Red Wing sentinel., 1861-03-27

known, or,if heard of,was only laughed
at as the wild chimcra ola madman.
The crew amused thcmselves--.some
fishing, some reading, and others gaz-
ing lislcssly at tho volumes of ashes
aud smoke that were elected from time
to time, from the mouth of Vesuvius,
or at the sun reflected under
meath. a4 35"
Many days had thus elapsed, with
their consequent monotony, when al,
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 impatiently 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,o the verge of the horizon,
which seem to be vending their way
in the direction ot the becalmed ship.
The captain, procuring his telescope,
UiOu5HC IL ~ DCAl OA IAC 1Ct AslI I-ulS-
tant objects, and, after long and
steady survey, said in answer to a
question form the mate.
"Well, this is most extraordinary:
certainly, can scarcely believe the
evidence of my own sences, and l
will conc to no conclusion on the
matter, till l have got nearer view
Of these strange Objects ag
In few minutes, however, the figures
became visable enough to the whole
ships company, who congrcgatcd,
with amazemcnt, at the stern Of the
vessel, and gazed with dilatcd eyes,
at the rapidly approaching Objects
Many were tho surmises OF the old tars
at the phenomena, but all agreed that
it was something which had no paral-
lell in their sca-faring experience.
Nor longer time had they for specula-
ton, as the figures made rapidly for
vessel, and passed closely over the top
mast, revealing the forms of two men,
in strange habiliments, 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. 9ftiH3Il 1isti.I g,oY,E
The captain who was native Of
Livcrpoole, and who, as 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!' a.
Awc.s stricken, the captain and crew
|continued to gaze at the retreating
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
|perished, in A. ID. 70. Both figures
plunged into the yawning abyss Of
liquid fire, and were lost to view for
ever! ~
Horrified at the spectacle, it was
sometime before the captain could
withdraw his eyes from the place
where they disappeared, as if expect
ing to see 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 a
strong heart quailcd, and was softcncd
. at the thought, that sthose that go
down to the sea in ships, and occupy
their business in great waters, these
men sec the works of the Lord, and
his wonders in the deep.'' The re-
membrance Of that scene never faded
from any of their minds, and various
were the effects produced by the re.
currcnce of it on the rough seamen.
A breeze springing up a 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 first news
which met his astonished cars was tho
astounding announcement of the death
of old Mr.. Booty, one ofthe owners o1
the vessel, also! On reference to his
log book he found, to his amazcmcnt
that at the exact moment he had seer
Ithe flying figures at the Bay of Naples
Io!d Mr.. Booty had brcathcd bis 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 We
in this generation, can never hope Il
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 til,
papers Of that day., but it is nov
forgotten, even by tic "o!drst inhab
tants.
ell Chccrfulncss is like a sunny day.