Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-25

them gave place to energetic resolution,
and in an incredibly short space of time
the boats were in the water. "Well
done, my fine fellows There is plenty
OF time, l again repeat. Four of YOU
and he named them" remain with me.
Three others jump into each of the large
boats, two into the small one, and bring
them round to the landWard side of the
ship. A rush would swamp the boats.
and we shall be able to keep only one
gang-way clear
The passengers were by this time
rushing upon deck half.elad, and in q
state Of the widest terror, for they all
knew there was large quantity of gun.
powder on board. The instant the boats
touched the starboard side of the bark,
then, white a. well as eolored, forced
their way with frenzisd eagerness before
the women and children-careless, appa.
rently, whom they sacrificed so that they
might themselves leap to the shelter Of
the boats from the iery volcano ringing
beneath their feet.-CaptAin Starkey,
aided by four athletic seamen he had Sc
lected for the duty, hurled them fercely
back. Back. back !" he shouted. 1--WE
must have funeral order here--first the
women and children, next the old men.
Hand Sonora Arguellas along; next the
young lady her daughther: quick p
AS Donna Antonia, more dead than
alive, was about to be lifted into the boat,
a gush of flame burst through the main
hstchwsy with the roar of an explosion /;
a tumultuous burst from the frenEied pas
sengers, and they jostled each other with
frightful violence in their efforts to reach
the gangway. Dupont forced his way
through the lane of sesmen with the en-.
ergy of q madman. and pressed so sud-
denly upon Antonia that, but for the ut
most exertion of the captains herculean
strength, she must have been precipitated
into the water.
Back, unmanly bastard /! back, dog l"
roared Captain Starkey. terribly excited
by the lsdy's danger; and moment
after, seizing Dupont fiercely by the col
lar, he added cor if you will, look there
but for a moment" and he pointed with
his pistol-hand to the fms of several
sharks plainly visible in the glaring light
at but few yards distance from the
ship. Men" he added, "let whoever
presses forward out of his turn fall into
the water"
cay, ay, sir p WAS the prompt me-
chemical response.
This terrible mensnce instantly restored
order the colored woman and children
were next embarked, and the boat ap.
peared full.
"Pull of, was the order; "you are
deep enough for safety"
A cry, faint as the wall Of child,
arose in the boat. 1t was heard and un-
derItood.
"stay one moment pass along Senior
Argusllas. Now, then, off with you, and
be smart -
The next boat was quickly loaded the
colored lads and men, all but one, and
three Americans. went in her.
"You are noble fellow" said Mr..
Desmond, pausing an instant, and catch
ing at the captains hand; "and l was
but fool too"-
"PAss on" was the reply: "thero is
no time to handy compliments"
The order to shove off had passed the
captains lips when his glance chanced to
light upon me, as leaned, with terror,
just behind him against the vessels bull
warks.
"Hold on a moment |" he cried.
I" Here is a youngster whose weight will
not hurt you; and he fairly lifted me
over. and dropped me gently into the
boat, as he did SO Remember me,
Ned, to thy father and mother should
not see them again"
There was now only the small boat,
capable of safely containing but eight per-
sons. and how. it was whispered among
us-how in addition to the two sesmen
already in her, can she take off Lieuten-
ant Arguellas, NJ. Dupont, the remaining
colored man, the four seamen, and Cap
tain Starkey? They were. however, all
speedily embarked except the captain.
Can she bear another ?" he asked,
and although his voice was firm as ever,
his countenance, / noticed was ashy pale,
yet full as ever of answering resolution.
1--WE must, and will, sir, since it's you
but we are dangerously oyercrowded now,
especially with yOn ugly customers swim
ming round uS.
"Stay one moment; cannot quit the
ship whilst there's living soul on board" 4"
He stepped hastily forward, and presently
re-apPeared at the gangway with the still
senseless body Of the ieutenant's servant
in his arms, and dropped it over the side
into the boat. There was cry Of indig'
nation, but it was ONO avail. The boats
rope the next instant was cast into the
water" Now pull for your lives !" The
oars, from the instinct Of self-preseTvation,
instantly fell into the water, and the boat
sprang of. Captain Starkey, now that
all except himself were clear Of the burn.
ing ship, gazed eagerly with eyes shaded
with his hand in the direction Of tbs
shore, Presently he hailed the head
most boat. 1--WE must have been seeI
from the shore long ago. and Pilot-bOat