Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-04-05
The Pacifc-Is She lost ,

! no Anrlo-NlNt0. lu'NlSlrl Ht i1-'nn,
gives a narrative with this titlc. that affords
an illustration Of the impolicy of the too
early abandonment Of hope respecting vessels
at sea. The editor says the narrative is
strictly true.
The town of Liverpool, in Nova Scotia,
situated about sixty miles from Halifax. is
place Of some magnitude for a colonial out
port. The intercourse with Halifax, the
ca pital Of the Province, was, at one time,
chiefly kept up by a smart and doshing little
craft, called the Liverpool Packet, command
ed by Captain Bass which piled weekly be-
tween the two places through the Spring aud
Summer months laying up during the severity
of the Winter when the communication with
Halifax was. for the most part, limited to Il
weekly post by land.
About the year 1915 or SIG, as the season
for navigation was drawing to NcloS", u great
number OF passengers wont 70 Halifax, as
was the custom, to rcplcni,h their stores for
the Winter, while many heads Of families
proceeded thther to make purchases of cloth
ing, groceries, &c. for their private Winter
stock; and as this was to be the last trip Of
the season, the little bark was crowded with
some forty or fifty passengers, chiefly fathers
and mothers OF large families who were left
at home.
The voyage to Halifax was prosperous. the
voyngcrs made their purchases, AMI in due
time the Liverpool Packet was ready to re-
turn. All the passengers embarked in goo
spirit and the bark saiIcd cG"'riiy down the
harbor and proceeded lor.hcr destination.
A few hours after her departure there
sprung up one Of those terrific North-wcstcrs
50 well known on the coast of Nova Scotia,
which, blowing with the utmost fury for
several days, attended with intense frost,
made it clear that no vessel could keep the
coast; she must either put herself before the
wind and run out to sea, or perish by wreck
and the rigor Of an atmosphere twenty or
thirty degrees below zero. \ change OF
weather 50 sudden. 50 severe and SO unex-
rcctcd. gave rise to great fears for the safety
of the little packet, and the next post by
land was anxiouNly waited for by friends and
relatives at both towns.
The post at length arrived. but brought no
tidings Of the Liverpool Packet; another
post and another came in, and yet 40 news Of
tho missing vessel. Search was then made
along the shore for any wreck Of her, but not
yestigo could be discovered
Adyiccs were in due time received from
Bermuda hut nothing was heard of the littic
pacict and her passengers. accounts wore
also received IRON several Of tine West India
Island, but still without intelligence Of the
missing vessel
Three months at length passed away, anil
the packet was given up for lost. Those who
had friends on board went into mourning,
aud 50 connected wcrc the different families
with each other throughout tine town, that
the Sunday on which all who had friends put
ON black, saw nearly the entire population in
the hdblinrnts of woe.
Four months PASSED away. Al hope had
fed, the vessel had, without doubt, touud-
cred and gone to the bottom with all on board
but when or in what part Of the vast ocean,
was 10 remain yciled in the secrets 90 the deep
until the sea should give up her dead
Sixteen weeks had now elapsed, when one
fine morning in the Spring, some sca-Mriug
peopl. down at the Fort described strange
brig approaching the harhor Size attracted
attention from thr circumstance that all
though Il stranger she WAS niyigat.I hy ONE
who well knew the entrance Of t'o htrIor,
Tor she came IN without pilot or shortening
sail. The quick eye and watcG!ul ul'it of
sc.men could not lightly pi-s over -ur, q
circumstances, amt the report VI a str"u-r v"s-
sci coming In soon spread through tie litJ!c
town and many persons assembled. lgc best
telescopes were put in repui>itiln. hut none
could make ont who or what the stranger
was. A. She drew near to the the anxious
with male and female passengers. Ah cx-
claimed one who had n certain inIciiuuble
hope, as that hope sank with him. an
enigrant ship after all aud deep sigh
came from his bosom. for he had near and
dear friend on board the it'll, packet. &c An
cmigrant ship, " said another. - how can
any captain Of an emigraut ship know 50 well
his way into this harhJr'' '' " Besides. cmi-
grant SHIPS do not come t. Liverpool.
pause ensuea, during which one with
quick eye was gazing through the best glass
the town afforded he was ON one knee rest
ing his telescope, when he suddenly ,prdng
on his feet and declared that CAPITA Bass WAS
among the passengers Nonscnsa was the M
credulous cry. Captain Bass and the Liverpool
Packet are at the bottom Of the sel. and will
there remain till the day of resurrection. Not
daunted by their incredulty he said. give mc
the trumpet, will speak the brig in few
moments she will be near enough. What
brig is that The response was given. " Are
you Captain Bass ~ = Yes" was the reply
A few words suliced to reveal that the vessel
had been blown of, and for many days went
before the wind with great rapidty " the
gale abated Captain Bass found he could bet
ter reach the Wcs, Indies than he could get
back SO crowded vessel, sing their pro-
visions economically, and shaking their thirst
with the cider and the barrels of apples that
were on board, they reached Btrbadocs.
There the captain sold his sloup, bought the
brig, and came back safe with all his pas
scngors
The joyful news flew through the town, and
ere the vessel could be brought to the wharf
the entire population of the place hll assem-
tiled to meet and embrace th.iI friends. It
would be inyain to describe such "A ~reue-all
wore in rnine-vot a.. With a smile of nv
b.aming in their c..ntcnances As tine lon,
lost friend, and relatives leaned OH shore,
iat ers, mother, and brothers were ,r;ei in
each other ,truls. and then tl,, smiles bcral,,
tears Of ioy.
The trgr- had srlrcelv ceased. when with
one sudden impulse, the whole u-.,mblass
sunk ON their ku..s and in i burst Of pious
irr,pr poured on. thanks to that aro4t and
B uL who had 80 siugulurv pre-.
served them-and who holds us in the hollow