Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-03-24
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The Wrecker.
A CORNISH LEGEND.

tnat the Oewlldered mariner, installing
1t for the light of vessel might be in
duced to shape his course towards it.
This atrocious expedient was too often
successful. The devoted crew dreamed
not of their danger until warned of it,
too late by the foaming breakers that
burst upon them from the shore; and
the vessel speedily became the prey of
a set of ruthless barbarians, who to Sc
cure themselves IMMUNITY in their plum
der, often murdered those who escaped
drowning, and then called their booty a
"God send"
In small hovel, on the craggy shore
of deep and dangerous bay on the coast
of Cornwall, dwelt one of those wretch
es, an old hardened desperate, who uni
ted in himself the fisherman, the SNUG
gler and the wrecker, but this last was
his favorite occupation; and such was the
confidence of his companions in his ex-
perience in this capacity, that he was
usually appointed their leader, and rare
ly failed in his Office. Hi; wife, too en-
couraged him, and not unfrequently aid
ed him in his ubiquitous exploits. Dis
gusted with the wickedness of his par
ents, their only son left his home in ear
ly life, and sought to obtain an honora-
BILE subsistence as the mate Of a West
India trader.
1t was period when long and prof
ftless summer and autumn had nearly
passed away, that Terloggan, like the
vulture, ever watchful for his prey, was
more than usually observant Of the signs
of the heavens; nor was any one, more
capable than himself of discovering the
most distant indications of tempest
Nature had for several months worn a
placid and most encouraging aspect
The soft and azure Ky seemed to rest
upon the transparent sea, and the slow
ly expanding waves swept with slow
murmurings along the shining sands Of
the deep bay with wild and monoto-
nous FLASHING, that seemed to strike like
the voice Of prophecy upon the ear.
Not more hateful were the glorious beams
of the orb of day to the fallen Luciter,
as described by our great poet, than was
the quiescent state of nature to the dark
mind of Terloggan. In his Impotence
he cursed the protracted season of tran
guilty, and hailed the approaching pc
Rod of storms as more congenial not on
ly to the gloomy temper Of his SOU"
but to his interests. At length he saw,
with smile Of savage satisfaction, the
sun sink in angry red beneath tile dim
and cloudy horizon, heard with secret
exultation the murmuring of the winds :;
and beheld the blackened waves rising
into fury, and lashing the lofty rocks
with their ascending spray. Asthe night
advanced in chaotic darkness the horrors
of the tempest increased; and the loud
and long blasts of the contending Gle
ments rung out upon the ear like the
death knell of departed soul.
"Now's thy time" calculated the old
bag his wife, " go thy way out upon the
cliffs, there's death in the wind Ter
Logan speedily equipped himself and
assembled the steep promentory at the
entrance of the bay. The usual eXpe
dent was resorted to and he soon observ-
ed light at sea as if in answer to his
signal. His prey seemed already in his
grasp. Tho light evidently approached
nearer; and before an hour had elasped,
the white, close-reefed sails Of the YES
SCI could be dimly discovered through
the darkness, and the appealing cry Of
the seameR atthe discovery of their dan
ger distinctly heard. Signal-guns Of
distress were Immediately fired, and tie
loud commands, az hands on deck, and
about ship, were vociferated in despair
Every exertion was made to wear the
vessel from the shore but the redeenng
moment was past, the ship was complete
ly embayed, and neither strength nor
skill were of any avail in everting her
impending fate. In a few minutes a
tremendous crash, anil heart-rendinG
but fruitless cry for hel p, announced the
horrid catastrophe; and the last flashing
signal-gun revealed for = moment scene
too terrible to be described The strand
ed vessel hurled repeatedly against the
jagged rocks of the bay, soon parted;
the waves dashed over her shattered hull
with relentless fury, bearing to the shore
the scattered cargo, broken peiccs Of the
wreck, and the tattered rigging; whilst
the mingled shriekS of the drowning
blended with the roar Of the conflicting
elements, rose upon the ear like the DIES
pairing cries Of an army of dying TitanS.
There was one, however, in whose
eyes such a scene was joyous, in whose
ears such sounds were melody; and that
being was Terloggan. He waited I'M
patiently until the storm had somewhat
abated; and when silence began to midi
cate that the work of death was well
nigh over, he descended the well known
cliffs TO dart upon his prey. Unmoved
BY the horrid spectacle, (for the moon
had broken from the clouds by which
she had before been concealed he stood
awhile gazing upon the scene of desola-
ton around him, at loss where first to
begin his work OF rapine. But to his
surprise and momentary dismay, there
was yet one living soul on board, who,
should he survive, would inierpcse be-
tween him and his hard-oarncd booty,
and who was even row loudly supplica-
ting his assistance. To dispatch this
unhappy creature in his exhausted and
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