The Placer herald., 1856-04-05
For the Placer Herald.
SALT WATER BUBBLE. NO. 5.

! ING the lead, tine boys ana OfulnalleS were
made to know their duty in that ship as the
cid man said "to get their hands in, before
the run through the straits, on the home
ward passage"
The watch were all aloft selling off top
mast and tgallant rigging afresh and for
port. You see she was crack ship then,
and the captain and mate were bound to
keep her name up. The old steward was
running fore and aft, as busy as the ID in
a gale of wind We had left Angler two
days before and there were plenty OF chick
ems and ducks to keep him busy.
Everything was conducted with the usual
order: no noise was heard save the hail Of
the mate and the second officer to the men,
and the ready ay, ay sir, Of the latter in re-
sponse. The watch off duty were all below,
except one Boston lad, who improved every
opportunity to perch himself upon the main
royal-yard.
Casting his eyes around, my chum at
length remarks to me, "he's up there catch
mo heas again, Dick"
"Who do you mean Fletch!"
"Sure enough, who do / mean, but that
vouncster in the other watch. I'll tell YOU
what. Dick, that Harry is bound to make
smart seaman or a know-nothng; but |
rather guess sailor"
Here the subject Of our remarks, from his
perch overhead, sang out "saii, oh.''
There" quoth Fletcher, "he sees whale
asleep, or an old spar"
"Where away" is answered from the deck.
1.-TWO points on our starboard bow, sill"
"Who is that on the royal yard, there!"
an officer inquiries Of me-
"1arry sir"
"What do you make it to be, Harry"
"Cannot tell"
"Man in top there-ay on to that royal
ward and see what that youngster is bawling
about"
"D-n the boys" says Fletch, as started
up the rigging they're always making work
for some one"
"WelI, Hal, what have you sighted this
time-another whale asleep?'
"Oh, no, Dick, think it's boat with
mast"
"Morc likely porpoise that some lubber
struck with slippery hitch, for bend
There it is can you see it Dick" says the
boy, as lay over the yard And sure enough,
tntrt away GA -,r. .to. l7e.rd Lo,, points,
was ships launch, with an oar for a mast.
Our yards were then braced and the sails
trimmed, and the mate repaired to the main
top with the glass. Every man was on the
| lookout, even to the watch off dutv-the
captain commanding the ship We soon drew
alongside the boat. AS the boat rubbed our
side by the fore chains, boats kedge was
dropped into her, and she was towing along
side.
"Down into her." says the captain, "and
overhaul her. Steward, get the medicine
chest out, and that case of gin"
The mate and myself leaped into her
stern-sheets and after removing sail which
covered the boat from the fore-thwart to the
after one, the bodies of five men and two fe-
males were discovered, dead. The appear
ance Of the bodies indicated that life had but
recently departed. One of the females was
yet warm, but | could find no pulse This
body was removed with al! possible speed to
the cabin, where the captains lady and her
servant eXerted themselves to resuscitate the
body, with such skill and means as they had
at hand 1t was of no avail - life had
departed, and the spirit of the wearied voy-
ager was in a fairer and better land. The
balance Of the bodies were removed to the
ship, yard and stay tackles were reeved, and
the launch hoisted on deck, and the Loo-choo
resumed her course.
As | was assisting in removing the bodies
to the deck of the ship, paper lying under
the gunwale of the boat, caught my eye, and
Immediately took possession of it, in hopes
to find some solution Of mysterious matter
contained therein.
"Dck," says the mate, "of what nation are
these poor devils!"
"French, sir, and belong to French ship"
"IIow do you know!"
'By the looks Of the men, and the build
of the boat, sir. | can tell you the builders
name The last voyage | was on to Marsel
lies we had a launch made there, and that
and this launch were twins, sir. If this is
true, there is piece Of copper four inches
square under the stern-sheets with the fig
ures As marked on it,"
On examination this proved to be true.
The boat was built by old stumpy Devon of
Marsellies, and the twin boat referred to by
me, belonged to the old VIM. Scott, of New
York. The captain hearing of this narrative
OF mine called me aft, when related to him
substantially the same facts.
The captain then showed me the paper
had found, which contained writing in French,
and asked me if | could read it. On my
answering in the affirmative, he took me into
the cabin and explained to his wife the object
of my coming there-a place, as andsmen
know, tabooed to sailors. She said, one of
the ladies had a gold pencil suspended to her
neck, who must have written it, and "Rich-
ard was requested to read it at once. The
curiosity of her sex was becoming excited.
Then the officers of the ship gathered around
and with uncovered heads, and in breathess
quiet, listened whilst read from the paper
as follows