The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-04-01


do. They had proceeded some distance, and
met each other as il to seize upon some object
in the water, when bright glare of light shot
over the horizon, an explosion louder than the
pealing thunder reverberated on the water; a
vast hollow square was seen where moment
before the boats Of the enemy were sailing,
the ship reeled as il ia hurricane the waves
suddenly rose above the lights on deck, and
foaming as they advanced towards the all
American bark like afeather in the whirlwind,
and soon lashed the distant shore. The torpe-
do had exploded. and the boats which pursu-
ed it had been blown to atoms, and sunk into
the ocean; and darkness again covered the
sky, amid the pealing and increasing storm.
The crew of the boat which carried out the
torpedo, had been anxious spectators of the
catastrophe, ard gIeam of hope remained
that Halsey had separated from the magazine,
and made his escape. in the torpedo before the
explosion took place. u.. .....a..
Under this impression, they returned to
their place of rendezvous and waited for his
approach; but the hours glided by and still he
was not seen. AT length they procured par.
ty of isfriends on shore to look at the rendez-
vous, and went back in their boat to the vicin-
ity of the British ship. They rowed all
around it, and protected by the darkness, call
ed loudly for Halsey, but there was no an.
swer. Morning appeared, bnt he came not
Inquiries were made on all the adjoining
shores, but he had nowhere been heard Of
The storm had passed, and the morning shone
ont in all its glory, but its brightest rays were
gloom to the maiden who loved him and the
mother who bore him for with these rays
came the news that he whom they loved slept
in watery grave. Still there was bope.-
Days rolled away, and new inquiries were
made, but with the same result. He might
have been driven to sea by the storm, or might
have been taken by the enemy and, under this
belief, inquiries were made in England after
the close of the war, by his afflicted friends,
but never since he entered the fatal torpedo
has Plowden Halsey been heard OF, and the
unavoidable conclusion is, that he parished by
the accidental explosion Of the mapazine, and
that his mangled limbs were scattered in the
ocean. His requiem is the numbering billow,
and his dirge the moaning wind of the mid
night winter. But he fell not unrevenged !;
Sampson-lke in dying, he threw down des,ruc.
tion upon his enemies, and they shared COM
moa sepulchre. He fell not in vain for the
next morning after the explosion, the enemy's
ship withdrew from the harbor and left il to
the use of the Americans. Neither did he die
unwept or uuhonored, Prayers had been Of
fered to heaven iL his behalf by the city of
his birth. AID his name was in the mouths of
many people. One solitary young being was
seen every morning, bath,d in tears, by the
side of newly erected urn in the churchya yard
in New London, on which is inscribed the
me of Plowden Hasey. But grief and anx
iety soon withered tht rose oa her cheeks, and
she sleeps beside the urn which commentaries
the fate of her lover. His parents now sum-
bei beside their childrea while their spirits
enjoy free communion in a brighter world of
happiness. Should our country again be inva-
ted BY bar5arous foe, may many American
youths exhibit the patriotism, and ardor, and
courage, which proved SO. fatal to Plowden
HDIS r f,-ina II