrink from murder; x.aa.
a.nec,,d blow would silence his companion
md leave him on the boat to diff TO land.
sais survivor, quietly made richer BY the
rysek. Il read it in his eyes" said MY inior-
mani. .Ths devil was 10 them, and l wstcn
ed him we'll; but happy sea raised his side OF
N. bo,.-thaI was his opportunity; and imme-'
dis,eIy b. struck heavy blow spou my head;
If he vas The younger was the stronger, and
he summoned me 10 struggle for my hie, or
for tina, chance Of life which either OF us had
'oA n - -.,sr. Thare waan n horn.