Red Wing sentinel., 1861-03-27
G0ODHUE COUNTY, MIMI. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1861

known, or,if heard of,was only laughed
at as the wild chimcra of 4 madman.
The crow amused themselves---somc
fishing, some reading, and others gaz-
ing lis!essly ut the volumes of ashes
and smoke that were elected from time
to time, from the mouth of Vesuvius,
or at the sun refcctcd-watcrs under
meath.
| Many days. lad thus elapsed, with
their consequent monotony, when all
incident occurred as extraordinary as
it is unique. The captain had gone
below few minutes, but feeling an
noycd at tho prolongued calm, came
up again, and was impaticntly pacing
the deck, fore and aft, now glancing
up to the clouds, and anon down at
the barometer; when the look out-man
reported to the captain, that he had
Just described two objects, like very
large birds ON the verge of the horizon,
which seem to be vending their way
in the direction OF the bccalmed ship.
The captain, procuring his telescope,
brought it to bear OH the yet far-dis-
tant objects, and, after a long and
steady survey, said in answer to a
question form the mate. ......
"Nell, this is most extraordinary.
certainly, can scarcely believe the
evidence Of my own sences, and I
will conc to no conclusion OH the
matter, till l have got IA nearer view
Of these strange objects"
In q few minutes, however, the figures
became visablc enough to the whole
ships company, who congrcgatcd,
with amazcment, at the stern of the
vessel, and gazcd with dilatcd eyes,
at the rapidly approaching Objects
Many were the surmiscs OF the old tars
at the phenomena, but all agreed that
it was something which had no paral-
lcll in their sca-faring experience.
Nor longer time had they for spccula-
ton, as the figures made rapidly for
vessel, and passed closely over the top
mast, revealing the forms Of two men,
in strange habilimcnts, one evidently
in chase of the other. They piercing
the air quick as the eagle, yet did not
appear to have any wings, but dashed
on, as if the sky was their native
element.
The captain who was native Of
Livcrpoolc, and who, rs We said, was
standing with his telescope, brought
to bear on the mysterious visitors,
exclaimed, as the figures passed over
the ship:
"Great Heaven! one of those flying
things looks like old Mr.. Booty, Of
Liverpool, the rich merchant, and the
other is--the devil!''
Awc.strickcn, the captain and crew
continued to gaze At the rctreating
figures, and watched till they ultimate
ly disappeared at the mouth of Mount
Vcsuvius, at the exact place where
Pliny, The naturalist, is siad to have
pcrishcd, in A. d. 70. Both figures
! plunged into the yawning abyss of
liquid fire, and were lost to view for
ever!
Horrifed at the spectacle, it was
sometime before the captain could
withdraw his eyes from the place
where t1icy disappeared, as if expect
ing to sec then again winging their
way with bird-like rapidity. But at
length he turned round, and entered
his cabin, and after he had made a
careful and truthful statement, in his
log-book, Of the extraordinary affair,
time, date, etc., he summoned his crew,
and asked them all to witness to its
truth, which they did very willingly;
|and when the captain read the "Form
of Prayer to be used at sea-" provided
!. by the Episcopal Church, many :,
strong heart quailcd, and was softcncd
at the thought, that "those that 60
down to the sea in ships, and occupy
their business in great waters, these
men sec the works of the Lord, and
his wonders i'll the deep" The re.
membrancc of that scene never faded
from any of their minds, and various
we're the effects produced by the re.
currcncc of it on the rough scamcn.
A breeze springing up q day or two
after, they sailed for England, and in
4 short time, had the pleasure of again
seeing the white cliffs Of Old ALBION.
On his arrival in Liverpool, the
captain was waited upon by the owners
Of the vessel, and nearly the frs. news
which met his astonishcd cars was the
astounding announcement of the death
OF old Mr.. Booty, one of the owners OF
the vessel, also! On reference to his
log book he found, to his amazemcn1
that 1T the exact moment he had seer
the flying figures at the Bay ofNaples
o!d Mr.. Booty had brcathcd his last il
Liverpool.
=, 1t is unnecessary to repeat that thi
extraordinary statement was sworn t.
before the Mayor Of Liverpool, ant
!, may yet remain on their books, as on,
= of those mysterious occurrence, which
> occasionally happen, but of which VIC
:. in this generation, can never hope t
solve the mystery.
;, For years after, the extraordinar.
; : story Of :'Clooty and Booty wa
familiar as the household word
(having gone the rounds of all tn
y papers OF that day., but it is nov
:: forgotten, even by the Coolest inhab
;, tants.