Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-06

almost every person in her-the longest life
time will hardly efface that scene from my
mind. The stern of the boat had been carried
completely away, and it was sinking by the
weight of human beings that clung to it. AS it
gradually disappeared, the miserable wretches
struggled forward to the bows, and with horrid
screams and imprecations battlcd for moment
for what little support it might yield. The dead
and the dying were floating and splashing
around them, while deep crimson tinge
showed how fatal had been the discharge
Ropes were thrown over to save those who
were not destroyed by the cannon shot but
only three out of the boats crew of twenty
four were saved, the greater part went down
with the boat to which they clung.
The whole scene Of destruction did not last
ten minutes, and all was again quiet The
bodies Of those who had not been shot did not
sink but were driven by the wind and sea
against the side of the ship. From some the
blood was oozing, and, floating around them;
others stiff in convulsions in which they died
were grinning or frowning with horrible expires
sion. One body, strong and muscular, with neat
white trowsers, and leathern girdle in which
was stuck two pistols, loated by, but the face
was gone, some merciless ball had so disfig-
ured him, that all trace of expression was de-
stroyed. He was the pirate captain.
But where was the schooner? She lay for
| few minutes after the destruction of her boat,
and whether alarmed at our appearance or hor-
rified at the loss of SO many men, know not,
but she slipped her foresail, and stood away as
close to the wind as possible. We saw no
more Of her.
The excitement of the scenes we had Just
passed through, prevented our missing the
captain; but as soon as the schooner bore
away, all naturally expected his voice to give
some order for again getting under weigh
But no order came Where was he? The
musket just discharged from the boat, with the
voice, that conveyed the orders for the ports to
be thrown open, flashed upon my mind ran
to the platform. The captpin-was there lying
on his face beside the gun, which he had point
ed with such deadly effect He still held the
trumpet in his hand, and shuddered as be-
held its mouth piece covered with blood.
"The captains killed." l cried, and stopped
to raise him.
~ believe am" said he, take me to the
cabin"
A dozen ready hands were stretched to re-
ceive him, and he was taken below and care
| fully laid on a asofa-
AYE" he said, 81 heard the crash, my ear
knows too well the crash of shot against plank,
to be mistaken, and my eye has pointed too
many guns to miss its mark easily now. But,
tell me, is any one else hurt ?"
"No thank heaven, said, and hope you
are not so badly hurt"
"Bad enough, but cut open my waistcoat
its here"
A mouthful of blood stopped his utterance,
but he pointed to his right side.
| wiped his mouth, and we cut off his waist
coat as gently as possible. There was no blood,
but on removing his shirt we discovered about
three inches on tha right of the pit of the
stomach, discolored spot, about the size Of a
halfcrown, darkening towards its centre, where
there was a small wound. A musket ball had
struck him, and from there being no outward
bleeding, feared the worst. We dressed the
W und as well as circumstances would permit
but externally it was trifling-the fatal wound
was ithin. The unfortunate sufferer motion
ed for all to leave him but me; and calling Inc
to his side, said.
~ feel that am dying; the promise
me that you will get it forwarded-'tis to my
poor widow. Well, I've tempted this death
often and escaped, and it is hard to be struck
by williams hand But Gods will be done"
promised him that | would personally de-
liver the letter, for that intended returning to
New York from Curacao.
"Thank you truly, said the dying man, "you
will see my Helen and my child, and you can
tell them that their unfortunate husband and
father died thinking Of them. This ship and
cargo are mine, and will belong to my family.
Stranger, was not always what | now seem.
But l could not bear that the Yankee skip
per should be known as he once"
A sudden flow Of blood prevented his fin
shing the sentence. tried TO relieve him by
change Of posture, but in vain; he muttercd
some incoherent sentences, by which his mind
seemed to dwell on former scenes Of battle for
the republic; and Of underserved treatment
He rallied for one instant and with blessing
for his family and the name Of Helen on his
lips, he ceased to breathe.
The body Of our unfortunate captain was
the next day committed to the waves, amid
the tears Of us ALL Our voyage was prosecut-
ed to the end without further interruption.
did not forget the wishes Of the dying man
how faithfully fulfilled them, and how have
been rewarded, or how satisfactory to me was
the previous history Of the poor captain need
not be told. Suffice it to say that am settled
in Elm Cottage, Bloomingdale, and the happi-
est son-in-law, husband and father in the
United States Yankee Pripa'eer.
:. ARTIFICIAL PREcloUs SToNEs--A very curious |
and interesting report was presented to'thc French
Academy of Science, short time since, by an in |
genous mechanician, M. Gaudin, on the result Of
many years experimental, having for their object
the production Of artificial precious stones After
twenty years labor, M. Gaudiu has succeeded in
hbricating imitation Of jewels perfect as to de-
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