Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-19
Aelret Niaeellamp.


II WIS lovely night, "the moon part.
ing aside the light clouds that foaled
In tho heavens, peered forth with her
brilliant face. The sea sparkling, be.
meath her earnest glance, seemed like
ono caskcl OF gems; each ripple appear
rd A sIiamond, and from each billowy
& - ~ KY s,<fts}Aes sra,elsneln nlt
opsls light" Truly Luna bad ksvor 4
more "shInlng bath IN which 10 lave
than on this night. For hours | had
stood watching "tho sea Of fire" - II
appeared In It's brllancy. | had never
recollected seeing IL moro dazzling
bright; and calling 10 Henry NJ, who
was standing near invited him TO slare
the glorious spectacle with mo. lie
came, ] tho ght, rather reluctantly
and after giving ono rapid glapce, turn.
ed eoldly away. ] followed lin, for |
had noticed that he shuddored as Ii In
horror at the sight On similar occa.
sions remembered his exhibiting the
same apparent disgust, and | felt some
what anxious 70 hnd out the cause. lie
had seated hmself when reached him,
in thoughtful attitude, and placing my
self by his side, ] gathered fiom him
the following thrilling incident;
1T is some years since the vessel /
then belonged 10 was taking in cargo
of sugar ut Barbadocs. We were
obliged to 20 from our ship, which was
anchored at sOmo distance from the
landing, In boats, end transportour car
90 In that manner. The afternoon was
n very windy Que, when two comrades
and myself pushed OIL in our boat
nothing fearing, TO take in u load OF su
gar. We had got out Of sight of the
vessel, when suddenly there came upon
us one of those violent gusts so often ex
perienced in u tropical climate. 1t seem
ed as IL tho 'caverns of tho wind hat
been suddenly opened, and their pent
up prisoners ru he'd out 10 scatter witt
their footsteps tho oceans foam around
Ifc-boat reeled rs the blast descended
which was sweeping over US, with
mighty power, hurling US from our pla
ces with giants strength. Oh tbs
horror of that moment, when | iounC
myself tossing about on the merciles
deep. and how cold the waves felt u
dashing over mo, would rise and sinl
with their swell, / had caught TIVE
pieces of timber that were floating past
and in that manner sustained myself
for the shore was at too great q distanc'
for me TO reach il by swimming. Up
on looking around, | found that IN,
,eomssnions were near mo buffeting tb
waves. For several hours we tosse
about, looking out anxiously for sal
and striving to keep up each other
st-drooping spirits. As long as SAY
nv companions near, / felt buoyed vi
and continued to combat with the waves
But the fearful agony of that momen
I shall never forget, when looking agar
at the spot where | had last seen theI
tossing wildly their hands, rs it implol
inc for aid, / found that they had dis
appeared. | called aloud, | implore
fhein to answer only one word, salt
10 tell me that am not all alone-alon
on this horrible deep. But, q my Got
my God (said the speaker, overcom
by his emotion,) no voice replied, the
were gone, gone. The waves had oper
cd and ingulfed them. Yes, i was alon
alone TO combat with the fierce el'
ments that seemed driving me on [
eternity; alone with my fast failin
strength, no voice near 10 cheer me, n
human arm to uphold me. To add I
my horrors, night threw her mant
covering over the earth and sea, an
soon its shadows darkened all aroun,
1t WAS the first quarter of the moo
and oh how | looked up and blesse
her. as she hung out her brilliant ere