The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-09-09


ter to visit him. After stating to him the
peculiar situation be was in, and the great
danger he would be exposed to, by the
least notion, cEtreated him and ordered
bin MOTTO stir during the action, which
be promised to observe. We were soon
after obliged to fire At the sound of the
first gun he could restrain himself no Ion
ger-pgardless of my admonitioD, and, of
his own danger, he rushed upon deck and
flew to his gun, laying hold to help to run
her out. A fresh and tremendous dis
charge from his lungs was the consequence,
and he was brought down to me again, in
most deplorable state. | apprehended
immediate death, but by the application
of the proper remedies succeeded,
once more, in stopping the hemorrhage,
BY which he was reduced to a state Of ex-
IRENE d,bility. - o''"'f"' = W
Being near the equator, and suffering
much from heat, his hammock was hung
upon the gundeck between the ports, as af-
fording the best circulation of air He
continued some time free from hemorrhage,
but was under the constant use of medi.
cines, and was confined to particular diet.
This made him fretful and he would fire.
quently charge my mates with starving
him, and at the same time damning them
in the true sailor style. After some time,
being again called to quarters at night, he
was necessarily removed below to the sick
berth, commonly called bay j this was
followed by another discharge of blood
from his lungs, which was renewed, at in
tervals, until his death. On the 18th of
January, in the afternoon, DIR. ----,, (my
first mate,) came to me on deck, and re-
ported Kemble to be dead. / directed
him to see that his messmates did what
was usual on such occasions preparatory
to committing his remains to the deep
About two hou,s after this DR.. - again
called upon me, and said that Kemble bad
came to life, and was holding forth to the
sailors in strange way. l directly went
down, where l witnessed one of the most
remarkable and unaccouutable transact
tions, that perhaps has ever fallen to the
lot of man to behold. Kemble had ava
kened, as it were, from sleep, raised him
self up, called for his messmates in partic-
ular, and those men who were not on duty,
to attend to his words. He told them he
had experienced death, but was allowed
short space of time to return, aud give
them, as we'll as the officers, some direc-
ton for their future conduct in life.
In this situation I found him, surroun.
ded by the crew, all mute with astonish-
ment, and paying the most serious atten-
ton to every word that escaped from his
lips. The oldest men were in tears-not
a dry eye was to be seen, or whisper to
be heard-all was as solemn and silent as
the grave. His whole body was as cold
as death could make it. There was no
pulsation in the wrists, the temples, or
the chest perceptible. His voice was clear
and powerful his eyes uncommonly bril-
liant and animated. After short and
pertinent address to the medical gentle
man, he told me in peremptory manner,
to bring Commodore Rodgers to him, as he
had something to say to him, before be
finally left US. The Commodore CONSENT
to 60 with me, when scene was present
ed truly novel and indescribable, and cal
culated to fill with awe the stoutest heart.
The sick bay Cor berth) in which he lay
is entirely set apart to the use of those
who are confined to their beds by illness.
Supported by the surgeons, surrounded
By his weeping and astonished comrades,
crowd of spectators looking through the
lattice-work which enclosed the room,
common japanned lamp throwing out a
sickly light, and a candle held opposite
his face by an attendant, was the situa.
ton of things when our worthy Commo-
dore made his appearance. And we'll
does he remember the effect produced by
so uncommon spectacle, especially when
followed by the utterauce of these words
from the mouth of one long supposed to
have been dead: Ida"
Commodore Rodgers, ! have sent for
you, sir, being commissioned By a higher
power, to address you for short time,
and to deliver the message entrusted to
me, when was permitted to revisit the
earth. Once | trembled in your pres
ence, and was eager to obey your com
niands; but now | am your superior, be-
ing no longer an lnhabltant OF this earth.
have seen the glories of the world of
spirits. l am not permitted to make
known what have beheld Indeed, were
not forbidden, language would be mad
equate to the task. IT'S enough for you
and the crew to know that / have been
sent back to earth to reanimate, for few
hours, my lifeless body, commissioned to
perform the work am now engaged in"
He then, in language as chaste and ap-
propriate as would not have disgraced the
lips or the pen of a divine, took hasty
view Of all the moral aud religious duties
incumbent upon the ommander Of ship
of war; he reviewed the vices prevalent
on board ship; pointed out the reative
duties Of officers aud men, and concluded
by urging the necessity Of reformation
and repentance. He did not, as was fear
ed by our brave Commodore, attempt to
prove the siufulness of fighting and wars /;