Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-24
w. d. WALLAOH.
A SEA SKETCH

lob onlJ iaio sIam 10 all OF that portion OF the
District OF Maine lying east Of the Penobscot,
put Admiral Grifeth and Sir John c. Sher-
brooke, the latter being then the Governor Of
Nova Scotia, had been sent with heavy force
to take possession, and had occupied the town
OF CastiRe, which place commanded the en-.
trance to the PenObscot river. Shortly before
the arrival of the English squadron, Commo-
dore Samuel Tucker had been sent around to
Penooseot Bay to protect the American coast
ers there, and while the British sailed up to
Castine be lay with his vessel at Thomas aston.
IL was schooner that the Commodore oom-
manded, but she was q heavy one and well
armed and manned; and that she carried the
true Yankee grit" upon her decks the enemy
nad received, tor them, rather too many proofs.
On the morning of the 28th of August, mes
senger came down from Belfast with the in
telligence that the British frigate was coming
from Castine 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 intelIi.
gence, his vessel was lying at enc of the low
whsrves whore he would have to wait nearly
two hours for the tide to set him of; but he
hastened to have everything prepared to get
of as soon as possible, for he had no desire to
meet the frigate.
The schosner's keel was Just cleared from
the mud, and one Of the men had been sent
upon the wharf to cast of the bowline, when q
wagon, drawn by one horse came rattling
down to the spot. The driver, rough look
ing countryman, got out upon the wharf, and
then assisted middle-aged lady from the
vehicle. The lady's first inquiry was for Com
medore Tucker. he was pointed out to her,
and she stepped upon the schooner's deck and
approached him.
Commodore" she asked, "when do you
sail from here %
Right of, as soon as possible, madam"
fhan III Ill - L.
the lady urged, in persuasive tones "My
poor husband died yesterday, and wish to
carry his corpse to Wiscasset, where We be-
long, and where his parents will take care Of
"But, my good woman, shan't go to Wis
cssset."
IF you only land me at the mouth Of the
6heepscut, I will ask no more. I can easily
ind boat there to take me up"
Where Is the body? asked Tucker.
In the wagon" returned the lady, ut the
same time raising the corner Of her shawl to
wipe away the gathering tears. 81 have a
small sum Of money with me, sir, and you shall
be paid for your trouble
- "Tut, tut, woman: If I accommodate you,
there won't be sny 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. ---- 80
Some Of the men were sent upon the wharf
20 bring the body on board. A long buffalo
robe was lifted OF by the man who drove the
wagon, and beneath it appeared Q neat black
conn. Some words were passed by the seamen
a. they bore the cofdn on board which went to
show pretty plainly that the affair did not ex-
astly suit them. It may have been bat preju-
dice on their part, but yet sesmen should be
zaA In ~ xhan
consider the many stern realities they have to
snconnter.
Hush, my good men. !" said the Commo-
dors, as be heard their murmured remon-
strsnoes- "Suppsss some Of you were to die
away from home-would you not wish that
your last remains might be carried to your psor
parents? Come, hurry now"
The men said no more, and ere long the eof-
IN 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 frigste now that he was once out Of
the bay,
In the evening the lady y-passengsr 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
sstisfaction, 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 of the
hatch that she might 90 down into the hold.
"I declare" muttered Daniel Carter, an
old sailor, who had the wheel, "she takes on
dre'fully." - -...
81. "Yes-poor thing" responded Tucker, as
he heard the woman's sobs and groans.
"D'ye notice whst'n eye she's got ~ con-
tinusd Carter. .. r.
mo" said the Commodore, ''only that 1t
was swollen with tears"
k,k
she stood here looking at the compass .
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint earnest
meas, and without further remark he went
down to the cabin. -
When the woman came up from the hold,
shs looked about the deck Of the schoone., for
sfsu moments, and then went aft. There was
something In her countenanee that puzzled
Carter. He hsd been one Of those who object
cd 10 the cofiu's being brought on board, and
hence he was not predisposed to look very IA
vorably upon its owner, The weman's eye ran
over the schOouer's deck With strange quick
mess, and Carter eyed her sharply Soon she
went to the tahrail and looked into the stern
boat-and then she came and stood by the bin
nacle again.
"LOOk out, or you'll gibe the boom, utter
I'd the passenger. ...
Carter started and found that the nairissil
was shiVsring He gavo the helm couple Of
spokes q port, and then cast his eyes again
upon the woman, whose features were lighted
by the binnacle lamp. ..- ..... .---. -
"Thank'e, ma am, " said Dan. I" Hs, hold
on-why, bless my soul, there's . big spider
right on your hair. No-not there. Here
pll-Ugh" .-.. ." q
This last ejaculation Dan made as he seemed
10 pull something from the woman's hair,
which he threw upon the deck with tho "ugh D
above mentioned.
Shortly Afterwards the passenger went be-
low, and ere long Tucker came en- deck. p.
"Coumodore, said Carter, with q remark
abls degree sf earnestness in his manner, % is
the oman turned in yet l'' else. tn - 9
rather think 90, said Tucker, looking
st the compass Z" Look out, look out, Carter
Why, man alive, you're two points to the
southwark Of your course" .. ~ f
blow me, 80 am, said the man, bring
ing the helm smartly a-pOrt " Bat say,
Commodore, didn't ye notice nothin' 'culiar
bout that oman ?'
Why, Dan, you seem greatly interested
go am, Commodore; an % am 'bou'
that black coffin, too. Wouldn't it be well foi
you an TO go an overhaul it7'' ...
Pshaw you are as scared a. o child In
grave yard " -. .a-T-.-.--