Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-11
M0rtester 9ailg Spp.
A SEA SKETCH.

district of Maine lying east of the Penobscot,
but Admiral Griffith, and Sir John G. Sher.
brooke, the latter being then the governor of
Nova Scotia, had been seht with heavy force
to take possession, and had occupied the town
of Castine, which place commanded the Ell.
trance to the Penobscot river Shortly before
the arrival Of the English squadron, Commo
dore Samuel Tucker had been sent around to
Penobscot bay to protect the American coast
ers there, and while the British sailed up 10
Castne he lay with his vessel at ThomastOn.
Ii was schooner that the Commodore com.
manded, but she was a heavy one, and well
armed and manned and that she carried the
true Yankee grit npon her decks the enemy
had received Tor them, rather two many proofs
On the morning of the 28th of August, a
messenger came down from Belfast with the
intelligence that the British trigate was COM
ing from Casline to take him. Tucker knew
that the British feared him. and that Sir John
Sherbrooke had offered large amount for his
capture.
When the Commodore received the intelli.
gence, his vessel was lying at one of the low
wharves where he would have to wait nearly
two hours for the tide to set him off; but he
fastened to have everything prepared to get
OF as soon as possible, for he had no desire to
meet the frgate.
The schooner's keel was Just cleared from
upon the wharf to cast off the bow line, when
wagon, drawn by one horse, came rafting
down to the spot. The driver rough look
ing countryman got out upon the wharf, and
then assisted a middle aged lady from the We
hicle, The lady's first inquiry was for Com
modore Tucker. He was pointed out to her
and she stepped upon the schooner's deck and
approached him.
Commodore" she asked, "wlen do you
sail from here 2"
fright off, as soon as possible, madam"
-, then, know you will be kind to me-"
the lady urged, in persuasive tones. "My
poor husband died yesterday, and | wish to
carry his corpse to Wiscassett, where we be.
long, and where his parents will tlke care of
"But my good woman, 1 shan't go to Wis
casset."
"lf you only land me at the mouth of the
Sheepscut, will ask no more. can easily
lind boat there to take me up"
'Where is the body 2" asked Tucker.
SIN the wagon" returned the lady, at the
same time raising the corner OF her shawl to
wipe away the gathering tears. 81 have
small sum OF money with me, sir, and you
shall be paid for your trouble"
Tut, tut, woman if | accommodate you,
there wont be any pay about it,"
The kind hearted old commodore was not
the man to refuse favor, and though he liked
not the bother of taking the woman and her
strange accompaniment on board, yet he
could not refuse; and when he told her he
would do as she had requested, she thanked
him with many tears in her eyes.
Some OF the men were sent upon the wharf
to bring the body on board. A long buffalo
robe was lifted off by the man who drove the
wagon, ana beneath it appeared neat black
coffin. Some words were passed by the sea.
men, as they bore the coffin on board which
went to show pretty plainly that the affair did
not exactly suit them. 1t may have been but
prejudice on their part, but yet seamen should
be allowed a prejudice once i'll while, when
we consider the many stern realities they have
10 encounter
Hush, my good men," said the commo.
dore as lie heard their murmured remonstran.
ces. "Suppose some of you were to die away
from home-would you not wish that your
last remains might be carried 10 your poor
parents? Come, hurry, now"
The men said no MORE and ere long the
coffin was placed In the hold and the woman
was shown to the cabin. In less than half an
hour the schooner was cleared from the wharf
and standing out from the bay. The wind
was light from the eastward, but Tucker had
no fear of the frigate now that he was once
out of the bay.
In the evening the lady passenger came on
deck, and the commodore assured her that he
should be able to land her early on the next
morning. She expressed her gratitude and
satisfaction, and remarked that before she re-
tired she should like to look and see that her
husbands corpse was safe This was of course
granted, and one OF the men lifted off the
hatch that she might 90 down into the hold.
81 declare" muttered Daniel Carter, an old
sailor who had the wheel, ''she takes on
dre'fully"
"Yes,-poor thing" responded Tucker, as
he heard the woman's sobs and groans.
'D'ye notice what'n eye she's got 2" con-
tinued Carter.
"No,'' said the commodore, "only that it
was swollen with tears"
"My eyes but they shone though when
he stood here looking at the compass"
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint earnest
ness, and without further remark lie went
down 10 the cabin.
When the woman came up from the hold
she looked about the deck of the schooner for
few moments, and then went aft There
was something in her countenance that puzzled
Carter. He had been one OF those who Oh
jected to the coffin's being brought on board,
and hence he was not predisposed to look very
tavorably upon its owner. The woman's eye
ran over the schooner's deck with strange
quickDess, and Carter eyed her sharply.
Soon she went to the taffrail and looked into
the stern boat-and then she came and stood
by the pinnacle again.
'Look out, or you'll gibe the boom," uttered
the passenger.
Carter started and found that the nainsal
was shivering. He gave the helm couple of
spokes port, and then cast his eyes again
upon the woman, whose features were lighted
by the pinnacle lamp.
"Tank'e, maam, said Dan. cha, hold on
why, bless my soul, there's a big spider
right on your hair. No-not there. Here
Ill-Ughp
This last ejaculation Dan made as he SCENE
to pull something from the woman's hair
which he threw upon the deck with the ugh
above mentioned.
Shortly aiterward the passenger went be
low, and ere long Tucker came on deck.
Commodore said Carter, with remark.
able degree of earnestness in his manner, sis
the oman turned in yet?"
II rather think So" said Tucker, looking al
the compass "Look out, look out, Carter
Why, man alive, you're two points to the
southwark of your course"
elbow me, so am, said the man, brinl ing
the helm smartly a-port. "But say, Commo
dore. didn't We notice nothin' 'culiar bout thai
,oman 2"
"Why, Dan, you seem greatly interested
about her."
$50 ] am Commodore, an so l am bout
that black coffin, too. Wouldn't it be well fol
you an l to go an overhaul it 2"
"Pshaw you are as scared as. "a child in q
graveyard"
mo, not bit of ii. just bark bit. Thai
oman amt no oman at all p
The Commodore pronounced the vulgar
name of his satanic majesty, i'll most EN-
phatc manner.