The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-04-14
ROLAND TIE AvENGER; OR THE MAR.
INER'S OATH.
A. STORY OF THE WAR OF 1872.

water of the ocean, who can unfold thy million mys-
teries who can unravel and bring to light the secrets
and treasures buried far beneath thy wavy surface !
| Alas none. ! Like a speck-a floating atom OF mans
creation git Is the vessels over Its bosom and yet man
TO whom nature, in part is subject, fears its wrath
and inwardly prays the ocean may save its fury, spare
his laboring bark and float it secure to the distant
harbor of peace and rest
Reader, our story is of the ocean,, a record Of an IN
cident, which, on its broad pillows occurred at a time
when a liberated country was again-a second time en-
gagged in war against the powers Of Britain, and which
terminated like the first, with honor and glory to Colum-
a. the land of the free, and the home Of the brave
1t was on the 24.h day Of August in the year 1872,
| when the f~oretopsail schooner, AMELIA OF about
| $50 tons burthen, was seen gliding over the waters OF
he Atlantic at u five knot an hour pace, with her golden
>tarred and blood striped flag flying at her main peak.
Her clean white canvass spread out to the evening
breeze, and like a fairy skif, she seemed to dance and
skip over the waters Of the deep, which kissed and lash
ed her black hull with snow breasted foam. The sun
was fast sinking behind the horizon in the far west,
casting deep red and golden rays of beauty on her track
behind, variegating the waters that dance beneath them
10 a thousand different colurs And as the cooling
breeze still blows, the lovely schooner,
Like a dolphin before the shark,
Or the deer before the hounds
| aides swiftly over the oceans breast--her gilded prov
and figure head dipping alternately in the water, casting
u shower of silvery spray over Ler sides and bulwarks.
But, bark ! a song is heard to arise from many voices
congregated together by the forecastle of that dancing
craft, filling the air with deep and thrilling melody
whose echoes die away slowly and sweetly over the far
distant waste of waters beyond.
THE PR1vATEER's SONG.
As gaily glides our bonny bark
Der the rolling wave,
Well join in chorus to the song
In honor to the brave.
When the storm RACES loud and high
10 daunt our crew with fear,
Then freely pass the friendly word
Each dropping heart to cheer.
When the moon shines forth her light
While on our watch we keep,
Then we'll chaunt our ev'ning song
While on the flowing deep.
While on the flowing deep we'll sing
In honor to the free,
Who sail beneath the stars and stripes
For Columbia rules the sea.
As the echo of the last stanza reveberated over the
ocean waste in soft melodious sounds, each heart beat
u union with patriotic love for theirs was a glorious
calling, to do battle on that mighty deep against their
common enemy, who had disregarded all love for human
ity, and treacherously violated their country's rights
and privileges. But, bark a clear ringing voice is
heard from the quarter deck, It's the voice Of the cap
tain.
Mr. Morton, take in the fore royal
'Ay, ay, SIR responded the person addressed as Mr..
Morton, who was the first mate of the schooner, and
had been standing in the gangway, listening to the
song of the crew, but now he fastened forward, gave
the order to the men, who separated each on bis duty.
And the fore.top gallant again cried the captain.
The order vas passed as before to the men who were
now busily engaged in the rigging.
Now. the flying jb, Mr.. Norton said the Captain
as he paced to and fro on the quarter deck, with hasty
strides, occasionally looking up anxiously at the now
lowering elements above him.
1t is now our duty to give a few brief explanations
and introductions to the reader respecting the craft, her
crew, and their mission. The craft was painted jet
black, relieved only by a white streak, a gilded PROV,
and female figure head, together with her name, which
was Amelia painted on her quarter: Her rakish,
tapering masts, her slender yards, and nicely fitting
sails, gave her a bold and saucy appearance. She bad
a complement of one hundred and twenty picked men,
who were all from Captain, down to the men before the
mast staunch, true.hearted Americans. She was a
priyateer, aud carried fourteen brass guns, we'll mount
ed, two Of which were of the most formidable appear
ance, which stood one on the quarter and the other .
little forward of the foremost, both Moupted on pivots.
Such was the prisateering craft tAmelia,' Of New
York, IS she appeared on that day, flying over the foam
crested b;!iows Of The broad Atlantic, in lat. 40, n,
and lon. AZ, +.
Her Captain was as | have before stated an Ameri-
cana native of the State Of New York. He had been
= mariner from boyhood, and had been four years pre-
vious to this date, captain Of this same craft, and his
daring bravery and many feata Of reckless courage had
won him a name of uever.dyipg fame. He was kind