Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-02-07
GBe storp !, Gtler:..
NEW WAY OF
BRINGING IN A PRIZE.

BKINGING LIN A PRIZE.
Not many years ago-long enough, howev-
er, for Bangor to grow up from little wild,
uncouth numbering village, into beautiful
city-there might have been seen one day in
September, a small fore-and ait schooner, ly-
ing at one of the rude log wharves, taking in
a regular assorted cargo Of pine lumber, po-
taioes, poultry and Goldfish. If you step aft
and look over her stern, you can read her name
Sarah Ford, Bangor and that afternoon,
after her cargo was all on board, if you could
have got peep al her manifest and bills of
lading, you would have seen that she was COM
manded by Captain Josiah Forbes, and bound
for ST. Thomas f.o
josh Forbes, as he was commonly called in
Bangor, was born on the banks of the Penob-
scot, and brought up at sea !; and at this par
ticular time, was just about twenty-three years
old, and master and owner of the schooner
Sarah Ford. Josh had named his little craft,
which was nearly new, after the daughter of
Colonel Ford, a very rich aristocratic mer
chant of Bangor. There was perfectly good
understanding between Josh and Miss Sarah,
entirely unknown TO any but themselves; for
Colonel Ford would as soon have followed his
only daughter to the grave, as consented to
her marrying the skipper of down-east coast
Reader, have you ever been 10 the island of
ST. Thomas, in the Danish West Indies =
tYes.' Well, | am glad of it; for you will
of all those ocean gardens-the Virgin Islands.
<Non Well, then, come with me 1t will
cost you nothing, and short visit will amply
repay you for your time and trouble. ,.
The island OF St. Thomas belongs to Den
mark, and is situated just far enough within
the tropics TO enjoy all the advantages OF
tropical climate, so liberal in its variety of
fruits and flowers and just far enough TO
windward of the larger islands, 10 insure il
against The ravages of yellow fever and other
prevailing diseases, which often rage with such
malignity during the summer months in the
West India Islands.
The island Is about eleven miles long, and
five in its greatest width. The city stands at
the bottom of beautiful bay, opening in from
the southeast, and presents magnificent ap-
pearance as you enter the harbor. The fresh
trade-winds, blowing entirely over the island,
renders its climate cool and delicious during
the greater part of the year. About half
mile 10 the westward of the town, there is an
old Catholic burying-ground, which is the ia
vuriie resort of St. Thomas idIers. sL
One Sunday afternoon, about four weeks af-
ter we have seen the schooner Sarah Ford
alongside the wharf in Bangor, you might
have discovered her commander, Captain Josh
Forbes, laying at full length on black mar
bic slab which covered grave, under huge
tamarind tree in the old Catholic burying-
ground.
Captain Josh was figuring away, with a big
piece of cha Tx ia his fingers, and the marble
slab for slate. calculating the expense of his
voyage, and the actual profits TO himself, after
having paid for his outward cargo, which he
had bought in Bangor on credit.
After while, he got through with his cal
culatious, and drawing forth his handkerchief,
he carefully wiped the chalk marks from the
polished marble, and then iazily rolled off the
slab, into a perfect little thicket of lilies and
honeysuckies, which grew up in wild luxri-
ance, alongside of the tomb. His intention
was to get comfortable afternoon nap; but
Sust as he was about to close his eyes. the
sound of voices near by, and approaching still
nearer, aroused him and moment after, two
individuals whom he had often seen since his
arrival. seated themselves on the very slab
which he had SO recently occupied.
These two persons were-one, his excellen-
ey, Governor Van Sholtonberg, of St. Thorn
as, and the other the captain Of a beautiful
armed schooner under the New Grenadan flag,
which had for week past been lying in the
harbor, well out towards Prince Rupert's
Rocks. sr
For several years past, the governor of St.
Thomas had been suspected of being connect
ed with the slave trade, and twice he had been
called home to Copenhagen to answer charges
preferred against him. But he had each time
been able to prove his innocence, or the gov
ernment had been unable to prove his guilt,
which amounted to the same thing, and the
Baron Van Sheltonberg still retained the Of
fee of Governor Of St. Thomas. d h
Captain Josh was perfectly concealed under
the friendly shade of the honeysuckle and lilies
andlaying very quiet, he soon learned from
the conversation of the two gentlemen seated
on the tomb, that his excelency was not only
deeply concerned in the African slave trade
but that he was also closely connected with ;
still freer trade, in which the cruisers wore tht
black flag at the main peak. He also learned
that the pretended captain Of the New Grena
dian schooner was no less parsonage tina,
Charles Mitchell, the celebrated pirate of til
gulf. Do at1 aaa
Captain Josh Forbes heard a. great man,
things that astonished him and when the tw'
WORTHLESS left the old graveyard, he crept ou
of his place of concealment with much poor
er opinion Of the worlds honesty than he ha
when he rolled off the marble slab, an hon
Dre1ioosly t - fis-fri Is "a r