The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-07-26
Adventure Of Lord Byron.

Lord Byron. during his residence al Ven-
ice, made frequent sea excursions, and one
oil those trips involved him in circumstances
oil no small peril. The privilege OF attend
hing him on those oc ccasions was strongly
coveted and there was not gondoier in
Venice, nor sailor in the Adratic, but re-
/ garded his lordship as his countryman, and
would cheerlulIy have exposed himself
TO any danger for his sake. Hs was par
ticulary fond OF the island OF SabionceIio,
situated near Ragnsa, and often repaired
lhilher in iout-oared boat, accompanied
! by the Countess Guiccioli and two or three
other fTieEds. He always carried with him
The requisite materials for writing; and the
countess, who drew -tolerably well from ma
known that along the coast of Dalmatia there
are manytsmaal islands, aud on one or other
OF these, the company frequently landed, ior
The puspose of taking refreshment an d fish
ing and shooting. The islaEd oil Grossa
| Minroe is rock covered with scaniy ver-
dure, only hall an English mile in length,
and OF about The same in breadth. Here
rtley went on shore Que morning, and there
was nearly in the centre of the island fine
spring surrounded by bushes, the only spot
which affords shelter from The heat of The
sun they resolved to dine there. The gou-
dolier, 100, left the boat, made fire. and
set about cooking fish, while the company
amused themselves. After passing several
hours in this manner, when they would
have embarked again they found that the
boat, having been carelessly fastened, had
got loose. and they perceived her at the dis
tance Of Two miles, drifting away from the
shore. Grossa AiEroe is about twenty miles
from Sabioncello, and none OF the contig-
uous islands are inhabited. Lord Byron
smiled when he saw his companions turn
pale nevertheless, it was by no means
laughing matter, a vessel rarely ever ap-
preached this spot They had plenty OF
fowIing pieces, shot and fishing tackle, and
likewise small quantity of provisions but
cient for week, and these were all LOST
They hoisled the chuEfess' white shawl on
a pole, as signal of distress: and spread
mantes upon tie bushes 10 form kind of
lent. They had nothing TO expect bot 10
perish by cold and hunger ,unless they were
rescued by some vessel which might pre-
ceive the flag, or hear the shots which they
fred from lime 10 time. Luckily the
weather was fine; the countess slept in the
tent, and the others sireatched themselves
ike Bedonips upon The ground. As long
as The wine aud brandy lasted, they kept
up their spirits talefabIy well, bui after they
had passed TWO nights in this manner, all
OF them became extremely uneasy, and
they resolved 20 construct a raft. forgetting
that there was not upon the whole island,
stick more than few inches in circumier-
ence. To swim from the island 10 anether
: was utterly impossibie, and Lord Byron
himself began 10 be ALARMED, when Ve-
aeiian, who was commonly called the Cy
cIops, because be had but QUE eye, proposed
plan for their deIiverance, and urged By
his own danger, and induced by the prom
se OF handsome reward he determined
to put il into execution. There is no good
water on Sab.oncello, and they had in con-
sequence brought On shore cask for the
purpose OF filling it at the spring. Falling
to work with their knives they cut this cask
in two through the middle, and in the tick
lish kind of vessel formed by one Of the
halves, the Cyclops embarked with coup
lie Of poles for oars. To keep mp his spirits,
they had previously given him a dram of
brandy, and the company were over joyed
to see that he preserved his balance per-
fectly well. He pushed out 10 sea, where
his singular boat turned round and round
with him, but in the course of an hour, ii
got into rapid current, and they soon lost
sight OF il. They could perceive thai this
current sci it towards the land, and their
hopes OF deIiverance revived. Another
night passed, and by daylight the following
morning, the Cyclops, hailed by general
shout Of Joy arrived in a six-oared boat, with
an abundant supply Of wine and fruit. He
had been driven beyond the Island of Sab
ioncelIo, and not far from Ragusa, and had
performed in his frail vessel voyage of
nearly one hundred miles. Lord Byron lib
orally rewarded him, and on their return to
Venice he purchased for the Cyclops a boat
as memorial of that remarkable event, of
which the latter was justly prOud.
CHrnAm-When streaiched upon his