The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-06
THE WICKER,


XUNUAX MORNING. FEBRUARY 8. 1855.
THE wREcKER.
coanrsn Ironsn
Towards he close Of the sixteenth century. .
Aorr3d cuseouA prevailed on the coast OF Cornwall,
OF mring veasels 30 their destruction in stormy
weather BY fastening lantern TO q horses head,
and leading Il about the clis In order thai the
bowildered mariner, mistaking It for the Hight o.
vsrds Il This airocious expedient was often sue
cessful. The dev0ted crew dreamed not OF their
danger until warned Of t. too late, by the foaming
breekerp that bura upon them from the shore; and
the weasel speedily became the prey OF set OF ruth.
iess barbarians, who. to secure themselves impunl.
~ IN their plumber, often murdered those who es-
caped drowning, and then called their booty a
"(sodeend"
Ia 4 small howell on the craggy shore Of a
deep and dangerous bay on the coast OF Cornwall
dveIt one of those wretches, an old hardened des-
persdo, who united in himself the fisherman. the
smueeier, and the wrecker, but the last was his
fayorite occupation; and such was the confidence
of his companions in bis experience In this capaci
~, that b. was usually appointed their leader ana
aged him, and not unfrequently aided him In his
UBIQUITOUS exploits Disguised with the wicked
of bis parents their only son lett his nome 10
early iife and sought to obtain an honorable sub
sis.ence sst the mate Of a West INDIA trader.
IL was at period when long ana prontiess
summer and autumn had nearly passed away, that
Terioegan like the vulture, ever watchful for his
prey. ives more than usually observant OF thesicns
OF the heavens nor was any one more capable
than himseli of discovering the most distant In
dicstions of tempest. Nature had for several
months worn q placid and most encouraging as
pect The soft and azure sky seemed 10 rest upon
the transparent sea, and the slowly-expanding
waves swept with slow murmurings along the
shining sands ofthe dep bay with wild and mo-
notonous pisshing, 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 Lucfer, az described by great poet than
was the quiscent state of nature to the dark mind
of Terloggan. 10 his impotence he cursed the pro-
tracted season of tranquility. and hailed the ap.
preaching period of storms as more congenial not
only 10 the GLOOMY temper OF bis soul, but to his
interests. Atength he saw. with a emile OF savage
satisfaction, the sun sink in angry red beneath
the dim and cloudy horizon heard with secret
emulation the hollow murmuring OF the winds ;
and beheld the blackening waves rising into fury,
and lashine the lofty rocks with their ascending
spray. As the night advanced In chaotic darkness,
thehorrors of the tempest increased; and the loud
and long blasts of the contending elements rune
out upon the ear like the death knell OF adeparted
oul
SHOWS thy time calculated the old hag his wife,
'go thy way out upon the cfe; there's death in the
Wind Terloggan speedily equipped himself and
sscended the steep promontory at the entrance of
the bay The usual expedient was resorted to, and
he soon observed light at sea if in answer to his
signal His prey seemed already in his grasp. The
light evidently approached nearer; and, before an
hour had elapsed the white, closereefed sails of the
vessel could be dimly discovered through the dark
nese, and the appalling cry of the seamen at the
discovery of their danger distinctly heard Signal.
gums of distress were Immediately fired, and the
loud commands, all hands on board, and about ship,
were Moderated in wild despair. Every exertioD
was made to wear the vessel from the shore; but the
redeeming moment was past, the ship was COM
pletely embayed, and neither strength nor skill
= H.. Is,,n~ f.<o
In few minutes tremendous crash. and a heart.
rending but fruitless cry for help, announced the
horrid catastrophe; and the last flashing signal
gun revealed for moment a scene too terrible to
be described. The stranded vessel, hurled repeat
edly against the Jagged rocks OF the bay. soon
parted; the waves dashed over her shattered hull
with relentless fury bearing to the shore the scatter
ed cargo, broken pieces OF the wreck and the tat
tered rigging; whilst the mingled shreks OF the
drowning blended with the roar of the conflicting
, elements, rose upon the ear like the despairina
cries Of an army OF dying Titans.
There was one, however, in whose eyes such q
scene was joyous, in whose ears such sounds were
melody; and that being was Terloggan. He wait
I'd impatiently until the storm had somewhat abat
cd and when silence began to indicate that the
work of death was well nign over, he descended
the well.known cliffs to dart upon his prey. I'm
moved by the horrid spectacle, Qor the moon had
broken from the clouds by which she had before
been concealed,) he stood awhile gazing upon the
scene of desolation around him, at loss where
arst to begin his work of rapine. But, to his sur
prise and momentary dismay, there yet one
living soul on board, who, should he survive would
interpose between him and his hard-earned booty,
and who was even now loudly duplicating his as
sistance To despatch this unhappy creature in
his exhausted and helpless condition, was resolu-
don no sooner formed than executed. Whilst he
was appearing to aid his escape from the jaws OF
death, one stroke of his hanger laid him livid
and INITIATED corse upon the sands before him
Torloggan then ried the pockets of his VICTIM took
ring from his finger, and laden with the most
portable articles of his plumber, retraced his foot
steps to his hut.
aWhat luck 7" exclaimed his 6end-like help.
mate, as he crossed the Threshold OF the door.
"Never better" rejoined Terloggan, pointing to
his booty. He then described the success of his
helsh stratageTn, without even concealing the par
ticulars of the murder; after which he displayed
some pieces of foreign gold cOin and the ring
which he had taken from the finger of the stranger
"Give me the light, Meg" said the hoary william
The hsg obeyed. But no sooner had he examined
tho ring, than he recognized its form and certain
mark upon it. His countenance changed and wi
groan of agony he quickly handed it to his wife
She knew too well from whose hand it must have
been taken, and, after glancing at it for moment
yelled out with supernatural energy: "Oh my SON.
my poor con r. and fell senseess at the feet of her
husband. Terlnggan endeavored to master1is feel
ings until the fact could be ascertained. He arose
with the dawn, and hastened to the spot where he
had lett the murdered corpse, 1t was inded his
son. The stroke OF retribution had been complete
Overwhelmed ~ despair and stung by remorse to
which his heart had ever before been mpervious
he determined on seltdestructon A lew dayi
afterwards his mangled body was found among the
rocks, and inferred on the spot where he had per
petrated his last deed OF blood The chief incidents
ofhis last terrible story narrated in the neigh
borhood hich was the scene OF its hero's manifold
atrocities. His wretched wife persisted few weeks
afterwards by the fall OF her hut occasioned by one
of those dreadful storms which she and her savage
helpmste had SO frequently invoked
The LATE CArAsTRoPHE AT NEW ORLEANs,-A
telcgraphic despatch from New Orleans, dated Jan
%, says:
Among the persons lost in the steamer Georgia
from Montgomery, Ala, which was DESTROYED by
IRE Ut New Orleans on Saturday night, were NJ rs
Jolly and child. Of Randolph CO., Ga, and Nh. Jack
con of Barbour co., Ala, and one child Icayino
wife and eight surviving children in NJ Orleans en-
tireiy destitute. There were also 10 negroes be-
longing to different masters from South Carolin,
and Georgia. No bodies, as yet, have been found
Tho survivors are in a state of des,itution. DR.
Young. OF Hancock county, Ga, lost valuable
servant his medical books surgical instrume,s
&c, having only saved his clothes