The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-04-08
TIL f w II T. c H f IL.
A CORNISH LEGEND.

Towadrs the close of the sixteenth century,,
| horrid custom prevailed on The coast of Corn |
wall, England ofluring vessels to their de-
struction in stormy weather. by fastening a !
lantern to horses head, and leading it about
on the cliffs,in order that the bcwillcrcd mar
incr, mistakns it for the light of vessel
might be induced to shape his course towards
it. This atrocious cxpcdicnt was often sue
cessfnl. The devoted crew dreamed not Of
their danger until warned of it, too late, by
the toaminC breakers that burst upon them
from the shore; and the vessel speedily be-
came the prey of a set of ruthless barbarians.
who to secure themselves impunitv, in their
rlundcr, often murdered those who escaped
drow ming. and called their booty God
send
In small hovcl, on the craccy shore of a
deep and dangerous bay on the coast of Corn
wall, lived one Of these wretches, hardened
desperate, who united in himself the fisher
man, the smugslcr, and the wrccker, but the
last was his favorite occupation: and such was
the confidence of his companions in his expc-
ricncc in this capacity, that he was usually
appointed their leader, and rarely failed in
his office. His wife, too, encouraged him.
and not untrcpucntlv aided him in his iniqui-
tons exploits Disguised with the wlckedncss
oflhs parents. their only son left his home in
early life, and sought to obtain an honorable
subsistence as the mate Of a West India ira
der
1t was at period when long and profit
less summer and autumn had Dcarv passed
away. that Tcr,orran. Ike the vuIturc. ever
watchtnl for his prev. was more than usually
Oh>cryant of III. >irnS of the heavens: nor
was any one more capable tlan himself dis
covering the most distant inlg atoms ola tenn
pest. Nature lad for several months worn a
PLACID and most encouraging aspect. The
soft and azure sky seemed to rest upon the
transparent sea. and the s,ow-cxpanlin"
waves swept with low murmuring> along the
shining sands Of the deep bay wiha wild and
monotonou> FLASHING, that seemed to strike
like the voice of prophecy upol the car
Not more hateful were the glorious beams
of the orb of day to the fallen Iuricr. as De
sr:ibcd Ev our great poet. than was the Gui-
c>cent state o.. nature to the dark mind ot'
Tcr'oeran. IN his imraticnrr he cursed tn
protrar;cl season of tranquility. ard halle
the approaching period of storms As more con
genial not only ito the gloomy temper of hi,
soul :" but to his Interests. At length he saw
with smile Of savage satisfaction, the sun
sink in angry red beneath the dim and cloud
horizon heard with secret exultation the
hollow murmurincs the winds: and hchc!t
the blackcnin: waves rising into fury. art
lashns the lofty rocks with their asccn,lin.
spray. As the ni"ht advanced in cI,aoti,
darkness. the horrors Of the tempest incrcaS
cd and the loud and long blasts of the con
tending elements run. ont upon the ear liE'
the death knc!l ola departed soul
"Now's thy time" calculated the old har
his wife, go thy way upon The cliffs: there
death in tie wind TerloSean speedily G
quipped himself, and asccndcl thcs :ccp prom
ontory at the entrance ofthc bay. The usr
al cxpcdient was rc>ortcd to,and he soon oh
served light at sca,as if in answer to his sic
nal. His prey seemed already hin is erasy
TIE ligh: evidently approached nearer: ant
before an hour had elapsed, the white. clos,
. rcctrd sails Of Tire vessel coall he dimv iii:
: covered through The darkness, and the a,
pallnr cry of the Scamcn at The discovery O
! their danger distinctly heard Signal-gu,
! Of distress were Immediately fired. and I'll
" loud commands, all hon,ls on derL, and nIo,
!, ship, were voci'cratcd in wild despair f.
J. cry cXcrtion was made to wear the vcss
} from the shore; but the rclccnins nome,
n was past. the ship was completely y cmbayc'
o and neither strength nor skill were of any
Il ;'ail in avcrting her impending fate. In ic
moments 4 tremendous crash. and hcart-rcn,
a inc bat fruitlcsS cries for help, announced ii
r horlM catastrophe, AM the last flashing 81
l. nal gHn revealed for moment a scene t'
=. horrible to BE described. The stranded We
:. sci, hurled repeatedly against the Jagged roll
o of the bay soon parted the waves dashed
o yer her shattered hull with relentless fur
9 bearing to the shore the scattered cargo, br
% ken pieces of the wreck, and the tattercd ri
d eing whilst the mingled shrieks Of Il
a drowning, blended with the roar of Il
It elements, rose upon the ear like dcSpairir
t. cries of an army Of dying Titans.
s. There was one, however. in whose cv
v such scene was joyous, in whose ears s,i,
n sounds were melody; and that being W
k Tcrloggan. He waited imraticntlv until II
= storm had somewhat abated; and when .
r lcncc began to Indicate that the work of dea
X was we'll nigh over, he descended the We
n known cliffs to dart upon his prey. Cnmo
. ed by the horrid spectacle, (for the moe
had broken from Tie clouds by which she h;
q before been concealed he stood awhile "a
ing upon the scene of descIaticn around hi,
at loss when to commence the work of r
lie pine, but to his surprise and momentary di
e. may, there was yet one living soul On boar