The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-08-10
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Story of the Burning Ship.


pened to be in the southern part of the
United States, when some affairs of i'm
portancc required my speedy appearance
in Italy The delay which would have
occurred by coming to New York to en-
bark, and the Inconvenience of travelling
by land at that season, induced me to
engage n passage at once in vessel
which was about to sail from Charleston,
laden with cotton for Marseilles. The
ship was commanded by Captain s..
who was also the owner of the cargo
Without any noteworthy occurrence.
we had arrived within few days sail of
the coast Of Spain, when we spoke ship
which had just come to Marseilles the
vessels exchanged the latest papers of
their respective countries and went on
again in their several courses. When
the French gazcttes were opened within
our ship, our captain read with unexpec
ted delight that SO small was the supply
of cotton in the market, and so strong
the demand for it that the next vessel
which arrived with freight of it, might
command almost any price which the av-
arice of the owner should dictate. The
wind viii ch had been for some days set
ting a little towards the south, was at
this time getting round to the cast, and
promised to bring us without delay, di-
rcctly to the Mediterranean. The cap
tain perceived that, by availing himself
to the utmost of this freshening breeze
he might pretty certainly realize splen
did fortune consideration which, as
had for years struggled with little sue
cess in the pursuit Of wealth, filled him
with enthusiastic JOY. Every sail wa;
expanded to the wind, and we advanced
with the greatest fapidity.
On the following morning light was
deserted to the west, apparently directly
in the course which we were making; as
we proceeded briskly, however, it fel
considerably to the south of us, and W.
perceived that it was a ship on fire. The
light increased every moment, aud thu
signal guns fell upon our ears with dis
tressing rapidity. The captain was a
this time pacing the deck, as he hac
done almost constantly since the iutelli
gence had reached him from the passnl
vessel for the rostlcssness of expectation
scarcely allowed him to repose for a mo
ment. his eyes directed resolutely towar,
the north; and though the light glare,
unshunnable, and the frequent shot
could not b. unheard and the commotioi
and exclamations of the passengers coul'
not be unnoticed, his glance never fel
upon the object which engrossed all 9th
crs.
After few moments of intense won
der and excitement among the passeu
gets and crew at the silence of our CAP
tain, tho steersman called out to hin
and asked if he should not turn out t.
the distressed vessel but the othe
rudely ordered him to attend to his owl
concerns A little while after at the 50
lictation of the whole company on board
| went up to the captain, and said to hin
that | deemed it my duty to inform him
that the universal desire Of his crew wa
that relief should bo given to the bur
ming ship. He replied with agitation
that the vessel could not be saved, an,
that he would only lose wind and i'm
mediatoiy went down to the cabin an,
locked the door. He was a kind heart
ed man by nature, and on the ordinar,
occasions, few would have taken create
trouble to benefit fellow being. Blu
the prospect of riches was too much 70
his virtue ; the hope of great gain dc
voured all tho better feelings of his ma
ture, and made his heart as a stone. /
his mother had shrieked from the flames
do not believe he would have turnet
from his course.
The crew, in this condition of things
had nothing to do but to lament thu
masters cruelty, and submit to it. They
watched the fiery masses, conscious thai
a large number of their brethren were
perishing, within their sight, who, by
their efforts might probably be saved. II
was not for several hours that the cap
tain appeared upon the deck, and from
his appearance then, imagined tho con
flict during his solitude must have been
severe and trying. stood near him as
he came up, His face had a rigid YET
anxious look-thc countenancc of "a man
who had brayed, yet feared some shock
His back was turned from the quarter
from which We came, and in that posi-
tion he addressed me calmly in some in
different observations. While the con
versation went on, he cast frequent and
hurried glanoes to the south and east
till his eyes had swept the whole hori
zon, and he had satisfied himself that the
shin was no longer in viov. ho then
turned round, and with an affected gay
ETY., but real uneasiness which was ap
parent in the random character Of his
remarks drew out his glass and having
by long and scrutinizing examination
satisfied his fears, at length recovered
his composure.
When We reached our destination, i
found ship just preparing to sail for
Florence, and took my passage, leaving
the captain to dispose of his cargo at
leisure. ABOUT eight months after
this, when | had almost forgotten the
occurrence, ! was sitting in the private
parlor Of "a London hotol, when letter
was put into my hands from Captain
S.. 1t stated that the writer, who
was in tho city, had heard Of my arrival
and would esteem it great kindness il
| would visit him at my earliest leisure;
my coming would be of the utmost i'm
portance to himself and others his SER
want, it added waited to show me the
way. Immediately set ont to comply
with the request.