The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-05-30


we dashed up to the quarter:
Keep her off there shouted, seeing
that we should be swamped by the eager.
ness of the sufferers to escape; keep her
off-jump overheard, and we'll pick you
up I continued, as we fell of from her
quarter again; and In less than three min>
utes the deck was bare and our boats full
of the rescued crew.
'Mr. Danforth,' this moment shouted
Jack, from the other boat ahead, there's
q lady and her father, they say, here-still
On board-for Heavens sake lot Us try
to save them.'
For one moment as I remembered my
orders and the extremity of our danger, l
paused; but when reflected that, by de.
parting, we should abondon two human
beings to o horrid death, hesitated no
longer, Hastily learning from the mate
of the vessel they were the only passengers
and having taken refuge in the hold during
tho late chase, had since been forgotten
and not feeling warranted In ordering any
one on 80 dangerous o journey, gave the
boat In charge Of Irvine, who had luckily
smuggled himself on board, STORMY bid one
or two of my crew, who ATTEMPTED to fol-,
low, to keep their stations, mounted her
quarter, rapidly traversed the deck in the
midst of tremendous heat, and darted down
the companion way. leaving the flames
roaring not Eve feet from its entrance.
The cabin was large one, and fitted
up with taste. The decorations were even
luxurious, and such as had at that time
rarely seen in merchantmen. The state.
rooms were Of mahogany, inlaid with ebo.
ny, and finished off with the greatest ele.
gance. Curtains, apparently Of amask,
hung around, and the show Of silver and
cut glass by the companion way was even
brilliant. The cabin was, however, still
as death A lady's glove lay on on otto.
man, and beside 1t was an open book; but
no other traces of human beings were dis.
ccrn,ble around. Where could tho owner
of that small, delicate French glove be?
Was she already q victim to that frightful
element?-lIad tho mate deceived himself
In supposihg she had been removed from
the hold?-Was thore no hope, if she still
lived, or reaching her In time to save hel
from a horrid death9 All these questions
flashed rapidly across my mind, and my
heart sickened as ! owned / could not au
swer them. m..,s--..--e-.---i--,.. -...--l-- -.-l
/! Tho danger, meanwhile, grew moro anf
moro imminent. l was standing, as Il
were, above mine that had been sprung
/ for should the flames reach the magazin,
, inevitable destruction must ensue. No
f could that catastrophe be much longc
7 postponed, The dcvouriug clement had al
. ready gained possession Of all around, ant
5 even now might be eating its way ra
Q venously toward it, Besides, if | pausc'
' a moment longer, the FIRE would reach tn
Q companionway, and all hope Of escape fror
the cabin be cut off.
!. Had 1t been only my own life that wa
4 endangered, would not have hesitated I
{ periling it to the utmost; but when / re
d membercl that dozen gallant fellow
from my crew, as we'll as q score of other
}, from the rescued sufferers, would be invo
IS we'd in my own fate could not decide as t
my own duty. These reflections, howeve
d had not occupied more than the instar
q in which had been throwing open sue
u cessively the doors of7the state-rooms. :
o Alasl all were empty. With a heavy heal
l. / was about to mount the companion.wa
= when noticed that o massive curtain {
" the further end seemed to divide off
/ smaller cabin aft of the one 1t was iE.-
d Without moments delay rushed tt
II ward it, hastily lifted it aside, and the:
rs beheld o sight / never shall forget. a
T. This after cabin was much smaller, bl
l. far more luxurious than the other. W,
N adorned with every thing that taste coul
q suggest or wealth afford. Ottomans ra
of completely round it, forming kind of d
o. van., AT one side was a harp, and besit
e. it some music was scattered on the foo
of But after the first hasty survey, I sawnot
n. ing bnt group of two beings before m
ce One of them was a gray -haired man, q
e. parently about sixty five, dressed in Il
be gentlemanly costume of a former day
ry He was bending wildly over the almost
i. animate form of fair girl, reclining (
to the cushions. Never had seen q b
ne ing who looked more beautiful than th
q pale, half fainting creature seemed at tn
- moment. One arm supported her on t
IN divan; and the other was thrown arou
to her fathers neck, the blue veins just d
an cernible as they stole along beneath t
n ivory skin. g 1 aW
g, Her head rested on the bosom of her r
at rent, and the hair, loose and unbour
of streamed in dark, glossy riIglets oy
ed her snowy shoulders At the the mo-
he made by my entrance she started. rails
in her head, and / could see through the te
W. that glistened on her lashes, one of
he sweetest hazel eyes have ever. look
for upon. A quick flush shot over her fa'
W crimsoning it like a rose leaf as she behe
ng1 a stranger; and half starting to her fe
q she essayed moment to speak, and th
ou stood with half-opened lips, gazing alm'
ire wildly upon me. 1s - = sas @
at For Gods sake, fy!' cried, the shi
,r. on fire in every part-we can barely !,