Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-11-17
THE BURNING SHIP.
BY rnn Aurnon OF "cnul.INo IN rnr Lasr w.r
tConeludedl

that dozen gallant fellows from my crew, as
well a score Of others from the rescued suf-
ferers, would be involved in my own fate
could not doubt as to my duty These reAec.
tons, however, had not occupied mole than
the instant in which had been throwing open
suecessiyeiy the doors Of the state rooms
Alas! all were empty. With a heavy heart /
was about to mount the companion way, when
noticed that a massive curtain at the further
eud seemed to divide off a smaller cabin aft of
the one was in Without a moments DELAY
| rushed towards it, hastily lifted it aside, and
there behind sight never shall forget
The after cabin was much smaller, but far
more luxurious than the other. Itwas adorned
with everything that taste could suggest or
wealth afford Oltomans ran completely
around it. forming a kind OF dvan. At one
side was a harp, aud beside il some music was
scattered on the floor. But after the first hasty
survey, l saw nothing but a group of two be .
ings before me. One ofthem was gray-haired
man, apparently about sixty.fvc, dressed in
the gentlemanly costume Of former day lie
was bending wildly over the almost inanimate
form Of far girl reclining ON the cushions
Never had | seen being who looked more
beautiful than that pale, half,faiuting creature
seemed at that moment One arm supported
her on the divan, and the .theT was thrown
around her fathers neck, the blue veins Just
discernible as they tole along beneath the skin.
Her head rested on the bosom of her parent,
and the hair, loose and unbound, streamed in
dark, glossy ringlets over her snowy shoulders
AT the noise made by my entrance she started
raised her head, and could see through thC
tears that glistened on her lashes, one of the
sweetest hszel eyes have ever looked upon
A quick flush shot over her face, crimsoninp il
| like rose leaf as she beheld stranger; and
half starting to her feet, she essayed moment
to speak, and then stood with half opened lips,
gazing almost " idly upon me.
For Gods sake ily!" / cried, the ship is on
fire in every part-we can barely escape by
the companion way-in another instant she
will blow up-why hesitate! For Heaven
sake, comol"
"Oh! sir, God bless you for this kindness
there ia then hopel" exclaimed the old man
"but Isabel has lainied," he continued "Go,
| fly, l will die with her" he said in voice OF
agony, vainly endeavoring to raise in his en-.
leebled arms the seemingly lifeless form of his
daughter.
I looked into her face. The transition from
calm despair TO hope had been too great, and
she had indeed tainted. II was no time to hes
| itate. Hastily raising the beautiful stranger
in my arms. | called upon the old man to iol-
low, dashed into the front cabin, up the com~
|
flames had Just crossed the entrance. For a
second paused. Death was behind destruction
perhaps before. Laying my hand upon the old
mans shoulder, | urged him ahead, hurriedly
threw the shawl OF the fair girl around her face
and form, made bold, desperate push for life,
| aud in another instant, amid the cheers of my
men, had gained the quarter deck Tho boat
shot to the side, and dozen arms were exten.
ded to receive my burden. | carefully gave il
in charge of the nearest, almost sluDg the old
man after, and springing with bound into the
stern sheets, waved my arm and shouted
'Shoye oil'-board-giye way-and if ever
you pulled before, pull now, for your lives my
men"
was obeycd. With one soul they bent their
brawny arms to the task, and while the ash
almost snapped beneath them, made the boat
whirl from the quarter, and then sent her with
the velocity of sea-gull over the deep Not
u word was spoken. The old man sat beside
Inc in the bewiIdeTmont of gratitude astOnsh-
ment, and only half dissipated fright while
the form OF his iuanmato child was extended
unalded for the moment, by his side. 1t wns
indeed, no time for delay Every man kne "
le was pulling for life or death, The olhe
boat was nearly mile ahead, skmming swiltl,
along from the deserted ship. Far oil on thu
moonlight horizon lay our schooner, with al
her exquisite tracery reflected in the wave be
meath, and seeming, with her thin, taper rakinl
masts like some aerial vessel floating half way
between sea and sky. Down TO the right wa,
the burning ship, presenting vast pile OF luril
fire that roaTel along her sides, streamed out her
ports, eddied spirally up the masts, and loapcd
| IN huge masses straight out into the sky. Now
aud then, as her guns became heated, they
went off with a roar like thunder, Meantime
the dense smoke, gathering in thick cloud
above, hung like a Iall over the consuming
! ship. For some moments the flames appeared
to die in part away; but all at once stream o
intense fire, that almost blinded the eyes, eap'
ed perpendicularly upwards from the decks; tht
horizon for miles around was Illuminated W tl
light more vivid than that Of the brightea
noon day; part Of the foremast. lifted bodily
out, shot like an arrow almost cable length
on high, q concussOn ensued that made the ia
shiver like a reed, and rock moment flight
fully about; and then a stunning roar followed
shaking the armament to its CENTRE and sound
ing as if thousand broadsdes had been dis
charged at once For moment, as the barn.
ing fragments sailed aloit, falling on every han,
about, while the boat rolled to and fro upon the
agitated swell, we held our breaths in momen
tary expectation of death, and | involuntary
calculated:
"The Lord have mercy on us ALL"
"Amenp said the rescued father at my side
But we were again most mracu.ously pre-
served The ofIing we had gained, though no
sufficient to ensure safety, proved great enough
TO relieve us from inevitable destruction Ha,
any OF the falling timbers, however, strnek us
we should have all gone down together As il
was, it was one Of the narFOwcst escapes | eve
had made, and when l gave the command tC
the crew to give way aPain-for at that terribl,
explosion they bad as one man paused-a gusl
Of thankiuness and devotion wontup from my
heart to the great Author of my being, who haC
thus second time preserved my life.
The deaiening uprOar, however, recalled The
senses Of the fair girl at my side. But will
not describe her gratitude and that Of her par.
ent, to myself, whom they persisted in consid
eTing the preseryer Of their lives. Suffice il {,
say we were soon OH board the captain delib
erately resigned his own cabin to the strangers
and then had leisure 10 learn some particular,
concerning their history They were easil,
told. Mr.. Thornton, the father Of Isabel, was
a wealthy West IndiamGn, and was Just retur.,
ing from Great Britain with his daughter. vbe
had been there for several years obtsipip0 he
education. Before the Letter Of dar0ue saile5
she had been fitted up by Mr., Thornton In
style bordering on eastern luxury, with fnrni
ture intended principally tdT bis mansion hous,
at Jamaica
But at this moment message arrived, soil
citing my presence with Mr.. Thornton. As
entered the cabin, ho frankly extended hi
hand and presented me TO his now blushin,
daughter--ior what woman, be she who sh,
may, can stand unembauAssed In the pfesene,
Of one 10 whom she owes her liicl have hns
many moments Of pleasure, but never felt ~
then felt, when Isabel Thornton, extending
her delicate hand 10 me with her sweeten
| tla ,,NkawaI kaa tkauEa