The Shasta courier., 1866-11-24

press the wi, that he might be taken toe, for
the fearful trial had almost turned his brain.
After the the Surgeons death the disease
increased with greater rapidity, and the
deaths became more numerous. The Cap
tain noticed that the fright of the passengers
had given way to a recklessness that terri
fed him. Several times he saw one of the
cabin passengers in close conversation with
some of the crew and steerage passengers
Their manner and locks excited his surprise
He called one of the men to him and asked
what they were talking about. The man
evaded an answer to the question, and, upon
its repetition, refused to reply to it. Anoth,
er was intcrrogated with the same result.
The Captain now became alarmed. He
felt sure that the terror of the passengers
and crew had driven them to some desperate
course. What it might be he hardly dared
to think. Land was only eight days distant
but, alas ! if matters continued unchanged
they might never reach it.
Out Of three hundred and thirty passen-
gers that had sailed from Liverpool, there
were scarcely two hundred remaining, and
six of the crew had died.
Now that the Surgeon had been taken,
there was no one on board capable of treat
ing the disease, and nothing could be done to
check it. No wonder that the stout hearted
sailors hair turned 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 com
mitted to his care, perishing without his
having the power to aid them.
There was little ceremony shown to the
dead. Humanity required that the only
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 vic
tins mi rht not be increased
On the twenty-third day of the voyage,
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. Looking up he saw that it
was one of the passengers.
Well, Mr.. Lane" he said, gravely
" have you any more news to report?"
$ have come. to say that we have decided
to abandon the ship, Captain" 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 reply.
You forget, sir, that | command this
ship, and that will tolerate no interfer
ance.'
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.
g do not forget it," said the other; and
his tone was that of man who is resolved
to make good his words. . We 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"
g But land is only four or five days dis
tant," said the Captain, pleadingly. II
pledge you my honor I'll land you all as
soon as we make Cape May"
''F Five days may destroy us" replied the
passenger. We must take our fate into
our own hands. Men in our position must
look out for life before anything 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?"
g" Mr.. Lane" said the Captain. the own
ers of this vessel gave her to me to take into
port. Please Heaven l shall yet do so and
warn you that if any Of my crew try to
leave me, shall shoot them"
'' feared as much his companion said.
- Do your duty men,"
In twinkling the Captain was seized by
six stout men, and almost before he recover
ed from his surprise, he was securely bound.
The work of abandoning the ship began
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
ty TO ho
they were left to their fate. Their compan-
ions reasoned that they must die, and that
their OF ject in deserting the ship would be
greatly endangered if they took with them
any who were at all affected with the dis
ease. Captain Bridges, when he found his
threats and reproaches were in vain, com
manded them to leave bin with his ship,
declaring he would suffer the fate of the
Sovereign of the Seas, whatever it should be.
But this command was equally unheeded,
and he was placed in one of the boats without
being unbound, and lowered with it over the
side.
In consequence of the refusal of the Captain
to sanction the proceedings the con mand of
the party had been intruste1 to the mate, he
being the one best fitted to direct the move
ments 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 with
artificial strength. They had discovered
the intentions of their companions at the last
moment and had come to beg them not 70
desert them. Some sank down on the deck
exhausted, while others, supporting them
selves by the 5ulwarks, uttered the most pit
eous cries.
The men in the boats sobbed like children.
and the women answered the cries OF the
doomed ones with heart rcnding shrIeks.
Poor Captain Bridges lay where they had
placed him, groan1g with anguish HIS
whole soul revolted at leaving the people
on the ship. and his heart was wrung with
bitter grief to desert the beautiful vessel OF
which be was so proud. There was plunge
into the water-then another-and another.
The most desperate of the victims were try
ing to swim to the boats But their strength
was not equal to the task, and they sank one
after another, into the deep waters
Such dreadful and unlocked for scenes
seemed to have rendered every one incapable
of motion. They were reused by the Mate
Give way, there ~ he shouted, savagely.
We must be gone from here at once.''
The rowers bent to their oars with will,
and the boats shot off over the blue waters,