Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-06-13
litcrnrp GfItttious.
THE PIRATE OUTWTTTFD.

little wild, uncouth numbering village in
to beautiful city-there might have
been seen, one day in September, a small
fore-in-aft schooner lying at one Of the
rude log wharves, taking in q regular as
sorted cargo Of pine lumber, potatoes and
Goldfish. II you step aft, and look over
her stern, you can read her name-Sa-
rah Ford, Bangor. And that afternoon.
after her cargo was al on board, if you
could have got peep at her manifest
and bill Of lading, you would have seen
that she was commanded by Captain Jo-
siah Forbes, and bound for St. Thomas.
Josh Forbes, as he was commonly call
ed in Bangor, was born on the banks of
the Penobscot, and brought up at sea, and
at this particular time was just 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 merchant of Ban
gor- There was a perfectly safe under
standing between Josh and Miss Sarah,
entirely unknown to any one but them
selves; for Col. Ford would as soon
have followed his only daughter to the
grave as consented to her marrying the
skipper of a down-east coaster.
Reader, have you ever been to the isl
and of st. Thomas, in the Danish West
Indies? 'sYes." Well, am glad of it :,
for You viii agree with me that it is one
of the iovliest of all those ocean gardens
the Virgin Islands. "Noro Well,
then, come with me. It will cost you
nothing, and a short visit viii amply re-
pay you for your time and trouble.
The Island of St. Thomas belongs to
Denmark, and is situated just far enough
within the tropics to enjoy all the advan-
tages Of a tropical climate, so liberal in
its variety of fruit and flowers, and just
far enough to windward of the larger ISL
ands, to insure it against the ravages of
yellow fever and other prevailing disea-
ses, which often rage with such maIig-
nancy 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 pre-
sents a magnificent appearance 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 to the westward of the town there
is an old Catholic burying ground, which
is the favorite resort of the St. Thomas
idlers.
On Sunday afternoon, about four
weeks after we had seen the schooner Sa-
rah Ford alongside the wharf in Bangor,
you might have discovered her cemman-
der, Captain Josh, lying his full length
ON a black marble slab that covered a
tomb nndera huge tamarind tree in the old
Catholic burying ground.
Captain Josh was figuring away, with
a big piece Of chalkin his fingers, and
the marble slab for a slate, calculating
the expenses of the voyage and the actual
profits to himself, after having paid for
his cargo, which he had bought in Ban
gor on credit.
After awhile he got through with his
calculations, and drawing forth his hand
kerehief he carefully wiped the chalk
marks from the polished marble, and la
zily rolIedoff the slab into a perfect little
thicket Of Elies and honey suckIes, which
grew up in wild Iuxuriance alongside the
tomb. His intention was to take a COM
portable afternoon nap; but Just as he
vas about to close his eyes, the sound Of
ryoices near by, and approaching still
nearer, aroused him, and q moment after,
two indIviduals whom he had often seen,
since his arrival, seated themselves on
me very SLAB which he had so recently
occupied.
these two persons were-one, his ex-
-ceilency the Governor Van Sholtonberg,
OF d. 1honas, and the other the captain
OF a beautiful armed schooner under the
New Granadian flag, which had for q
week past been lying in the harbor, well
out towards Prince Ruperts Rocks
For several years past, the Governor
Of ST. Thomas had been suspected of he
ingcOnnected with the slave trade. and
twice be had been called home to Copen-
hagen to answer to charges preferred a
gainst him. But he had each time been
able to prove his innocence, or the gov
ernnaent had been unable to prove his
gum which amounted to the same thing.
ana the Baron Van Sholtonberg still re-
'ained The Office of Governor of St.
Thomas.