Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-30


asked me 70 GO could not refuse; but asked
that 1 might be married first Mr Thornton
shook his head, and said no. But he had anoth
er plan which lac said would be better. He
had been planning TO visit Copenhagen, where
he had two brothers in business--they were in
company with him-and he said he wonld take
the next ship, and bring Carrie out with Lin,
and we should be married there. i finally con
sented to take out the new ship, and Mr.. Thorn
ton, with his daughter, was to meet me in %
penhagen, and there we were TO be married,
and all three come home together, The even
ing before | sailed / spent with Cirre, and
when left her felt that | was leaving my
very life
"Well, continued Lester, wping his eyes,
III went to Copenhagen. waited month
thea i heard that the American ship,
White Fawn. with William Thornton and
daughter on board, had touched at Dover and
that all were safe and well when she let.-I
waited another week. and then | crossed over
to Hamburg; but | could learn nothing there -
Next went to London, and there | learned
enough to assure me that the ship had been
lost On the second day after she left Dover a
severe storm had arisen, aud several vessels had
been reported lost ] sent my ship home in
charge of the mate, aud spent four months in
searching after the lost ones; but could gain
no trac3 OF them Not even a piece OF the
wreck could fiud--not a mark Of the ship nor
Of one of its crew. 1 came home with a sad
ard heavy heaIt "
Maurice Lester stopped a few moments, and
bowed his head upon his hands, for his feelings
had almost overcome him. In little while,
however, he looked up again, and added, in
touching tone,-
"Ah, my dear friend, you do not know what
have suffered tongue cannot tell it, nor can
pen write 1t. That blow did break my heart
broke it in the rending Of its tenderest cords,
and in the crushing of all its earthly hOpes!--
Do you believe in dreamsl'
The mate started, not so much at the charac
ter of the question, as from the sudden manner
in which it was put.
"Well, I" said Lester, in a lower tone, 81 have
had a dream repeated may times; but never
has it come to me So directly and 50 vivldly as
within the past three or four days. Carrie
Thornton IS not dead! l know she is nOt!-she
has appeared to ms repeatedly in dream, and
calls upon me to save her! To night, as stood
all alone by the mizzen rigging, trying to peer
out into the thick gloom, heard her voice as
plainly as you now hear mine, and she called
out for me to save her. OF courso what fol-
lowed was mere fancy, though even that at
iected me muclAI thought saw her, standing
not far off, upon huge sea, with her arms
sire ched imploringly towards me-saw her
then, with my eyes open, as | have often seen
her in my sleeping dreaml---'
At this point the captain was cut short 10
his speech by the cry of"Light ho!" ircm the
deck. they hurried up aud found the men
crowding forward.
"What is itl" Lester asked
81 think it is a light, sir" replied Parker
"Iere, sir,-just stand hcro-NOw turn your
eye about four points upon the larblard bow
Wait, now, till che es.-lla-thCre! -lherel-
See!-Did you see il, sir!"
Yes-he had seen it; and he knew It must be
hight upon the shore; but it was a great way
uf. He watched until he had seen 1t several
times, and then he remarked TO his mate that it
mnst hn lieht-hopse. The lislt was hold.
and distinct. and evidently at considerable
height above the level of the sea; for, had it not
been SO, it could not have been seen at that dis
tance. After short consultation, duritg which
reference was had to the chart Of the NOrthum
berland coast, il was decided that this light
must be upon DoIt IN Point. To the north OF
Dorton, az the captain knew from personal ex.
peIience, as we'll as from the chart, there was
a snug h rbor, Of easy entrance. These things
were settled.
As soon as it had been determined where the
light was, Captain Lester made all possible haste
ca determine his course of action. Had the
thing been practicable, he would have laid lis
ship to; but that could not be done No one
even gave it a serious thought So it was de.
termined that the ship should stand on, at least
till something further was discovered
At half past twelve the gale had moderated
considerably. The light was now to be seen
very plainly VIII never the ship, rose, and the
captain and his off lers felt sure that they were
right in their calculations
''At all events" said the former, "we have
-. L.,t e.. ..A.., 4 L..
He was interrupted by a cry from the bows
that made every soul start with horror
"Breakers! Breakers"
Captain Lester leapcd forward, and in a very
few moments he was slti,fed that the warning
had not been false one; for he could not only
hear the awful roar Of the breaking seas, but
he fancied that he could soc the cleaning of
the white foam as It flew high in tine air. AS
quickly as possible the tOpsail was taken off
and the anchors cut loose. The ponderous
grapplings plunged into the Kissing sea, and
the iron cables were spun through the hawse-
holes like lightning. snap went the starboard
chain and in moment more shock was felt
as the larboard anchor found bottom; but il
could not hold The cable parted as though
it hae been hempen string, aud on swept the
devoted ship.
"In heyen's namo!" gasped Griffin, "what
does this meant See! The light is still burn
ing as brightly as over -at least league away
and yet heIe are the rocks directly under
our bows! What can il meant"
Maurice Lester did not answer, but an old,
weather beaten sailor, who stood at the wheel,
and who had looked thousand dangers in the
face, answered for him
"It's Wrscker's Bcaconl Two seen such
things afore. There aint no use in trim the
gun, sir. That light was put there to lead
-
might pick his bonesl"
"Breakers! Rocks-- On the sfarJodrd
bolo!--NO!-OA The oardl-PoIt!"
But it was too late Tor mortal help The
ship had met her doom. Sho won't upon the
rocks with crash that sounded high above
the roar Of the elements