Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-11-03

some desperate course. What it nigh
be he hardly dared to think. Lane
was only eight days distant; but, alas
if matters continued unchanged they
mig ght never reach it.
Out of three hundred and thirty pas
sengers that had sailed from Liverpool
there were scarcely two hundred re
naming, and six of the crew had died
Now that the Surgeon had been ia.
ken, there was no one on board capable
of treating the disease, and nothing
could be done to check it. No wonder
that the stout hearted sailors hair turn
ed gray; no wonder the bitter tears
coursed down his bronzed cheeks. He
had never known such sorrow as this
to see hundreds of his fellow creatures
committed to his care, perishing, with.
out his having the power to aid them.
There was little ceremony shown to
the dead. As fast as they were found
to be lifeless they were thrown into the
sea. 1t was not time to think of the
dead. Humanity required that the on
ly care should be for the living, and it
was necessary to remove the corpse at
once, SO that if it were possible, the
number of victims light not be in
creased.
On the twenty-third day of the voy-
age, matters came to a crisis. Captain
Bridges was standing by the wheel
gazing sadly into the water. when some
one touched him on the shoulder. Look
ing up he saw that it was one of the
passengers.
"Well, Mr.. Lane" he said, gravely 4;
shave you any more news to report? ?"
81 have come to say that we have de-
cided to abandon the ship, Captain" F"
said the other, firmly.
: "Who do you mean ?" asked the
Captain, slowly and sternly.
"The passengers and crew-all who
are able to go in the boats," was the re.
ply.
"You forget, sir, that I command
this ship, and that 1 will tolerate no in
terferance"
The Captains voice was stern, for he
could not bear that any one should rob
him of his authority on the Sovereign
of the Seas.
81 do not forget it," said the other !;
and his tone was that of man who is
resolved to make good his words. awe
would have proposed it to you at first,
but we knew you would not consent.
You must look at the matter plainly,
Captain. Nearly one half our number
have fallen victims to the cholera, and
if we remain longer in this ship, we may
all die"
"But land is only four or FIVE days
distant" said the Captain, pleadingly.
81 pledge you my honor I'll land you
all as soon as we make Cape May"
"Five days may destroy us" replied
the passenger. "We must take our ate
into our own hands Men in our posi-
tion must look out for life before any
thing else. We have decided to leave
the vessel and make for the land in the
boats. We shall be in no more danger
than we are now. Will you go with
us?"
"Mr. Lane" said the Captain, "the
owners of this vessel gave her to me to
take into port. Please Heaven 1 shall
yet do so; and I warn you that if any
of my crew try to leave me, l shall shoot
them"
81 feared as much," his companion
said. "Do your duty men,
In twinkling the Captain was seiz-
ed by SIX stout men, and almost before
he recovered from his surprise, be was
securely bound.
The work of abandoning the ship be-
gan. The boats were made ready, and
they were more than sufficient for the
accommodation of those who could leave
in them Provisions and everything
necessary was placed in them. Thirty
persons were too i'll to be moved, and
they were left to their fate. Their COM
panions reasoned that they must die,
and that their object in deserting the
ship would be greatly endangered if
they took with them any who were at
all affected with the disease. Captain
Bridges, when he found his threats
and reproaches were in vain, command
ed them to leave him with his ship, de-
claring he would suffer the fate of the
Sovereign of the Seas, whatever it sho'd
be. But this command was equally un-
needed, and be was placed in one of the
boats without being unbound, and low
cred with it over the side.
In consequence of the refusal of the
Captain to sanction the proceedings the
command of the party had been intrust-
ed to the First Mate. he being the one
best fitted to direct the movements of
the little fotilla
At last everything was in readiness.
The boats were filled, and were moving
off from the ship, when loud cries were
heard on the vessel, and the wretches
who were left to perish came rushing on
deck, supplied by their despair with ar
tifcial strength. They lad discovered
the intentions of their companions at
the last moment and had come to beg
them not to desert them. Some sank
down on the deck exhausted, while
others, supporting themselves by the
bulwarks, uttered the most piteous cries.
The men in the boats sobbed like
children, and the women answered the
cries of the doomed ones with heart
rending shrieks.
Poor Captain Bridges lay where they
had placed him, groaning with anguish.
IT Al