Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-04-25
A Tale of the Sea.
Capt. Fr,end-Bis Death and Burial.

| Capt. Fr,end-Bis Death and Burial
The next day after our arrival at the
old city of St. Domingo, our eyes wert
gladdcned by the view Of the stars and
stripes floating proudly upon the wind
and as the II, P. Gushing, from n. York
sailed majestically and softly through the
narrow entrance at the mouth of the Ora.
ma, and anchored in front of the grand
old ruin of the Columbus House." that
stands upon the bank of the river.
| My brother hastcned on board to learn
what news from home, and soon after came
back to tell me he had engaged passage on
the schooner to New York, when she
should return the lst of May, loaded with
her treasure Of precious woods-mahoga-
ny, fustic, stainwood, and lingnum-vitm.
A few days after, the master of the
schooner, Captain Friend" invited me
to call on board and take look at the
premises, and see if could be satisfied
with my accommodations, which | did
We were seated in the snug little cabin,
when the captain startled me with deep
drawn sigh, and a look of sorrowing dis
content.
Ny cabin" said he, does not look as
it did when my wife used to 60 with me. y
Z" Y ou have left her on shore this time, y
answered [, gaily.
She is not living" he replied in a
husky voice, as if every muscle of his
throat was choking down the words. 81
lost her at sea, on the night Of the 10th
of September last. We had terrible
gale, which lasted three days, and the
third night, at about half past two at night
the sea struck US, my vessel capslzed, and
nv Annie was lost.
Never shall | forget the thrilling tone
with which this laconic history Of life and
death, of the tcrrors of the mighty deep,
Of the fearful tragedy that blotted out all
sunshine to him, was uttered. | raised
my eyes to his bronzed face. There were
no tears in his eyes, but the conyulsiye
working OF his features, and the deep
surains swell that swept over his broad
manly chest as he gave forth long sigh
that was almost groan. told how feurtuI-
ly the strong man was suffering.
He rose, opened his chest, aud handed
me her dagurrreotype. 1t was not the
face of beauty, but of one whose loving
nature and kindly sympathy would purify
the soul and make it filter fer earth and
heaven. looked into her calm grey
eyes, and wondered not that the man had
SO loved.
tried to think of something to say,
but my voice refused to articulatc, and
tears gushed from my eyes.
Annie was good woman" said he,
with another deep-bursting sigh. Aud
since she is gone, feel that | have little
to live for
Oh how much was expressed in these
few words Anne was a good woman =
What higher euIogy could have been spo-
ken by the lips of man?
But let me not linger
He told me Of all the struggle Of that
fearful storm of four days, floating upon
the wreck without water or food, of being
t,kcn up by steamer, Of the death OF
some of his crew after their arrival at
home; but ever as he talked, he came
back to her, the light of his life, which
had so suddenly been cxtingui,hel.
\ month passed away, and We were
passengers on the II. J. Gushing, bound
for home. The morning that We left IT.
Domingo was rainy and sutry, and there
was some trouble in getting out to sea.
Captain Friend stood upon deck for
hours in the storm, and was not careful to
protect himself in his oil-cloth coat and
hat The smart sea breeze chilled him,
and the next morning he complained of
feeling very i'll. \ fever setin. All was
done for him that could be done under the
circumstances. The mates were as kind
as possible, and the sailors did their duty.
Soa-sickness for four or FIVE days kept
me from seeing him much, and | was more
in condition to be waited upon than to
tend others. But | never spoke 70 him
or sat BY his side two minutes that he did
not speak of his Annie.
OHc HoiHiHE iI 9diN
"Lf Annie were here | should be up in
a day or two. She would know just what
to do" And more than once he expressed
almost a desire to 90 to her. " Life is II
burden to me without her" he remarked,
the morning before his death, as | knclt
by his side on the deck, to which his bed
had been carried, for the sake Of the cool
air, to give him food. On the ninth day
his symptoms became alarming, and he
became speeehless for some hours, bat re-
vived on the tenth, and walked the deck.
In the evening he again sank into deep
stupor, and on the morning of the elev-
enth day, on the 10th of May, at half
past six, he breathed his last without Il
struggle or motion of a muscle of his body.
He had not spoken for l3 hours, and the
last words | heard him speak were:
a thank you; you make me think of
Annie when you feed me-" Il was feed
ing him on a little cracker, wine and wa
teri "Oh dear, how miss her. Life
is burden without her.
He has gone. In the pride Of his man
y strength was he cut down, and passed
forever from the tolls and struggles, the
storms and tempests of life.
The ships crew consisted now of only
five. The two mates, Stanley and SIM
monds, prepared the body for its last rest