The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-08-20

/
eign, even the land of birth-no friends,
no family, no kindred, TO welcome me af-
Ter a long and weary voyage. l looked
up again but, the steamer had disappear
cd. 1t was very calm; the sails were
scarcely filed by thelight airs which kiss
ed them, and the brig moved barely fast
enough to answer to her helm. Eight
o'clock came; the wheelwas relieved, and
in few minutes the most perfect quiet
prevailed. / threw myself into an easy
chair, which the steward brought from the
cabin, and fell into one of those reveries,
compounded of pleasure and pain. How
long had remained in this state know
not, but l was suddenly startled by clear,
distinct toll of bell. Could l be mis-
taken? listened in Bbreathless silence,
and almost Immediately was the clear
ring repeated-a bellit certainly was. l
looked in the direction Of the steamer,
but saw nothing other than the g!ancing
of the moonlight OH the water. "What
if it be signal on the part Of the steam
er, to make me come to their assistance J"
l unused 10 myself. Again heard the
sharp, clear tone. My mind by this time
was fairly excited, and paced the quarter
deck, revolving in my mind whether l
should haul the wind or continue on my
course. l said TO myself if it should
prove that nothing has happened to the
steamer, of course could not overtake
her with the light winds then prevailing,
and l should be led a considerable dis
tance from my course, losing, perhaps, a
fair wind by the maneuver. On the 9th
er hand, however, picutured to myself
vessel in distress; a mutiny, perhaps,
was raging aboard; perhaps fire had bro
ken out in the hold, and had made such
progress as to defy all efforts to extinguish
it. called the second mate, and asked
him if he had heard the bell. He had
not. Just then the tone of bell rang
out. clear and distinct, on the night air,
and clutched him by the arm, and re-
peated my question.
awe will brace up, Mr.. Neef," / said.
"Aye, aye, sirp' was his answer.
"Stop," said |, as he started forward
to give the order, stop; don't you think
that bell must come from the Danish
steamers"
"No, sir" was his reply; "I think it's
them chain topping lifts that make the
noise"
"Impossibler I said =" it is too clear ;
nothing but a bell can make such n
sound"
He answered nothing, but quietly as
cended the rigging, and when he had
reached the cross-trees, struck the chain
topping lifts together, producing a sound
remotely resembling that of a bell, but
certainly not as clear as | had before heard.
This might arise from various causes, l
thought, and so concluded my imagina-
tion had deceived me. A few minutes
more and l was in my berth. Just rs l
was sinking into Inconsistencies the bell
again rang in my ears, startling me for a
moment.
I shall never forget it; it is sounding
in my ears at this very moment. Re-
grets are useless, and yet how shall cv-
er cease to regret9 Fain would drown
memory in the busy scenes Of life, but,
like a phantom, recollection sits brooding
in my mind, startles me from my pillow
at night, and haunts me at every step.
To this day am l in doubt. Was it SUI
pernatural! was it the striking together
of topping lifts9 or was it signal-bcll Of
distress, rung by trembling hands aboard
the Danish steamer? God alone can tell.
/ have but little moro to add; but that
little is the secret Of my misery in life.
You shall have it, as nearly as possible,
word for word as it was told to me.
About year after the events l have
just recorded l was loading coffee in the
harbor of Rio de Janeiro, having charter
ed for a port in the United States. One
day, while ashore and taking a cup Of
coffee at the Hotel Pharoux, friend en-
tered, accompanied by a gentleman Of
German appearance, who was dressed in
deep mourning. The usual salutations
passed, and at my invitation, they joined
me in glass of wine. The stranger,
noticed, was very absent-minded, and at
times apparently unconscious of the pres
ence of either myself or friend. Present
ly he rose to 60, and now 1 noticed he
was slightly lame. No sooner had he
left US than my friend, who had observed
my expression Of inquiring wonderment,
remarked:
"He is Danish gentleman of great
wealth and position in his own country,
and is travelling from place to place in the
endeavor to drown memory. He is, as
you see, in mourning, and truly he has
great cause"
My curiosity was now fully aroused,
and inquired what might be the cause.
He said:
GA little over year ago, my friend,
accompanied by his family, took passage
in Danish steamer, bound TO the Island
of st. Thomas. Everything went on
we'll for number of days, and all enjoy
ed the prospect Of a safe and pleasan.
voyage. One day, however, an alarm