The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-08
THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

trades, with all drawing sail set Il was the
last dog watch, the time between six and eight
o'clock, and several of the watch who ought TO
have been on deck were below, listening to a
yarn which Tom Gray was spinning.
Catch that pigeon" said Bill Graves, in
terrupting the yarn, and springing from his
seat "catch that beautiful pigeon before it
flies on deck again
What pigeon F" demanded half dozen
voices, "we don't see anything"
In the mean time, before the sailors could
make further inquiry, an order was issued from
the quarter deck, to haul the main topmast
staysail down. This brought the straggleIs of
the watch on deck, and those below requested
Tom to continue his yarn; but Tom, apparent.
" unconscious of their request, said, in q sor-
rowtul tone" Poor Bill, he is not long for this
world" The white pigeon which he saw was
the angel of death, who appeared to me as he
has done before, like young man with an
hour-glass in his hand, the sands of which had
nearly run out. lie was rugged in white,
fastened round the waist with band like FIRE,
and the name Of Bill Graves on it."
Hardly had he finished his description, when
the thrilling cry rang fore and aft "a man
overheard !" In an instant all hands were on
deck, the ship hove TO, and the lee-quarter boat
lowered. But all in vain. Poor Bill Graves,
WV nav bSSh tiio"n ONcTbOhTu DD the Sltyhdll
sheet sank 10 rise no more. BY the time the
boat was hbisted up, and the sails trimmed the
dog watch was out After the exchange of
5orrowlul regrets the watches separated, but
the fate of Graves was the theme of their con-
versation; even after the watch below had
turned into their hammocks, they spoke of him,
and his many fine qualities as a seaman-for
he was general favorite.
The watch on deck formed group around
Tom Gray, who said that he had frequently
seen the Angel of Death before. "The first
time, shipmats, l saw him, was when / be-
longed to the British ten gun peter Vulture,
lying in the harbor of'Sierra Leone. We had
the fever on bSard, and over thirty men were
down with it. was sick at the time myself
The Angel of Leath came down the main hatch.
way, and walked deliberately forward among
the hammocki. He was then dressed in a
long flowing scbe of orange yellow, and in his
right hand he held a scroll with the names of
dozen men Ga it, and in his left was the same
hour glass tina, | saw this evening. He was
very beautiful, had long, curly hair, of raven
black, encircled by band on which the words
Angel of Detth seemed to blaze and burn.
He lnokad Of nse "A no nasaea IA Qsnrrrerr, suc
said !" not yeti Then passing from hammock
to hammock, be retraced his steps toward the
main hatchwaJ, followed by the men whose
names were on the scroll. A dozen men died
that night. Ia paid US a visit almost every
day, sometimes: taking one or more from our
number, until we had lost twenty five men.
The next TIM saw him was in a church in
Bermuda. He sentered the pulpit, and stood
beside the mimi ter full five minutes, looking at
the hourglass. could see the sand distinctly
running, and wlen it was out, the parson stag
gered and fell. / was the first to rush to his
and I ra.cad him ~,
saw his form follow the Angel of Death down
the broad aisle, and disappear. The minister
died in my arms. The last time was in New
York, saw him take a poor suffering child
from It's mothers arms into his own, and kiss
it and disappear The child died few min
ute5 afterwards, which makes me think that the
soul leaves the body before life is extinct. The
angel was then robed in green"
Tom told ms ny other strange stories Of the
Angel Of Death and his doings, which left a
deep, impression on the minds of his hearers,
who believed his every word.--Boston Traveller.
SOMETHING LIE MILLIoNAIRE.-A st. Pc.
tersburg letter Of 22d ult. says. "The great
event of the day is the defnitive retirement from
business of the celebrated banker, Steglitz
The day before Yesterday he sent an official
letter, ordering his agent, M. Feleisen, to wind
up the business Of the house before the first Of
January, 1862 on which day it will cease to
exist. NJ Steiglnz has taken part in all the
great financial affairs of the Government, and
also possessed nanufactories, sugar refneries,
&c. NJ. Steiglitz, SEN, arrived in Russia about
fifty years ago. He came from Hamburg, and
was jew by birth, but changed to Protestant
ism. Immediately after his arrival in Russia
he entered into business, and founded the house
- - 4 Al Il l. - - -
of baron and fortuue"of thirty millions of
francs 100000 pounds sterling.) M. Steiglitz,
IT., has since conducted the firm with such sue
cess thst he now retires with, it is said, for
tune of two hundred and eighty millions of
francs. This enormous fortune exists partly
in capital deposited in the imperial banks, part
ly in shares in the best Russian companies and
partly in landed estates in the south of Russia,
Livonia, and Germany. He married Mdlle,
Muller, belonging to a highly respectable,
though not rich, family, but has no children.
l need not tell you of the conjectures and com
ments which are expressed as to the cause of
this sudden and unexpected event, but the
real reason Of his retirement is said to be the
delicate health Of Madame Steiglitz." ..
SCENE AFTER AN ELEPHAYT HUST IN CEYLoY
When every wild elephant had been noosed
and tied up, the scene presented was one truly
oriental From one to two thousand natives,
many of them in gaudy dresses, and armed with
spears, crowded about the enclosures. Their
families had collected to see the spectacle; wo-
men, whose children chung like little bronzed
Cupids by their sides and girls, many Of them
in the graceful costume of that part of the coun-
try, scarf, which, after having been brought
round the waist, is thrown over the left Shout
der, leaving the right arm and side free and un.
covered. At the foot of each tree was its cap.
tive elephant; some still struggling and writh-
ing in teverish excitement, while others, in ex-
haustion and despair, lay motionless, except
that from time to time they heaped fresh dust
upon their heads. The mellow notes of
Kandyan, which was played at o little distance,
had striking eject upon one or more of them;
they turned their heads in the direction from
which the music came, expanded their broad
ears, and we're. evidently ,sooshed with the
plaintive sound. The two little ones alone still
roared for freedom they stamped their feet,
and blew clouds Of dust over their shoulders,
brandishing their little trunks alof, and attack.
ing every, one who came within their reach. At
6rst, the older ones, when secured, spurned
every offer Of food, hampled it under foot, and
turned haughtily away" few, however, as
they became more composed, could not resist
the temptation of the juicy stems Of the pantain,
but, rolling them under foot till they detaehed
the layers, they raised them in their trunks, and
commenced chewing them snsssly, On, the
'whSle whist the ssgaoity, the composure, and
docility of the deooys was such as to excite